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The world’s toughest animal could one day help save your life
Water bear, moss piglet, scientific marvel: the tiny tardigrade. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2023 Mar 20 – They’ve been fired from a gas gun to test their candidacy for panspermia, are believed to have survived the Beresheet lunar probe’s crash-landing on the Moon, …
‘He was certainly a racist’: J Edgar Hoover and a history of White Nationalism
A new book looks back at the long-serving FBI director’s devotion to keeping America a White Christian republic and the devastating effect he had. ‘Hoover saw himself throughout his life as this minister and soldier.’ Photograph: Corbis/Getty Images Books David Smith in Washington …
AI information retrieval: A search engine researcher explains the promise and peril of letting ChatGPT and its cousins search the web for you
Large language model AI responds to questions but doesn’t actually know anything and is prone to making things up. Charles Taylor/iStock via Getty Images By Chirag Shah, Professor of Information Science, University of Washington Published: 2023 Mar 15 – The prominent model …
Dazzling hand-held winners of the 2023 Mobile Photography Awards
Geocentric Explorations – First place in Landscapes and Wildlife. Zhengjie Wu View gallery – 25 images – By Loz Blain 2023 Mar 19 – If you’ve got a photographer’s eye, today’s smartphones certainly won’t hold you back from taking incredible photos. The winners of …
Modular micro-camper builds from basic sleeper to beastly adventurer
The cornerstone of Zion’s design is modularity that lets buyers build from a basic sleeper trailer to a go-anywhere adventure launchpad, either at the time of initial purchase or over the course of months and years. Zion Off-Road View gallery – 18 images …
Oceanfront homes crumble in California as torrential rains lead to landslides
Intense storms highlight fragility of the state’s infrastructure, with 35 of 58 counties now under an emergency declaration. People look at a swimming pool sitting on the edge of a landslide below an apartment building. Photograph: Patrick T Fallon/AFP/Getty Images – Staff and …
Toxic ‘forever chemicals’ found in toilet paper around the world
Research finds waste flushed down toilets and sent to sewage plants probably responsible for significant source of water pollution. The study checked 21 major toilet paper brands around the world, but it did not name the brands. Photograph: Jeppe Gustafsson/Rex/Shutterstock PFAS – By …
Clever MIT modular robotics system could give astronauts WORMS
The spider-inspired WORMS-1 robot – other possible WORMS robots were inspired by animals such elephants, oxen and goats. George Lordos, et al; edited by MIT News – By Ben Coxworth 2023 Mar 15 – No single robot can perform all tasks, yet bringing a …
JCR electric skateboard’s speed is controlled by leaning fore and aft
The JCR Board is presently on Indiegogo. JCR Board View gallery – 3 images – By Ben Coxworth 2023 Mar 14 – While there are now a ton of electric skateboards on the market, almost all of them are controlled by a handheld remote. …
Nickelback could have kickstarted life on Earth, says new study
Scientists have identified a peptide that could potentially have helped kickstart life on Earth. Depositphotos – By Michael Irving 2023 Mar 14 – One of the most profound mysteries facing science is how exactly life arose from non-living matter. Now, scientists have pinpointed a …
Clean energy breakthrough as electricity is produced out of thin air
Years of research pays off for PhD student Ashleigh Kropp (left) and Rhys Grinter. Jordan Robson/Monash University – By Bronwyn Thompson 2023 Mar 09 – While most of us will never bear witness to them, many of the world’s smallest organisms have some incredible …
Who are Jehovah’s Witnesses? A religion scholar explains the history of the often misunderstood group
The entrance at the headquarters of the Jehovah’s Witnesses Germany. Britta Pedersen/picture alliance via Getty Images – By Mathew Schmalz, Professor of Religious Studies, College of the Holy Cross Published 2023 Mar 10 – Six adults were killed 2023 Mar 09, in Hamburg, …
Springing forward into daylight saving time is a step back for health – a neurologist explains the medical evidence, and why this shift is worse than the Fall time change
Daylight saving time is back again – amid some controversy. billhagolan/iStock via Getty Images Plus – By Beth Ann Malow, Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Published: 2023 Mar 06 – As people in the U.S. prepare to set their clocks ahead …
‘It’s legal, there’s just no precedent’: the first US town to demand a rent decrease
The median rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Kingston hit $1,615 this year – roughly 25% more expensive than three years ago. Photograph: Wilfred Chan – In Kingston, New York, tenants say their survival depends on the city ordering a rent reduction – …
Water purification membrane generates electricity as it filters
A new advanced membrane can filter sewage or seawater into drinking water – and generate electricity in the process. KIST View gallery – 3 images – By Loz Blain 2023 Mar 07 – In a highly unexpected approach to renewable energy, researchers in Korea …
The creeping threat of the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt
Visible from space, an explosion of harmful seaweed now stretches like a sea monster across the ocean. Could robots save us from it – and store carbon in the process? A sargassum ‘landing event’ on a beach in the Gulf of México. The …
Origins of clown phobia are not what you might expect, study shows
UK researchers have investigated the origins of coulrophobia, or fear of clowns, with some surprising results Depositphotos – By Paul McClure 2023 Mar 06 – Pennywise, Twisty, Wrinkles, Bozo, Krusty and Ronald McDonald. What do these names have in common? They’re all clowns, and, …
New quantum state boosts material’s conductivity by a billion percent
A new material has exhibited colossal magnetoresistance, switching its electrical conductivity by a billion percent in response to a magnetic field. Depositphotos – By Michael Irving 2023 Feb 26 – Scientists at Georgia Tech have discovered a new quantum state in a quirky material. …
Timeline: the strange history of the Hollywood sign as it turns 100
What began as a real-estate advertisement has since been the site of tragedy, triumph and plenty of pranks. The actor Michelle Yeoh in midair over the Hollywood sign in November 1998. Photograph: Joe McNally/Getty Images – By Lois Beckett in Los Angeles Last …
Musk expects Tesla Bot to be a much bigger business than its cars
Tesla’s Optimus robot is now walking and using its humanoid hands for basic tasks. Tesla View gallery – 5 images – By Loz Blain 2023 Mar 02 – As part of its 2023 Investor Day, Tesla has given the world a glimpse of where …
Pair of invisible stars found locked in tight 17-hour orbit
An artist’s impression of a closely orbiting pair of stars. ESO/L. Calçada – By Michael Irving 2023 Mar 01 – Astronomers have discovered a bizarre star system containing two ultra-cool dwarf stars that are so close together they orbit each other in less than …
Evidence mounts that vitamin D may be key to preventing dementia
There’s growing evidence that vitamin D supplements can protect your brain from dementia. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2023 Mar 01 – A new large-scale study has shown that warding off dementia early may be as simple for some as taking a vitamin D …
Ancient protein study reveals how natural selection predates life itself
A form of natural selection may have been working on amino acids in the primordial soup long before life arose on Earth. Depositphotos – By Michael Irving 2023 Feb 28 – Exactly how life arose out of non-living matter is a major mystery, and …
Aspirin reduces ovarian cancer risk regardless of genetic predisposition
A new study suggests that genetic susceptibility to ovarian cancer does not affect the protective effect of aspirin in reducing ovarian cancer risk. Depositphotos – By Paul McClure 2023 Feb 26 – Ovarian cancer is a highly fatal type of cancer that can be …
Zandra Flemister, first Black woman in Secret Service, dies aged 71
Hailed as ‘a trailblazer’, Flemister experienced widespread racism and discrimination during her tenure at the federal agency. Zandra Flemister provides protection to Prime Minister Michael Manley of Jamaica, right, during his 1977 visit to Washington. Photograph: Courtesy of John Collinge – Secret Service …
Imagination makes us human – this unique ability to envision what doesn’t exist has a long evolutionary history
Your brain can imagine things that haven’t happened or that don’t even exist. agsandrew/iStock via Getty Images Plus – By Andrey Vyshedskiy, Professor of Neuroscience, Boston University Published: 2023 Feb 23 – You can easily picture yourself riding a bicycle across the sky …
Daily cannabis use linked to spike in coronary artery disease
While research is mixed on the health impacts of marijuana consumption, a new study says daily use is definitely not a good idea. Depositphotos – By Michael Franco 2023 Feb 24 – The pros and cons of marijuana usage are complicated, and are constantly …
German man third to be completely cured of HIV after stem cell transplant
A man from Düsseldorf is the third person worldwide to be cured of HIV following a stem cell transplant. Depositphotos – By Paul McClure 2023 Feb 23 – A 53-year-old from Düsseldorf in Germany has become the third person in the world to be …
Classroom robot helps keep kids with learning disabilities on track
A Canadian study has found that the use of a social robot in the classroom can help children with learning disabilities stay on-task. University of Waterloo – By Paul McClure 2023 Feb 22 – Students with learning disabilities (LD) struggle with particular skills like …
Trek encourages families to ditch the car and ride Fetch+ cargo ebikes
The Fetch+2 (shown) and Fetch+4 cargo ebikes are powered by the Cargo Line smart system from Bosch, which includes a motor that can amplify rider input by as much as 400%. Trek View gallery – 6 images – By Paul Ridden 2023 Feb 17 …
New study reinforces link between maternal infection and leukemia in kids
A large study out of Denmark supports evidence of a link between maternal infection and the risk of childhood leukemia. Depositphotos – By Paul McClure 2023 Feb 20 – Leukemia is the most common type of cancer in children and adolescents. Little is known …
Startling new evidence suggests black holes drive expansion of universe
An artist’s impression of a black hole and its accretion discNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Jeremy Schnittman. View 1 Images – By Michael Irving 2023 Feb 19 – A groundbreaking new study could finally provide an answer to one of the most perplexing astrophysics mysteries …
Motorcycle airbag pants are here, and boy do they look funny
In a truly remarkable product demonstration, a rider wearing airbag pants crashes into a Peugeot at speed and does “the Superman” over the hood. CX Air Dynamics. View gallery – 4 images – By Loz Blain 2023 Feb 15 – Two companies – France’s …
Zoox autonomous e-shuttle begins operating on public roads in California
Following a successful maiden run, the Zoox electric robotaxi will now start to shuttle employees along open public roads between two company buildings. Zoox View gallery – 4 images – By Paul Ridden 2023 Feb 14 Amazon-owned robotaxi developer Zoox has announced the deployment …
US cancer patient developed ‘uncontrollable’ Irish accent, doctors say
Man in his 50s with prostate cancer maintained accent until his death despite having never been to Ireland. The man maintained the accent through 20 months of treatment despite never having visited Ireland nor having immediate Irish relatives. Photograph: Gareth McCormack/Alamy – Richard …
‘Perfect explosion’: merger of neutron stars creates spherical cosmic blast
The explosion, called a kilonova, created a rapidly expanding fireball of luminous matter before collapsing to form a black hole. The kilonova occurred when the remnants of two massive stars collided. Photograph: Albert Sneppen/Reuters – Reuters 2023 Feb 15 – Astronomers have observed …
Wienermobile in a pickle after falling victim to catalytic converter thieves
The Oscar Mayer crew didn’t relish their time in Las Vegas after the vehicle had to be towed to an auto body shop. The Wienermobile makes a stop in Davenport, Iowa, in 2020. Photograph: Meg Mclaughlin/Dispatch Argus/Zuma Wire/Rex/Shutterstock – Abené Clayton Updated on …
From Chaucer to chocolates: how Valentine’s Day gifts have changed over the centuries
Mirror case, ivory, a Lady Crowning her Lover, Paris, France, ca. 1300. Victoria and Albert Museum – By Clare Davidson, Research Associate, Gender and Women’s History Research Centre, Australian Catholic University Published: 2023 Feb 12 – For Valentine’s Day, some couples only roll …
Mars Wrigley fined after two workers tumbled into chocolate tank
Federal workplace authorities fined the popular Pennsylvania candy factory $14,500 and categorized citation as ‘serious’. Elizabethtown factory is known for making an assortment of candy including M&Ms. Photograph: John Greim/LightRocket/Getty Images – Maya Yang Last modified on 2023 Feb 12 – US federal …
New ‘unidentified object’ shot down over Canada, says Trudeau
Canadian prime minister says he has spoken to US president Joe Biden about the object. US F-22 Raptor fighter jet. Photograph: Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images – Lauren Aratani and Nadeem Badshah Published on 2023 Feb 11 – A US warplane shot down an unidentified …
The world’s toughest animal could one day help save your life
Water bear, moss piglet, scientific marvel: the tiny tardigrade. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2023 Mar 20 – They’ve been fired from a gas gun to test their candidacy for panspermia, are believed to have survived the Beresheet lunar probe’s crash-landing on the Moon, …
‘He was certainly a racist’: J Edgar Hoover and a history of White Nationalism
A new book looks back at the long-serving FBI director’s devotion to keeping America a White Christian republic and the devastating effect he had. ‘Hoover saw himself throughout his life as this minister and soldier.’ Photograph: Corbis/Getty Images Books David Smith in Washington …
AI information retrieval: A search engine researcher explains the promise and peril of letting ChatGPT and its cousins search the web for you
Large language model AI responds to questions but doesn’t actually know anything and is prone to making things up. Charles Taylor/iStock via Getty Images By Chirag Shah, Professor of Information Science, University of Washington Published: 2023 Mar 15 – The prominent model …
Dazzling hand-held winners of the 2023 Mobile Photography Awards
Geocentric Explorations – First place in Landscapes and Wildlife. Zhengjie Wu View gallery – 25 images – By Loz Blain 2023 Mar 19 – If you’ve got a photographer’s eye, today’s smartphones certainly won’t hold you back from taking incredible photos. The winners of …
Modular micro-camper builds from basic sleeper to beastly adventurer
The cornerstone of Zion’s design is modularity that lets buyers build from a basic sleeper trailer to a go-anywhere adventure launchpad, either at the time of initial purchase or over the course of months and years. Zion Off-Road View gallery – 18 images …
Oceanfront homes crumble in California as torrential rains lead to landslides
Intense storms highlight fragility of the state’s infrastructure, with 35 of 58 counties now under an emergency declaration. People look at a swimming pool sitting on the edge of a landslide below an apartment building. Photograph: Patrick T Fallon/AFP/Getty Images – Staff and …
Toxic ‘forever chemicals’ found in toilet paper around the world
Research finds waste flushed down toilets and sent to sewage plants probably responsible for significant source of water pollution. The study checked 21 major toilet paper brands around the world, but it did not name the brands. Photograph: Jeppe Gustafsson/Rex/Shutterstock PFAS – By …
Clever MIT modular robotics system could give astronauts WORMS
The spider-inspired WORMS-1 robot – other possible WORMS robots were inspired by animals such elephants, oxen and goats. George Lordos, et al; edited by MIT News – By Ben Coxworth 2023 Mar 15 – No single robot can perform all tasks, yet bringing a …
JCR electric skateboard’s speed is controlled by leaning fore and aft
The JCR Board is presently on Indiegogo. JCR Board View gallery – 3 images – By Ben Coxworth 2023 Mar 14 – While there are now a ton of electric skateboards on the market, almost all of them are controlled by a handheld remote. …
Nickelback could have kickstarted life on Earth, says new study
Scientists have identified a peptide that could potentially have helped kickstart life on Earth. Depositphotos – By Michael Irving 2023 Mar 14 – One of the most profound mysteries facing science is how exactly life arose from non-living matter. Now, scientists have pinpointed a …