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DNA-folding nanorobots can manufacture limitless copies of themselves
Tiny nano-robots have been developed that can grab tiny snippets of DNA and assemble them into new nano-machines – including copies of themselves. AI-generated image by DALL-E – By Loz Blain 2023 Dec 08 – Researchers have demonstrated a programmable nano-scale robot, made from …
New ultrasound tech could be used to 3D-print implants inside the body
A solidified sono-ink structure (red) printed inside a heart model. Alex Sánchez, Duke University; Junjie Yao, Duke University; Y. Shrike Zhang, Harvard Medical School – By Ben Coxworth 2023 Dec 08 – In order to keep surgeries minimally invasive, it would be great if …
World’s oldest disease-causing fungus found, named after Beatrix Potter
Artistic rendition of the Rhynie Chert in the Early Devonian period. Victor O. Leshyk View gallery – 3 images – By Bronwyn Thompson 2023 Dec 07 – A fungus that attacked other organisms 407 million years ago has been unearthed among a collection …
Your car might be watching you to keep you safe − at the expense of your privacy
Many modern cars watch occupants – a plus for safety but not so much for privacy. Courtesy LG – By M. Hadi Amini, Assistant Professor of Computing and Information Sciences, Florida International University Published: 2023 Dec 06 – Depending on which late-model vehicle …
Why Franklin, Washington and Lincoln considered American democracy an ‘experiment’ – and were unsure if it would survive
Voters in a county election, 1854. Etching by John Sartain after painting by George Caleb Bingham; National Gallery of Art – By Thomas Coens, Research Associate Professor of History, University of Tennessee Published: 2023 Dec 05 – From the time of the founding …
Google’s new Gemini AI beats GPT and human experts across 57 subjects
Google’s Gemini AI represents the next step-change in a wildly accelerating field. Google – By Loz Blain 2023 Dec 06 – Google has unveiled its awesome next-gen Gemini AI, claiming it outperforms OpenAI’s GPT-4 – as well as human experts – on nearly all …
Mouse passes mirror test, joining elite club of ‘self-aware’ animals
A subset of neurons linked to self-image were activated when the mouse noticed its forehead ink spot. DALL-E – By Bronwyn Thompson 2023 Dec 05 – Joining the likes of killer whales (Orcinus orca) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), plus a number of primates, …
Hunting spacetime fluctuations could unite Einstein and quantum physics
An artistic impression of an experiment investigating whether spacetime follows classical or quantum physics. Isaac Young View gallery – 3 images – By Michael Irving 2023 Dec 05 – A unified Theory Of Everything is the holy grail of physics, but gravity refuses to …
Rare study on identical twins confirms vegan diet’s broad health boost
The plant-based diet came out well ahead of a healthy omnivore eating plan. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2023 Dec 03 – The fact that eating less meat improves cardiovascular health is not a new revelation, but previous studies supporting this have often been …
COP28: 7 food and agriculture innovations needed to protect the climate and feed a rapidly growing world
Managing methane from belching cattle is a top innovation priority. Lance Cheung/USDA –– By Paul Winters, Professor of Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame – Published: 2023 Dec 02 – For the first time ever, food and agriculture took center stage at the annual …
At-home saliva testing could replace daily finger-jabs for diabetics
If the new E-AB biosensor reaches production, painful finger-prick tests like these may no longer be necessary. Depositphotos – By Ben Coxworth 2023 Nov 30 – Daily finger-prick blood tests are an uncomfortable fact of life for diabetics, but they may not always have …
Certain personality traits could help protect against dementia
Possessing certain personality traits increases the risk of a dementia diagnosis, while others lessen it, research has found. Depositphotos – By Paul McClure 2023 Nov 30 – New research has found that some personality traits increase the risk of a dementia diagnosis, whereas others …
Massive planet too big for its own sun pushes astronomers to rethink exoplanet formation
LHS 3154b, a newly discovered massive planet that should be too big to exist. The Pennsylvania State University – By Suvrath Mahadevan, Verne M. Willaman Professor of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Penn State and by Guðmundur Kári Stefánsson, NASA Hubble Fellow, Department of Astrophysical Sciences, …
Natural superhero fungi boosts crop yields by 40%
Could nature be the solution to the world’s impending food shortages? Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2023 Nov 29 – In what is a hugely promising sign for securing and boosting food production, a large-scale field study has demonstrated how treating farmland soil with …
A tortured and deadly legacy: Kissinger and realpolitik in US foreign policy
President Richard Nixon, left, speaks with national security adviser Henry Kissinger at the White House in September 1972. AP Photo – By Jarrod Hayes’ Associate Professor of Political Science, UMass Lowell Published: 2022 Dec 14, Updated: 2023 Nov 29 – Henry Kissinger, who …
Deep space travel may mean astronauts can’t get it up back on Earth
Exposing male rats to simulated deep space travel led to long-lasting erectile dysfunction. Depositphotos – By Paul McClure 2023 Nov 26 – Adding to the growing research into the effects of long-haul spaceflights on the human body, researchers have found that the weightlessness and …
Earth’s magnetic field protects life on Earth from radiation, but it can move, and the magnetic poles can even flip
The Earth’s magnetic field deflects particles emitted by the Sun. Mark Garlick/Science Photo Library via Getty Images – By Ofer Cohen, Associate Professor of Physics and Applied Physics, UMass Lowell Published: 2023 Nov 27 – The Earth’s magnetic field plays a big role …
Forget dystopian scenarios – AI is pervasive today, and the risks are often hidden
The AI most likely to cause you harm is not some malevolent superintelligence, but the loan algorithm at your bank. AP Photo/Mark Humphrey – By Anjana Susarla, Professor of Information Systems, Michigan State University Published: 2023 Nov 21 – The turmoil at ChatGPT-maker …
The 2023 Comedy Wildlife Photo winners – naturally, they’re a hoot
“Monday Blahs”, John Blumenkamp (US). “This Great Gray Owl spent most of the afternoon posing majestically and looking, well, wise,” says the photographer. “But for a moment or two after doing some elegant stretching, he/she would slump and give a look of, …
Scientists can now tell where you’re looking by listening to your ears
A test subject visually tracks a moving green dot while microphones listen for sounds made by her ears. Duke University – By Ben Coxworth 2023 Nov 23 – Back in 2018, scientists at Duke University discovered that each time our eyes move, our ears …
Drugs identified that may reverse brain fog caused by COVID-19
Researchers have used lab-grown brain organoids, such as the one pictured here, to identify drugs to reverse premature brain aging caused by COVID-19 infection. AIBN/UQ – By Paul McClure 2023 Nov 22 – Experimenting on lab-grown mini-brains and mice, researchers have found that SARS-CoV-19 …
This sea worm’s butt detaches from its body to swim off in search of love
Reproduction can be challenging for marine life, but this worm has worked out how to multitask. Nakamura et al/(CC By 4.0) – By Bronwyn Thompson 2023 Nov 22 – In one of the strangest paths to reproduction, this tiny Japanese sea worm actually grows …
In America, national parks are more than scenic − they’re sacred. But they were created at a cost to Native Americans
‘Valley of the Yosemite’ by the 19th-century artist Albert Bierstadt, owned by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. VCG Wilson/Corbis via Getty Images – By Thomas S. Bremer, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, American Religious History, Rhodes College Published: 2023 Nov 20 – …
Scientists capture first-ever photos of giant coconut-cracking rats
An artist’s rendition of the recently discovered species Vangunu giant rat (Uromys vika), which until now had only been known from these illustrations. Velizar Simeonovski – By Michael Irving 2023 Nov 21 – In 2017, scientists discovered a new species of giant rat that …
Insulin injections could one day be replaced with rock music − new research in mice
Turns out pop songs and movie soundtracks are key to a new system to deliver insulin. Sammyvision/Moment via Getty Images – By Bill Sullivan, Professor of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Indiana University Published: 2023 Nov 14 – More than 37 million people in the …
Scientists discover strange new form of magnetism
Scientists have discovered a strange new form of magnetism. Depositphotos – By Michael Irving 2023 Nov 19 – Scientists at ETH Zurich have discovered a new type of magnetism. Experiments show that an artificially produced material becomes magnetic through a mechanism that hasn’t been …
Astonishing energy of BOAT gamma rays revealed
Gamma rays can be produced from the two steams of jets formed when supermassive stars collapse into themselves at the end of their lives. Depositphotos – By Michael Franco 2023 Nov 17 – Earlier this year, it was reported that the Earth was hit …
Forget ‘Man the Hunter’ – physiological and archaeological evidence rewrites assumptions about a gendered division of labor in prehistoric times
In small-group, subsistence living, it makes sense for everyone to do lots of jobs. gorodenkoff/iStock via Getty Images Plus – By Sarah Lacy, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, University of Delaware and by Cara Ocobock, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, University of Notre Dame – …
México will soon elect its first female president – but that landmark masks an uneven march toward women’s rights
Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, the favorite to become México’s first female president. AP Photo/Marco Ugart – By Xavier Medina Vidal, Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Mexican American Studies, University of Texas at Arlington and by Christopher Chambers-Ju, Assistant …
Huge explosions 100 billion times the energy of the Sun stump scientists
Artist’s representation of AT2022tsd, aka the Tasmanian Devil LFBOT event. The image shows one possible explanation – of a black hole accumulating matter and powering a jet. Robert L. Hurt/Caltech/IPAC/Cornell University – By Bronwyn Thompson 2023 Nov 15 – Space is a place of astronomical …
Dreams of a ‘broken up’ Russia might turn into a nightmare for the West – and an opportunity for China
Breaking up is hard to do. Glasshouse Images/Getty Images – By Susan Smith-Peter, Professor of Russian history, City University of New York Published: 2023 Nov 14 – Do names on a map matter? When they are in border territories, the answer is probably …
Is time travel even possible? An astrophysicist explains the science behind the science fiction
If traveling into the past is possible, one way to do it might be sending people through tunnels in space. by raggio5 via Pixabay – By Adi Foord, Assistant Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Published: 2023 Nov 13 – …
“Off-the-shelf” cancer immunotherapy inches closer with new mouse study
Scientists have taken steps towards an “off-the-shelf” immunotherapy for cancer. Depositphotos – By Michael Irving 2023 Nov 12 – Immunotherapy is a promising cancer treatment, but it can take too long to administer. In a new study, scientists at UCLA have taken steps towards …
Cranberries can bounce, float and pollinate themselves: The saucy science of a Thanksgiving classic
Cranberries grow on vines in sandy bogs and marshes. Lance Cheung, USDA/Flick – By Serina DeSalvio, Ph.D. Candidate in Genetics and Genomics, Texas A&M University Published: 2023 Nov 09 – Cranberries are a staple in U.S. households at Thanksgiving – but how did …
Heaps of pharmaceuticals, toxic chemicals found in recycled plastics
The researchers analyzed recycled plastic pellets like these and found a shockingly high amount of chemical compounds that call the material’s use into question. Depositphotos – By Michael Franco 2023 Nov 10 – While the use of recycled plastics is normally considered a noble …
People dig deeper to fact-check social research media posts when paired with someone who doesn’t share their perspective – new research
Joining up with someone who holds a different perspective influences your take on online posts. Frazao Studio Latino/E+ via Getty Images – By Eli Gottlieb, Senior Fellow in Education and Human Development, George Washington University Published: 2023 Nov 09 – People fact-checked social …
US and UK give the green light to powerful weight loss drug
In trials that included controlled diet and exercise, tirzepatide performed better than semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy). Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2023 Nov 08 – The US has officially got a homegrown hero in the burgeoning global industry of effective weight-loss treatments, with the FDA …
Your mental dictionary is part of what makes you unique − here’s how your brain stores and retrieves words
Your brain processes letters, words, sounds, semantics and grammar at breakneck speed. StudioM1/iStock via Getty Images Plus – By Nichol Castro, Assistant Professor of Communicative Disorders and Sciences, University at Buffalo Published: 2023 Nov 07 – The days of having a dictionary on your …
What’s your chronotype? Knowing whether you’re a night owl or an early bird could help you do better on tests and avoid scams
Owl chronotypes function better at night, while lark chronotypes are more energized in the morning. The Photo Matrix/Moment, nomis_g/iStock via Getty Images Plus – By Cindi May, Professor of Psychology, College of Charleston – Published: 2023 Nov 06 – Timing is everything. For …
Higher cell phone usage associated with lower sperm count in new study
Cell phone use was linked to sperm quantity, but not its morphology or motility. Rita Rahban – By Michael Franco 2023 Nov 01 – A study of nearly 3,000 Swiss men over the course of 13 years has shown a link between frequent cell …
DNA-folding nanorobots can manufacture limitless copies of themselves
Tiny nano-robots have been developed that can grab tiny snippets of DNA and assemble them into new nano-machines – including copies of themselves. AI-generated image by DALL-E – By Loz Blain 2023 Dec 08 – Researchers have demonstrated a programmable nano-scale robot, made from …
New ultrasound tech could be used to 3D-print implants inside the body
A solidified sono-ink structure (red) printed inside a heart model. Alex Sánchez, Duke University; Junjie Yao, Duke University; Y. Shrike Zhang, Harvard Medical School – By Ben Coxworth 2023 Dec 08 – In order to keep surgeries minimally invasive, it would be great if …
World’s oldest disease-causing fungus found, named after Beatrix Potter
Artistic rendition of the Rhynie Chert in the Early Devonian period. Victor O. Leshyk View gallery – 3 images – By Bronwyn Thompson 2023 Dec 07 – A fungus that attacked other organisms 407 million years ago has been unearthed among a collection …
Your car might be watching you to keep you safe − at the expense of your privacy
Many modern cars watch occupants – a plus for safety but not so much for privacy. Courtesy LG – By M. Hadi Amini, Assistant Professor of Computing and Information Sciences, Florida International University Published: 2023 Dec 06 – Depending on which late-model vehicle …
Why Franklin, Washington and Lincoln considered American democracy an ‘experiment’ – and were unsure if it would survive
Voters in a county election, 1854. Etching by John Sartain after painting by George Caleb Bingham; National Gallery of Art – By Thomas Coens, Research Associate Professor of History, University of Tennessee Published: 2023 Dec 05 – From the time of the founding …
Google’s new Gemini AI beats GPT and human experts across 57 subjects
Google’s Gemini AI represents the next step-change in a wildly accelerating field. Google – By Loz Blain 2023 Dec 06 – Google has unveiled its awesome next-gen Gemini AI, claiming it outperforms OpenAI’s GPT-4 – as well as human experts – on nearly all …
Mouse passes mirror test, joining elite club of ‘self-aware’ animals
A subset of neurons linked to self-image were activated when the mouse noticed its forehead ink spot. DALL-E – By Bronwyn Thompson 2023 Dec 05 – Joining the likes of killer whales (Orcinus orca) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), plus a number of primates, …
Hunting spacetime fluctuations could unite Einstein and quantum physics
An artistic impression of an experiment investigating whether spacetime follows classical or quantum physics. Isaac Young View gallery – 3 images – By Michael Irving 2023 Dec 05 – A unified Theory Of Everything is the holy grail of physics, but gravity refuses to …
Rare study on identical twins confirms vegan diet’s broad health boost
The plant-based diet came out well ahead of a healthy omnivore eating plan. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2023 Dec 03 – The fact that eating less meat improves cardiovascular health is not a new revelation, but previous studies supporting this have often been …
COP28: 7 food and agriculture innovations needed to protect the climate and feed a rapidly growing world
Managing methane from belching cattle is a top innovation priority. Lance Cheung/USDA –– By Paul Winters, Professor of Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame – Published: 2023 Dec 02 – For the first time ever, food and agriculture took center stage at the annual …