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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 …
Climate labels similar to cigarette packet warnings could cut meat consumption – new research
Valerie Sidorova/Unsplash, CC BY-SA – By Jack Hughes, PhD Candidate in Behavioural Science, Durham University and by Mario Weick, Professor of Behavioural Science, Durham University and by Milica Vasiljevic, Associate Professor of Behavioural Science, Durham University Published: 2023 Oct 31 – There was …
The world’s boreal forests may be shrinking as climate change pushes them northward
A brown bear in a Siberian boreal forest. Logan Berner, CC BY-ND – By Ronny Rotbarth, Ph.D. Candidate of Arctic and Sub-Arctic Ecology, Wageningen University and by David J. Cooper, Senior Research Scientist Emeritus, Colorado State University and by Logan Berner, Assistant Research Professor …
Modern medicine has its scientific roots in the Middle Ages − how the logic of vulture brain remedies and bloodletting lives on today
This 15th-century medical manuscript shows different colors of urine alongside the ailments they signify. Cambridge University Library, CC BY-NC – By Meg Leja, Associate Professor of History, Binghamton University, State University of New York Published: 2023 Nov 02 – Nothing calls to mind …
From India and Taiwan to Tibet, the living assist the dead in their passage
Hindu devotees prepare to scatter ashes of the deceased into the sea as part of Ngaben, a mass cremation ceremony, in Surabaya, Indonesia. Juni Kriswanto/AFP via Getty Images – By Liz Wilson, Professor of Comparative Religion, Miami University Published: 2023 Oct 31 – …
New DNA tech uses a single cat hair to hone in on crime suspects
From feline to felony: New DNA technique has the potential to detect if a specific cat owner has been at the scene of a crime. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2023 Oct 31 – Lending new meaning to the phrase ‘cat burglar’, a single …
Are ghosts real? A social psychologist examines the evidence
Remember the old saying: Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. David Wall/Moment via Getty Image – By Barry Markovsky, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Sociology, University of South Carolina Published: 2023 Oct 24 Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you …
How ‘La Catrina’ became the iconic symbol of Day of the Dead
A girl dressed as a ‘catrina’ takes part in the Catrinas Parade in México City to celebrate Day of the Dead. Yuri Cortez/AFP via Getty Images – By Mathew Sandoval, Associate Teaching Professor in Culture & Performance, Arizona State University Published: 2023 Oct …
Evidence of menopause in wild chimps upends ideas around human evolution
A new study offers the first evidence of menopause in a wild non-human primate population. Depositphotos – By Rich Haridy 2023 Oct 26 – Other than a few species of whale, humans are the only mammals that consistently demonstrate the unusual phenomenon of menopause. …
Asteroids in the solar system could contain undiscovered, superheavy elements
An illustration of an asteroid orbiting through space. Mark Garlick/Science Photo Library via Getty Images – By Johann Rafelski, Professor of Physics, University of Arizona Published: 2023 Oct 27 – For centuries, the quest for new elements was a driving force in many …
Lava studies suggest Earth’s core is leaking
Lava flows in Canada suggest that the Earth’s core is leaking material to the surface, a new study says. Depositphotos – By Michael Irving 2023 Oct 23 – Scientists from Caltech and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) have found evidence that Earth’s core is …
The Río Grande isn’t just a border – it’s a river in crisis
The Río Grande, viewed from the Zaragoza International Bridge between El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez, México. Vianey Rueda, CC BY-ND – By Vianey Rueda, PhD Student in Resource Ecology Management, University of Michigan and by Drew Gronewold, Associate Professor of Environment and …
Fungus in the gut linked to severe COVID-19
High levels of antibodies targeting Candida albicans, a common gut fungus, were linked to the most severe cases of COVID. Depositphotos – By Rich Haridy 2023 Oct 24 – Over the last few years one of the persistent mysteries of SARS-CoV-2 infections has been …
For the Osage Nation, the betrayal of the murders depicted in ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ still lingers
An Osage man on the Arkansas River sometime between 1910 and 1918 – about a decade before the Osage Reign of Terror. Vince Dillion/Oklahoma Historical Society via Getty Images – By Shannon Toll, Associate Professor of Indigenous Literatures, University of Dayton Published: 2023 Oct …
New class of recyclable polymer materials could one day help reduce single-use plastic waste
Single-use plastics. Anton Petrus/Moment – By Katherine Harry, PhD Student in Chemistry, Colorado State University AND By Emma Rettner, PhD Candidate in Materials Science and Engineering, Colorado State University – Published: 2023 Oct 19 – Hundreds of millions of tons of single-use plastic ends up …
Quantum dots − a new Nobel laureate describes the development of these nanoparticles from basic research to industry application
Louis Brus, center, shares Nobel recognition with two other quantum dots pioneers. Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images – By Louis Brus, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry, Columbia University Published: 2023 Oct 20 – The Nobel Prize in chemistry for 2023 goes to three scientists “for …
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 …