Today's Science News
October 18, 2024
Establishing a New Habitability Metric for Future Astrobiology Surveys - The search for exoplanets has grown immensely in recent decades thanks to next-generation observatories and instruments.October 17, 2024
Manliness concerns impede forgiveness of coworkers - Men’s masculinity concerns hinder forgiveness in workplace transgressions, leading to unhealthy dynamics; interventions can help promote forgiveness.'It's our moonshot': Why scientists are drilling into volcanos - In Iceland scientists plan to drill down to magma to understand it and use it for energy production.
How the Malleus maleficarum fueled the witch trial craze - Invention of printing press, influence of nearby cities created perfect conditions for social contagion.
Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS is still visible in the night sky, but not for long - Have you seen comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS yet?
When hurricanes hit, online chatter drowns out safety messaging - Research reveals that during hurricanes, trivial social media content often obscures crucial public safety messaging from officials, complicating disaster communication.
US vaccinations fall again as more parents refuse lifesaving shots for kids - US becomes more vulnerable to outbreaks at vaccination rates fall into 92 percent range.
Europe launches ambitious 'Moonlight' program to support lunar exploration - Europe has officially launched the Moonlight program, which aims to provide services for the more than 400 moon missions planned by space agencies and private companies over the next two decades.
The Journey to a Nobel Prize: A Protein Design and Structure Research Timeline - About 50 years ago, biologists set out to solve the protein-folding problem.
Rare hoard of Roman-era coins discovered in German mountains — miles from the empire's frontlines - A metal detectorist in Germany has unearthed a hoard of nearly 3,000 Roman-era coins in an unusual place — north of the empire's defensive lines.
NASA Selects Two Teams to Advance Life Sciences Research in Space - NASA announced two awards Thursday to establish scientific consortia – multi-institutional coalitions to conduct ground-based studies that help address the agency’s goals of maintaining a sustained human presence in space.
I Am Artemis: Sarah Ryan - A passion for puzzles, problem-solving, and propulsion led Sarah Ryan to her current position as Raptor engine lead for NASA’s HLS (Human Landing System) insight team.
NASA Goddard Hosts Former VP Al Gore to Mark 10 Years of DSCOVR Mission - Environmentalist and former Vice President Al Gore visited NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, on Oct. 16, 2024, to commemorate the
Experts agree, the Global Nature Positive Summit was “disappointing” - Last week in Sydney, Australia hosted the inaugural Global Nature Positive Summit.
It’s increasingly unlikely that humans will fly around the Moon next year - It's not just Orion's heat shield; the mission's ground systems are running out of time.
The Artemis Astronauts are Getting New Spacesuits With Some Help From Prada - The Artemis program involves impressive technological advancements in robotics, communications, spacecraft, and advanced habitats, all of which are clearly necessary for such an ambitious endeavour.
Astronomers Solve the Mystery of the Famed Brown Dwarf That is Too Bright: It’s Twins! - In 1995, Caltech researchers at the Institute’s Palomar Observatory first observed what appeared to be a brown dwarf orbiting Gliese 229 – a red dwarf star located about 19 light-years from Earth.
NASA’s C-130 Aircraft En Route to India in Support of NISAR Mission - NASA’s globetrotting C-130 Hercules team is carrying out a cargo transport mission to Bengaluru, India, in support of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission.
NASA’s IXPE Helps Researchers Determine Shape of Black Hole Corona - New findings using data from NASA’s IXPE (Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer) mission offer unprecedented insight into the shape and nature of a structure important to black holes called a corona.
The best 90s sci-fi movies - Here's to an unforgettable decade in sci-fi movie innovation, our round-up of the best 90s sci-fi movies.
Richard Branson will co-pilot Space Perspective's 1st crewed balloon flight to edge of Earth's atmosphere - Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson will serve as co-pilot on tourism company Space Perspective's first crewed balloon flight, expected to occur in 2025.
Just Keep Roving - Throughout the past week, Perseverance has continued marching up the Jezero crater rim.
Hera probe snaps its 1st images of Earth and moon on way to asteroid crash site - The European Space Agency's Hera asteroid mission has beamed back its first images from space.
What Is Diverticulitis? Understand the Causes of This Sharp Pain in Your Abdomen - Diverticulitis is a common condition that affects digestive health.
Old Data Yields New Secrets as NASA’s DAVINCI Preps for Venus Trip - How NASA’s DAVINCI mission to Venus uses old data to reveal new secrets.
Why do we love carbs? The origins predate agriculture and maybe even our split from Neanderthals - A new study reveals how the duplication of the salivary amylase gene may not only have helped shape human adaptation to starchy foods, but may have occurred as far back as more than 800,000 years ago, long before the advent of farming.
Imagining the Future - A space shuttle lifts off high above the surrounding land in this Aug. 1, 1973, illustration.
How long is the flu contagious? - Many factors affect the infectious period of seasonal influenza, commonly called "the flu," but there are some good rules of thumb for when it's safe to return to work or school.
Don’t Panic. AI Isn’t Coming to End Scientific Exploration - Science is filled with tools that once seemed revolutionary and are now just part of the research tool kit.
Study finds legalization didn’t increase recreational cannabis use among young adults in country of Georgia - Cannabis legalization in Georgia didn't increase usage among young adults, suggesting balanced public health strategies are possible without rising consumption.
Millions of Aging Americans Are Facing Dementia by Themselves - In a health care system that assumes older adults have family caregivers to help them, those facing dementia alone often fall through the cracks
How much do SpaceX's reentering Starlink satellites pollute Earth's atmosphere? - SpaceX's Starlink satellites now make up 40% of reentering satellite debris.
DeNovix Releases New Eight Channel Spectrophotometer - The DS-8X is designed to equip labs with higher throughput, high performance, full spectrum 1 µL UV-Vis measurements (190 - 840 nm) for DNA, RNA and protein quantification.
The Milky Way could be part of a much larger 'cosmic neighborhood' than we realized, challenging our understanding of the universe - A probabilistic new map of the universe surrounding the Milky Way reveals that our galaxy is likely part of an even larger "basin of attraction" than we previously assumed.
The moon, Mars, asteroids and Jupiter: China reveals ambitious space exploration plans - From lunar water hunts to Mars sample returns, China's space program is embarking on groundbreaking missions across the solar system, aiming for the moon, Mars and beyond.
Future 6G data speeds could hit 1 Tbps — up to 10,000 times faster than 5G — after transmission breakthrough - Scientists combined two existing wireless technologies — high-speed electronics and millimeter wave photonics — for the first time to achieve record-breaking wireless data transmission speeds.
Rain May Have Helped Form the First Cells, Kick-Starting Life As We Know It - How did early cells keep themselves distinct while allowing for some amount of exchange?
Could Life Exist Below Mars Ice? NASA Study Proposes Possibilities - Researchers think meltwater beneath Martian ice could support microbial life.
Space pictures! See our space image of the day - Space.com's image of the day rounds up the most awe-inspiring space photos right here, with a new image everyday.
MAX phases boost electrocatalytic biomass upgrading - Biomass is among the most abundant renewable resources on Earth.
NASA finds signs of hellish, lava-covered 'exomoon' circling an alien world — and it could meet a 'destructive end' - A new analysis of a peculiar metallic cloud surrounding the exoplanet WASP-49 b provides further evidence that it may have been birthed by a volcanic satellite, which may become the first officially recognized "exomoon."
Scientist Profile: Jacquelyn Shuman Blazes New Trails in Fire Science - Jacquelyn Shuman, FireSense Project Scientist at NASA Ames Research Center, originally wanted to be a veterinarian.
Spatulas and takeout containers made from recycled black plastic may carry flame retardants - New research has detected high levels of flame retardants in some toys, kitchen utensils and other household items made from recycled black plastic.
Alien life could lurk on Mars beneath protective ice, study suggests - 'Photosynthetic habitable zones' could exist beneath radiation-filtering ice on Mars, offering scientists another region in which to hunt for alien life.
'Wonder Drug' Explores Thalidomide’s Secret History and Harms in the U.S. - In her book Wonder Drug, Jennifer Vanderbes explores the history of thalidomide’s secret history—and harms—in the U.S.
Visible light energy yields two-for-one deal when added to carbon dioxide recycling process - By combining visible light and electrochemistry, researchers have enhanced the conversion of carbon dioxide into valuable products and stumbled upon a surprising discovery.
Donald Trump Wants to Make Eugenics Great Again. Let’s Not - Trump’s anti-immigrant good-gene-bad-gene screeds are nothing but factless eugenics for a new era
Daily Dose: Novavax shares drop after FDA vaccine hold; Jake Sullivan steers U.S. foreign policy shift with eyes on China. - Novavax shares declined sharply after the FDA paused its vaccine trials due to a report of nerve damage in a patient.
The planets of 'Star Wars Outlaws' - Join our whistlestop tour of the planets of 'Star Wars Outlaws,' Ubisoft's massive open-world adventure in a galaxy far, far away.
Socially Distanced Layout of the World’s Oldest Cities Helped Early Civilization Evade Diseases - Excavations at Çatalhöyük show how closely people lived before the settlement collapsed.
Weed, brains and spider eyeballs: 20 jaw-dropping snapshots of the microscopic world around us - See the top 20 winning photographs from the 50th Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition.
Smartmi Air Purifier E1 review - The Smartmi Air Purifier E1 won several awards for its stylish design, but does its performance also deserve recognition?
Astronauts could mine asteroids for food someday, scientists say - Material harvested from asteroids could be used to sustain astronauts during long-duration space missions.
ULA is examining debris recovered from Vulcan rocket’s shattered booster nozzle - "I’m pretty confident... that we’ll get to the bottom of this pretty quickly and move on.”
Malfunctioning mitochondria may drive Crohn's disease, early study hints - A new study in mice suggests that dysfunctional mitochondria may change the composition of the gut microbiome and thus drive Crohn's disease.
Astronomers detect ancient lonely quasars with murky origins - Astronomers observed ancient quasars that appear to be surprisingly alone in the early universe.
Ancient ‘Age of Dinosaurs’ Seafloor Found beneath Pacific Ocean - A vast, ancient slab of seafloor plunged beneath the Pacific Ocean and has hovered in Earth’s mantle for more than 120 million years, a new study suggests
Abiotic organic synthesis research proposes new mechanism for organic condensation - A Chinese research team has reported the discovery of abiotic organic compounds in the oceanic crust of the Southwest Indian Ridge and proposed a molecular mechanism for organic condensation.
Can Lynx Be Saved in the Balkans? - A small team of local scientists are fighting rapid industrialization, misinformation and more to save Europe’s iconic cat
New method for measuring luminescence lifetime offers versatility in scientific imaging - Oxygen is a key molecule for life, and in order to understand ecosystem dynamics it can be important to follow its ways in much detail.
Ancient hominin hands were a lot more like ours than we thought - Hands capable of using tools might have evolved much earlier than previously thought according to a new study of Australopithecus finger bones.
You Don’t Need Words to Think - Brain studies show that language is not essential for the cognitive processes that underlie thought
Controlling prosthetic hands more precisely by the power of thought - Researchers have developed a novel training protocol for brain-computer interfaces in a study with rhesus monkeys.
New mRNA vaccine created to prevent and treat C. difficile - A new vaccine provides hope for treating and even preventing the highly contagious and difficult-to-treat Clostridioides difficile infection, more commonly known as C. difficile or C. diff.
Forever chemicals found in bottled and tap water from around the world - Scientists have discovered toxic 'Forever Chemicals' present in samples of drinking water from around the world.
Microbiome: Drug discovery within the patient - Microorganisms do not just colonize the body of mammals during infections.
Quantum research breakthrough uses synthetic dimensions to efficiently process quantum information - A new study opens the door to cutting-edge solutions that could contribute to the realization of a system capable of processing quantum information in a simple yet powerful way.
Visible light energy yields two-for-one deal when added to CO2 recycling process - By combining visible light and electrochemistry, researchers have enhanced the conversion of carbon dioxide into valuable products and stumbled upon a surprising discovery.
Identifying the genes that viruses 'steal' from ocean microbes - A new study gets scientists closer to more fully understanding where viruses fit into the global ocean picture of cycling nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and, of particular interest, carbon.
Harnessing vibrations: Engineered material generates electricity from unexpected source - Imagine tires that charge a vehicle as it drives, streetlights powered by the rumble of traffic, or skyscrapers that generate electricity as the buildings naturally sway and shudder.
Plankton balloon to six times their size in newly discovered mode of oceanic travel - Many plankton journey from the cold, dark depths of our oceans to the surface, only to eventually drift down again into the darkness in a perpetual rhythm.
Plant fungus provides new drug target for colorectal cancer therapy - Novel chemical compounds from a fungus could provide new perspectives for treating colorectal cancer, one of the most common and deadliest cancers worldwide.
Biden’s Withdrawal Made Containing War in the Middle East Harder - As tensions soar in the Middle East, the president’s lame duck status hinders efforts to manage the escalation of risks in the region
Here’s why being creative is good for your brain - Neuroarts, a new field of science, is finding that exposure to arts can improve learning, behavior and mental health.
Accelerated model of age-related muscle loss in microgravity could lead to new sarcopenia treatments - Research by the University of Florida models sarcopenia in microgravity, enhancing understanding of muscle loss and potential treatments using tissue chips.
New Cilia Disassembly Pathway Revealed in Maturing Neurons - Volume electron microscopy reveals a novel cellular process that is critical for healthy brain development, with implications for tumor formation.
In landmark study, immunotherapy boosts survival of advanced Hodgkin lymphoma - A new treatment for advanced Hodgkin lymphoma raised survival rates to 92%, aiming to establish a new standard therapy while reducing side effects.
Confirmed: The Sun has reached solar maximum - NASA, the NOAA and the international Solar Cycle Prediction panel met on Tuesday and announced the Sun has reached solar maximum.
Rare comet visible over Australia after 80,000 years - Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-Atlas) will be visible over Australian skies in the coming days.
Sewage illegally dumped into Windermere repeatedly over 3 years, BBC finds - United Utilities failed to report 100 million litres of illegal discharges, analysis of its data shows.
All too human: Racial disparities in pain assessment expose AI’s flawed beliefs about race - A study indicates AI chatbots may reinforce racial biases in medicine, leading to greater disparities in pain assessment for patients.
Career Chat: Choosing a Core Career Track - Jotham Austin opted for a director of a core facility position to combine his love for electron microscopy, teaching, and technique development.
“Stellar volcano” captured in dramatic Hubble images - About 700 light-years away is a pair of stars which have put on quite a show.
“The Devil’s Climb”: A Thrilling Testament to Friendship and Human Endurance - "The Devil's Climb" chronicles rock climbers Honnold and Caldwell's journey, emphasizing friendship, resilience, and personal growth amidst extreme challenges.
Hera Says Farewell to the Earth and Moon - Testing the equipment on an interstellar mission is one of the first things operators do when the spacecraft successfully launches.
October 16, 2024
Why did scientists name these new frogs after Star Trek characters? - Seven species of frogs in Madagascar have been named for their unique calls, which are similar to whistle-like sound effects used in Star Trek.‘Poster Child’ Brown Dwarf Is Actually Twins Orbiting Each Other - Astronomers observed that the two massive, gassy heavenly bodies orbit each other.
South Australian fossils of some of the earliest animals have question marks on their backs - A new fossil found in South Australia’s Nilpena Ediacara National Park represents the earliest evidence of an animal with left-right asymmetry.
There’s another massive meat recall over Listeria—and it’s a doozy - No cases reported so far, but officials are scrambling to track tainted products.
It's Important to Eat the Rainbow: How Phytochemicals in Fruits and Veggies Can Improve Your Health - Phytochemicals in fruits and veggies can improve your health.
Hurricane Helene Damage Strains Dialysis Care Nationwide - Hurricane Helene devastated a North Carolina facility that produces peritoneal dialysis fluid, which is used by about 80,000 people nationally
Biochar nanocomposite enhances detection of acetaminophen and uric acid in urine - In recent years, the excessive use of acetaminophen (APAP) has become a significant human hazard and social burden.
Amazon joins Google in investing in small modular nuclear power - What's with the sudden interest in nuclear power among tech titans?
Mechanism of cobalt–manganese catalysts deciphered - Conventional catalysts for hydrogen production via water electrolysis usually contain precious metals and are expensive.
Brown dwarf mystery revealed: there’s two! - Astronomers have solved a nearly 30-year-old mystery about a brown dwarf.
New skin research could help slow signs of ageing - The research could also be used to produce artificial skin for transplantation and prevent scarring.
Most of Earth’s meteorites come from a few asteroid break ups - The Earth has been constantly hit by meteorites in its long life time, but scientists only now working out where they came from have found surprising results.
Imagining What Earth Could Look Like From Space in 1,000 Years - Predicting what Earth will look like in 1000 years could help researchers find signs of life on other planets.
Researchers develop database for catalytic bioparts with experimental evidence - Catalytic bioparts are fundamental to the design, construction and optimization of biological systems for specific metabolic pathways.
‘Quantum Memory’ Proves Exponentially Powerful - Researchers are exploring new ways that quantum computers will be able to reveal the secrets of complex quantum systems.
Over 800 Million People Have Chronic Kidney Disease but Many Don’t Know It - Chronic kidney disease affects over 800 million people and can lead to kidney failure.
Trachoma elimination in sight after South Asia success - India and Pakistan successfully eliminate trachoma, while 39 countries continue to grapple with the disease.
The monarch butterfly may not be endangered, but its migration is, researchers find - With vigorous debate surrounding the health of the monarch butterfly, new research may have answered the biggest question plaguing butterfly researchers.
Men and women process pain differently, study finds - According to new research, men and women rely on different biological systems for pain relief, which could help explain why our most powerful pain medications are often less effective in women.
Numbers Are Persuasive—If Used in Moderation - Despite high levels of innumeracy and math anxiety, people often appreciate numeric data
Bacterial vaccine shows promise as cancer immunotherapy - Researchers have engineered bacteria as personalized cancer vaccines that activate the immune system to specifically seek out and destroy cancer cells.
Are nearby planets sending radio signals to each other? - Researchers have developed a new method using the Allen Telescope Array to search for interplanetary radio communication in the TRAPPIST-1 star system.
'Two for the price of one' Scientists discover new process to drive anti-viral immunity - Scientists have discovered a new process in our immune systems that leads to the production of an important family of anti-viral proteins called interferons.
Human skin map gives 'recipe' to build skin and could help prevent scarring - Prenatal human skin atlas and organoid will accelerate research into congenital diseases and lead to clinical applications for regenerative medicine.
It's twins! Mystery of famed brown dwarf solved - An international team of astronomers has figured out that a famous brown dwarf is actually a pair of tight-knit brown dwarfs, weighing about 38 and 34 times the mass of Jupiter, that whip around each other every 12 days.
Nitrogen pollution and rising carbon dioxide: A joint threat to grassland biodiversity? - An ecologically realistic 24-year field study of grasslands showed that elevated levels of carbon dioxide nearly tripled species losses attributed to nitrogen pollution.
The origin of most meteorites finally revealed - An international team has successfully demonstrated that 70% of all known meteorite falls originate from just three young asteroid families.
Breakthrough technology leads to life-saving treatment for deadly skin reaction - A global team of researchers has made a groundbreaking discovery that saves the lives of patients suffering from toxic epidermal necrolysis.
One in three plants call islands home: Many at risk - From Tasmania to Madagascar to New Guinea, islands make up just over five per cent of Earth's land yet are home to 31 per cent of the world's plant species.
Hidden tomb found beneath one of the new Seven Wonders of the World - A secret tomb has been discovered underneath Al-Khazneh – the Treasury building at the World Heritage Site of the ancient city Petra in Jordan.
Photoswitching molecules allow writing by irradiation or heat and erasing by visible light - In this age of cloud storage, few people are backing up data on CD-RWs.
What we can learn from animals about death and mortality - Susana Monsó chats with Ars about her new book, Playing Possum: How Animals Understand Death .
Flying Conservationists Teach Endangered Birds to Migrate - Inspired by a classic movie, conservationists are teaching endangered Northern Bald Ibises to fly south for the winter
Climate Change Action Depends on the 2024 Election - Harris would continue the Biden administration’s landmark climate efforts; Trump would roll the country back to more oil and gas
Experiment: Make your own craters! - Let’s make our own craters in cocoa and flour to learn how these features form throughout the solar system — and why they’re different sizes.
Giant Cluster is Spitting Out Massive Stars - We live inside the Milky Way galaxy which is joined as it drifts through space by two satellite galaxies, the Magellanic Clouds.
How Implicit Bias Affects Your Medical Care - How do you stop implicit bias from getting in the way of better health?
First mRNA stabilizing substance could aid in development of innovative mRNA therapeutics - Messenger RNA–based therapeutics and vaccines are the new hope in the fight against incurable diseases.
Environmental Protection, with a Side of Small Business - When Hurricane Maria swept through the Caribbean in 2017, tiny Dominica was hit particularly hard—howling winds and torrential rain damaged or destroyed 95 percent of the country’s housing stock.
How Cells Know Where to Grow After Injury - Fish fins and single-cell sequencing help scientists glean new insights into tissue regeneration.
Flies, rats and offers of hush money - the price of living next to a ‘monster’ incinerator - The UK's burden of waste is disproportionately falling on deprived areas, where residents have spoken to the BBC.
A Guide to Good Science Writing - Scientific writing is often overlooked, but it is a skill as important as bench work.
Global aid funds face fundraising ‘traffic jam’ - As global aid funds line up to replenish their coffers, aid budget cuts could be a major roadblock, warn analysts.
Local rangers provide huge boost to lion monitoring - Wildlife tourism rangers could be a “powerful” force in conservation monitoring, according to the results of a research project in Uganda.
A Day in the Life of a Field Scientist: Cape York Edition - Follow TNC scientists for a day of fieldwork in Australia’s Cape York – searching for palm cockatoos, cuscus and crocodiles, while discovering a diversity of little things.
October 15, 2024
Call to stop people throwing out thousands of litres of blood - Australia’s Red Cross blood service wants to stop doctors throwing away tens of thousands of litres of valuable blood every year.Jupiter’s Great Red Spot Jiggles - Jupiter is well known for its Great Red Spot, a feature that was discovered by Galileo over 400 years ago!
Drugmakers can keep making off-brand weight-loss drugs as FDA backpedals - FDA is reviewing its decision to remove tirzepatide drugs from the shortage list.
China Releases its First Roadmap for Space Science and Exploration Through 2050. - China’s space program has advanced considerably since the turn of the century.
Sustainable building effort reaches new heights with wooden skyscrapers - Wood offers architects an alternative to carbon-intensive steel and concrete.
What Language Reveals About Us - Julie Sedivy on the 3 greatest revelations she had while writing her new book Linguaphile.
SpaceX Catches a Falling Starship—A First in Spaceflight History - SpaceX’s fifth Starship flight test concluded with mechanical arms snatching the descending rocket booster out of the air
Healthcare’s digital transformation requires sharing data - A leading digital health expert says that current models of healthcare – driven as they are by economic and environmental pressures – are no longer sustainable.
Space Force’s X-37B will Perform “Never Before-Seen Maneuvers” in Orbit - The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) has been shrouded in mystery since its maiden flight in 2011.
NASA, NOAA: Sun reaches maximum phase in 11-year solar cycle - Experts have announced that the Sun has reached its solar maximum period, which could continue for the next year.
Climate-Fueled Disasters Are Raising Insurance Rates - Increasingly intense hurricanes, wildfires and other climate disasters have forced these state-run backstop insurance groups into a role typically assumed by the private sector as the primary insurer within their borders
How Astronomers Define Where a Galaxy Ends and Interstellar Space Begins - Explore how star formation, gas density, and proximity to other galaxies define where a galaxy ends.
Facts, Science and Trust - Without facts we all agree upon, there can be no science ... and without science, who can we trust?
Smart Tech Would Make Your Office Building Greener - Implementing smart technologies such as demand-controlled ventilation could reduce the carbon footprint of office buildings, which contribute more than one third of fossil fuel emissions globally
What do planet formation and badminton have in common? - Dust grains in protoplanetary disks align via the same aerodynamics as the sport.