Credit: PixabayA mysterious cosmic explosion has left astronomers baffled, presenting either an incredibly rare cosmic alignment or an entirely new phenomenon.The event, labeled EP240408a, was first detected on April 8, 2024, by the Einstein Probe, an X-ray space telescope. Initially, it resembled a typical gamma-ray burst, known for its bright X-ray emissions. However, follow-up...
Blue rings visible in one of the tree samples. (Pawel Matulewski/Liliana Siekacz)A simple blue stain may unlock trees’ memories of cold summers and volcanic winters, offering scientists a precise new tool to reconstruct ancient climates through timber anatomy.By combining the biological stains safranin and astra blue, researchers can highlight areas with low lignin, a compound...
Credit: PixabayResearchers recently found that eight psychiatric disorders share a common genetic foundation.A new study has pinpointed specific genetic variants involved, revealing that many remain active longer during brain development. This extended activity suggests they influence multiple developmental stages, making them potential targets for treating multiple conditions.“The proteins produced by these genes are highly...
Snapshots of realized sleepy mood expression on a child android robot. Credit: Hisashi IshiharaOsaka University researchers have developed a technology that enables androids to express moods like excitement or drowsiness through dynamic facial movements modeled as overlapping, decaying waves.While androids can mimic human expressions, their movements often feel artificial, creating discomfort. Traditional approaches rely...
Credit: PixabayAllergic rhinitis and asthma, often linked, can severely impact respiratory health. Searching for better treatments, scientists analyzed the nasal mycobiome—the community of fungi in the nose. Their study revealed that individuals with allergic rhinitis, with or without asthma, have distinct fungal compositions compared to healthy individuals. This suggests chronic respiratory conditions may disrupt...
Credit: PixabayElectrons forced through a maze of twisted carbon layers behave in unexpected ways. Researchers from the University of British Columbia, the University of Washington, Johns Hopkins University, and Japan’s National Institute for Materials Science have discovered a strange new state of matter in graphene’s electrical currents.Their findings confirm predictions about electron behavior in...
Credit: PixabayDementia has no cure, and while some new drugs may slow its progression, they remain expensive and only marginally effective for many. However, a recent Cambridge-led study links commonly used prescription drugs—such as antibiotics, antivirals, and vaccines—to a lower risk of dementia.Since these drugs are already approved with well-known safety profiles, they could...
Credit: PixabayCan a pandemic change the Moon’s temperature? A 2024 study suggested global lockdowns reduced Earth’s heat radiation, cooling the Moon. But new research says otherwise.The original idea: As businesses shut down in 2020 and people stayed home, carbon emissions dropped, lowering terrestrial radiation—the heat Earth emits and the Moon absorbs. Scientists noted a...
Credit: PixabayJanuary set a new heat record, defying expectations that La Niña would bring cooling.Copernicus Climate Change Service reported temperatures 1.75°C above pre-industrial levels, extending a historic warming trend. Scientists expected a cooldown after El Niño peaked in early 2024, but extreme heat persists, fueling debate over additional warming factors.Every fraction of a degree...
Credit: PixabayKeeping global warming under 2°C—the fallback goal of the Paris Agreement—is now "impossible," according to a controversial new study by prominent climatologist James Hansen and his team. Published in Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development, the paper argues that Earth's climate is more sensitive to greenhouse gas emissions than previously thought.Adding to...
