An artist's impression of CRISPR getting to work on cancer cells with the help of ultrasound pulsesWang Lab and Pepper WorkshopResearchers have developed an innovative gene therapy for cancer that can be remotely activated in specific areas of the body. The approach uses a version of CRISPR that responds to ultrasound pulses and has...
Credit: PixabayRecent research has detected fentanyl and other drugs in dozens of dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico, just months after cocaine was found in sharks off the coast of South America. This finding highlights the growing problem of pharmaceuticals infiltrating marine environments."Pharmaceuticals have emerged as micropollutants and are becoming a global concern, with...
(Nanshu Lu)Traditional non-invasive brain imaging methods involve electrodes, sticky gels, and wires, which can be uncomfortable, unsightly, and time-consuming. However, scientists have recently developed a promising alternative in the form of temporary electronic tattoos.E-Tattoos: A More Comfortable and Accurate AlternativeThese e-tattoos use liquid ink applied to the scalp. In a recent study, they proved...
The Artemis program is meant to establish a permanent human presence on the MoonNASAThe Artemis II and III missions, which aim to return U.S. astronauts to the Moon, have been delayed once again. At a press briefing, NASA officials revealed that issues with the heat shield and life support systems would push back the...
Credit: PixabayBlack holes are usually detected light-years away, but a new study suggests they could also be found here on Earth, in the form of tiny tunnels carved through rocks or ancient buildings.Scientists theorize that primordial black holes formed shortly after the Big Bang, unlike regular black holes, which form from collapsing massive stars....
A zebrafish embryo. (Dr. Deodatta Gajbhiye)Fish embryos in many species can control their hatching timing, effectively selecting their own birthdays. A study from Hebrew University of Jerusalem has uncovered the chemical and biological processes enabling this precise control, showing how embryos align their hatching with optimal environmental conditions.Researchers focused on zebrafish (Danio rerio) and discovered...
Credit: PixabayAuthor John Steinbeck once remarked, "It is a common experience that a problem difficult at night is resolved in the morning after the committee of sleep has worked on it."Countless individuals have credited their dreams with inspiring breakthroughs and innovations. Modern research into the science of sleep now provides evidence that supports these...
Each "sentinel mollusk" used in a molluSCAN-eye setup provides water quality readings 24 hours a day, 365 days a yearmolluSCANScientists have developed a commercial water-quality monitoring system, molluSCAN-eye, which uses live, electronically enhanced mollusks to detect pollution. Filter-feeding mollusks like oysters and mussels naturally respond to pollutants by altering how they open their shells,...
The RAVEN robot in flight, showing off its bird legs© 2024 EPFL/Alain Herzog (CC-BY-SA 4.0)While autonomous flying robots hold promising potential, their usefulness is limited if they cannot navigate uneven terrain after landing. However, an experimental bio-inspired robot overcomes this limitation by mimicking the raven's gait.Named RAVEN (Robotic Avian-inspired Vehicle for Multiple Environments), the...
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image LabAstrophysicists have detected the highest-energy electrons ever recorded, raining down on Earth from a mysterious nearby source. These cosmic rays carry trillions of times the energy of visible light, suggesting they originate from a powerful source relatively close to our solar system.Earth is constantly bombarded by cosmic radiation,...
