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,...
Skeletal muscle fibers (multinucleated cells) with their nerve connections. (Ed Reschke/Stone/Getty Images)We all wish for a longer life—at least, I know I do—but what about ensuring that we enjoy good health during the time we have?Over the past century, human life expectancy has significantly increased for several reasons, particularly advances in sanitation, public health, nutrition,...
Credit: PixabayManmade noises, like vehicle traffic, can reduce the stress-relieving effects of natural soundscapes, according to a November 27, 2024, study in PLOS ONE by Paul Lintott and Lia Gilmour.Previous research shows natural sounds, such as birdsong, lower blood pressure, heart rate, and stress. In contrast, human-made noises like traffic negatively affect health....
The almost complete skeleton of a young marine crocodile. (Ernesto Benavides/AFP)On Wednesday, paleontologists revealed the fossil of a young marine crocodile, estimated to be 10 to 12 million years old, uncovered in a Peruvian desert. The three-meter-long (nearly 10-foot) gharial, or fish-eating crocodile, was discovered in late 2023 in the Ocucaje Desert, about 350 kilometers...
Individual burial ML2021 found in the chevet of the chapel in 2021. (a) In situ photo © H. Gaillard; (b) Marks of embalming on the cranium; (c) Marks on the right humerus (antero-medial view), (d) Marks on the left tibia (anterior view) © C. Partiot and M. Bessou. Credit: Scientific Reports (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-78258-wA team of...
Credit: DepositphotosDo you favor Black Friday or Cyber Monday? The January sales or Amazon Prime Day? Or maybe you prefer waiting for a traditional clearance event with deep discounts.No matter your shopping preferences, it's likely that you enjoy the thrill of scoring a good deal.The weeks leading up to Black Friday showcase this eager...
Credit: DepositphotosIt’s well-known that enjoying a tasty fish fillet or a seafood platter provides essential nutrients like omega-3s and vitamin D. However, these meals often come with an unwelcome side: numerous micro- and nano-plastics.Plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters find their way into oceans through human waste, infiltrating the food chain. An Ifremer study...
