Each human brain contains a detailed map linking specific areas to body parts like hands, lips, and feet. But what happens to this map when a body part is lost? For years, scientists believed that after an amputation, the brain’s map undergoes major reorganization, with nearby regions taking over the space that once represented the […]
Study Finds Phantom Limbs May Operate in Unexpected Ways Read More »
Picture yourself in an automobile factory for a moment. A robot and a human are working side by side on the assembly line. The robot is swiftly putting together car doors, while the human handles quality control—checking the doors for defects and ensuring they are assembled correctly. Harnessing the Strengths of Human-Robot Collaboration Across Industries
Robot Remorse: New study Aids Robots in Making Safer Choices Near People Read More »
An Ohio couple welcomed a baby boy from an embryo frozen for more than 30 years, setting what may be a new world record. Lindsey (35) and Tim Pierce (34) became parents to their son, Thaddeus Daniel Pierce, on Saturday, July 26. Speaking with MIT Technology Review, Lindsey said the experience “felt like something out
Baby Born From 30-Year Frozen Embryo Sets Record Read More »
Imagine if the plants in your home could do more than simply look decorative. Scientists at South China Agricultural University found a way to use nanoparticles to turn plants into softly glowing night lights. Phosphor Compound Turns Succulents into Two-Hour Natural Night Lights Researchers developed a phosphor compound that lets succulents absorb light in minutes
Glow-Boosting Nanoparticles turn Houseplants Into Night Lights Read More »
A large-scale review of research on complementary and alternative autism treatments found no strong evidence of effectiveness and noted that their safety was seldom evaluated. A study in Nature Human Behaviour reviewed 248 meta-analyses and 200 trials involving over 10,000 participants. Examining 19 Alternative Autism Treatments and Launching an Evidence Platform The researchers assessed the
Study Finds Little Support for Alternative Autism Treatments Read More »
Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory are relying on the 88-Inch Cyclotron to stabilize the periodic table, atom by atom, where things get unpredictable at the heavy-element end. The Periodic Table’s Classroom Legacy For many people, the periodic table brings back memories of dull science classes, its oversized classroom poster offering
Cyclotron Rescues the Periodic Table When Physics Gets Chaotic Read More »
There are countless strategies to sharpen your mind—regular exercise and picking up new skills are just a few. But what if you could actually increase the size of your brain? A recent study suggests that the right fragrance might do just that. Researchers from Kyoto University and the University of Tsukuba in Japan found that
Inhaling This Particular Scent May Increase Brain Gray Matter Read More »
Finland has just switched on an industrial-scale sand battery in the southern town of Pornainen, where it will replace an aging woodchip plant as the main source of heating for the municipality. Expected to cut local heating-related carbon emissions by up to 70%, the facility now holds the title of the largest sand battery in
World’s Largest Sand Battery Goes Online in Finland Read More »
We’ve already watched robotic dogs carry gear up steep trails and even assist firefighters. Now, researchers at ETH Zurich in Switzerland are testing their four-legged machines on the badminton court, training them to play at a level comparable to a young child. A New Control System for ANYmal The team developed a new control system
Robot Dog Picks Up Badminton Skills – And Does Surprisingly Well Read More »
A Nature Neuroscience study found that observing signs of illness—like coughing or rashes—prompts the brain to anticipate infection risk and trigger immune defenses. In an interview with Nature, he explained: “The findings highlight the brain’s ability to anticipate events and choose the right response to address them.” To safely mimic an infectious threat, the team
Study Shows Seeing Illness Activates Body Defenses Read More »