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Showing posts from 2023

Swimming behind someone cuts drag by up to 40 per cent

Swimmers in open water races can reduce the amount of drag forces they experience by swimming behind or at the hip level of another swimmer from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/bi5Zu8A

Swimming behind someone cuts drag by up to 40 per cent

Swimmers in open water races can reduce the amount of drag forces they experience by swimming behind or at the hip level of another swimmer from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/bi5Zu8A

Mathematicians find 27 tickets that guarantee UK National Lottery win

Buying a specific set of 27 tickets for the UK National Lottery will mathematically guarantee that you win something from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/8yrdANL

How to make perfect tempura at home

From using less protein to adding ethanol, these science-backed tricks can help you make the crispiest tempura from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/num1y6v

Mutation accessibility fuels influenza evolution

Scientists showed that fixed mutations within a viral population most likely stem from how easy it is to acquire that mutation (i.e., mutation accessibility) rather than just its benefit. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/mL7Kjn8

Can AI ever become conscious and how would we know if that happens?

It sounds far-fetched, but researchers are trying to recreate subjective experience in AIs, even if disagreement over what consciousness is will make it difficult to test from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/FsLObJo

Cell biology: How cellular powerhouses call for help when under stress

Originally, the powerhouses of higher cells, the mitochondria, were independent organisms. Researchers have investigated to what extent their metabolism has blended with that of their host cells in the course of evolution, using the example of a mitochondrial stress response. They have discovered that mitochondria send two different biochemical signals. These are processed together in the cell and trigger a support mechanism to restore cellular balance (homeostasis). from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/6PTo9mH

Research points to potential new medical therapy for Lyme disease

A medical therapy that inhibits the growth of cancer cells may one day be effective at treating Lyme disease, according to new research study. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/4UBn1lj

Research supports use of managed and prescribed fires to reduce fire severity

Scientists found that fires in America's dry conifer forests are burning hotter and killing more trees today than in previous centuries. The main culprit? Paradoxically, a lack of fires. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/bHiP3xC

Room-temperature superconductors: Here's everything you need to know

Truly convenient materials that can conduct electricity perfectly have long been sought after by researchers, but their history is one of difficult experiments, theoretical puzzles and scientific controversy from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/2gohtLy

Western science catches up with First Nations' medicinal use of ant honey

Scientists have discovered the honey produced by Australian ants possesses unique anti-microbial activity against bacteria and fungi that could make the liquid useful medicinally. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/a96b7fl

New algorithm maps safest routes for city drivers

Most navigation apps can show you the fastest possible route to your destination and some can even suggest an eco-friendly route calculated to produce the least amount of carbon emissions. But what if they could also map the safest route with the lowest possible risk of a crash? A new algorithm could make this a reality. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/HMwpd91

Protein found to protect females against obesity

Using a mouse model of high fat diet-induced obesity, a team of scientists has found that, compared to males, female mice are protected against obesity and inflammation because they secrete more of an immune protein called RELMalpha. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/SlPIvOG

Egg 'signatures' will allow drongos to identify cuckoo 'forgeries' almost every time, study finds

Egg 'signatures' will allow drongos to identify cuckoo 'forgeries' almost every time, study finds. African cuckoos may have met their match with the fork-tailed drongo, which scientists predict can detect and reject cuckoo eggs from their nest on almost every occasion, despite them on average looking almost identical to drongo eggs. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/deWH0Oh

The biggest scientific challenges that AI is already helping to crack

AI isn't just for chatbots – many companies are using it to tackle everything from protein folding and drug development to commercially viable nuclear fusion from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/q6Q2FgT

Supersonic cracks seem to be breaking the laws of physics

An experiment with elastic gels broke the theoretical speed limit for how fast cracks can move through materials, raising new questions about the physics of fractures from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/4RZygjO

Wood-munching fungi can break down common type of plastic

Fungi isolated from rotting hardwood trees can break down sheets of low-density polyethylene, one of the most abundant plastics on Earth from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/F3Rdy56

New archosaur species shows that precursor of dinosaurs and pterosaurs was armored

Researchers have described a new species of armored reptile that lived near the time of the first appearance of dinosaurs. With bony plates on its backbone, this archosaur fossil reveals that armor was a boomerang trait in the story of dinosaur and pterosaur evolution: the group's ancestors were armored, but this characteristic was lost and then independently re-evolved multiple times later among specialized dinosaurs like ankylosaurs, stegosaurs, and others. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/sXSmEcB

The start of spring in the Arctic is increasingly unpredictable

Instead of coming earlier and earlier as the climate warms, the onset of spring in the Arctic is now extremely variable from year to year, bringing challenges to wildlife from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/JtcxzkS

The biggest scientific challenges that AI is already helping to crack

AI isn't just for chatbots – many companies are using it to tackle everything from protein folding and drug development to commercially viable nuclear fusion from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/ueg2SEC

Automated analysis of microplastic concentrations

How high are concentrations of microplastics in the environment, in our drinking water or in foods? Researchers have developed an automated analysis method for the identification and quantification of particles. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/5wFj0rx

New robot boosts solar energy research

Researchers have created a robot capable of conducting experiments more efficiently and sustainably to develop a range of new semiconductor materials with desirable attributes. The researchers have already demonstrated that the new technology, called RoboMapper, can rapidly identify new perovskite materials with improved stability and solar cell efficiency. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/aMx8yVS

Sea level may have been higher than it is now just 6000 years ago

Climate researchers thought that current sea levels were the highest in more than 100,000 years, but new models suggest oceans were higher during the Holocene than they are today from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/qJK9Hu7

Gloomy climate calculation: Scientists predict a collapse of the Atlantic ocean current to happen mid-century

Important ocean currents that redistribute heat, cold and precipitation between the tropics and the northernmost parts of the Atlantic region will shut down around the year 2060 if current greenhouse gas emissions persist. This is the conclusion based on new calculations that contradict the latest report from the IPCC. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/CU0a6BR

What can central Utah's earthquake 'swarms' reveal about the West's seismicity?

Much of central Utah's seismic activity comes in groups of small earthquakes. A study by seismologists examines 2,300 quakes occurring 40 'swarms' dating back to 1981, opening a window into Earth's crust in a geothermally active area. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/UvE2s4W

AI predicts the work rate of enzymes

Enzymes play a key role in cellular metabolic processes. To enable the quantitative assessment of these processes, researchers need to know the so-called 'turnover number' (for short: kcat) of the enzymes. A team of bioinformaticians now describes a tool for predicting this parameter for various enzymes using AI methods. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/8ocT4Hm

Wormlike animals are first amphibians shown to pass microbes to their offspring

Caecilians are an illusive type of snakelike amphibian that live in aquatic and subterranean environments. In some species, mothers produce a special type of nutrient-rich skin that juveniles consume, similar to the way in which humans breastfeed their children. A new study shows this behavior passes on microbes to juvenile caecilians, inoculating them to jump-start a healthy microbiome. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/zTUxpN1

Using our oceans to fight climate change

Scientists are investigating the use of membrane contactors for direct ocean carbon capture. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/NJKCuSd

Study links cadmium levels in women's urine to endometriosis

Women with a history of endometriosis had higher concentrations of cadmium in their urine compared to those without that diagnosis, according to a new study that suggests the toxic metal could be linked to the development of endometriosis. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/hNyQeda

GPT-4: Is the AI behind ChatGPT getting worse?

The AI that powers ChatGPT appears to be performing less well at mathematical problems than it was just a few months ago from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/ADNjRov

Advancing chemical recycling of waste plastics

New research focuses on optimizing a promising technology called pyrolysis, which can chemically recycle waste plastics into more valuable chemicals. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/c47L0FT

Study improves understanding of how bacteria benefit plant growth

Scientists have found that competition between strains of beneficial bacteria in the soil degrades the service that the bacteria provide to their hosts. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3EbJxct

Early peanut introduction gaining traction among US parents

In 2017, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced a dramatic reversal in its approach to peanut-allergy prevention, recommending parents expose their infants as young as four months old to peanuts in an effort to prevent peanut allergy. In the five years since, early introduction to peanuts has been gaining traction among U.S. parents and caregivers, but more work must be done to communicate the guidelines more broadly, especially to those with less access to health-related information, reports a new study. Among all surveyed parents and caregivers in the U.S., 13% of parents said they're aware of the guidelines and 48% believed feeding peanuts early prevented peanut allergy, despite knowing about the guidelines or not. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/PDZTlwB

Detection of bacteria and viruses with fluorescent nanotubes

The new carbon nanotube sensor design resembles a molecular toolbox that can be used to quickly assemble sensors for a variety of purposes -- for instance for detecting bacteria and viruses. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/nyZOJhm

Probiotic combo stops bacteria that cause toxic shock syndrome

New findings suggest that a probiotic combination could reduce incidence of toxic shock syndrome. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/O84zBwc

Scientists develop AI-based tracking and early-warning system for viral pandemics

Machine-learning system effectively predicts emergence of prominent variants. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3PBqtM9

More than just lifestyle and genes: New factor influencing excess body weight discovered

What determines whether we become overweight? Aside from lifestyle, predisposition plays a role, but genes cannot fully explain the inherited propensity to accumulate excess weight. A new study shows that a kind of formatting of the DNA code in one gene that is associated with satiety is implicated in a slightly elevated risk of excess body weight -- at least in women. This 'epigenetic marking' is established early on during the embryonic stage. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/cyvMVeg

Your genes may influence how much fruit, fish or salt you eat

Nearly 500 regions of the human genome appear to directly impact your dietary intake by affecting perception of flavours and food preferences from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/AUdR53b

Revealed: The five foods that are key to maintaining good gut health

Fruits and vegetables contain prebiotics, which act as a food source for gut microbes and may boost overall health from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/qGt4sHQ

Research could pave way to greener, more sustainable products made with renewable carbon

Researchers are exploring new methods for optimizing carbon-based catalysts. The team's findings could lead to better materials for making greener, more sustainable products with renewable carbon. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/ecUqk6T

Understanding the many different ways animals are evolving in response to fire could help conservation efforts

In our modern era of larger, more destructive, and longer-lasting fires -- called the Pyrocene -- plants and animals are evolving quickly to survive. By synthesizing the wide body of research about rapid animal evolution in response to fire, a multidisciplinary team of ecology experts hopes to leverage what we already know to help foster evolution-informed conservation plans. In this way, they suggest, we can try to harness the ways in which fire impacts animals to protect vulnerable species -- working with evolution instead of against it. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/py1R0sn

Long-term changes in waves and storm surges have not impacted global coastlines

Changes in ocean wave and storm conditions have not caused long-term impacts on sandy coastlines in the past 30 years, a new study has found. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/TBJIn0d

The Saint of Bright Doors review: Fine debut probes nature of memory

Stunning sci-fi novel by Vajra Chandrasekera uses magical realism to weave a multi-layered, dreamlike story where the nature of memory and how it can be abused is its deepest theme from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/jw9AXp6

Placenta: The overlooked organ with a lifelong impact on your health

The placenta is an incredible organ that we grow for a short period of time, yet it has a surprising long-term influence on our health. Researchers are now developing tools to spot placenta problems and improve the lives of future babies from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/vWhUGRo

Ancient utensils bear traces of 2000-year-old Vietnamese curry

Remnants of eight spices were found on a sandstone slab from an archaeological site in Vietnam, showing the early adoption of ingredients and techniques from south Asia from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/lI4FQvU

NASA probably discovered quakes on Mars in the 1970s

The Viking 1 and 2 Mars probes looked for evidence of quakes on Mars, but failed to find anything definitive. Now a reanalysis suggests Viking 2 found marsquakes after all from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/SReqJUz

Catalyst can control methane emissions in natural gas engines

A catalyst using a single or just a few palladium atoms removed 90% of unburned methane from natural gas engine exhaust at low temperatures in a recent study. While more research needs to be done, the advance in single atom catalysis has the potential to lower exhaust emissions of methane, one of the worst greenhouse gases that traps heat at about 25 times the rate of carbon dioxide. Researchers showed that the single-atom catalyst was able to remove methane from engine exhaust at lower temperatures, less than 350 degrees Celsius (662 degrees Fahrenheit), while maintaining reaction stability at higher temperatures. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/HFTsXja

NASA's asteroid-smashing space debris spotted by Hubble telescope

The Hubble Space Telescope has snapped the results of smashing a spacecraft into the asteroid Dimorphous from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/6Vec0v7

Bioengineered yeast feed on agricultural waste

Researchers have created a bioengineered yeast that can grow efficiently on a wide range of sugars from agricultural waste biomass, closing a carbon cycle for the biosynthesis of fuels, pharmaceuticals and plastics. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/MmiROtL

Kagami review: Mixed-reality gig brings dead headliner back to life

Kagami, a mixed-reality concert at this year's Manchester International Festival, shows the fresh challenges and possibilities of state-of-the-art tech from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/1qEox2s

Two-faced star seems to have one hydrogen side and one helium side

A strange star more than 1300 light years away appears to have two sides with completely different compositions, and astronomers aren’t sure how it ended up that way from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/iNJdO36

Revealed: What your thoughts look like and how they compare to others’

We finally have a grasp on the many different ways of thinking and how your inner mindscape affects your experience of reality from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/9aRV68t

Each mom passes unique set of breast milk antibodies to baby

Breast milk from each individual contains a unique assemblage of antibodies that are surprisingly stable throughout lactation and across pregnancies, according to a new study. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/dD9roUK

Improving high-temperature stability of perovskite solar cells

Researchers have found a way to significantly improve the operational stability of perovskite solar cells at high temperatures, which is necessary for their use in terawatt power grids. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/wCOYrKk

Brain scans are putting a major theory of consciousness to the test

A proposed way to measure consciousness called integrated information theory has been tested using data from human brain scans, and seems to work from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/XASCxVO

Bot inspired by baby turtles can swim under the sand

This robot can swim under the sand and dig itself out too, thanks to two front limbs that mimic the oversized flippers of turtle hatchlings. It's the only robot that is able to travel in sand at a depth of 5 inches. It can also travel at a speed of 1.2 millimeters per second--roughly 4 meters, or 13 feet, per hour. This may seem slow but is comparable to other subterranean animals like worms and clams. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/X4VQpAj

Wiggly chair that mimics jogging provides some benefits of exercise

The head movements that come from some kinds of exercise may bathe brain cells in a fluid that has a blood pressure-lowering effect, according to a study that uses a chair that mimics jogging from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/MdpY1na

Five of the biggest unanswered questions about the proton

There is a lot we don’t know about protons, the particles at the heart of the atom, from what they are made of to whether they live forever. Solving the mysteries surrounding them could transform our understanding of the universe. from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/fAMPqW3

Building better lipid nanoparticles for drug delivery

Pharmaceutical scientists and biologists are teaming up to make the next generation of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for drug delivery. Combining structural biology with cutting edge pharmaceutical science, the team is designing LNPs that can precisely deliver vaccines and therapeutics to target tissues while improving the product's shelf life and duration of action. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/m9teIuT

Eunice Newton Foote: The woman who discovered the greenhouse effect

In research presented in 1856, Eunice Newton Foote described how tubes of gas heated when exposed to sunlight, but the significance of her work was not appreciated from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/nstSA27

ADHD diagnoses in UK men grew nearly 20-fold in 18 years

An increased awareness of ADHD symptoms in adulthood may be prompting people to seek a diagnosis from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/TgruABy

Bolivia's surging deforestation alarms environmentalists

Bolivia accounts for 9 per cent of all primary forest lost across the globe, and conservationists fear deforestation will only increase due to the government’s desire to expand agricultural production from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/X9idVzq

ADHD diagnoses in UK men grew nearly 20-fold in 18 years

An increased awareness of ADHD symptoms in adulthood may be prompting people to seek a diagnosis from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/TgruABy

World's smallest baleen whale is the last of its kind

Pygmy right whales are evolutionarily distinct and may be part of a whale family long thought to be extinct from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/WL49REi

Life’s hidden laws: The arcane rules of evolution and how they work

A handful of “rules” govern how evolution shapes life on Earth, from island gigantism to colours shifting with latitude – and offer clues about how animals and plants might adapt to a warming world from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/cGnYT0M

Parkinson's disease: Exercise may stop crucial neurons from degrading

Regular exercise prevents neurons crucial for movement from degrading in rats with symptoms of Parkinson's disease, potentially explaining why consistent physical activity can slow the advancement of symptoms from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3Yxesgk

Animals abandon deep-sea mining areas for over a year

Fish, shrimp and other creatures were found in much lower numbers 13 months after a deep-sea mining test in the Pacific Ocean from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/fCrBFyg

Butterflies and moths share ancient 'blocks' of DNA

Butterflies and moths share 'blocks' of DNA dating back more than 200 million years, new research shows. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/UjSB0i1

Those who are smarter live longer, at least among mouse lemurs

Being smart pays off, as it allows for more balanced decision-making. However, the origins of these abilities during evolution remain largely unexplored. Only if smarter individuals enjoy better survival and have higher reproductive rates than their conspecifics, improved cognitive abilities can evolve. Researchers from the German Primate Center (DPZ) -- Leibniz Institute for Primate Research have recently examined the link between cognitive abilities and survival in gray mouse lemurs. The study involved capturing the animals, subjecting them to various cognition and personality tests, measuring their weight, and subsequently releasing them. The findings revealed that the animals that performed best in the cognition tests lived for longer. Additionally, those that were heavier and displayed more exploratory behavior also experienced an increased lifespan. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/JBeSiAb

How can we keep homes cool in extreme heat without air conditioning?

Many northern countries including the UK must adapt homes to cope with hot weather, a study warns – but there are ways to do this without increasing energy use from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/OTWKAaX

Analogous to algae: Scientists move toward engineering living matter by manipulating movement of microparticles

A team of scientists has devised a system that replicates the movement of naturally occurring phenomena, such as hurricanes and algae, using laser beams and the spinning of microscopic rotors. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/a63P1zM

Titanium oxide material lets sunlight drive green hydrogen production

As part of ongoing efforts to develop materials that could enable alternative energy sources, researchers have produced a titanium oxide nanofilament material that can harness sunlight to unlock the ubiquitous molecule's potential as a fuel source. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/Fv0jUWp

Building a better forest tree with CRISPR gene editing

Researchers use CRISPR techniques to modify lignin levels in poplar trees. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/rIx8wvh

Tiny scales reveal megalodon was not as fast as believed, but it had a mega-appetite explaining its gigantism

A new study reveals the iconic extinct Megalodon, or 'megatooth shark', was a rather slow cruiser that used its warm-bloodedness to facilitate digestion and absorption of nutrients. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/pnYgFsN

Malaria vaccine shows promise against relapsing form of the disease

A vaccine induced an immune response against the malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax, which can remain dormant in the body and cause a relapse of symptoms from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/QOdXMfL

The oceans are getting greener because of climate change

A trend towards greener seas revealed by satellite images is probably down to changes in ocean plankton communities, which could have repercussions for marine life and carbon storage from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/a5hT8ZC

The ocean's color is changing as a consequence of climate change

The ocean's color has changed significantly in 20 years, and the trend is likely a consequence of human-induced climate change, report scientists. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/wxR1auy

Highly efficient ruthenium-based catalysts with caffeine and theophylline

Researchers are developing highly efficient biosourced catalysts based on caffeine and theophylline, two natural substances. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/YDcoOVg

Newly identified protein regulates the creation of cellulose in plant cells

A team has identified a protein that modifies the cellular machinery responsible for producing cellulose, which could inform the design of more stable, cellulose-enriched materials for biofuels and other functions. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/qbdCjsK

Carbon tax on luxuries is fairer way to cut emissions, finds analysis

Instead of a uniform tax on carbon emissions, countries should apply higher taxes to luxury products to reduce social inequality and tackle climate change, say researchers from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/zsUmf5G

Beyond Wegovy: Could the next wave of weight-loss drugs end obesity?

Wegovy and Ozempic have made headlines, but a new wave of more effective drugs like Mounjaro have the potential to end obesity altogether. How will they work and are they safe? from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/FCnt7Yz

Navigating the future of underwater geolocalization: How polarization patterns enable new technology

Beneath the water's surface lays a hidden world: one that cannot be perceived by the human eye. When viewed through a special camera, however, rich polarization patterns are unveiled. These patterns can be used as an alternative approach to geolocation- the process of determining the geographic position of an object. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/N1JKlca

Record-breaking heat in the summer of 2022 caused more than 61000 deaths in Europe

The summer of 2022 was the hottest summer ever recorded in Europe and was characterized by an intense series of record-breaking heat waves, droughts and forest fires. A study now estimates 61,672 heat-attributable deaths between 30 May and 4 September 2022. The research team obtained temperature and mortality data for the period 2015-2022 for 823 regions in 35 European countries, whose total population represents more than 543 million people. These data were used to estimate epidemiological models and predict temperature-attributable mortality for each region and week of the summer period. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/zAjHt7U

Developer dollars not enough to save species

Financial payments made by land developers to offset their impacts on threatened species may fall short, according to new research. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/iOryL9N

Taking a lesson from spiders: Researchers create an innovative method to produce soft recyclable fibers for smart textiles

Researchers drew inspiration from the spider silk spinning process to fabricate strong, stretchable, and electrically conductive soft fibers. Their novel technique overcomes the challenges of conventional methods, which require complex conditions and systems. Such soft and recyclable fibers have a wide range of potential applications, such as a strain-sensing glove for gaming or a smart mask for monitoring breathing status for conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/RzUAZxp

Bees get week early wakeup call from warming climate

Rising temperatures are causing British bees to wake up from hibernation almost a week earlier. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/vTiGIb3

Human-made materials in nests can bring both risks and benefit for birds

We all discard a huge amount of plastic and other human-made materials into the environment, and these are often picked up by birds. New research has shown that 176 bird species around the world are now known to include a wide range of anthropogenic materials in their nests. This material found in birds' nests can be both beneficial and harmful say researchers. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/zEK2Jyi

The high cost of CRISPR therapy will stop it getting to most patients

The world’s first CRISPR therapy may be approved soon, but sadly it is unlikely to be affordable for hundreds of thousands of people whose pain it could end from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/pDXzRtC

Gravitational waves spark hunt for cosmic strings and dark matter

The discovery of low-level ripples throughout the universe called the gravitational wave background has set physicists looking for exotic explanations from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/6SQIhT0

Theres a huge radioactive slab of volcanic granite buried on the moon

A block of granite on the far side of the moon used to be the inside of a volcano – though researchers are unsure how the volcano could have formed from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/QdvlGtA

Earth review: BBC tells terrifying story of our planets Great Dying

This epic TV series kicks off with Inferno, the story of our planet’s biggest mass extinction. Host Chris Packham probes how Earth lost up to 90 per cent of its species in an event which began 252 million years ago from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/dj53RbH

How CRISPR therapy could cure everything from cancer to infertility

The imminent approval of the world's first CRISPR treatment for sickle cell disease is just the start: soon this gene-editing tool could be used to tackle everything from cancer to high cholesterol and infertility from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/Izms5QU

How to spot Jupiter's icy moons

Jupiter’s Galilean moons are promising places to look for life. Now is a great time to see them, says Abigail Beall from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/uamyvrJ

Not eating enough of these six healthy foods is associated with higher cardiovascular disease and deaths globally

Previous and similar research has focused on Western countries and diets that combined harmful, ultra-processed foods with nutrient-dense foods. This research was global in scope and focused on foods commonly considered to be healthy. Researchers derived a diet score from PHRI's ongoing, large-scale global Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiological (PURE) study, then replicated that in five independent studies to measure health outcomes in different world regions and in people with and without prior CVD. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/HThQYR3

Doom-and-gloom climate news may scare but also encourage audiences

Researchers investigated how seeing frightening news about climate change day after day may shape the way people feel about the phenomenon and how willing they are to take action to address it. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/jhmFwrd

Art that integrates data visualizations can help bridge the US political divide over climate change

A new study shows that intentionally integrating art with data visualizations can help non-expert audiences more meaningfully engage with climate change while also bridging political divides in ways that data alone cannot. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/wlFioMy

Netflix invents new green-screen filming method using magenta light

A faster and more accurate method for putting footage of actors in different backgrounds allows directors to see how their shots will appear as they film them from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/EYyPDrG

The past week was the hottest ever recorded on Earth

The record for the hottest average global air temperature was broken three times this week, making the past seven days the hottest since instrumental records began in the 1850s from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/0PX3FY8

Tooth analysis reveals ancient Iberian leader was female

Molecular evidence has revealed that a person buried with lavish goods over 4000 years ago was female, not male as previously thought from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/cM082T5

Rare embryo mutations may increase risk of developing schizophrenia

We know that genetic factors play the largest role in the risk of developing schizophrenia, but few of the genes involved have been identified. Now researchers have found relevant mutations that occur in embryos from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/Potlkhy

Giant stone artefacts found on rare Ice Age site in Kent UK

Researchers have discovered some of the largest early prehistoric stone tools in Britain. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/9nw7BHq

Number cruncher calculates whether whales are acting weirdly

We humans can be a scary acquaintance for whales in the wild. This includes marine biologists tagging them with measuring devices to understand them better. These experiences can make whales behave erratically for a while. Such behaviour can affect research quality and highlights an animal ethics dilemma. Now, researchers have figured out how to solve the problems with math. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/wukdtVo

Men and women's hands can be distinguished just from their scent

Scent compounds released by your hands can be used to determine gender, which may be useful in figuring out information about crime scenes from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/lKSVA1B

Tracking ships' icy paths amidst climate change

Understanding when and where ships are entering areas of Arctic sea ice can help better understand the potential impacts of vessel traffic in the region. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/EPuwalM

Fossils reveal how ancient birds molted their feathers -- which could help explain why ancestors of modern birds survived when all the other dinosaurs died

Birds are the only group of dinosaurs that survived the asteroid-induced mass extinction 66 million years ago. But not all the birds alive at the time made it. Why the ancestors of modern birds lived while so many of their relatives died has been a mystery that paleontologists have been trying to solve for decades. Two new studies point to one possible factor: the differences between how modern birds and their ancient cousins molt their feathers. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/xAmTHh4

New genetic technology developed to halt malaria-spreading mosquitoes

Using CRISPR technology, scientists have engineered a new way to genetically suppress populations of Anopheles gambiae, the mosquitoes that primarily spread malaria in Africa and contribute to economic poverty in affected regions. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/DW8kqTJ

Kenyan hospital visits linked to increased exposure to antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Kenyan patients who spend more than three days in the nation's hospitals are more likely to harbor a form of bacteria resistant to one of the most widely used antibiotic classes, according to a recent study. The research team found that 66% of hospitalized patients were colonized with bacteria resistant to third-generation cephalosporins, compared to 49% among community residents. Third-generation cephalosporins are typically used for serious infections, and resistance to these antibiotics leaves limited options for treating patients with some bacterial infections. The study was part of a pair of projects in Kenya and a third in Guatemala to determine the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The research also aimed to identify risk factors for colonization with bacteria resistant to important and frequently used classes of antibiotics, including third-generation cephalosporins. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/fylaciO

Should all mathematical proofs be checked by a computer?

Proofs, the central tenet of mathematics, occasionally have errors in them. Could computers stop this from happening, asks mathematician Emily Riehl from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/AKL2Msw

From atoms to materials: Algorithmic breakthrough unlocks path to sustainable technologies

New research could signal a step change in the quest to design the new materials that are needed to meet the challenge of net zero and a sustainable future. Researchers have shown that a mathematical algorithm can guarantee to predict the structure of any material just based on knowledge of the atoms that make it up. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/EP2096b

Efforts to mass-produce green steel are finally nearing reality

Decarbonising steel production is essential if we are to cut global greenhouse gas emissions, but this energy-intensive process has been hard to clean up - until now from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/4DUGkyV

Hedging strategy for coral restoration balances diversity ecosystem benefits

An international team of researchers developed an innovative new strategy for choosing a set of key coral species that will best maintain ecosystem functions critical for reef health. Their hedging approach provides a simple framework for aiding restoration practitioners in selecting target species for their projects, depending on spatial scale and resources. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/5evqG3Q

Amazon dolphins at risk from fishing dams and dredging

Amazon river dolphins are under threat from fishing and proposed new dams and dredging, research shows. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/h5AVFKm

Threatened seabirds are foraging at plastic pollution hotspots

Location trackers show migratory seabirds spend much of their time looking for food near ocean garbage patches, highlighting the need for action on pollution from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/TJWwRVN

How do captive animals really feel and can we make them happier?

We are finally figuring out the subtle ways that farm and zoo animals reveal their emotional states, from anxiety to optimism and even joy. The insights are also revealing some surprising ways we can improve their lives from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/u7C63iz

How mercury emissions from industry can be greatly reduced

Sulphuric acid is the world's most used chemical. It is an important reagent used in many industries and it is used in the manufacture of everything from paper, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics to batteries, detergents and fertilizers. It is therefore a worldwide challenge that sulphuric acid often contains one of the most toxic substances -- mercury. Researchers have now developed a method that can reduce the levels of mercury in sulphuric acid by more than 90 per cent -- even from low levels. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/ct5dLkr

A new bacterial blueprint to aid in the war on antibiotic resistance

A team of scientists from around the globe has gained high-res structural insights into a key bacterial enzyme, which may help chemists design new drugs to inhibit it and thus suppress disease-causing bacteria. Their work is important as fears continue to grow around rising rates of antibiotic resistance. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/IHwkc9X

Your medical care may be decades out of date. She's trying to fix that

It can take up to 17 years for research findings to become part of standard medical care. Implementation scientists like Rinad Beidas are trying to close that gap from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/6M2fIYy

History reveals vital new lessons in how to make our societies better

At a time when the future of human civilisation looks shaky, a reappraisal of how we got here suggests that changing direction may be easier than we think from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/lI5AYwt

Stunning JWST image sees Saturn show off its glowing rings

A strange and unfamiliar view of Saturn has been captured by the James Webb Space Telescope to help researchers identify its smaller objects and structures from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/2PohlCp

Your medical care may be decades out of date. She's trying to fix that

It can take up to 17 years for research findings to become part of standard medical care. Implementation scientists like Rinad Beidas are trying to close that gap from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/6M2fIYy

We now know how our brain works to overcome negative emotions

Researchers have identified a network of structures in the brain that may help us to regulate negative emotions when we see something upsetting from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/0783N6v

New A.I. system can decode fruit fly behaviors: Why that's 'pivotal' for future human genetics research

For more than a century, scientists have used fruit flies' simple genome and short lifespan to decode mysteries of genetic inheritance. Now a new machine-learning system can track fruit flies and interpret different behaviors. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/cPaJjH1

Star Trek: Resurgence review: Great moments shame about the gameplay

Parts of the long-awaited Star Trek: Resurgence were excellent, but its technical issues left me wishing I was watching TV, says Jacob Aron from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/IXJYem8

The unexpected benefits of working outside

Studies show that time spent outdoors can bring a brain boost, from better concentration to reduced anxiety, says David Robson from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/wN2zP8d

Immune-boosting therapy helps honey bees resist deadly viruses

Scientists have successfully tested a novel way of boosting honey bees' immune systems to help them fend off deadly viruses, which have contributed to the major losses of the critical pollinator globally. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/FJ9q8Lz

Expanding large-scale agriculture is escalating flooding in the largest South American breadbasket

Driven by soaring international demand, extensive areas of grasslands, and forests across South American plains have rapidly been converted to the production of annual crops, such as soybean and maize. This agricultural expansion has been taking place at a staggering rate of 2.1 million hectares a year. A new study shows how these shifts to annual crop agriculture, which relies on rainfall rather than irrigation, is also rapidly disrupting the water table across the large flat regions of the Pampas and Chaco plains and contributing to significantly increased risks of surface flooding. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/ZGcFDjR

Birds and honey badgers could be cooperating to steal from bees in parts of Africa

The honeyguide bird loves beeswax, but needs help breaking open bees' nests to get it. So it shows a honey badger the way to the nest, who rips it open and together they share the rewards. Or so the story goes. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/UGxMSNF

Researchers unearth the mysteries of how Turkey's East Anatolian fault formed

An international team has, for the first time, accurately determined the age of the East Anatolian fault, allowing geologists to learn more about its seismic history and tendency to produce earthquakes. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/mw2oiUQ

What are the characteristics of foreshocks for large earthquakes?

Seismologists agree that foreshocks are the most widely identified signal of an upcoming mainshock earthquake. But do these foreshock sequences have distinctive characteristics that separate them from aftershock sequences, and could these characteristics be used to help forecast mainshocks? from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/fxVUGov

Stunning JSWT image sees Saturn show off its glowing rings

A strange and unfamiliar view of Saturn has been captured by the James Webb Space Telescope to help researchers identify its smaller objects and structures from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/6EIsVmu

Why hellbenders are disappearing

The gigantic, slimy salamanders known as hellbenders, once the apex predators of many freshwater streams, have been in decline for decades. A study has determined that in deforested areas, hellbender fathers are far more likely to eat their entire brood than in areas that still have lush foliage. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/bxqrayO

First cell therapy for type 1 diabetes approved for use in the US

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a new therapy for type 1 diabetes in which people with the condition receive donor pancreatic cells capable of producing insulin from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/iMkKI8g

The worm that learned: Diet found to affect learning in older nematodes

A group used a nematode model to discover that the weakening of the learning ability of older individuals does not occur when their diet includes the bacteria Lactobacillus reuteri. Since such bacteria are commonly found in the human gut, these findings suggest ways to use diet to reduce age-related cognitive decline. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/jnGIo1P

IceCube detector finds neutrinos from the Milky Way for the first time

A neutrino detector in Antarctica has found heaps of high-energy neutrinos coming from distant galaxies, but none from within our own – until now from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/BnWflZy

One third of all vertebrate species are exploited by humans

An analysis reveals that 14,663 species of birds, mammals, fish, reptiles and amphibians are killed for food, kept as pets or used by humans in some way from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/CMSYfxA

Chocolate can be fruity or flowery -- if you skip the roasting step

'Natural' foods are trendy, and proponents claim that little or no processing helps preserve the food's inherent flavor. Research now shows that, at least for certain artisanal, bean-to-bar chocolates, this could indeed be the case. The team reports that unroasted, 'raw' chocolate features certain compounds responsible for fruity flavors and sour tastes that are lost when the cacao beans are processed at high temperatures. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/Qmk4H0M

There may be good news about the oceans in a globally warmed world

An analysis of oxygen levels in Earth's oceans may provide some rare, good news about the health of the seas in a future, globally warmed world. A study analyzing ocean sediment shows that ocean oxygen levels in a key area were higher during the Miocene warm period, some 16 million years ago when the Earth's temperature was hotter than it is today. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/e6j0iLa

Octopuses have a REM-like sleep state where they appear to dream

By looking at electrical signals octopuses produce in their brain while asleep and awake, researchers have gathered some of the best evidence yet that the cephalopods dream from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/IwK7Qab

Dogs and humans process body postures similarly in their brains

A new study shows that information from body postures plays a similarly important role for dogs as it does for humans. The results offer new insights into how dogs and humans perceive each other and their environment. They confirm that the temporal lobe plays a central role in social communication and perception. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/Aqd6WIU

Specialization in sheep farming a possible strategy for Neolithic communities in the Adriatic to expand throughout the Mediterranean

The specialization in sheep in the early Neolithic populations of Dalmatia, Croatia, may have been related to the rapid expansion of these communities and the spread of agriculture throughout the central and western Mediterranean. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/D2nFzVZ

Orangutans can make two sounds at once like a beatboxer

Two separate groups of orangutans have been observed making calls that use two sounds simultaneously. The finding could help researchers better understand the origins of human communication from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/exDQ9Yy

50-million-year-old katydid fossil reveals muscles digestive tract glands and a testicle

50 million years ago in what is now northwestern Colorado, a katydid died, sank to the bottom of a lake and was quickly buried in fine sediments, where it remained until its compressed fossil was recovered in recent years. When researchers examined the fossil under a microscope, they saw that not only had many of the insect's hard structures been preserved in the compressed shale, so had several internal organs and tissues, which are not normally fossilized. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/rSl6TxR

Research in a place where geological processes happen before your eyes

Taiwan experiences some of the world's fastest rates of mountain building -- they are growing at a faster rate than our fingernails grow in a year. The mountains also see frequent and significant earthquakes, the region experiences about four typhoons per year on average, and in some places, it receives upwards of several meters of rain annually. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/3twOcFC

Don't wait desalinate: A new approach to water purification

A water purification system separates out salt and other unnecessary particles with an electrified version of dialysis. Successfully applied to wastewater with planned expansion into rivers and seas, the method saves money and saps 90% less energy than its counterparts. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/qm6Qpj4

Worse than diesel and gasoline? Bioenergy as bad as fossils if there is no pricing of CO2 emissions from land-use change experts argue

Demand for modern biofuels is expected to grow substantially in order to mitigate climate emissions. However, they are far from being a climate neutral alternative to gasoline and diesel. A new study shows that under current land-use regulations, CO2 emission factors for biofuels might even exceed those for fossil diesel combustion due to large-scale land clearing related to growing biomass. Before bioenergy can effectively contribute to achieving carbon neutrality, international agreements need to ensure the effective protection of forests and other natural lands by introducing carbon pricing, the expert team argues. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/eCdUzQr

Gray whales off Oregon Coast consume millions of microparticles per day

Researchers estimate that gray whales feeding off the Oregon Coast consume up to 21 million microparticles per day, a finding informed in part by feces from the whales. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/xtJgLTA

How coral reefs can survive climate change

Similar to the expeditions of a hundred or two hundred years ago, the Tara Pacific expedition lasted over two years. The goal: to research the conditions for life and survival of corals. The ship crossed the entire Pacific Ocean, assembling the largest genetic inventory conducted in any marine system to date. The team's 70 scientists from eight countries took around 58,000 samples from the hundred coral reefs studied. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/nw2baZB

Humans' evolutionary relatives butchered one another 1.45 million years ago

Researchers have identified the oldest decisive evidence of humans' close evolutionary relatives butchering and likely eating one another. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/mf129NW

Dry days trigger leaves to send a surprising growth signal telling roots to keep growing

Scientists have discovered a new molecular signalling pathway, triggered when leaves are exposed to low humidity, that ensures plant roots keep growing towards water. A new study has found that when the leaves of a plant are exposed to dry air (low humidity), they send a shoot-to-root signal, using abscisic acid (ABA), to tell the roots to keep growing. This is a surprising finding as ABA is usually thought to be a growth inhibitor, not a growth promoter. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/oGJXzKP

Human impact on wildlife even in protected areas

The largest long-term standardized camera-trap survey to date finds that human activity impacts tropical mammals living in protected areas and sheds light on how different species are affected based on their habitat needs and anthropogenic stressors. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/36z9WJt

New nationwide modeling points to widespread racial disparities in urban heat stress

Using a combination of satellite data and modeling to study the temperatures and humidity people might feel in urban areas, researchers have pinpointed who in the U.S. is most vulnerable to heat stress. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/4OcAFta

Eating at night could boost your muscles and help you run for longer

A study in mice has shown that eating during what would normally be a resting period helps build muscle fibres needed for endurance running, though this has yet to be confirmed in humans from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/75p0loC

How new fetal therapies are treating genetic conditions in the womb

A genetic condition that sees children develop almost no teeth or sweat glands can now be treated by injecting a protein into the amniotic fluid, in just one of a number of new therapies that act before a child is even born from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/rRMw7Z2

How new fetal therapies are treating genetic conditions in the womb

A genetic condition that sees children develop almost no teeth or sweat glands can now be treated by injecting a protein into the amniotic fluid, in just one of a number of new therapies that act before a child is even born from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/rRMw7Z2

The Power of One review: The woman who blew the whistle on Facebook

Frances Haugen leaked thousands of pages of Facebook's internal documents. The revelations she uncovered about, among many other things, hate speak and eating disorder content on the social network are unforgettable; sadly, her account of the story is from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/4CUaMGO

Net-zero aim shouldn't be used to delay action on carbon emissions

For executives or politicians with an eye on the next financial quarter or electoral cycle, net zero has clear appeal. But we shouldn't use it as a way to delay action on tackling climate change from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/XrzRv5y

Net-zero aim shouldn't be used to delay action on carbon emissions

For executives or politicians with an eye on the next financial quarter or electoral cycle, net zero has clear appeal. But we shouldn't use it as a way to delay action on tackling climate change from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/XrzRv5y

Euclid space telescope is about to launch to probe the dark cosmos

The European Space Agency’s Euclid space telescope is scheduled to launch on 1 July and then begin its mission of studying the effects of dark energy and dark matter from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/DNtREnO

Zombie worms devour shark teeth that fall to the ocean floor

Deep-sea Osedax worms, known to consume whale bones and the remains of bony fish, also feed on shark teeth after the predators die from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/t2X1yek

Zombie worms devour shark teeth that fall to the ocean floor

Deep-sea Osedax worms, known to consume whale bones and the remains of bony fish, also feed on shark teeth after the predators die from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/t2X1yek

The easy way to make pasta at home

You don’t need eggs, flour and special gadgets to make your own pasta – semolina, water and a good knead will do it, says Sam Wong from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/yuKrlX5

Eyeball reflections can reveal a 3D model of what you are looking at

A computer vision system uses photographs of someone’s face from different angles to reconstruct the scene they are viewing from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/p8VWjdJ

Antarctic ice shelves experienced only minor changes in surface melt since 1980

A team of glaciologists set out to quantify how much ice melt occurred on Antarctica's ice shelves from 1980 to 2021. The results might seem to be good news for the region, but the researchers say there's no cause for celebration just yet. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/NsJzaRr

DNA can fold into complex shapes to execute new functions

DNA can mimic protein functions by folding into elaborate, three-dimensional structures, according to a new study. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/qRDjYa1

Monarchs' white spots aid migration

If you've ever wondered how the monarch butterfly got its spots, University of Georgia researchers may have just found the answer. The new study suggests that the butterflies with more white spots are more successful at reaching their long-distance wintering destination. Although it's not yet clear how the spots aid the species' migration, it's possible that the spots change airflow patterns around their wings. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/SHPy9sX

Modern horses have lost their additional toes scientists confirm

The distant ancestors of modern horses had hooved toes instead of a single hoof, which vanished over time, according to researchers. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/keOAXEW

Odd gamma ray burst may be from a smash-up between two dead stars

Astronomers have found a blast of gamma rays from space that seems to have been caused by two stellar corpses smashing together in a way that’s never been seen before from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/WyuYIOP

PFAS found in blood of dogs horses living near Fayetteville NC

Researchers detected elevated PFAS levels in the blood of pet dogs and horses from Gray's Creek, N.C. -- including dogs that only drank bottled water. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/oAyTRml

The clue is in the glue -- Nature's secret for holding it together

An obscure aquatic plant has helped to explain how plants avoid cracking up under the stresses and strains of growth. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/AiBq7xY

Do hummingbirds drink alcohol? More often than you think

Animals that eat fruit or sip nectar often ingest alcohol because naturally occurring yeasts turning sugar into ethanol. But how do animals feel about that? A new study details an experiment to determine whether hummingbirds are turned off by alcohol in sugar water. At 1% by volume, no. At 2% by volume, they consume much less. The implication is that hummingbirds have adjusted to small amounts of alcohol likely present in flowers and backyard feeders. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/1tgzFlO

Sinking seamount offers clues to slow motion earthquakes

The first ever 3D seismic imaging of a subducting seamount shows a previously unknown sediment trail in Earth's crust off the coast of New Zealand. Scientists think the sediment patches help release tectonic pressure gradually in slow slip earthquakes instead of violent tremors. The findings will help researchers search for similar patterns at other subduction zones like Cascadia in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/zqLbkvD

Will engineered carbon removal solve the climate crisis?

A new study explored fairness and feasibility in deep mitigation pathways with novel carbon dioxide removal, taking into account institutional capacity to implement mitigation measures. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/Oiu8Uy9

Studying herpes encephalitis with mini-brains

The herpes simplex virus-1 can sometimes cause a dangerous brain infection. Combining an anti-inflammatory and an antiviral could help in these cases, report scientists. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/pAOaqS0

Ketone supplements worsen performance in trained endurance athletes researchers find

Kinesiologists at McMaster University have found ketone supplements, used by some athletes hoping to cross the finish line faster, may in fact worsen performance. The new study tackles contradictory research findings related to the effectiveness of ketone supplements, which have gained popularity among athletes seeking a competitive advantage. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/uJktPRy

The Milky Way could contain thousands of stars from another galaxy

We know there are stars moving fast enough to escape the Milky Way, so the same is probably true of other galaxies. Now, simulations suggest there could be almost 4000 stars from the Andromeda galaxy in the Milky Way today from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/h3vjict

The art and science of living-like architecture

Collaborators have created 'living-like' bioactive interior architecture designed to one day protect us from hidden airborne threats. This publication establishes that the lab's biomaterial manufacturing process is compatible with the leading-edge cell-free engineering that gives the bioactive sites their life-like properties. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/F6UvRkN

Monarch butterflies' big white spots help them fly better

The big white spots seen on the wings of migratory monarch butterflies may have evolved to help them fly more efficiently on their long, hot journeys from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/z80Q3C1

Finger marks on cave walls are among the earliest Neanderthal art

Symbols have been found carved on the walls of a cave in France that was inhabited by Neanderthals before being sealed off at least 57,000 years ago from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/HhGKO43

How tidal range electricity generation could meet future demand and storage problems

Tidal range schemes are financially viable and could lower energy bills say researchers. Research combined a tidal range power generation model with its cost model to demonstrate the viability of tidal power. The research demonstrates the benefits of tidal energy, which does not suffer from unpredictable intermittency as power is generated both day and night, and in windy or calm weather. The creation of a tidal barrage could operate for 120 years or more to meet future demand and storage problems. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/fDQFSOC

AI reveals hidden traits about our planet's flora to help save species

Machine learning can help extract important information from the huge numbers of plant specimens stored in herbaria, say scientists. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/6ghNSbz

Quantum computers could slash the energy use of cryptocurrencies

Mining cryptocurrencies like bitcoin could be done using quantum computers, cutting their electricity use by 90 per cent from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/k0UGdm2

Amazon deforestation has begun to slow since Lula took over in Brazil

Brazil’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has made progress towards halting the illegal destruction of Amazon rainforest, but political opposition and the incoming El Niño will bring further challenges from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/tReSdw6

Walkable neighborhoods help adults socialize increase community

Adults who live in walkable neighborhoods are more likely to socialize and have a stronger sense of community, report researchers. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/FJQseaC

Elimination of type of bacteria suggests treatment for endometriosis

A research group has discovered that using an antibiotic to target Fusobacterium, a common bacterium that causes inflammation, improved the symptoms of endometriosis. Their findings suggest an alternative treatment for the disease. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/Az7i3JS

Solar-powered fuel cell recycles plastic waste and carbon dioxide

By combining a solar fuel cell that converts carbon dioxide into fuel with a plastic recycling system, researchers can create sustainable fuels and useful chemicals from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/YzmxaZK

How a radical redefinition of life could help us find aliens

Sara Imari Walker, who developed Assembly Theory with chemist Lee Cronin, explains how the theory's definition of life might help us find it on other planets from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/JgPopRU

Researchers find high risk to amphibians if fungal pathogen invades North America

New research indicates the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) could be devastating to amphibian biodiversity if introduced to North America. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/wZg9HeP

Navigating underground with cosmic-ray muons

Superfast, subatomic-sized particles called muons have been used to wirelessly navigate underground in a reportedly world first. By using muon-detecting ground stations synchronized with an underground muon-detecting receiver, researchers were able to calculate the receiver's position in the basement of a six-story building. As GPS cannot penetrate rock or water, this new technology could be used in future search and rescue efforts, to monitor undersea volcanoes, and guide autonomous vehicles underground and underwater. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/MOqcrWP

Massive underwater plateau near Solomon Islands is younger and its eruption was more protracted than previously thought

The Ontong Java Plateau, a volcanically-formed underwater plateau located in the Pacific Ocean north of the Solomon Islands, is younger and its eruption was more protracted than previously thought, new research suggests. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/0HSnjaP

A star has been eating an orbiting planet for 85 years

A distant star called FU Orionis has been shining extraordinarily bright for the last 85 years, and it may be because it is incinerating a young, nearby planet that could be fully consumed in another 300 years from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/hBIWcNi

Why used coffee grounds may be doing your plants more harm than good

We are often told to add used coffee grounds to garden soil to perk up plants. But the science doesn’t support this, says James Wong from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/W0bziou

UK river pollution monitoring is 50 years out of date say researchers

Levels of pollutants in the UK's rivers are tested by random sampling, a method that experts say is decades out of date and not thorough enough to tackle the issues facing the waterways from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/yRxNXWB

Climate change likely led to violence in early Andean populations

Climate change in current times has created problems for humans such as wildfires and reduced growing seasons for staple crops, spilling over into economic effects. Many researchers predict, and have observed in published literature, an increase in interpersonal violence and homicides when temperatures increase. Violence during climatic change has evidence in history, anthropology researchers say. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/chxWPEm

How you can help save Britain's rivers by becoming a citizen scientist

As part of New Scientist's Save Britain's Rivers campaign, we've rounded up the best citizen science projects that let you play an active role in improving the nation's waterways from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/rQumsf1

Preserving forests to protect deep soil from warming

An innovative, decade-long experiment in the foothills of California's Sierra Nevada mountains shows carbon stocks buried deep underground are vulnerable to climate change. The findings have implications for mitigating global warming through the natural carbon sinks provided by soil and forests which capture 25% of all carbon emissions. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/LCo7mPt

Humans have pumped so much groundwater weve shifted Earths axis

Changes in the distribution of groundwater around the planet between 1993 and 2010 were enough to make Earth's poles drift by 80 centimetres from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/VyHsc8S

Photosynthesis key to life on Earth starts with a single photon

A cutting-edge experiment has revealed the quantum dynamics of one of nature's most crucial processes. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/pDvwK06

Humans have pumped so much groundwater weve shifted Earths axis

Changes in the distribution of groundwater around the planet between 1993 and 2010 were enough to make Earth's poles drift by 80 centimetres from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/VyHsc8S

Wildfire smoke in North America could be creating clouds over Europe

Particles from wildfire smoke may cause the formation of cirrus clouds high in the atmosphere far away from the location of the fires from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/xjgDHJQ

AIs will become useless if they keep learning from other AIs

If language models such as ChatGPT are trained using outputs of other AIs, they will become heavily biased, overly simple and disconnected from reality, researchers warn from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/hk5H1w6

Chemists have solved a decades-long problem of bonding beryllium

Atoms of a metal don't like to bond with one another, but chemists have succeeded in forging a metallic bond between two beryllium atoms from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3CwSRbJ

Scientists discover small RNA that regulates bacterial infection

Researchers have identified the major mechanism behind the transition between chronic and acute P. aeruginosa infections. Their research findings can inform the development of future treatments for life-threatening acute infections. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/vjGVezX

Cosmic rays help navigate underground in first real-world test

Particles produced by cosmic rays hitting Earth's atmosphere, called muons, have been proposed as an alternative to GPS navigation that would work underground - and now it has been tested for real from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/bFmWMkz

Exposing C-section babies to vaginal fluid boosts their development

Transferring a mother's vaginal fluid to a baby born by Caesarean section was linked to their development being more advanced at 6 months from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/siN7OMo

A machine learning approach to freshwater analysis

A team of researchers has applied a machine learning model to explore where and to what extent human activities are contributing to the hydrogeochemical changes, such as increases in salinity and alkalinity in U.S. rivers. The group used data from 226 river monitoring sites across the U.S. and built two machine learning models to predict monthly salinity and alkalinity levels at each site. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/5D2Fyzo

Generations review: Zoomer boomer millennial what's your tribe?

For good or ill, dividing people up along generational lines with names and traits to fit seems hard to resist. What's going on, asks a new book that sets out to find the real differences from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/bAdTmDj

First illustration of the molecular machinery that makes cilia beat

The first image of the structures that power human cilia -- the tiny, hairlike projections that line our airways -- has now been produced and it could lead to much-needed treatments for people with rare cilial diseases. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/NM8GmFi

Skipping evolution: Some kangaroos didn't hop

Extinct kangaroos used alternative methods to their famous hop according to comprehensive analysis. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/9ExMWmb

Endometriosis may be caused by bacterial infections

Bacteria that contribute to gum disease may be a cause of the gynaecological condition endometriosis, which means it could be treated with antibiotics from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/bikeIWK

How ultrasound therapy could treat everything from ageing to cancer

Ultrasound is most familiar to us as a non-invasive imaging technology used during pregnancy – now it is in clinical trials as a powerful new tool for treating all sorts of medical conditions from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/NMoEpzO

Extinct lizard was a bizarrely supersized version of modern skinks

Tiliqua frangens, a giant, armoured skink that lived over 40,000 years ago, is the latest bizarre megafauna species to be discovered in Australia from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/u8bwznq

First side-necked turtle ever discovered in UK

The first side-necked turtle ever to be found in the UK has been discovered by an amateur fossil collector and palaeontologists. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/1pgJYK2

A short snout predisposes dogs to sleep apnea

Researchers tested a new method of diagnosing sleep-disordered breathing in dogs using a neckband developed for human sleep apnea diagnostics. The study revealed that sleep-disordered breathing is more prevalent among short-snouted dogs than those with longer snouts. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/K35FcyY

Flies die sooner if they see dead flies

Genetic experiments have identified a small group of neurons in the brain of fruit flies that respond to the sight of fly corpses and trigger accelerated ageing from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/uG14SjH

Fossils in Laos cave imply modern humans were in Asia 86000 years ago

Human skull and shinbone fragments found in a cave in northern Laos suggest modern humans may have been in South-East Asia between 68,000 and 86,000 years ago, considerably further back than the previous estimates of around 50,000 years from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/F2Wf4ju

Campi Flegrei volcano edges closer to possible eruption

The new study used a model of volcano fracturing to interpret patterns of earthquakes and ground uplift, and concluded that parts of the volcano had been stretched nearly to breaking point. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/6NzUGje

North Atlantic Ocean has reached record-high surface temperatures

Clouds of dust blown from the Sahara desert generally have a cooling effect on the North Atlantic, but the winds that blow the dust are weaker than usual, possibly due to El Niño from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/e7Clof0

Microbe map reveals how hundreds of insects got their diets

The microbes that insects harbour may have played a key role in shaping the diets and driving the diversification of inspect species from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/nypr5m4

You can learn foreign words as you sleep but it won't make you fluent

People who were played fake translations in their sleep could recall which category of words they belonged to when they woke up from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/SdR9uzk

North Atlantic Ocean has reached record-high surface temperatures

Clouds of dust blown from the Sahara desert generally have a cooling effect on the North Atlantic, but the winds that blow the dust are weaker than usual, possibly due to El Niño from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/e7Clof0

Genetically engineered gut bacterium could protect bees from parasite

The fungal parasite Nosema is deadly to honeybee colonies and evolving resistance to fungicides, but engineered bacteria may help bees resist infection from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/1kKlQWc

Genetically engineered gut bacterium could protect bees from parasite

The fungal parasite Nosema is deadly to honeybee colonies and evolving resistance to fungicides, but engineered bacteria may help bees resist infection from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/1kKlQWc

We need to go beyond net zero to reverse catastrophic climate damage

Our planet is about to hit a critical 1.5°C of global warming. To rectify things, we must cut emissions, but we also need to harness technology and the natural world to suck carbon dioxide from the air from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/4WvhsoU

Life-extending parasite makes ants live at least three times longer

Ants infected by the parasite don't work, are cared for by uninfected workers and live much longer than usual from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/i8vsI6F

Robot gardener grows plants as well as humans do but uses less water

A vegetable-growing trial has pitted expert human gardeners against an AI-powered robot – both produced comparable crops, but the robot used about 40 per cent less water from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/eyuWBCx

Experimental treatment could work against prion diseases like CJD

Prion diseases are invariably fatal, but an experimental genetic treatment has dramatically extended the lifespans of infected mice from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/A0cFq9f

How maths can help you pack your shopping more efficiently

How can you ensure you use the fewest bags when loading your shopping? A dash of maths will help, says Peter Rowlett from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/IyStkVB

Depp V Heard review: Scary documentary shows power of social media

An alarming documentary about the court case of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard shows how a powerful, untamed social media has the potential to undermine our justice systems from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/1AN5cJz

A compound from fruit flies could lead to new antibiotics

Research shows that the natural peptide, called drosocin, protects fruit flies from bacterial infections by binding to ribosomes in bacteria. Once bound, drosocin prevents the ribosome from making new proteins. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/ayspWe6

Ancient herbivore's diet weakened teeth leading to eventual starvation, study suggests

Researchers have shed light on the life of the ancient reptile Rhynchosaur, which walked the earth between 250-225 million years ago, before being replaced by the dinosaurs. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/QCBhlMd

Astronomers are using a new supernova to search for alien signals

If any alien civilisations have spotted the new supernova SN 2023ixf in the Pinwheel galaxy, they may use it to try to make contact from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/kqvOiIQ

Eddies: Circular currents and their influence on the world's hottest ocean

Water from the Pacific Ocean flows into the Indian Ocean via the Indonesia Archipelago thanks to a vast network of currents that act as a conveyor belt, transporting warmth and nutrients. Currents can sometimes form circular motions and these are known as eddies. An international group of researchers has modeled the impacts of eddies on the currents that carry water from the Pacific Ocean to the Indian Ocean. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/cEFxl4V

How long will the wildfire smoke last and is it bad for your health?

Smoke from hundreds of wildfires burning in Canada has triggered air quality alerts across the northern US, including in New York City from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/lFJM2dw

Octopuses rewire their brains to adapt to seasonal temperature shifts

Octopuses don't thermoregulate, so their powerful brains are exposed to -- and potentially threatened by -- changes in temperature. Researchers report that two-spot octopuses adapt to seasonal temperature shifts by producing different neural proteins under warm versus cool conditions. The octopuses achieve this by editing their RNA, the messenger molecule between DNA and proteins. This rewiring likely protects their brains, and the researchers suspect that this unusual strategy is used widely amongst octopuses and squid. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/DWGcy32

Remains of an extinct world of organisms discovered

Newly discovered biomarker signatures point to a whole range of previously unknown organisms that dominated complex life on Earth about a billion years ago. They differed from complex eukaryotic life as we know it, such as animals, plants and algae in their cell structure and likely metabolism, which was adapted to a world that had far less oxygen in the atmosphere than today. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/npZOxXY

An Atlas of Endangered Animals review: Great stories to prompt action

Megan McCubbin's mini-anthology of animals at risk is full of striking tales, including ones about snow leopards and partying orcas. It should provide a powerful motivation for concerned humans from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/CNuakgM

Newt-sniffing dog called Freya is helping to locate elusive amphibians

Great crested newts live mostly underground, so they’re tricky to find – a researcher trained her dog, Freya, to detect the threatened amphibians deep in the soil with more than 87 per cent accuracy from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/PM9iOSq

How long does wildfire smoke last and is it dangerous?

Smoke from hundreds of wildfires burning in Canada has triggered air quality alerts across the northern US, including in New York City from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/1sAEYLg

DeepMind AI's new way to sort objects could speed up global computing

Sorting algorithms are basic functions used constantly by computers around the world, so an improved one created by an artificial intelligence could make millions of programs run faster from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/mBV9Zj6

Dried-up lake may explain why California is 'overdue' major earthquake

Pressure on the San Andreas fault from a now-dried lake could have been sufficient to trigger past major earthquakes in California. The lake’s disappearance could explain why there have been no such quakes for nearly 300 years from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/9dR0tWm

1.6-billion-year-old steroids may be traces of earliest complex life

Primitive steroids found in ancient Australian rocks may have been made by the earliest complex cells before they evolved into animals, plants, fungi and algae from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/vOrJ03G

The uncomfortable reality of life on Earth after we breach 1.5°C

Passing 1.5°C of global warming isn't just a political disaster, it will have dire consequences for us all, as those living on the front line already know from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/RUYmLdD

Asteroid City review: Is Wes Anderson film all style over substance?

A junior astronomy competition is spectacularly derailed by world-changing events in this star-studded film by Wes Anderson, but what is really going on? It’s complicated from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/84qnl5h

Crocodiles can reproduce without males – and maybe dinosaurs could too

An egg laid by a female American crocodile with no access to males developed into a fully formed fetus in the first known case of "virgin birth" in a crocodilian from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/U9D5W7Q

Lessons from 'The Blob' will help us manage fisheries during future marine heatwaves

In early 2014, a great anomaly descended upon the seas: A patch of warm water that manifested in the Gulf of Alaska. Scientists called it 'The Blob.' from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/0QU8jzl

Crocodiles can reproduce without males – and maybe dinosaurs could too

An egg laid by a female American crocodile with no access to males developed into a fully formed fetus in the first known case of "virgin birth" in a crocodilian from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/U9D5W7Q

How your brain stays focused on conversations in a noisy room

The brain processes voices differently depending on the volume of the speaker and if the listener is focused on them from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/zk9bP1S

Underground fungi absorb up to a third of our fossil fuel emissions

Researchers estimate that plants transfer more than 13 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide each year to mycorrhizal fungi, which grow around their roots from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/6cHvLhx

The unique promise of 'biological computers' made from living things

Biologists are finally beginning to corral molecules, cells and whole organisms to carry out complex computations. These living processors could find use in everything from smart materials to new kinds of artificial intelligence from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/k6YpfiJ

The unique promise of 'biological computers' made from living things

Biologists are finally beginning to corral molecules, cells and whole organisms to carry out complex computations. These living processors could find use in everything from smart materials to new kinds of artificial intelligence from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/k6YpfiJ

Planes could soon run on pig fat – but it won't reduce emissions

Airlines have plans to use biofuels made from animal fats to meet climate targets, but a report warns this could increase emissions via effects on other sectors from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/EScOkhX

Symbiotic and pathogenic fungi may use similar molecular tools to manipulate plants

Symbiotic and pathogenic fungi that interact with plants are distantly related and don't share many genetic similarities. Comparing plant pathogenic fungi and plant symbiotic fungi, scientists at the Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University (SLCU) have discovered that these remote relatives are using a similar group of proteins to manipulate and live within plants. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/k6zctsi

DNA damage repaired by antioxidant enzymes

In crisis, the nucleus calls antioxidant enzymes to the rescue. The nucleus being metabolically active is a profound paradigm shift with implications for cancer research. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/vwBeHPX

We already have ethical options for replacing industrial farming

The industrialised food system harms the environment and animal welfare, but new ways of farming are now addressing these issues and further change is coming from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/w2nSD7L

The nature of reality: Read our top quantum physics features for free

The quantum realm contains profound mysteries. Here, New Scientist editors have selected some of our most mind-bending feature-length articles about the deepest layer of reality we know from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/t3CcS8q

Forest birds with short, round wings more sensitive to habitat fragmentation

Tropical forest birds, which tend to have wings that are short and round relative to their body length and shape, are more sensitive to habitat fragmentation than the long-, slender-winged species common in temperate forests. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/HUB1xDW

Honey bee colony aggression linked to gene regulatory networks

In honey bees, the role a bee plays in the colony changes as they age. Younger bees perform duties inside the hive, such as nursing and wax building, while older bees transition to roles outside of the hive, either foraging for food (foragers) or defending the colony (soldiers). What determines whether older bees become foragers or soldiers is unknown, but a new studyexplores the genetic mechanisms underlying the collective behavior of colony defense, and how these mechanisms relate to the colony's overall aggression. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/EAUanG5

Superbugs will struggle to evolve resistance to unusual new antibiotic

A much-needed new kind of antibiotic can kill bacteria such as MRSA and works in a way that makes it extremely difficult for resistance to evolve from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/D4J1yQi

Researchers show mobile elements monkeying around the genome

Whole-genomic sequencing has revolutionized the amount and detail of genetic diversity now available to researchers to study. While the researchers previously had looked at a few hundred mobile elements or 'jumping genes,' primarily of the Alu and L1 types, they were now able to analyze over 200,000 elements computationally, confirming and expanding on previous studies. Their findings provide more evidence of the fluidity of species and continuous spread of mobile and transposable genetic elements. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/pjSXJrO

How to spot Ophiuchus, the thirteenth zodiacal constellation

Often referred to as the thirteenth sign of the zodiac, Ophiuchus sits alongside Sagittarius and Scorpius. Now is a great time to spot it, says Abigail Beall from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/1z3OPSo

City in Sierra Leone covers buildings in mirrors to fight extreme heat

People in Freetown, Sierra Leone, are increasingly exposed to extreme heat due to climate change and the urban heat island effect, but covering homes in a reflective film significantly cut indoor temperatures from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/3fNp6ah

Compound found in octopus ink kills cancer cells but not others

Ozopromide, which is found in octopus ink, could kill cancer cells but leave healthy ones intact. The finding could be used to develop new cancer treatments from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/FWGViUs

Tin Can review: Fix your escape pod in this fantastic video game

In Tin Can, you have to patch up a spaceship's disintegrating escape pod – or die. Though the whole game takes place in a single space, exploring its extraordinary detail is a real joy, says Jacob Aron from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/npOBNam

Why is China drilling a hole more than 10,000 metres deep?

An oil company in China has started drilling a hole that would be the deepest in the country and among the deepest in the world from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/XurnFih

Desert ant increase the visibility of their nest entrances in the absence of landmarks

Researchers report that in the absence of visible landmarks, desert ants increase the likelihood that foraging nest mates will find their way home quickly and safely by elevating their nest entrance. Ant colonies whose nests are found deep in the Tunisian saltpan are particularly reliant on the self-made landmarks. If the mound at the nest entrance was removed, they immediately began building a new hill, unless the researchers provided artificial landmarks. This phenomenon adds yet another fascinating facet to the amazing navigation skills of these tiny desert animals. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/6ZKH8Bx

Ancient viruses discovered in coral symbionts' DNA

The symbiotic organisms that live in corals and provide them with their dramatic colors contain fragments of ancient RNA viruses that are as much as 160 million years old. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/7sA8tQV

Pneumatic computer uses pressure instead of electricity

A computer chip made of glass and silicone holds liquids that move from one side of the chip to the other in reaction to pressure changes. This has been used to control and automate miniaturised biochemistry experiments from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/ieQCShM

Watch Mars ‘livestream’ by the European Space Agency – latest updates

The European Space Agency is about to attempt the first ever livestream from another planet - although the distance from Earth to Mars means there will be a short delay in broadcasting from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/U8srpvC

The Limits of Genius review: What made Newton and Einstein stupid?

Being a genius doesn't stop you looking directly at an eclipse or letting a trivial row prevent you finding a planet, says Katie Spalding in her new book from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/HzLSbGE

Record 19.31% efficiency with organic solar cells

Researchers have achieved a breakthrough power-conversion efficiency (PCE) of 19.31% with organic solar cells (OSCs), also known as polymer solar cells. This remarkable binary OSC efficiency will help enhance applications of these advanced solar energy devices. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/vWR4o6K

Little-known microbes could help predict climate tipping points

Rising temperatures could push ocean plankton and other single-celled creatures toward a carbon tipping point that fuels more warming. The carbon-eaters could become carbon-emitters. But new research shows it's also possible to detect early distress signals before they get there. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/ADVfI4Z

Multiple species of semi-aquatic dinosaur may have roamed pre-historic Britain

Palaeontologists studying a British dinosaur tooth have concluded that several distinct groups of spinosaurs -- dinosaurs with fearsome crocodile-like skulls -- inhabited southern England over 100 million years ago. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/5Qersc1

You can make carbon dioxide filters with a 3D printer

Researchers demonstrated that it's possible to make carbon dioxide capture filters using 3D printing. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/dfIFzUR

Why do some people live to be 100? Intestinal bacteria may hold the answer

Some people live longer than others -- possibly due to a unique combination of bacteria in their intestines, new research concludes. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/bACwemE

The clams that fell behind, and what they can tell us about evolution and extinction

A new study examined how bivalves -- the group that includes clams, mussels, scallops, and oysters -- evolved among many others in the period of rapid evolution known as the Cambrian Explosion. The team found that though many other lineages burst into action and quickly evolved a wide variety of forms and functions, the bivalves lagged behind. The study has implications for how we understand evolution and the impact of extinctions. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/RP7mTNw

Planned moon landings could pelt orbiting spacecraft with dusty debris

The large landing vehicles planned for NASA’s upcoming moon missions could throw up large amounts of dust from the lunar surface, posing a possible danger to orbiters from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/GBhEV4Q

Phenomenal phytoplankton: Scientists uncover cellular process behind oxygen production

According to new research, the amount of oxygen in one of 10 breaths was made possible thanks to a newly identified cellular mechanism that promotes photosynthesis in marine phytoplankton. The new study identifies how a proton pumping enzyme (known as VHA) aids in global oxygen production and carbon fixation from phytoplankton. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/sidaY4l

NASA’s UFO team discusses its findings publicly for the first time

NASA's group that formed around a year ago to study unidentified aerial phenomena is holding its first public meeting ahead of a report expected in the next few weeks from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/QcmB71i

Biological cleanup discovered for certain 'forever chemicals'

Chemical and environmental engineering scientists have identified two species of bacteria found in soil that break down a class of stubborn 'forever chemicals'-- per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, that have contaminated groundwater below industrial and military sites throughout the nation. The discovery gives hope for low-cost biological cleanup of these pollutants. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/tN13J67

Four ways to advance equity and justice goals in climate action planning

Municipal climate action plans often identify equity and justice as goals, but engagement with these concepts is mostly rhetorical. A new study details how planners can bridge the gap and challenge the current state of climate change and social inequity. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/jmTnJo0

How you can use the power of exercise to feel better and think clearer

We know that exercising is good for the brain. But now that we understand why, we can say what kinds of workouts maximise the brain-boosting powers of physical exertion from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/5Fqf7ya

Quantum sensors could detect space debris from its gravitational pull

Devices based on quantum properties of very cold and very small crystals could be mounted on satellites and sense space debris that could collide with them from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/SboClK2

We are finally closing in on the cosmic origins of the “OMG particle”

Three decades ago, we spotted the single most energetic particle ever seen, nicknamed the 'Oh-My-God particle'. Since then, we have seen many more ultra-high-energy cosmic rays – and now we are unravelling the mystery of what produces them from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/75kXUtm

Hidden in plain sight: Windshield washer fluid is an unexpected emission source

Exhaust fumes probably come to mind when considering vehicle emissions, but they aren't the only source of pollutants released by a daily commute. Researchers report that alcohols in windshield washer fluid account for a larger fraction of real-world vehicle emissions than previous estimates have suggested. Notably, the levels of these non-fuel-derived gases will likely remain unchanged, even as more drivers transition from gas-powered to electric vehicles. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/DhcR7y9

Virus that carries huge amounts of DNA could advance gene therapies

A modified virus that can carry around 20 times more DNA than existing viruses used for gene therapies could allow us to make complex changes to cells from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/PkCAtbs

Biological specimens imaged with X-rays without damage

Scientists have managed to image delicate biological structures without damaging them. Their new technique generates high resolution X-ray images of dried biological material that has not been frozen, coated, or otherwise altered beforehand -- all with little to no damage to the sample. This method, which is also used for airport baggage scanning, can generate images of the material at nanometer resolution. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/z5okHIp

Does covid-19 affect pregnancies and do the vaccines reduce any risks?

The coronavirus has been linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes, but vaccines help to keep mothers and babies safe from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/c9PzAxr

Robot centipedes go for a walk

Researchers show how their multilegged walking robot can be steered by inducing a dynamic instability. By making the couplings between segments more flexible, the robot changes from walking straight to moving in a curved path. This work can lead to more energy-efficient and reliable robotic navigation of terrain. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/xFU9YAd

Early toilets reveal dysentery in Old Testament Jerusalem

Study of 2,500-year-old latrines from the biblical Kingdom of Judah shows the ancient faeces within contain Giardia -- a parasite that can cause dysentery. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/dB1zIP0

Lab imitations of the unobservable cosmos can be genuinely insightful

Despite the obvious caveats, physicists are right to use fluids and other physical analogues to search for fresh insights about extreme cosmic phenomena, from black holes to the big bang from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/WicGZIX

Unexpected wins in both humans and monkeys increase risk taking

Researchers have developed 'Dynamic Prospect Theory,' which integrates the most popular model in behavioral economics -- prospect theory and a well-established model from neuroscience -- reinforcement learning theory. In doing so, they created a dynamic model that successfully explains decision-to-decision changes in the gambling behavior of humans and monkeys. In particular, they found that after unexpected wins both humans and monkeys tend to behave as if they thought that they are more likely to win again. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/ZVryDnI

3D-printed material glows green under pressure or friction

A 3D-printed material emits a green glow when friction or pressure is applied to it. One application could be reducing the chances of a fracture when drilling into bone during surgery from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/6k5yAqh

3D-printed material glows green under pressure or friction

A 3D-printed material emits a green glow when friction or pressure is applied to it. One application could be reducing the chances of a fracture when drilling into bone during surgery from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/6k5yAqh

How talking to your future self can improve your health and happiness

From meeting an older version of yourself in virtual reality to writing letters from the future, these evidence-based tricks can help you make better decisions today from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/rbzFcwt

Nanoscale robotic ‘hand’ made of DNA could be used to detect viruses

A tiny hand crafted out of DNA has jointed fingers that can be used to grab small objects like gold nanoparticles or viruses from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/Rpgt3Oz

Nanoscale robotic ‘hand’ made of DNA could be used to detect viruses

A tiny hand crafted out of DNA has jointed fingers that can be used to grab small objects like gold nanoparticles or viruses from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/Rpgt3Oz

How listening to audiobooks may be making us more gullible

More and more of us are turning to audiobooks for our reading, but a new study suggests that when we listen to a text rather than read it, we may engage in less deliberative thinking, says David Robson from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/FVfzGSi

How to avoid deer fly bites, according to science

An experiment with a sticky fly trap in a Canadian forest suggests you will get more deer fly bites if you walk around than if you sit still from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/v7mM1Go

How a UK river serves as a natural lab for flood defence research

A river near Edinburgh, UK, has served for more than a decade as a natural laboratory for studying flood defences, providing benefits such as improved water quality worth millions of pounds from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/TrowgJb

US police are selling seized phones with personal data still on them

Nude photos, bank details and stolen credit card numbers have been found on devices sold by US police forces via auction sites from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/5pfgvsB

Titanium Noir review: Gripping, philosophical science fiction

Suppose the megarich can rejuvenate – but it makes them grow to titanic proportions? Nick Harkaway's novel draws on Greek myth and noir in a fabulous thought experiment that reflects our own fixation with "making it big", says Sally Adee from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/5MjLp6f

Researchers successfully induce primate oocytes in the lab

The many types of cells in the human body are produced through the process of differentiation, in which stem cells are converted to more specialized types. Currently, it is challenging for researchers to control the differentiation of stem cells in the lab (in vitro). Of particular interest are oocytes, which are female germ cells that develop into eggs. Understanding their development could have far-ranging impacts, from infertility treatment to conservation of endangered species. A new study has successfully induced meiotic (dividing) oocytes from the embryonic stem cells of cynomolgus monkeys, which share many physiological traits with humans. By establishing a culture method for inducing the differentiation of meiotic oocytes, the researchers aimed to shed light on germ cell development in both humans and other primates. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/KOVlvgq

Gene editing tool could help reduce spread of antimicrobial resistance

A new tool which could help reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance is showing early promise, through exploiting a bacterial immune system as a gene editing tool. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/jX9M2eu

Twisting under the stroboscope -- Controlling crystal lattices of hybrid solar cell materials with terahertz light

To overcome global energy challenges and fight the looming environmental crisis, researchers around the world investigate new materials for converting sunlight into electricity. Some of the most promising candidates for high-efficiency low-cost solar cell applications are based on lead halide perovskite (LHP) semiconductors. Despite record-breaking solar cell prototypes, the microscopic origin of the surprisingly excellent optoelectronic performance of this material class is still not completely understood. Now, an international team of physicists and chemists has demonstrated laser-driven control of fundamental motions of the LHP atomic lattice. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/iXf3B6z

Elon Musk's brain implant firm Neuralink gets approval for human trial

The brain implant company Neuralink, founded by Elon Musk among others, previously tested implants in pigs and monkeys. Now it has approval for human trials from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/FjeGbC0

Allergic review: A great guide explores a complex medical mystery

Our immune systems create responses that end up in full-blown allergies. An engaging memoir-style guide from Theresa MacPhail explains the complex and often elusive medical story from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/Y1c7wTR

Iron-rich rocks unlock new insights into Earth's planetary history

A new study suggests iron-rich ancient sediments may have helped cause some of the largest volcanic events in the planet's history. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/uT20a1G

Arctic ground squirrels changing hibernation patterns

New research analyzes more than 25 years of climate and biological data. The findings include shorter hibernation periods in arctic ground squirrels, as well as differences between male and female hibernation periods. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/fJHQCiw

River erosion can shape fish evolution

A new study of the freshwater greenfin darter fish suggests river erosion can be a driver of biodiversity in tectonically inactive regions. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/uTyrM7l

Chemicals used to make decaf coffee are contributing to ozone damage

A group of unregulated polluting gases known as very short-lived substances are partly responsible for depleting the ozone layer in the tropics from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/PimZoNT

Deep sea surveys detect over five thousand new species in future mining hotspot

There is a massive, mineral-rich region in the Pacific Ocean -- about twice the size of India -- called the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), which has already been divided up and assigned to companies for future deep-sea mining. To better understand what may be at risk once companies start mining, a team of biologists has built the first 'CCZ checklist' by compiling all the species records from previous research expeditions to the region. Their estimates of the species diversity of the CCZ included a total of 5,578 different species, an estimated 88% - 92% of which are entirely new to science. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/ZDHvIR9

Microplastics are harming gut health

Scientists have found evidence that microplastics in the digestive tract of seabirds altered the microbiome of the gut -- increasing the presence of pathogens and antibiotic-resistant microbes, while decreasing the beneficial bacteria found in the intestines. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/d0ANKGm

Consistent link between the seaside and better health

Seaside residents and holidaymakers have felt it for centuries, but scientists have only recently started to investigate possible health benefits of the coast. Using data from 15 countries, new research confirms public intuition: Living near, but especially visiting, the seaside is associated with better health regardless of country or personal income. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/d1xBz05

Designing synthetic receptors for precise cell control

Scientists have developed a groundbreaking new technique for engineering biosensors that respond sensitively to specific biomolecules, enhancing cell migration and targeting in cancer treatment. The findings could lead to more precise control over cellular processes for a wide range of therapeutic applications. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/cx29Wf1

Eruption of Tonga underwater volcano found to disrupt satellite signals halfway around the world

Researchers found that the Hunga-Tonga eruption, the largest volcanic eruption in history, was associated with the formation of an equatorial plasma bubble in the ionosphere, a phenomenon associated with disruption of satellite-based communications. Their findings also suggest that a long-held atmospheric model should be revised. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/8QuK7VR

Tumble dryers shed hundreds of tonnes of microfibres into waterways

Condenser tumble dryers are sold as a "sustainable" option because of their low energy demand, but they still shed large quantities of microfibres into the environment from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/97G1TIA

Do new Alzheimer's drugs signal the end of the condition?

Antibody treatments that target amyloid plaques in the brains of people with Alzheimer's have shown promise in trials, but questions about their side effects and practicality remain from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/gixKAu8

Seagulls choose their meals based on what people nearby are eating

Given a choice between two crisp packets, herring gulls pick the same colour as one a nearby human is eating from 95 per cent of the time from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/Mv4E3cz

Researchers find new mechanism for sodium salt detoxification in plants

A team of researchers has found a mechanism in thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana) which enables plants to provide protection against salt stress for their sensitive stem cells in the meristem at the root tip. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/Ybm2ngT

Researchers want to use 'biochar' to combat climate change

A new review of research suggests that the nature-based technology biochar -- a carbon-rich material -- could be an important tool to use in agriculture to help mitigate climate change. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/mhwGr32

AI passed an advertising Turing test for the first time

AI-generated ads fooled marketing experts and outperformed typical US print ads on a test that measured creativity and potential to spur emotional responses from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/ql2JsxI

Inside the fight for Europe's first wild river national park

Albania's Vjosa river was due to be the site of a massive hydroelectric dam, with disastrous consequences for biodiversity. New Scientist reports on its rescue, the benefits for local nature and why it is an inspiration for other river conservation projects from New Scientist - Home https://ift.tt/fwiuUl5

New supply chain model to empower seabound hydrogen economy

A team of researchers has created a new supply chain model which could empower the international hydrogen renewable energy industry. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/0hBkF5T

New use for A.I.: Correctly estimating fish stocks

A newly published artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm is allowing researchers to quickly and accurately estimate coastal fish stocks without ever entering the water. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/tRYcNKP

Researchers pinpoint brain cells that drive appetite in obesity

A group of brain cells discovered by researchers reveals a potential new approach to anti-obesity treatment. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/AR7JoG0

Jaw shapes of 90 shark species show: Evolution driven by habitat

Researchers investigated how the jaw shape of sharks has changed over the course of evolution. Their conclusion: in the most widespread shark species, the jaws show relatively little variation in shape over millions of years; most variable jaws were found for deep-sea sharks. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/UCL1DGT

African smoke over the Amazon

Up to two-thirds of the soot above the central Amazon rainforest originates in Africa. Researchers differentiate soot particles using their relative properties and attribute them to their respective points of origin. They found that bush fires and burning savannah in the north and south of Africa make a substantial contribution to air pollution in the central Amazon all year round, thereby playing an important role in the earth radiation budget and water cycle. This is caused by the efficient transatlantic transport of particles through the atmosphere. from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/sUPcMqe

About 13,000 years ago, the water outflow from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic Ocean was twice that of today’s

About 13,000 years ago, a climate crisis caused a global drop in temperatures in the northern hemisphere. This episode of intense cold, known as the Younger Dryas, also caused severe aridity across the Mediterranean basin, which had a major impact on terrestrial and marine ecosystems. But what do we know about the impact of this climate change on water circulation in the Mediterranean? from Top Environment News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/JUDKNWv