
The head and the heart Scientists used light to raise a mouse’s heart rate, increasing anxiety-like behaviors in the animal. The study offers a new angle for studying anxiety disorders, Bethany Brookshire reported in “In mice, anxiety isn’t all in the head” (SN: 4/8/23, p. 9). Reader Barry Maletzky asked why strenuous exercise, which elevates […]
The above image may look like a piece of colourful, abstract art, but it is, in fact, a glimpse at the very heart of our galaxy. Most of us can’t even begin to imagine what lurks beyond our solar system, but astrophysicists in the US have discovered a whole colony of incredible structures at the centre of the Milky Way. Scientists already knew that...
The above image may look like a piece of colourful, abstract art, but it is, in fact, a glimpse at the very heart of our galaxy. Most of us can’t even begin to imagine what lurks beyond our solar system, but astrophysicists in the US have discovered a whole colony of incredible structures at the centre of the Milky Way. Scientists already knew that...

Scientists have taken a significant step forward in the study of the properties of quarks and gluons, the particles that make up atomic nuclei, by resolving a long-standing issue with a theoretical calculation method known as “axial gauge.” MIT and University of Washington researchers found that the

Astrophysicists have discovered hundreds of mysterious structures in the centre of Milky Way. Earlier, Northwestern University's Farhad Yusef-Zadeh discovered gigantic, one-dimensional filaments dangling vertically near our galaxy's central supermassive black hole. Yusef-Zadeh and his collaborators have now discovered a new population of filaments, but these are much shorter and lie horizontally.

Scientists have used advanced supercomputer simulations to demonstrate the existence and significance of a small-scale dynamo in the Sun's magnetic field. This discovery refutes previous assumptions and advances our understanding of solar dynamics, potentially enabling earlier predictions of major s

The above image may look like a piece of colourful, abstract art, but it is, in fact, a glimpse at the very heart of our galaxy. Most of us can’t even begin to imagine what lurks beyond our solar system, but astrophysicists in the US have discovered a whole colony of incredible structures at the cen...

Scientists have taken a significant step forward in the study of the properties of quarks and gluons, the particles that make up atomic nuclei, by resolving a long-standing issue with a theoretical calculation method known as “axial gauge.” MIT and University of Washington researchers found that the
Coral reef fishes, such as the blenny Ecsenius stictus pictured on the cover, are diverse, abundant and grow quickly. In this week’s issue, Alexandre...
Researchers have trained a robotic 'chef' to watch and learn from cooking videos, and recreate the dish itself.
Researchers have demonstrated the principle of using spatial correlations in quantum entangled beams of light to encode information and enable its secure transmission.
Researchers have detected complex organic molecules in a galaxy more than 12 billion light-years away from Earth -- the most distant galaxy in which these molecules are now known to exist. Thanks to the capabilities of the recently launched James Webb Space Telescope and careful analyses from the research team, a new study lends critical insight into the complex chemical interactions that occur in the first galaxies in the early…
A double-blind randomized clinical trial of a device aimed at silencing the phantom sounds of tinnitus has yielded promising results.
Although astrophysicists theoretically should be able to detect gravitational waves from a single, non-binary source, they have yet to uncover these elusive signals. Now researchers suggest looking at a new, unexpected and entirely unexplored place: The turbulent, energetic cocoons of debris that surround dying massive stars.
Among the most fundamental questions in astronomy is: How did the first stars and galaxies form? NASA's James Webb Space Telescope is already providing new insights into this question. One of the largest programs in Webb's first year of science is the JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey, or JADES, which will devote about 32 days of telescope time to uncover and characterize faint, distant galaxies. While the data is still…
New theoretical research has shown that Stephen Hawking was likely right about black holes, although not completely. Due to Hawking radiation, black holes will eventually evaporate, but the event horizon is not as crucial as had been believed. Gravity and the curvature of spacetime cause this radiation too. This means that all large objects in the universe, like the remnants of stars, will eventually evaporate.
Researchers from 24 countries have analyzed the genomes of 809 individuals from 233 primate species, generating the most complete catalog of genomic information about our closest relatives to date. The project provides new insights into the evolution of primates, including humans, and their diversity. In baboons, for example, hybridization and gene flow between different species occurred in the past and is still ongoing in several regions of their range. This…
In the early 1980s, astronomers discovered gigantic, one-dimensional filaments dangling vertically near Sagittarius A*, our galaxy's central supermassive black hole. Now, astronomers have discovered a new population of filaments -- but these threads are much shorter and lie horizontally or radially, spreading out like spokes on a wheel from the black hole.
Researchers have discovered they can detect atomic 'breathing,' or the mechanical vibration between two layers of atoms, by observing the type of light those atoms emitted when stimulated by a laser. The sound of this atomic 'breath' could help researchers encode and transmit quantum information.
After the Big Bang, the universe expanded and cooled sufficiently for hydrogen atoms to form. In the absence of light from the first stars and galaxies, the universe entered a period known as the cosmic dark ages. The first stars and galaxies appeared several hundred million years later and began burning away the hydrogen fog left over from the Big Bang, rendering the universe transparent, like it is today. Researchers…
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…
For over a century, researchers have thought that the patterns of brain activity that define our experiences, hopes and dreams are determined by how different brain regions communicate with each other through a complex web of trillions of cellular connections. Now, a study has examined more than 10,000 different maps of human brain activity and found that the overall shape of a person's brain exerts a far greater influence on…
Scientists have taken the world's first X-ray SIGNAL (or SIGNATURE) of just one atom. This groundbreaking achievement could revolutionize the way scientists detect the materials.
Researchers have succeeded in filming the interactions of light and matter in an electron microscope with attosecond time resolution.
There's an intriguing exoplanet out there -- 400 light-years out there -- that is so tantalizing that astronomers have been studying it since its discovery in 2009. One orbit for WASP-18 b around its star that is slightly larger than our Sun takes just 23 hours. There is nothing like it in our Solar System. A new study about this exoplanet, an ultra-hot gas giant 10 times more massive than…
Even without nerves, plants can sense when something touches them and when it lets go, a study has found. In a set of experiments, individual plant cells responded to the touch of a very fine glass rod by sending slow waves of calcium signals to other plant cells, and when that pressure was released, they sent much more rapid waves. While scientists have known that plants can respond to touch, this…
Starting in the 1990s, Island Fox populations began to dwindle due to an outbreak of canine distemper and an increase in attacks by golden eagles. Some islands saw their population drop to as low as 15 individuals, but conservation efforts by the Federal government restored numbers by 2017. A new study reveals a worrying decrease in genetic diversity within the species, signaling a new threat to the Channel Islands foxes'…
A team has developed a new catalyst composed of elements abundant in the Earth. It could make possible the low-cost and energy-efficient production of hydrogen for use in transportation and industrial applications.
Scientists have observed a towering plume of water vapor more than 6,000 miles long -- roughly the distance from the U.S. to Japan -- spewing from the surface of Saturn's moon, Enceladus.
An optical fiber about the thickness of a human hair can now carry the equivalent of more than 10 million fast home internet connections running at full capacity.
Acoustic source-shifters make observers mis-perceive the location of sound by reproducing a sound emanating from a location different from the actual location of a sound source. Researchers have now developed a design approach to produce high-performance source-shifters using a common polymer for location camouflage. Utilizing inverse design based on topology optimization, this development could pave the way for advanced augmented reality and holography technology.
One of Australia's first long-distance walkers has been described after palaeontologists used advanced 3D scans and other technology to take a new look at the partial remains of a 3.5 million year old marsupial from central Australia. They have named a new genus of diprotodontid Ambulator, meaning walker or wanderer, because the locomotory adaptations of the legs and feet of this quarter-tonne animal would have made it well suited to…
With the help of citizen scientists, astronomers discovered what may be the last three planets that the Kepler Space Telescope saw before it was retired.
A team of researchers have confirmed that 107-million-year-old pterosaur bones discovered more than 30 years ago are the oldest of their kind ever found in Australia, providing a rare glimpse into the life of these powerful, flying reptiles that lived among the dinosaurs.
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.
A third of the exoplanets orbiting common M dwarf stars have gentle enough orbits to potentially be in the habitable zone capable of hosting liquid water.
Black hole jets are known to emit x-rays, but how they accelerate particles to this high-energy state is still a mystery. Surprising new findings appear to rule out a leading theory, opening the door to reimagining how particle acceleration works. One model of how jets generate x-rays expects the jets' x-ray emissions to remain stable over long time scales. However, the new paper found that the x-ray emissions of a…
The absolute internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of indium gallium nitride (InGaN) based blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs) at low temperatures is often assumed to be 100%. However, a new study has found that the assumption of always perfect IQE is wrong: the IQE of an LED can be as low as 27.5%.
Using AI, researchers identified a new antibiotic that can kill Acinetobacter baumannii, a type of bacteria that is responsible for many drug-resistant infections.
New animal research is helping explain why at least five people have become HIV-free after receiving a stem cell transplant, and may bring scientists closer to developing what they hope will be a widespread cure for the virus that causes AIDS. A new study describes how two nonhuman primates were cured of the monkey form of HIV after receiving a stem cell transplant. It also reveals that two circumstances must…
A study presents the detection of a system of two planets slightly larger than Earth orbiting a cold star in a synchronized dance. Named TOI-2096, the system is located 150 light-years from Earth. This system, located 150 light-years from Earth, is one of the best candidates for a detailed study of their atmosphere with the JWST space telescope.
A new study of the freshwater greenfin darter fish suggests river erosion can be a driver of biodiversity in tectonically inactive regions.
The latest observations from Low Earth Orbit with the International Space Station provide further evidence of spectral hardening and softening of cosmic ray particles.
A new study suggests iron-rich ancient sediments may have helped cause some of the largest volcanic events in the planet's history.
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…
A team of engineers has recently shown that nearly any material can be turned into a device that continuously harvests electricity from humidity in the air. Researchers describe the 'generic Air-gen effect'-- nearly any material can be engineered with nanopores to harvest, cost effective, scalable, interruption-free electricity. The secret lies in being able to pepper the material with nanopores less than 100 nanometers in diameter.
Engineers have designed a new class of 'microrobots' several times smaller than the width of a human hair that may be able to treat human illnesses like interstitial cystitis -- a painful bladder disease that affects millions of Americans.
Taking a daily multivitamin may help slow age-related memory decline, a new study has found.
Recent research has identified a new compound that can stimulate nerve regeneration after injury, as well as protect cardiac tissue from the sort of damage seen in heart attack.
Scientists have found a new way to create a crystalline structure called a 'density wave' in an atomic gas. The findings can help us better understand the behavior of quantum matter, one of the most complex problems in physics.
In a ground-breaking experiment, scientists have discovered the existence of a superconductive state that was first predicted in 2017. This discovery could have significant applications, particularly in the field of superconducting electronics.
Armadillos have long been considered to be the only living mammals that produce protective bony plates. But a new study unexpectedly shows that African spiny mice produce the same structures beneath the skin of their tails, which until now had gone largely undetected.
A new study tracked the ability of natural, synthetic, and blended fabrics to biodegrade directly in the ocean.
Researchers have engineered bacteria to synthesize an amino acid that contains a rare functional group that others have shown to have implications in the regulation of our immune system. The researchers also taught a single bacterial strain to create the amino acid and place it at specific sites within target proteins. These findings provide a foundation for developing unique vaccines and immunotherapies in the future.
A new study concludes that an extinct volcano off the shore of Portugal could store as much as 1.2-8.6 gigatons of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of ~24-125 years of the country's industrial emissions. For context, in 2022 a total of 42.6 megatons (0.0426 gigatons) of carbon dioxide was removed from the atmosphere by international carbon capture and storage efforts, according to the Global CCS Institute. The new study suggests that…
A global phase 3 clinical trial found that a year-long immunotherapy through a skin patch safely desensitized toddlers with peanut allergy, lowering the risk of a severe allergic reaction from accidental exposure.
A robotic bee that can fly fully in all directions has been developed. With four wings made out of carbon fiber and mylar as well as four light-weight actuators to control each wing, the Bee++ prototype is the first to fly stably in all directions. That includes the tricky twisting motion known as yaw, with the Bee++ fully achieving the six degrees of free movement that a typical flying insect…
Understanding that others hold different viewpoints from your own is essential for human sociality. Adopting another person's visual perspective is a complex skill that emerges around the age of two. A new study suggests that this ability first arose in dinosaurs, at least 60 million years before it appeared in mammals. These findings challenge the idea that mammals were the originators of novel and superior forms of intelligence in the…
Researchers found that the Hunga-Tonga eruption 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.
Paleontologists have identified a new species of iguanodontian dinosaur from a partial skeleton found in the Cedar Mountain Formation, Utah, the United States. The post New Iguanodontian Dinosaur Unearthed in Utah appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.
Between 3.5 million and 250,000 years ago, at least seven species of the extinct giant tree-kangaroo genus Bohra lived in unexpected places all over Australia. The post Giant Tree-Kangaroos Were Once Widespread across Australia appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.
Astrophysicists show that LAMOST J1010+2358, a very metal-poor in the Galactic halo, is clear evidence of pair-instability supernovae from very massive first stars in the early Universe. The post Galactic Halo Star’s Chemical Signature Indicates Existence of Very Massive Stars in Early Universe appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.
A new analysis of an isolated spinosaur tooth from East Sussex shows that several distinct spinosaur lineages inhabited Britain during the Cretaceous period. The post Fossil Reveals Hidden Spinosaurid Dinosaur Diversity in Cretaceous Britain appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.
In a randomized clinical trial involving 99 participants with somatic tinnitus, statistically significant reductions in tinnitus loudness level were observed after bi-sensory treatment (combined sound and somatosensory) but not after sound-only treatment. The post Precisely Timed Bi-Sensory Treatment Effective for Adults with Somatic Tinnitus appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.
The newly-discovered black hole resides in the hyperluminous galaxy GN-z11 at a redshift of 11.1 and could have originated from a stellar mass seed at redshifts 12 to 15. The post Webb Detects Small and Vigorous Black Hole in Early Universe appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.
Most living angiosperms (flowering plants) are pollinated by insects, and the new reconstruction of the ancestral pollination mode of angiosperms suggests that their most recent common ancestor was also insect pollinated. “Pollination is a fundamental ecological process that has influenced the diversification of many seed plant families throughout evolutionary history,” said Macquarie University Ph.D. student […] The post Study: Earth’s Earliest Flowering Plants Were Insect Pollinated appeared first on Sci.News:…
The newly-identified species belongs to Mixophyes, an Australo-Papuan group of ground-dwelling frogs. The post New Species of Barred Frog Discovered in Australia appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.
Astronomers using the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope have captured stunning images of the face-on barred spiral galaxy NGC 5068. The post Webb Observes Hidden Depths of NGC 5068 appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.
The first genome-wide association study on eyebrow thickness in Europeans identified new genes as well as rediscovered some of the genes previously identified in non-Europeans. The post New Study Identifies DNA Variants that Influence Eyebrow Thickness in Europeans appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.
Astronomers have detected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in SPT-S J041839-4751.9 (SPT0418-47 for short), a galaxy observed less than 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang. The post Webb Finds Complex Organic Molecules in Early Universe appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.
Paleontologists have unearthed several complete skeletons of gomphotheres -- an extinct relative of elephants -- at the Montbrook Fossil Dig in Florida, the United States. The post Unique Gomphothere Assemblage Found in Florida appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.
These mysterious structures likely originated a few million years ago when an outflow from Sagittarius A* -- a supermassive black hole in the center of our Milky Way Galaxy -- interacted with surrounding material. The post MeerKAT Finds Hundreds of Horizontal Filaments in Milky Way’s Center appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.
In new research, astrophysicists at Radboud University show the existence of a local gravitational particle production mechanism in curved spacetimes similar to the Schwinger effect for electric fields. The post All Large Objects in Universe Will Eventually Evaporate, Astrophysicists Say appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.
The Hubble astronomers have released an absolutely beautiful photo taken by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope of the jellyfish galaxy JO206. The post Hubble Space Telescope Spots Jellyfish Galaxy in Aquarius appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.
Residing behind a galaxy supercluster called Abell 2744, the JD1 galaxy is gravitationally lensed and displays three images. The post Ultra-Faint Dwarf Galaxy Spotted Just 480 Million Years after Big Bang appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.
NASA’s Kepler space telescope was responsible for the discovery of over 2,700 confirmed extrasolar planets, more than half of the total number of exoplanets known today. The post K2 Mission Discovers Three New Massive Exoplanets appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.
The Breakthrough Listen Investigation for Periodic Spectral Signals (BLIPSS) is a novel software architecture utilizing a fast folding algorithm to enable routine searches for periodic technosignatures in radio data. The post BLIPSS to Search for Periodic Spectral Signals from Alien Worlds in Milky Way’s Center appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.
Researchers have set a new speed record for an industry standard optical fiber, achieving 1.7 Petabits over a 67 km length of fiber. The post Newly-Developed Optical Fiber Can Carry More Than 10 Million Fast Home Internet Connections appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.
As Enceladus orbits rapidly around Saturn with a period of only 1.37 Earth days, the ejected water vapor is spread along and around its orbit, forming a large torus around the gas giant. The post Webb Observes Enceladus’ Water Vapor Plume appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.
Ukraine and the Czech Republic have embarked on a collaborative endeavor to repair and modernize T-64 tanks for
In total, more than 40 F/A-18 fighter jets could arrive to Ukraine from Australia. Negotiations are already underway.
It seems like every day Russia boasts of shooting down dozens of Ukraine’s Storm Shadow cruise missiles. In
A space solar power prototype that was launched into orbit in January is operational and has demonstrated its
In a new landmark study, University of Minnesota research shows surprising links between human cognition and personality —
Widely used in clothing, household products and food, they resist breaking down in the environment. The chemical industry
The ChatGPT search engine-chatbot has been met with reactions ranging from great enthusiasm to deep concern. At DTU,
Rumors no more: Linda Yaccarino now heads Twitter as its new chief executive officer. Linda Yaccarino, Twitter’s newly
The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGS) has showcased its newly acquired mini-MLRS, the RAK-SA-12, which is
The initial idea behind the development of MR-2 Victor was quite simple. But the engineers from the Czech
Apple has not been among the big names in the field of virtual and augmented reality tech. But
Neuralink, a startup headed by Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk, apparently has reached a $5 billion mark in its
Germany has chosen to purchase BATT UMG light armored vehicles for Ukraine. According to the German newspaper Bild,
Conventional implantable medical devices designed for brain stimulation are often too rigid and bulky for what is one of the
All fast radio bursts may repeat if observed long enough – evidence supported by statistics tools and new
University of California, Riverside, chemical and environmental engineering scientists have identified two species of bacteria found in soil
The US Army is interested in adopting “drones-bombers” similar to those used by the Ukrainian military. The experience
The machine-learning algorithm identified a compound that kills Acinetobacter baumannii, a bacterium that lurks in many hospital settings.