Science News
World's oldest person, Maria Branyas Morera, dies at 117 years old
Live Science - 20 Aug 2024 23:42
Maria Branyas Morera, the world's oldest person, has died. She was 117 years old.
'Final parsec problem' that makes supermassive black holes impossible to explain could finally have a solution
Live Science - 20 Aug 2024 00:00
A new study helps solve the "final parsec problem" that has made supermassive black hole formation impossible to explain, pointing to a strange form of dark matter as the key.
4 things ancient Greeks and Romans got right about mental health
Live Science - 20 Aug 2024 22:29
They figured out that some mental illnesses can be prevented and treated.
Black Hole Sun: Watch a Star Get Torn to Shreds by a Supermassive Black Hole
Singularity Hub - 20 Aug 2024 20:02
Giant black holes in the centers of galaxies like our own Milky Way are known to occasionally munch on nearby stars. This leads to a dramatic and complex process as the star plunging towards the supermassive black hole i...
Fuzzy quantum effects have been seen on the largest scale yet
New Scientist - 20 Aug 2024 20:00
A weird quantum phenomenon called delocalisation has been measured for a 100-nanometre glass bead, helping reveal where the boundary lies between quantum and classical physics
The blue supermoon will 'swallow' Saturn tonight -- here's when the rare 'lunar occultation' begins
Live Science - 20 Aug 2024 19:51
Here's everything you need to know to see the moon as it occults, or passes completely in front of, the bright planet Saturn tonight.
Is painting your nails bad for you?
Live Science - 20 Aug 2024 19:10
Painting your nails is generally considered safe, but the practice does carry a few health concerns that scientists don't fully understand yet.
Physicists find superconductor behavior at temperatures once thought 'impossible'
Live Science - 20 Aug 2024 19:08
Scientists have observed an unexpected new behavior in a superconducting material. If physicists can figure out the cause, it could help them to find room-temperature superconductors.
Rare 'moonbows' light up night sky across US as blue supermoon rises -- and you could still spot another one
Live Science - 20 Aug 2024 18:40
At least two lunar rainbows, including a stunning "double moonbow," have been spotted above the U.S. in the lead-up to the blue supermoon. And there is still a chance to see one of these elusive arches for yourself.
The surprising science of coffee and its effect on both body and mind
New Scientist - 20 Aug 2024 18:00
The latest research on caffeine reveals why coffee and decaf can be so good for your health, but energy drinks can be lethal
Real-time brain stimulation slashes Parkinson's symptoms by half in trial
Live Science - 20 Aug 2024 17:55
A new device reacts to rising and falling levels of Parkinson's medication in the body and improves quality of life for some patients.
Wet-bulb temperature: What is it, and how is it linked to human survival in extreme heat?
Live Science - 20 Aug 2024 17:21
Scientists use "wet-bulb temperature" to gauge how extreme heat affects the body. But what is it?
AI could help shrinking pool of coders keep outdated programs working
New Scientist - 20 Aug 2024 17:00
Computer code dating back to the 1960s is still vital to banks, airlines and governments, but programmers familiar with the language are in short supply. Now AI models are being trained to fill the skills gap
Earth from space: Picturesque plankton paint peculiar patterns in Patagonia
Live Science - 20 Aug 2024 15:57
This 2014 satellite photo shows a gigantic, multicolor phytoplankton bloom swirling off the coast of Argentina. More recent research has shown that similarly massive algal outbreaks may become less likely in the future t...
1st-of-its-kind 'cooling chip' could prevent AI smartphones from overheating -- with 1st devices launching in 2026
Live Science - 20 Aug 2024 15:28
The "xMEMS XMC-2400 µCooling" chip aims to keep future smartphones from overheating as they become more powerful.
Huge 13,600-year-old mastodon skull and bones unearthed in Iowa
Live Science - 20 Aug 2024 15:16
A team of archaeologists recently excavated the first well-preserved mastodon bones ever found in Iowa, including the prehistoric animal's skull.
How 'forever chemicals' reached one of the world's most pristine areas
New Scientist - 20 Aug 2024 15:00
Scientists have found significant concentrations of a type of PFAS chemical in the air deep in the Amazon rainforest, suggesting it travelled over 100 kilometres from an industrial hub
Molecule Discovery Could Revolutionize Chronic Pain Treatment
Neuroscience News - 20 Aug 2024 15:00
Researchers have identified a natural molecule, phosphatidic acid, that reduces the sensitivity of touch-sensing ion channels, providing a promising new avenue for managing chronic pain. By increasing levels of this mole...
Physicists successfully observe Kibble-Zurek scaling in an atomic Fermi superfluid
Phys.org - 20 Aug 2024 14:30
The Kibble-Zurek (KZ) mechanism is a theoretical framework introduced by physicists Tom Kibble and Wojciech Zurek. This framework essentially describes the formation of topological defects while systems undergo non-equil...
Cocaine in mummified brains reveals when Europeans first used the drug
New Scientist - 20 Aug 2024 14:00
The use of cocaine only took off in Europe during the 19th century, after the drug was chemically isolated from coca leaves, but new evidence suggests much earlier use
Our efforts to cope with extreme temperatures are making them worse
New Scientist - 20 Aug 2024 12:00
An analysis of daily carbon dioxide emissions since 1970 has revealed increasingly large spikes that appear to be caused by growing energy use during extreme weather events
The Atlantic is cooling at record speed and nobody knows why
New Scientist - 20 Aug 2024 00:24
After over a year of record-high global sea temperatures, the Atlantic is cooling off more quickly than ever recorded, which could impact weather around the world