The James Webb telescope has brought cosmology to a tipping point. Will it soon reveal new physics?
Right now, it looks like cosmology is at a tipping point. Will the James Webb telescope resolve the issue by revealing new physics?
TECH DEIYO
Science and Technolgy blog
AI could be the breakthrough that allows humanoid robots to jump from science fiction to reality
Humanoid robots have long been a staple of science fiction, but there is now real progress being made. A range of new models made by or backed by the likes of Boston Dynamics, Tesla and OpenAI are able to walk…
Apple software leaks new Mac mini with five USB-C ports ahead of rumored event
Enlarge / Apple’s M3 Max-powered 16-inch MacBook Pro. New Pro laptops and some desktops could be on tap for later this fall. (credit: Andrew Cunningham) Apple’s newest iPhones and Apple Watches don’t come out until later this week, but the…
Lexus at its peak—the 2024 RX450h+ is one smooth plug-in hybrid
Enlarge / It’s a somewhat pricey plug-in hybrid, but it’s also quite competent. (credit: Jonathan Gitlin) Arguably, some of Lexus’ greatest innovations have been in its product strategy as much as any technology to emerge from its R&D labs. When…
iOS 18 brings RCS to major carrier iPhones, but prepaid plans are still waiting
Enlarge / Illustration of a person who refuses to check their iPhone’s messages until RCS is enabled on their MVNO carrier, out of respect for their Android-toting friends and family. (credit: Getty Images) The future of inter-OS mobile messaging is…
Brazil judge seizes cash from Starlink to cover fine imposed on Elon Musk’s X
Enlarge / Supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro participate in an event in the central area of Sao Paulo, Brazil, on September 7, 2024. Bolsonaro backers called for the impeachment of Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. (credit: Getty Images…
Pregnancy shrinks parts of the brain, leaving ‘permanent etchings’ postpartum
A study tracks how the structure of the brain changes during pregnancy, drawing on brain scans gathered before, during and just after one person’s pregnancy.
New research sheds light on the influence of “The Apprentice” on Donald Trump’s political rise
A new study published in the American Political Science Review explores how Donald Trump’s role on the reality television show The Apprentice helped propel his success in the 2016 Republican presidential primary. The research suggests that Trump’s carefully cultivated image…
Auroras may paint the northern US tonight as Earth reels from ‘strong’ G3 geomagnetic storm
Vibrant auroras could be visible as far south as Oregon and Pennsylvania tonight as Earth reels from a “strong” G3-class geomagnetic storm. However, the nearly full Harvest Moon may complicate viewing opportunities.
Human knees kind of suck — here’s why we haven’t evolved better ones
It’s more difficult than you think to evolve knees that work well for a lifetime.
Also releasing today: New iOS 17, macOS 14 updates for the upgrade-averse
Enlarge Today is the official release date for the public versions of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS 15 Sequoia, and a scad of other Apple software updates, the foundation that Apple will use for Apple Intelligence and whatever other features…
UFO 50 is the best retro-gaming homage I’ve ever played
Enlarge / Just some of the inventive character designs included in UFO 50. (credit: Mossmouth) If you’ve spent any time with retro gaming emulators, you’re likely familiar with the joy of browsing through a long list of (legally obtained) ROMs…
‘Spiders on Mars’ fully awakened on Earth for 1st time — and scientists are shrieking with joy
Researchers have recreated the bizarre spider-like features seen on the surface of Mars for the first time ever. The breakthrough could help unravel further mysteries surrounding the static Martian arachnids.
Rare skeletons up to 30,000 years old reveal when ancient humans went through puberty
An analysis of around a dozen teenagers who lived during the Paleolithic reveals that they hit puberty around the same time modern teens do.
People generally do not believe in ability contagion
A series of studies conducted with U.S. and Canadian children and adults examined whether people believe that their abilities would improve if they used objects owned by celebrities with related skills. The results showed that people prefer using objects that…
Mice made transparent with a dye used in Doritos
Enlarge / Zihao Ou, who helped develop this solution, holds a tube of it. One key challenge in medical imaging is to look past skin and other tissue that are opaque to see internal organs and structures. This is the…
macOS 15 Sequoia: The Ars Technica review
Enlarge (credit: Apple) The macOS 15 Sequoia update will inevitably be known as “the AI one” in retrospect, introducing, as it does, the first wave of “Apple Intelligence” features. That’s funny because none of that stuff is actually ready for…
Omnipresent AI cameras will ensure good behavior, says Larry Ellison
Enlarge (credit: Benj Edwards / Mike Kemp via Getty Images) On Thursday, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison shared his vision for an AI-powered surveillance future during a company financial meeting, reports Business Insider. During an investor Q&A, Ellison described a world…
DirecTV and Disney end blackout, claim they will offer better channel packages
Enlarge / TV camera during a game between the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens on December 25, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (credit: Getty Images | Robin Alam/ISI Photos ) DirecTV and Disney agreed to a new distribution contract…
Earth’s new ‘mini-moon’ will orbit our planet for the next 2 months
A tiny asteroid will orbit around our planet for 53 days from the end of September.
Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 triggered rapid but fleeting decline in subconscious racial bias
A recent study published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin explored how the 2020 Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests impacted racial bias in the United States. Researchers found that implicit racial bias—bias that operates subconsciously—decreased rapidly following the protests. However,…
Pregnancy overhauls the brain. Here’s what that looks like
Neuroscientist Liz Chrastil’s brain scans before, during and after pregnancy are providing the first view of a mom-to-be’s structural brain changes.
Save $79 on Celestron Nature DX 12×56 binoculars at Amazon
Looking for your next pair of binoculars? Save 29% and get the Celestron Nature DX 12×56 binoculars for $190 at Amazon in this binocular deal
‘Absolutely magical’: Rare glowing duo of tree frog and parasitic ghost fungus captured in otherworldly photo
An image of a biofluorescent frog perched on a bioluminescent mushroom is the People’s Choice winner for the Beaker Street Science Photography Competition 2024.
Attractive faces influence fairness decisions, reducing negative reactions to unfair proposals
According to a new study published in Biological Psychology, facial attractiveness and positive personality traits independently reduce negative responses to unfair offers in economic decision-making. In social interactions, both facial attractiveness and perceived personality traits can significantly influence decision-making. Previous…
How a dying star is similar to a lava lamp
In a first, astronomers captured how convective forces power the quick bubbling movement of gas cells on the surface of a distant, massive star.
3,200-year-old ancient Egyptian barracks contains sword inscribed with ‘Ramesses II’
The newfound barracks may have been built partly because the Libyans were becoming a growing threat to ancient Egypt.
The disturbing impact of exposure to 8 minutes of TikTok videos revealed in new study
A recent study published in PLOS One highlights the potential psychological risks associated with exposure to TikTok content, particularly videos that promote disordered eating and unhealthy body ideals. The research shows that women who viewed pro-anorexia (pro-ana) content on the…
The brain of a tiny worm inspired a new type of AI
This is another in a year-long series of stories identifying how the burgeoning use of artificial intelligence is impacting our lives — and ways we can work to make those impacts as beneficial as possible. Ramin Hasani peered through a microscope at a…
Scientists Say: Kugelblitz
Kugelblitz (noun, “KOO-ghull-blitz”) A kugelblitz is a black hole made of pure light. Such objects are only theoretical. Some laws of physics suggest they should be able to exist. Others suggest that in real life, a kugelblitz could never actually…
Jade burial suit: 2,000-year-old ‘immortality’ armor worn by Chinese royalty
The jade burial suit was made using thousands of pieces of jade held together with gold thread.
Monster black hole is starving its host galaxy to death, James Webb telescope reveals
New observations with JWST have confirmed that supermassive black holes have the power to quench star formation across their surrounding galaxies.
Scientists finally know why ultraviolent superstorms flare up on Uranus and Neptune
Scientists finally know why ultraviolent superstorms flare up on Uranus and Neptune
What is the dead internet conspiracy?
With the rise of AI models and automated bots, we find out whether there is any weight to the idea that the internet is now mostly dominated by machines or if it’s still a human hangout.
Self-tuning brain implants reduce Parkinson’s symptoms by 50% in new study
A recent study published in Nature Medicine has provided promising evidence that a new form of deep brain stimulation, known as adaptive deep brain stimulation (adaptive DBS), could improve the management of Parkinson’s disease symptoms. Unlike traditional methods, this approach…
Which animals are evolving fastest?
The “fastest evolving vertebrate” title is hotly contested, but here are a few contenders.
‘Completely unexpected’: New type of wood discovered by scientists dubbed ‘midwood’
Tulip trees were long renowned for their carbon storage. Their unique wood may be responsible.
Why some parents support delaying LGBTQ education: The role of “sexuality blindfolding”
Parents who believe in “sexuality blindfolding,” the idea that avoiding conversations about LGBTQ+ identities can reduce bias, are less likely to talk to their children about these topics, a new study reveals. Published in Social Psychological and Personality Science, the…
Classical music enhances mood by triggering triple-time locking in the extended amygdala
A recent study out of China has uncovered new insights into how listening to classical music can positively influence the brain, offering a potential non-drug approach to treating depression. Published in Cell Reports, the research demonstrates that Western classical music…
Meta-analysis provides insight into disrupted brain networks in behavioral addictions
A recent study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders sheds light on the brain network dysfunctions associated with behavioral addictions. This meta-analysis of previous research found that people with behavioral addictions show distinct patterns of brain connectivity. Specifically, these…
Fall equinox 2024: When it is, why it happens and what to look for
On Sunday, Sept. 22, day and night will be nearly equal in length as Earth spins side-on to the sun and autumn officially begins in the Northern Hemisphere.
Mindfulness-based programs can lead to altered states of consciousness up to a year later, study finds
A recent study examined the effects of mindfulness-based programs on individuals with severe mental illness. It found that participants who underwent these programs were more likely to experience spiritual, blissful and unity experiences, insightfulness, disembodiment, and changed meanings up to…
How sexual expression influences long-term marital satisfaction in older couples
A new study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior has found that older couples who experience more agreement in their sexual expression, and engage in frequent sexual activity, report better marital quality over time. The research emphasizes the link…
Greenhouse gas 80 times more potent than CO2 is rising in the atmosphere — and fast
Human activities now account for two-thirds of all methane venting to the atmosphere, and our efforts to staunch the flow are not yet bearing fruit.
A long-lost moon could explain Mars’ weird shape and extreme terrain
Unlike the other planets in the solar system, Mars is distinctly triaxial, meaning it is an ellipsoid with different sizes along all three axes.
Perpetrator likeability and tactics influence accountability in cancel culture
In a recent study published in Sex Roles, researchers examined how a perpetrator’s likeability and the type of tactic used in a sexual assault—whether coercion or force—affect public perceptions of blame and accountability. The #MeToo movement has drawn attention to…
‘Space trash’ will lead us to intelligent aliens, Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb says
The long-sought evidence of alien life could be lurking in Earth’s oceans, says Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb. Here is his plan to find it.
China plans to build moon base at the lunar south pole by 2035
The first phase of China’s moon base will be completed around 2035 near the lunar south pole, and an extended model will be built by about 2050, if all goes according to plan.
Space photo of the week: Space X’s Polaris Dawn astronauts ‘touch the void’ on 1st-ever private spacewalk
SpaceX Polaris Dawn astronaut Jared Isaacman briefly “touched the void” as he embarked on the first-ever private spacewalk Thursday (Sept. 12).
The surprising connections between dating options and mental health
A new study published in Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences sheds light on the psychological impacts of perceived sex ratio, or the balance between available men and women, on mental health in young single adults. The research found that the perceived availability…
