7 haunting caves ancient humans used for art, burials and butchering
From stunning artwork to evidence of elaborate prehistoric butchering, Live Science takes a look at seven amazing caves that contain archaeological remains.
TECH DEIYO
Science and Technolgy blog
Earth’s crust is peeling away under California
A section of the upper mantle and crust under the Sierra Nevada mountains is peeling away, in a process that may mimic how the continents were formed.
How brain connectivity differs in healthy aging and semantic dementia
A new study published in the journal Cortex sheds light on how brain network organization differs in healthy aging and semantic dementia. Researchers found that older adults experience changes in the balance between structural and functional brain connectivity, which are…
It’s tough to resist scratching an itch — and evolution may be to blame
A new study conducted in mice suggests that, although it’s not all good, our urge to scratch at itchy skin may have an evolutionary benefit.
Large-scale neuroimaging study finds no evidence of atypical amygdala connectivity in autism
A neuroimaging study of over 200 individuals with autism found no evidence of atypical functional connectivity in the amygdala, a brain region critical for processing emotions, particularly fear, and for threat detection. The paper was published in the American Journal…
Fake studies are slowing slowing lifesaving medical research — all while fraudsters are getting rich, investigation reveals
Fake papers are contaminating the world’s scientific literature, fueling a corrupt industry and slowing legitimate lifesaving medical research
New fabric can heat up almost 50 degrees to keep people warm in ultracold weather
A new smart fabric converts light into heat and can raise temperatures by more than 54 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius) after just 10 minutes in the sun.
Scientists uncover a new mechanical pathway linked to Alzheimer’s disease
A newly published study in Royal Society Open Biology provide new insight into the potential mechanical underpinnings of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers have identified a previously unknown interaction between two proteins in the brain—amyloid precursor protein and talin—that may be fundamental…
Antarctic scale worm: The glitzy frilly horror show with giant protruding jaws that look like Alien’s xenomorph
This deep-sea polar worm looks like it can’t decide if it’s dressed for a glitzy party or a gruesome massacre.
Watch China’s 4-legged ‘Black Panther 2.0’ robot run as fast as Usain Bolt
Researchers in China have developed a unique running stance for their four-legged robot, which allows it to move at far greater speeds than similar machines.
Loneliness skews partner perceptions, harming relationships and reinforcing isolation
Lonely people underestimate how much their loved ones care about them, which damages relationships and reinforces their loneliness, according to research published in the Journal of Personality & Social Psychology. Loneliness, defined as the distress arising from a perceived lack…
To help AIs understand the world, researchers put them in a robot
Large language models like ChatGPT display conversational skills, but the problem is they don’t really understand the words they use. They are primarily systems that interact with data obtained from the real world but not the real world itself. Humans,…
Milky Way quiz: How well do you know our home galaxy?
Test your knowledge of the Milky Way’s size, speed, age, galactic neighbors and more.
Newly discovered super-Earth orbits in and out of its star’s habitable zone. Could life survive its extreme climate?
The climate on such a world must be beyond bizarre.
Women with heightened interoceptive awareness have more frequent and satisfying orgasms, study finds
New research published in Brain Sciences suggests that women who are more attuned to their bodily sensations may experience more frequent and satisfying orgasms. The study found that different aspects of interoceptive awareness—the ability to perceive internal bodily signals—are linked…
Can your eyes get sunburned?
Photokeratitis, or eye sunburn, can happen at any time of the year.
Science news this week: Doomsday predictions and asteroid secrets
Feb. 1, 2025: Our weekly roundup of the latest science in the news, as well as a few fascinating articles to keep you entertained over the weekend.
‘Neuroergonomics’ aims to monitor workers’ brains to boost productivity. Is that… okay?
Neurotechnology raises many high-stakes ethical questions. Setting ground rules could help protect workers and ensure that tasks are adapted to the person, rather than the other way around.
Infant mortality is on the rise in the US — experts point to stricter abortion laws as reasons why
The new study reinforces warnings from doctors about abortion laws with limited or no exceptions.
FCC demands CBS provide unedited transcript of Kamala Harris interview
The Federal Communications Commission demanded that CBS provide the unedited transcript of a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris that is the subject of a complaint to the FCC and a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump. CBS News on…
FDA approves first non-opioid pain medicine in more than 20 years
The Food and Drug Administration announced the approval of a new non-opioid pain medication this week, marking the first time in over two decades that the agency has approved a non-opioid pain drug with a novel mechanism of action. The…
Santorini is having a swarm of tiny earthquakes. Is the Greek isle about to erupt?
An uptick in seismic activity on the volcanic island of Santorini has raised concerns about a potential eruption.
Google Pixel 4a’s ruinous “Battery Performance” update is a bewildering mess
What exactly is wrong with the batteries in some of Google’s Pixel 4a phones still out there? Google has not really said. Now that many Pixel 4a owners are experiencing drastically reduced battery life after an uncommon update for an…
A new kind of non-opioid painkiller gets FDA approval
The new drug, called Journavx, is a non-opioid for treating short-term moderate to severe pain.
4,000-year-old footprints near Pompeii show people fleeing Mount Vesuvius eruption thousands of years before the famous one
Footprints from people and animals feeling the eruption of Vesuvius in 1995 B.C. were recently discovered in a town near Pompeii.
AI reaches human-level performance on general intelligence test—what does it mean?
A new artificial intelligence (AI) model has just achieved human-level results on a test designed to measure “general intelligence”. On December 20, OpenAI’s o3 system scored 85% on the ARC-AGI benchmark, well above the previous AI best score of 55%…
OpenAI hits back at DeepSeek with o3-mini reasoning model
Over the last week, OpenAI’s place atop the AI model hierarchy has been heavily challenged by Chinese model DeepSeek. Today, OpenAI struck back with the public release of o3-mini, its latest simulated reasoning model and the first of its kind…
FDA approves 1st new class of opioid-free painkillers in over 20 years
The FDA has approved Journavx, an oral medication for treating pain that doesn’t target the brain like addictive opioids.
Treasury official retires after clash with DOGE over access to payment system
A longtime Treasury Department official is leaving his job after a dispute with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has reportedly been seeking access to federal payment systems. “The highest-ranking career official at the Treasury Department is departing…
Hotter cities? Here come the rats
Well, rats. A study of 16 cities shows that higher ambient temperatures and loss of green space are associated with increasing rodent complaints.
FDA approves ‘ketamine’ nasal spray for depression — here’s everything you need to know
A nasal spray that contains esketamine — a potent derivative of ketamine — can now be taken on its own to treat adults with severe depression, the FDA says. Here’s what that means.
Why is DeekSpeek such a game-changer? Scientists explain how the AI models work and why they were so cheap to build.
DeepSeek’s V3 and R1 models took the world by storm this week. Here’s why they’re such a big deal.
Support dynamics in incel forums reveal contrasts between problem-solving and empathy
A recent study published in The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality documented the exchange of social support within incel forums. Incel forums, online spaces for men experiencing involuntary celibacy, are often examined through the lens of misogyny and radicalization. However,…
Dell risks employee retention by forcing all teams back into offices full-time
Dell is calling much of its workforce back into the office five days a week starting on March 3. The technology giant is framing the mandate as a business strategy, but there’s reason to believe the policy may drive employee…
Buoy meets satellite soul mate in Love Me
There have been a lot of films and television series exploring sentient AI, consciousness, and identity, but there’s rarely been quite such a unique take on those themes as that provided by Love Me, the first feature film from directors…
Do science dioramas still have a place in today’s museums?
Science dioramas of yesteryear can highlight the biases of the time. Exhibit experts are reimagining, annotating — and sometimes mothballing — the scenes.
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New wonder material designed by AI is as light as foam but as strong as steel
The new technique could produce materials for use in helicopters, airplanes and spacecraft.
“Just give me the f***ing links!”—Cursing disables Google’s AI overviews
If you search Google for a way to turn off the company’s AI-powered search results, you may well get an AI Overview telling you that AI Overviews can’t be directly disabled in Google Search. But if you instead ask Google…
Driving the Ford Mustang Dark Horse R makes every other pony feel tame
Ford provided flights from Albany to Charlotte and accommodation so Ars could attend its Ford Performance 2025 event. Ars does not accept paid editorial content. CHARLOTTE, NC—It’s amazing how much more raucous you can make a car feel simply by…
Medieval ‘vampire’ burial in Croatia contains decapitated and twisted remains
The “vampire” find illustrates a popular fear that the “undead” could rise from their graves.
How did Alexander the Great die?
Alexander the Great died at age 32, but his cause of death is unclear. What killed him has been a long-standing source of debate.
Was Alexander the Great eaten by sharks? Inside the wild theories for what happened to the iconic ruler’s body.
The remains of Alexander the Great may lie under the streets of Alexandria, they may have been “eaten by a shark,” or they may be somewhere else entirely. But one thing is certain: Archaeologists don’t agree.
New research highlights the role of maths interest in shaping STEM career choices
A new study published in npj Science of Learning sheds light on the psychological factors influencing students’ decisions to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The research found that an individual’s interest in mathematics is a stronger predictor…
Bogus research is undermining good science, slowing lifesaving research
Over the past decade, furtive commercial entities around the world have industrialized the production, sale, and dissemination of bogus scholarly research. These paper mills are profiting by undermining the literature that everyone from doctors to engineers rely on to make…
Here’s why the tech industry gets excited about sports car racing
Acura provided accommodation for Ars for the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Ars does not accept paid editorial content. DAYTONA BEACH—Last week, ahead of the annual Rolex 24 at Daytona and the start of the North American road racing season, IMSA…
Ancient rocks reveal when rivers began pouring nutrients into the sea
Rivers began pumping weathered material into the sea about a billion years after Earth formed, suggesting continents may have gotten an early start.
Gigantic 500,000-mile ‘hole’ in the sun’s atmosphere aims aurora-sparking solar wind at Earth (photo)
The gigantic coronal hole is blasting high-speed solar wind toward Earth, potentially igniting vibrant auroras and minor geomagnetic activity on Jan. 31.
‘Zombie’ spiders infected by never-before-seen fungus discovered on grounds of destroyed Irish castle
A new fungus that infects cave spiders and turns them into “zombies” was discovered in a Victorian gunpowder store at Castle Espie in Northern Ireland during filming for a TV show.
Mars quiz: Is your knowledge of the Red Planet out of this world?
Think you know Mars? Test your knowledge of our neighboring planet’s size, surface, history and more.
