Science and Technolgy blog
One of the most frequently asked questions about quantum computers is a simple one: When will they be useful? If you talk to people in the field, you’ll generally get a response in the form of another question: useful for…
A flash of light called the Platypus has hallmarks of a mid-sized black hole shredding a star and a type of burst thought to be a stellar explosion.
About a year ago, security researcher Sam Curry bought his mother a Subaru, on the condition that, at some point in the near future, she let him hack it. It took Curry until last November, when he was home for…
A recent study sheds light on the connection between alcohol consumption, pain tolerance, and aggression, suggesting that alcohol’s ability to numb physical pain may play a significant role in why intoxicated individuals are more prone to aggressive behavior. Recently in…
When sick, Nile tilapia seek warmer water. That behavioral fever triggers a specialized immune response, hinting the connection evolved long ago.
The record-breaking winds are circling the nearby “puffy” exoplanet WASP-127b, and are traveling six times faster than the alien world spins.
The Pamukkale travertines are limestone slopes and thermal water pools that have attracted visitors since before the days of Ancient Greece, when the spa town of Hierapolis was founded at the top.
Scientists say AI has crossed a critical ‘red line’ after demonstrating how two popular large language models could clone themselves.
A recent study published in Sex Roles reveals that “strategic masculine disinvestment,” a process where men intentionally distance themselves from traditional masculine ideals, is linked to poorer psychosocial functioning, including higher levels of distress and anger. Jessica Pfaffendorf and Terrence…
Welcome to Edition 7.28 of the Rocket Report! After last week’s jam-packed action in the launch business, things are a bit quieter this week. Much of the space world’s attention has turned to Washington as the Trump administration takes the…
Stand back, ordinary ocean-dwelling life forms. There’s a new green, mutant hulk in town. This hefty microbe — nicknamed “Chonkus” by the scientists who found it — appears to have traits great for helping fight climate change. Microbiologist Max Schubert led…
Images captured by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory have revealed that “coronal loops” give off subtle flashes of ultraviolet light before a solar flare, which could act as an early warning system for dangerous space weather.
Wildfire smoke, long recognized as a health threat to the lungs and heart, may also pose significant risks to brain health, according to a study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. The research explored how smoldering eucalyptus wood…
Researchers documented the first spotted hyena in Egypt for 5,000 years after it was hit with a pickup truck for killing goats.
When threat actors use backdoor malware to gain access to a network, they want to make sure all their hard work can’t be leveraged by competing groups or detected by defenders. One countermeasure is to equip the backdoor with a…
On Thursday, OpenAI released a research preview of “Operator,” a web automation tool that uses a new AI model called Computer-Using Agent (CUA) to control computers through a visual interface. The system performs tasks by viewing and interacting with on-screen…
Four out of five game developers are currently working on a project for the PC, a sizable increase from 66 percent of developers a year ago. That’s according to Informa’s latest State of the Game Industry survey, which partnered with…
All federal agencies received a memo Wednesday requiring the termination of remote work options, with return-to-office plans due by end of day Friday. In the memo, the acting director of the Office of Personnel Management, Charles Ezell, told the heads…
A solar explosion called a coronal mass ejection is poised to graze Earth on Friday or Saturday (Jan. 24 or Jan. 25), potentially triggering colorful auroras over the northern U.S.
TikTok owner ByteDance is reportedly still searching for non-sale options to stay in the US after the Supreme Court upheld a national security law requiring that TikTok’s US operations either be shut down or sold to a non-foreign adversary. Last…
Emotional support networks among men shrink by 50% between the ages of 30 and 90, reflecting an average decrease from two to one emotional support providers, according to research published in Psychology & Aging. Research consistently shows that social networks…
Storm Éowyn is about to hit the U.K. and Ireland as forecasters warn the explosive “bomb cyclone” will bring snow, rain and potentially deadly superfast winds.
The modern Doom games have been a master class in reviving a beloved retro gaming series. Both 2016’s Doom and 2020’s Doom Eternal paid homage to both the look and feel of the original Doom titles without being slavishly devoted…
Giant blobs that lurk near Earth’s core are much older than scientists thought, new seismic data reveals.
Iceberg A23a is fast approaching the remote British island of South Georgia and the Sandwich islands
Researchers have long debated why people believe in conspiracy theories—alternative explanations for events that often challenge the mainstream narrative. These beliefs can shape public opinion on issues ranging from politics to public health, such as vaccine hesitancy and pandemic precautions.…
It’s official: The FBI’s warrantless searches of communications seized to protect US national security have at last been ruled unconstitutional and in violation of the Fourth Amendment. In a major December ruling made public this week, US District Judge LaShann…
As wildfires burn the landscape, they prime slopes for debris flows: powerful torrents of rock, mud and water that sweep downhill with deadly momentum.
Chorus waves are mysterious, chirping signals produced by spiraling plasma inside our planet’s magnetic field. But a new detection suggests scientists may understand less about them than first thought.
Although fans of A Song of Ice and Fire might still be hankering for the long-delayed next book in the series, bestselling sci-fi/fantasy author George R.R. Martin has instead added a different item to his long list of publications: a…
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr has revived three complaints against broadcast stations accused of bias against President Donald Trump. Outgoing Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel last week directed the FCC to dismiss the complaints against CBS, ABC, and NBC stations, along…
A hoard of 1,368 coins, most of them silver, was discovered in England. Why they were buried is a mystery.
Eight months spent following a “carnivore diet” caused a man to grow big, yellow bumps on his hands, feet and elbows.
A recent study published in the journal Brain has revealed new insights into the neurological underpinnings of levodopa-induced dyskinesia, a common and debilitating complication of Parkinson’s disease treatment. The research explored how this condition affects the brain’s motor cortex and…
Scientists have captured faint magnetic signatures resulting from the tidal movement of seawater across the planet — and they might have to wait until 2030 to get another shot at it.
Human populations that left Africa evolved quickly whereas Neanderthals stayed the same, according to an analysis of blood group systems.
The UK’s competition watchdog has launched an investigation into Apple’s and Google’s mobile platforms, just days after the government forced out its chair as part of a push to cut the regulatory burden on business. The Competition and Markets Authority…
A new study found that in individuals highly motivated to enhance connection with their partner (high approach motivation), higher levels of inflammation were associated with greater sexual satisfaction and a higher frequency of orgasms. The paper was published in Brain…
Now 11 seasons in, Formula E has come a long way from its sometimes-chaotic early days and those mid-race pitstops to change cars. Car swaps went away a long time ago, but when the series gets back to racing next…
Genetic analyses have solved the riddle of where a marsupial mole fits on the tree of life: It’s a cousin to bilbies, bandicoots and Tasmanian devils.
Parents, students, teachers, and administrators throughout North America are smarting from what could be the biggest data breach of 2025: an intrusion into the network of a cloud-based service storing detailed data of millions of pupils and school personnel. The…
The Cadillac Lyriq was the first of a new breed of General Motors’ electric vehicles. Built around a common battery platform (which used to be called Ultium), the midsize SUV has been on sale for about three years now, and…
Pregnancy and the postpartum period bring about profound changes in a woman’s body, and new research shows that these transformations extend to the brain. A groundbreaking longitudinal study published in Nature Communications has mapped the changes in brain structure that…
Late last month, researchers revealed a finding that’s likely to shock some people and confirm the low expectations of others: Renewable energy facilities throughout Central Europe use unencrypted radio signals to receive commands to feed or ditch power into or…
“I’m a digital clone,” says a young man. He smiles and blinks. “If you’re curious about how this all works or have any questions, feel free to ask.” This clone represents Dara Ladjevardian. He co-founded Delphi. This company assists people…
Scientists have traced the evolutionary origin of humans’ outer ears to the gills of ancient fish through a series of gene-editing experiments.
Capnocytophaga infections in humans are rare, especially in historically healthy individuals, but when it occurs, the disease can be deadly.
A recent study published in the Journal of Personality has found that adolescents with lower levels of both cognitive and emotional abilities are more likely to hold authoritarian attitudes, whether on the left or right of the political spectrum. The…
NASA’s acting administrator is moving swiftly to remove diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility—or DEIA—programs from the space agency. In an email sent to agency employees on Wednesday afternoon, acting administrator Janet Petro wrote, “We are taking steps to close all…
Female mammals typically carry two X chromosomes — one from each parent — and a new study suggests that the maternal X is linked to faster brain aging.
