Science and Technolgy blog
A cyclist is pedaling down the street. Signs, trees and fire hydrants whip by. As the rider bikes along, their brain takes in information from what they’ve perceived but can no longer see. There are all sorts of info —…
Our roundup the biggest discoveries and top science in the news each week.
Quantum technology company Alice & Bob outlines its plan for quantum computing by 2030, but how feasible is that goal?
A recent study published in the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy highlights the role of sexual boredom in shaping sexual and relationship satisfaction among women in long-term monogamous relationships. The research reveals that sexual boredom serves as a key…
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has warned that raw pet food products have tested positive for bird flu and sickened pet cats in the area.
The more than two decades since Half-Life 2‘s release have been filled with plenty of rumors and hints about Half-Life 3, ranging from the official–ish to the thin to the downright misleading. As we head into 2025, though, we’re approaching…
On Thursday, a three-judge panel struck down net neutrality rules that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) had hoped would stop broadband providers from varying speeds for users when connecting to different websites. In his opinion, US circuit judge Richard Allen…
Axial, an undersea volcano off the coast of Oregon is probably going to erupt in 2025.
Scientists found that healthy women can carry genetic changes in their breast cells that are thought to be characteristic of invasive breast cancer.
In a recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers detailed a way to weaken the recall of negative memories by reactivating newer, positive memories during sleep. The technique, known as targeted memory reactivation, not…
Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that its voice assistant Siri routinely recorded private conversations that were then sold to third parties for targeted ads. In the proposed class-action settlement—which comes after five years…
“It’s time for THE charger,” the European Commission posted to X on December 28, 2024. While the sentiment only applies to one continent (and not all of it) and only certain devices, the Common Charger Directive now in effect in…
People have been complaining for a while that passing a CAPTCHA is too difficult, but developer and tech CEO Guillermo Rauch has made one of the hardest yet: a fully playable CAPTCHA based on the classic PC game Doom. It’s…
Samsung is starting 2025 with a fresh attempt at popularizing 3D displays. Announced today, Samsung’s Odyssey 3D is the follow-up to prototypes that Samsung demoed at last year’s CES technology trade show. This year, Samsung is showing off a final…
It’s January, and for people in the US, that means the same thing it’s meant every January since 2019: a new batch of previously copyrighted works have entered the public domain. People can publish, modify, and adapt these works and…
The solar probe came within 6.1 million kilometers of the surface of the sun and lived to tell the tale.
New research published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin highlights a connection between honor culture and military service in the United States. Across three studies, researchers uncovered that honor-oriented states consistently produce higher military enlistment rates than dignity-oriented states,…
Squid Game‘s hotly anticipated second season debuted on Netflix the day after Christmas and racked up more than 68 million views in just three days. It had already been renewed for a third and final season—filmed back-to-back with S2—but Netflix…
If you’ve been too busy reading about giant old TVs to take part in this year’s Ars Technica Charity Drive sweepstakes, don’t worry. You still have a little bit of time to donate to a good cause and get a…
Carbon fiber, aluminum, maybe the odd bit of titanium here or there: These are the materials we usually expect race cars to be made of. Now you can start adding thermoplastics like Utlem to the list. Addictive manufacturing has become…
An expanding polar vortex is expected to lower temperatures across the eastern half of the U.S., with the potential for record-breaking cold in January.
Researchers believe they have found the site where Alexander the Great’s troops fought the Battle of the Granicus.
Episodes of “binge drinking” can have dangerous short-term effects, while repeated binge drinking can trigger longer-term problems.
According to Britannica, “art” can be described as something “consciously created through an expression of skill or imagination” – whereas Wikipedia defines it more narrowly as a human activity. But are humans the only species that makes art? If we…
The Russian space program reached a significant milestone over the holidays with the 2,000th launch of a rocket from the “R-7” family of boosters. The launch took place on Christmas Day when an R-7 rocket lifted off, carrying a remote-sensing…
Tesla sold almost 1.8 million cars in 2024, according to data released by the company this morning. Unfortunately for the electric automaker, it sold more than 1.8 million cars in 2023, beating this year’s effort by 19,355 vehicles. But unlike…
Silicon chip manufacturers like Intel and TSMC are constantly outdoing themselves to make ever smaller features, but they are getting closer to the physical limits of silicon itself. “We already have very, very high density in silicon-based architectures where silicon…
It’s getting harder to access popular adult sites in the US South. On Wednesday, Pornhub’s owner, Aylo, kicked off the new year by blocking three more states that implemented age verification laws requiring ID to access porn. According to 404…
Corporate executives are being hit with an influx of hyper-personalized phishing scams generated by artificial intelligence bots, as the fast-developing technology makes advanced cyber crime easier. Leading companies such as British insurer Beazley and ecommerce group eBay have warned of…
Our pick of the best power banks and power stations to keep you energized away from home.
A growing body of research suggests crabs, lobsters and other animals caught for seafood can feel pain. Scientists are pushing for legal protections to ensure they are treated humanely.
A recent study in Molecular Psychiatry found that using an oxytocin nasal spray can make people feel more guilt and shame and less willing to harm others, even if it could lead to benefits. The findings contrast oxytocin’s effects with…
Solve our latest interactive crossword. We’ll publish science-themed crosswords and math puzzles on alternating months.
A “missing link” black hole in Omega Centauri is still missing. What appeared to be an intermediate-mass black hole was a cluster of stellar-mass black holes.
A new analysis of neuroimaging data has found that individuals with Alzheimer’s disease who speak only one language (monolinguals) have reduced hippocampal volume in the brain. This reduction was not observed in individuals who speak at least two languages (bilinguals).…
Back in 2019, we told you about an intriguing experiment to test a famous anthropological legend about an elderly Inuit man in the 1950s who fashioned a knife out of his own frozen feces. He used it to kill and…
Airplane plumage might be the next big thing in aviation. Bird wings are shaped in part by overlapping rows of feathery tufts. These spread out from near the flyers’ shoulders. Known as “covert feathers,” they help birds maneuver through the…
The Quadrantids are the year’s first shooting stars, peaking over North America between Jan. 3 and 4.
Situs inversus is a rare genetic condition that causes the organs in the chest and abdomen to be located on the opposite side from where they’re usually found, like a mirror image.
A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences investigates how large language models, such as ChatGPT, influence people’s perceptions of political news headlines. The findings reveal that while these artificial intelligence systems can accurately flag…
Married or cohabiting participants score lower on traits associated with the so-called “Dark Triad” of personalities—Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy—compared to their single counterparts, according to new research study published in the journal Heliyon. Additionally, partnered individuals tend to favor passionate…
Marriage is often seen as a partnership, but how do couples share financial responsibilities over the long haul? A groundbreaking study in Research in Social Stratification and Mobility reveals that gender-egalitarian earnings patterns are more common than previously thought when…
A study of mothers and their infants found that mothers with depressive symptoms tend to display fewer supportive responses to their infants’ positive emotions. In turn, infants who receive fewer supportive responses are more likely to exhibit depressive symptoms during…
A new study published in Nature Communications provides evidence that memory-like processes are not exclusive to brain cells but can occur in other types of human cells. Researchers demonstrated that two types of non-neural cells, when exposed to specific patterns…
A new study published in Frontiers in Psychology suggests that teaching individuals with depression how to reflect on their daily lives could help improve their mental health and overall satisfaction with life – at least in the short term. Researchers…
How well can genetics predict intelligence? A large-scale study published in Intelligence explores the power of polygenic scores to predict intelligence, finding that these genetic estimates moderately correlate with IQ. However, the study also highlights critical gaps, including variability across studies…
The stereo function of the Celestron Labs S10-60 makes this microscope perfect for 3D viewing, for those with a little experience.
A Chinese spacecraft that burned up high over Los Angeles created a sonic trail detected by ground-based sensors.
The 2025 stargazing guide includes Venus at it brightest, a sunrise solar eclipse and three supermoons. Here are all the dates you need to know.
Find out exactly when to see the full moons of 2025, including dates for two total lunar eclipses and three supermoons.
