Science and Technolgy blog
Enlarge (credit: FT montage/Getty Images) TikTok has been sending inaccurate and misleading news-style alerts to users’ phones, including a false claim about Taylor Swift and a weeks-old disaster warning, intensifying fears about the spread of misinformation on the popular video-sharing…
A large-scale study of bibliographic data found that open-access research publications—those freely available on the internet—receive more diverse citations compared to paywalled publications, which require a subscription or payment to access. Authors who cite open-access publications (i.e., refer to them…
Air conditioning is responsible for nearly 4 percent of total global greenhouse gas emissions but that will climb along with rising temperatures.
The new device, called a magnetic tunnel junction, can be harnessed to pack more computing power onto a chip than was previously thought possible.
Our online profiles are more than just representations of our professional lives — they also appear to be windows into our personalities. A new study, published in the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, reveals that LinkedIn profiles might offer…
Fractal (noun, “FRAK-tal”) A fractal is a geometric shape made from parts that repeat at smaller and smaller scales. Consider the leafy fronds of a fern. If you look closely, you’ll notice that each frond appears to consist of repeating…
A science-fiction inspired spacesuit converts astronauts’ urine into water fit to drink. In the series Dune, a group called the Fremen live on the arid planet Arrakis. These desert dwellers recycle their bodies’ moisture using specially designed outfits called stillsuits.…
The twin Buddha statues stood sentinel over a valley in Afghanistan until being destroyed by the Taliban. Now all that’s left are two cavities.
When you learn a new skill, like playing the piano or mastering a golf swing, you might have heard that “practice makes perfect.” But according to a new study published in the Journal of Neuroscience, the timing of your sleep…
Kathryn Hahn seeks a new witchy coven in Agatha All Along. Disney introduced the poster and first full trailer for Agatha All Along during its annual D23 Expo this weekend. The nine-episode series, starring Kathryn Hahn, is one of the…
Venture capital plays an important role in helping new businesses get off the ground. The field also has a stubborn gender gap. More than 4 in 5 partners at U.S.-based venture capital firms are men, surveys and research show. Perhaps…
TKTK Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. The Star Wars universe continues to expand on streaming television with the release of the first trailer for Star Wars: Skeleton Crew this weekend at Disney’s annual D23 Expo. The eight-episode standalone series is set…
1st map of Antarctica’s green space unveiled. Here’s what it shows.
A potential game-changer in Alzheimer’s treatment has emerged from UCLA Health, where scientists have identified a compound that can restore memory function in mice with symptoms of the disease. This groundbreaking discovery, centered around a molecule called DDL-920, could pave…
Creativity is one of the most enigmatic and celebrated human capacities, driving everything from artistic expression to scientific innovation. But what actually happens in the brain when we think creatively? A recent study led by researchers from the University of…
For the millions of people living with Parkinson’s disease, tracking the progression of symptoms can be challenging and time-consuming. But now, researchers at the University of Florida have developed a new video-processing system that could revolutionize this process, making it…
An archaeologist has identified the rare remains of a Roman prison in Corinth, Greece.
Research conducted during the 2020 Viennese state election campaign (in Austria) found that perceived dirty campaigning increases anger, frustration, and disgust towards campaigns. Over time, it increased distrust towards politicians and decreased trust in democracy. The research was published in…
Enlarge / The fossil in question, oriented with its head to the left. (credit: Yang Jie / Zhang Xiguang) Around half a billion years ago, in what is now the Yunnan Province of China, a tiny larva was trapped in…
A new study that looked at 20 years of medical data from millions of people found a link between cannabis use and specific cancers.
New research published in the Journal of Sleep Research suggests that a specific type of sleep, known as rapid eye movement (REM) sleep or “dream sleep,” can predict how stressed college students feel before an important exam. The study found…
This stunning image of dune fields near Mars’ north polar ice cap, taken by NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, showcases the impact of polar winds on the Red Planet’s landscape.
Better prevention is driving down heart-attack rates in the U.S., but the sharp drops seen at the height of the pandemic were likely caused by people avoiding medical care.
When it comes to the complexities of human relationships, new research suggests that our motivations for committed partnerships and casual encounters are more distinct than previously thought. A recent study published in Personality and Individual Differences challenges the long-standing idea…
Greenland was almost completely ice-free at some point in the last one million years, fossilized flowers from a core sample taken from the center of the island reveal.
The genetic risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease is more strongly influenced by the mother’s side than the father’s side, a recent study has discovered. Alzheimer’s disease steals memories, independence and the capacity to connect with loved ones. In 2020, over…
In the realm of human sexuality, researchers have long grappled with how to accurately capture the complexities of non-normative sexual practices, often referred to under the umbrella of “kink.” Now, a team of scientists has developed and validated a new…
Could noise hold the key to better focus for children and young adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)? A recent study, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, suggests that exposure to white and pink…
When journalists confirm that a claim is true, most people tend to trust them. However, when those same journalists correct a false claim, they face a much harder battle to earn the trust of their audience. This was the key…
A group of researchers in Germany developed a way to use online video games to manipulate study participants’ beliefs in free will in the context of experimental studies by restricting their ability to act in a game. They believe that…
Security flaws in your computer’s firmware, the deep-seated code that loads first when you turn the machine on and controls even how its operating system boots up, have long been a target for hackers looking for a stealthy foothold. But…
Babies in Nigeria are testing positive for bacteria resistant to colistin, though it’s not clear whether they pick it up in utero, from their mothers, or from somewhere in the hospital.
This slimline, eel-like fish has no scales for protection so chooses to use a sea cucumber’s sphincter for safety.
Scientists hope to accelerate the development of human-level AI using a network of powerful supercomputers — with the first of these machines fully operational by 2025.
New research provides evidence that our choices in mates are deeply rooted in evolutionary principles. The study found that men tend to prioritize physical attractiveness and health in their partners, indicators of fertility, while women value traits like intelligence, emotional…
Enlarge / Sustainable aviation fuels could help cut carbon emissions from commercial flights. (credit: Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Last November, Virgin Atlantic Airways made headlines for completing the world’s first transatlantic flight using “100 percent sustainable aviation fuel.” This week,…
Editor in chief Nancy Shute discusses frogs and chytrid fungus, trilobite fossils and a dinosaur named after the Norse god of mischief.
A sign of our past? Deaf experimental psychologist Rain Bosworth has found that babies have an intrinsic ability to recognize sign language, Meghan Rosen reported in “Primed to sign” (SN: 4/26/24). Reader Suzanne Lijek wondered if our innate sensitivity to…
Sports mastery is about much more than physical capability — it shapes the brain, too.
8 must-see destinations for your (future) Mars vacation
Could what you eat change how stressed you feel? A new study from Binghamton University, State University of New York, suggests that it might. Researchers found that following a Mediterranean diet—rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and healthy fats—may help…
Humans are not the only organisms that have periods — some animals do too, but scientists still aren’t sure why.
Experts tell Live Science what it means to “hit the wall” while exercising and how to avoid it.
In today’s digital age, our smartphones have become indispensable companions. From checking emails to connecting with friends on social media, these devices are integral to our daily routines. But what happens when you can’t find your phone or its battery…
NASA’s asteroid-hunting NEOWISE space telescope will soon plunge into Earth’s atmosphere and burn to bits. Here’s a look back at its epic mission that defied all expectations.
Enlarge / OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush shows David Pogue the 2010-era game controller that pilots the Titan sub during a CBS Sunday Morning segment broadcast in November 2022. (credit: CBS Sunday Morning) In a 2022 CBS Sunday Morning segment, CEO…
Google’s DeepMind has been used to train a robot arm to play table tennis, and it beat human players.
New research has found that increased masculinity is linked to reduced mental distress among gay men in China. The findings, published in the International Journal of Sexual Health, highlight the significant role that mindfulness plays in this relationship. Unlike their…
Enlarge Federal authorities have arrested a Nashville man on charges he hosted laptops at his residences in a scheme to deceive US companies into hiring foreign remote IT workers who funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars in income to fund…
Enlarge / Screenshot from AT&T commercial featuring Ben Stiller making a satellite call to Jordan Spieth. (credit: AT&T) AT&T has been told to stop running ads that claim the carrier is already offering cellular coverage from space. AT&T intends to…
