Science and Technolgy blog
A recent study found that women, but not men, with higher emotional intelligence tend to use more emojis when communicating with friends. Conversely, men with higher emotional intelligence are more likely to use emojis when communicating with their romantic partners.…
More than 18,500 games will have been released onto the PC gaming platform Steam in the year 2024, according to SteamDB. Dividing that by the number of people covering games at Ars, or the gaming press at large, or even…
A new study published in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging has found that mindfulness meditation can reduce gaming cravings in individuals with internet gaming disorder. This effect is achieved by altering brain connectivity patterns, particularly between the default mode…
We may be on the cusp of quantum supremacy. But what does that actually mean?
From a disembodied torso to a “friendly” robot with unnervingly human facial expressions, here are seven of the most advanced humanoid robots in the world.
Listening to music can enhance our lives in all kinds of ways – many of us use it during exercise, to regulate our mood, or in the workplace. But can listening to background music while you work really make you…
A 21-year-old bodybuilder consumed a dangerous chemical known as 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP) over several months, leading to his untimely death from multi-organ failure. His chronic use of the substance, combined with anabolic steroids, underscored a preoccupation with physical appearance and suggested…
A study of sexually active Turkish Muslim women found that those who masturbate more frequently have better sexual health literacy and sexual functioning. On average, this sample of women reported masturbating five times per month. The study was published in…
By digitally modeling muscles and tendons for the skeleton of Lucy (Australopithecus afarensis), researchers determined that our hominin ancestors could run well but topped out around 11 mph.
A recent study published in Neuropsychologia has identified specific patterns of brain connectivity that can predict an individual’s tendency toward online shopping addiction. Using advanced brain imaging and predictive modeling techniques, researchers found that certain connections between key brain networks,…
AI dominated tech news this year, but has the technology actually been improving? We review the leaps we’ve seen, as well as what’s new in the world of quantum computing.
Even just a few minutes of vigorous movement per day lowers the risk of serious cardiovascular problems, like heart attack and heart failure, in women.
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A new study published in the Journal of Vision has unveiled how our brains detect faces even when presented with limited and ambiguous visual information. Using a specialized technique to suppress conscious awareness, the researchers found that stimuli resembling faces…
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When human activities disrupt and unbalance ecosystems, such as by way of climate change and biodiversity loss, things go wrong.
It started, like so many overwrought home optimization projects, during the pandemic. My wife and I, like many people stuck inside, were ordering takeout more frequently. We wanted to support local restaurants, reduce the dish load, and live a little.…
Soaring carbon emissions, an unexpected new source of global warming, and collapsing ocean currents shocked scientists in 2024. Here are our picks for this year’s top climate change stories.
Metformin treatment significantly improved depressive symptoms in patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) has risen dramatically, with over 400 million people affected globally.…
It’s been a wild year in tech thanks to the intersection between humans and artificial intelligence. 2024 brought a parade of AI oddities, mishaps, and wacky moments that inspired odd behavior from both machines and man. From AI-generated rat genitals…
It’s not a competition, but if it were, Saturn would be winning.
We’ve seen countless new innovations in the space of robotics, from humanoid robots to AI-powered machines — but how much do you know about them?
From a telescope network that spans much of the globe to a psychology study that spans 67 countries, here are the biggest science experiments on the planet.
Frosted branch angiitis is a rare condition that makes the blood vessels that supply the retina look like the frosted branches of a tree.
Fatherhood is a life-changing experience, yet for many men, it comes with emotional and psychological challenges. According to a new study in the Journal of Affective Disorders, men with higher levels of wellbeing before becoming fathers are less likely to…
A new effort to map the rumblings in spacetime caused by enormous black hole collisions paints a surprisingly loud and lopsided picture of the universe.
What knocked this black hole over onto its side? It’s a cosmic “whodunnit” that NASA scientists using the Hubble and Chandra space telescopes are trying to solve.
From bloodsucking fly mites to fish being swallowed whole, photographers get up close and personal with an array of animals in this year’s shortlisted entries for the Close-up Photographer of the Year 2024.
A massive, energetic jet from Virgo A could help scientists understand how matter behaves around a black hole.
Sexualized self-presentation is prevalent on mobile dating apps, particularly in profile pictures, according to research published in Body Image. Mobile dating applications (MDAs) like Tinder and Bumble have reshaped how young adults present themselves to potential partners, such as by…
An excavation of three Viking graves in Norway reveals beads, coin jewelry and a stone carved to look like female genitalia.
Here are our biggest archeology stories of 2024.
A survey of employees and their coworkers in China found that individuals who experienced emotional abuse as children were more likely to have workplace conflicts, but only when they were highly focused on seeking power. These individuals were also more…
Life expectancy prediction using data collected over four decades reveals southern right whales’ exceptionally long lives — far longer than scientists previously thought.
A recent study published in Neuroscience Research sheds light on the potential cognitive benefits of Camembert cheese. The research reveals that fatty acid amides—compounds generated during the cheese’s fermentation process—enhanced memory and learning in mice fed a high-fat diet. These…
The James Webb Space Telescope has caught a napping monster black hole in the early universe. The cosmic giant is slumbering after a massive meal like a reveler on Christmas Day.
While Christmas playlists often include cheesy favorites like “Rockin Around the Christmas Tree” and “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” there are also a handful of wistful tracks that go a little bit deeper. Listen closely to “I’ll be Home…
Hey, look at that! Another year has flown by, and I suspect many people would say “good riddance” to 2024. The 2020s have been quite the decade so far. No matter what insanity has transpired by a particular December 31,…
A patient went to the doctor for cataract surgery, but her physicians were surprised to find a huge, foreign mass under her eyelid.
A new study published in the Journal of Attention Disorders has revealed key factors linked to maladaptive daydreaming in neurodivergent adults. Emotional dysregulation, internalized stigma, escapism, and self-esteem emerged as significant predictors, varying across individuals with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD,…
A display of auroras is expected to light up the skies on Christmas Day, thanks to a powerful M8.9 solar flare enroute to Earth.
A study published in Social Psychological & Personality Science revealed an S-shaped relationship between social status and green consumption, challenging existing models of how social hierarchies influence eco-friendly behaviors. Green consumption, defined as choosing eco-friendly products and practices, plays an…
A recent study published in Neurobiology of Learning and Memory has revealed that intermittent exercise, akin to the “weekend warrior” pattern, offers lasting cognitive benefits compared to continuous exercise. The research, conducted with mice, found that short bursts of exercise…
On Christmas Eve, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe flew closer to the sun than any human-made object ever — a stunning technological feat that scientists liken to the historic Apollo moon landing in 1969.
Massive reductions in Antarctic sea ice in recent years has been correlated with more stormy days in the Southern Ocean, and could have implications for vital ocean currents.
Researchers have found that stick insects keep evolving the same 20 body plans, from the “tree lobster’” to the “bark hugger” and the “large-headed stick.”
A study in Iran comparing patients with Parkinson’s disease to healthy individuals found that patients with Parkinson’s disease consume less hydrogenated plant-based and animal oils but use more non-hydrogenated plant-based oil, olive oil, and mayonnaise compared to healthy individuals. The…
Everyone has their favorite film that serves as alternative Christmas movie fare, with Die Hard (1988) and Lethal Weapon (1987) typically topping the list—at least when all you want for Christmas is buddy-cop banter, car chases, shootouts, and glorious explosions.…
The James Webb telescope has focused its attention on an oddball space rock lurking between Jupiter and Neptune. The unusual “centaur,” named 2060 Chiron, has features of both comets and asteroids.
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