Rare army general and chariot unearthed among China’s terracotta warriors
The life-size clay figurines offer new insights into the organization and structure of China’s army 2,000 years ago.
TECH DEIYO
Science and Technolgy blog
Ritalin on the road: ADHD drug methylphenidate improves driving performance
A recent study conducted in Australia found that a 10 mg dose of methylphenidate improved participants’ driving performance in a simulated driving task. The medication reduced lane weaving and speed variation, while eye movements remained almost unaffected. The research was…
Solving renewable energy’s sticky storage problem
When the Sun is blazing and the wind is blowing, Germany’s solar and wind power plants swing into high gear. For nine days in July 2023, renewables produced more than 70 percent of the electricity generated in the country; there…
A new microbead proves effective as a plastic-free skin scrubber
The nonplastic polymer cleaned up eyeliner and permanent marker and broke down into molecules related to sugar and amino acids.
NASA commander Suni Williams meets tentacled Astrobee robot on ISS
The robot’s flexible arms are a technology demonstration that could one day aid in satellite maintenance and space debris management.
Listening to Joe Rogan predicts belief in extraterrestrial UFOs, study finds
A recent study published in the Atlantic Journal of Communication investigated how media consumption habits are linked to beliefs in unidentified flying objects. The findings provide evidence that consuming certain types of media, such as paranormal documentaries, reality television, Fox…
A landslide in a Greenland fjord echoed around Earth for 9 days
A mountainside in Greenland collapsed catastrophically into the ocean, last year. The landslide triggered a wave as tall as the Statue of Liberty. This wave — a tsunami — swept 80 kilometers (50 miles) down a fjord there. Its rapid…
Fatal familial insomnia: a genetic condition where people never sleep again
As fatal familial insomnia progresses, patients completely stop sleeping and enter a coma-like state that results in death within months.
Handwriting activates broader brain networks than typing, study shows
While keyboards dominate modern classrooms, a new study in Frontiers in Psychology suggests handwriting may be irreplaceable when it comes to learning. Researchers found that writing by hand activates far more extensive and interconnected brain networks compared to typing, particularly…
$2 per megabyte: AT&T mistakenly charged customer $6,223 for 3.1GB of data
An AT&T customer who switched to the company’s FirstNet service for first responders got quite the shock when his bill came in at $6,223.60, instead of the roughly $260 that his four-line plan previously cost each month. The Texas man…
Amazon’s RTO delays exemplify why workers get so mad about mandates
Amazon announced in September that it will require workers to be in the office five days a week starting in January. Employee backlash ensued, not just because return-to-office (RTO) mandates can be unpopular but also because Amazon is using some…
Centuries-old floor patched with sliced bones discovered in the Netherlands
DIY-ers in northern Holland filled a large gap in a tile floor with precisely sliced cow bones several centuries ago.
Person in Louisiana hospitalized with H5N1 in nation’s 1st severe case
A person in Louisiana has been hospitalized with the United States’ first serious case of H5N1 bird flu, following 60 milder cases this year.
What makes a company Christmas party good? Research identifies key ingredients for success
Office Christmas parties are often viewed as a chance for employees to unwind, connect, and celebrate the year’s achievements. However, the success of these events can vary greatly depending on how they are organized and experienced. In a study published…
The Backbone One would be an ideal game controller—if the iPhone had more games
In theory, it ought to be as good a time as ever to be a gamer on the iPhone. Classic console emulators have rolled out to the platform for the first time, and they work great. There are strong libraries…
Louisiana resident in critical condition with H5N1 bird flu
The Louisiana resident infected with H5N1 bird flu is hospitalized in critical condition and suffering from severe respiratory symptoms, the Louisiana health department revealed Wednesday. The health department had reported the presumptive positive case on Friday and noted the person…
Long-term practitioners of Orgasmic Meditation show unique brain activity patterns
A new study published in Frontiers in Neuroimaging has found that long-term practitioners of Orgasmic Meditation (OM)—a partnered mindfulness practice involving sexual stimulation—show lower brain metabolism at rest compared to non-meditators. The research highlights differences in specific brain regions linked…
Arm says it’s losing $50M a year in revenue from Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite SoCs
Arm and Qualcomm’s dispute over Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite chips is continuing in court this week, with executives from each company taking the stand and attempting to downplay the accusations from the other side. If you haven’t been following along,…
What will space exploration look like under Trump?
A lot is unknown, but the roles of billionaires like Elon Musk and Jared Isaacman suggests a focus on human and private spaceflight.
TP-Link faces possible US ban as hijacked routers fuel Chinese attacks
US government authorities are reportedly investigating whether to ban TP-Link wireless routers, which have been targeted in some high-profile attacks linked to the Chinese government. TP-Link, which was founded in China in 1996 and said it relocated its headquarters to…
Call ChatGPT from any phone with OpenAI’s new 1-800 voice service
On Wednesday, OpenAI launched a 1-800-CHATGPT (1-800-242-8478) telephone number that anyone in the US can call to talk to ChatGPT via voice chat for up to 15 minutes for free. The company also says that people outside the US can…
Supreme Court to decide if TikTok should be banned or sold
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court confirmed it would review whether a federal law that could ban or force a sale of TikTok is unconstitutional. The announcement came just one day after TikTok and its owner ByteDance petitioned SCOTUS for a…
New study confirms the moon is older than we realized — and reveals why we previously got it wrong
Scientists have shown that a “remelting event” more than 4.3 billion years ago “reset” the internal clock of most lunar rocks, which has helped obscure the moon’s true age.
13 ancient Egyptian mummies found with gold tongues to help them talk in the afterlife
More than a dozen ancient gold tongues have been discovered in a cemetery at the site of Oxyrhynchus in Egypt.
Moon news, features and articles
Moon news, features and articles
The sun news, features and articles
The sun news, features and articles
Space exploration news, features and articles
Space exploration news, features and articles
James Webb telescope spies stunning ‘Firefly Sparkle’ galaxy — a baby clone of the Milky Way being ‘assembled brick by brick’ in the early universe
The James Webb Space Telescope has captured an image of a baby, Milky Way-like galaxy that formed more than 13 billion years ago. This “Firefly Sparkle” galaxy could reveal how our own galaxy evolved.
Scientists say sprinkling diamond dust into the sky could offset almost all of climate change so far — but it’ll cost $175 trillion
The geoengineering scheme, known as stratospheric aerosol injection, would not be cheap, but scientists say it could buy us some time until we reach net-zero carbon.
‘Stranded’ NASA astronauts’ return to Earth delayed until at least ‘late March’ 2025 due to SpaceX capsule issues, NASA reveals
Due to a delay with SpaceX’s Dragon capsule, NASA’s Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who were meant to spend 10 days in space in June 2024, will now not return to Earth until late March 2025 at the earliest, NASA…
‘I knew they were something special’: New York homeowner discovers mastodon jaw fossils in backyard
A New York homeowner, in Scotchtown, Orange County, was “thrilled” to find mastodon fossils in their backyard, which museum staff plan to study to learn more about the last ice age.
Surprise discovery in alien planet’s atmosphere could upend decades of planet formation theory
The odd atmosphere of a fledgling exoplanet is causing astronomers to question leading theories of how planets form.
Probiotic supplements may improve working memory
A new study published in Nutritional Neuroscience examined how probiotic supplements, a prebiotic-rich diet, or their combination (synbiotic treatment) impact cognitive function in adults with low mood and dietary improvement potential. The randomized controlled trial provides tentative evidence that probiotic…
EPA lets California set its own stricter emissions standards until 2035
Today, the US Environmental Protection Agency granted a pair of waivers to California, allowing the Golden State to continue regulating vehicle-caused air pollution within its borders. The first is for the California Air Resources Board’s Advanced Clean Cars II regulations,…
The $700 price tag isn’t hurting PS5 Pro’s early sales
When Sony revealed the PlayStation 5 Pro a few months ago, some wondered just how many people would be willing to spend $700 for a marginal upgrade to the already quite powerful graphical performance of the PS5. Now, initial sales…
Z-Wave Long Range and its mile-long capabilities will arrive next year
Z-Wave can be a very robust automation network, free from the complications and fragility of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Just how robust, you ask? More than a mile long, under the right circumstances, as hardware soon to hit the market promises.…
Here’s how public health fared in 2024
Viral outbreaks, extreme heat and access to clean water are among the year’s big public health headlines.
New study examines strategies people use to strengthen desirable friendships
A new study published in Evolutionary Psychological Science reveals seven key strategies individuals use to strengthen friendships they consider desirable. Friendships are a crucial aspect of human life, offering emotional and practical support that enhances well-being and survival. However, not…
GM and ChargePoint will deploy hundreds of “Omni Port” chargers in 2025
General Motors might have scaled back its electric vehicle ambitions in favor of more hybrids, but it’s still accelerating its plans to build out EV charging infrastructure. Today, together with ChargePoint, GM revealed that it will deploy “hundreds” of new…
Scotch tape is key to creating thin films of diamond
The sticky stuff helped peel sheets of diamond less than a micrometer thick off silicon wafers, creating membranes useful for electronic devices.
Who needs the dark web? Drug sales flourish on social media
For every illegal drug, there is a combination of emojis that dealers and consumers use to evade detection on social media and messaging platforms. Snowflakes, snowfall, and snowmen symbolize cocaine. Love hearts, lightning bolts, and pill capsules mean MDMA, or…
Reminder: Donate to win swag in our annual Charity Drive sweepstakes
If you’ve been too busy fixing your video drivers to take part in this year’s Ars Technica Charity Drive sweepstakes, don’t worry. You still have time to donate to a good cause and get a chance to win your share…
Study finds 75% of Facebook shares are made without reading the content
A new study has found that most social media users share links without clicking on them first, relying only on headlines and short summaries. The analysis, which examined over 35 million public Facebook posts, found that around 75% of shares…
Russian space chief says country will fly on space station until 2030
In a wide-ranging interview with a Russian television station, the chief executive of Russia’s main space corporation said the country is now planning to participate in the International Space Station project all the way to NASA’s desired goal of 2030.…
These are our favorite animal stories of 2024
Pigeons that do somersaults, snakes that fake death with extra flair and surprised canines are among the organisms that enthralled the Science News staff.
Symptoms of complex PTSD predict the appearance of psychotic symptoms in daily life, study finds
A study of individuals suffering from both complex PTSD and psychosis found that disturbances of self-organization—a set of symptoms specific to complex PTSD—predicted the appearance of paranoid thoughts and hallucinations (both auditory and visual) within the next 90 minutes. The…
A man silenced by paralysis got his ‘voice’ back, thanks to AI
A few years ago, Casey Harrell was diagnosed with a devastating brain disease. Known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, it left him paralyzed and unable to speak. But last year, a doctor implanted tiny electrodes in the speech center…
Diagnostic dilemma: A man’s penis was turning to bone
A man in his 60s went to the emergency room after a fall and ended up being diagnosed with a rare disorder of the penis.
Verbal IQ predicts political participation and liberal attitudes twice as strongly as performance IQ
A new study published in Intelligence (PDF) has found that verbal intelligence—skills related to language, reasoning, and understanding—more strongly predicts voting, civic engagement, and political ideology than non-verbal (performance) intelligence. Researchers found that verbal intelligence has, on average, twice the…
These squirrels are cold-blooded vole killers
They seem so sweet and innocent but these squirrels are also opportunistic killers. We think of squirrels as adorably harmless creatures, admiring their bushy tails and twitchy little noses and the way they cram their cheeks with nuts or seeds…
