Science and Technolgy blog
A recent study published in Personality and Individual Differences suggests that people are generally accurate in assessing their own physical attractiveness, and romantic partners often align in terms of attractiveness. By applying advanced statistical methods to reanalyze older data, researchers…
Microsoft is announcing some new hardware today, but it’s a bit different from a typical Surface device. The Windows 365 Link, which launches in April for $349, is a mini desktop PC that exists exclusively to connect to the Windows…
University of Rochester physicist Ranga Dias made headlines with his controversial claims of high-temperature superconductivity—and made headlines again when the two papers reporting the breakthroughs were later retracted under suspicion of scientific misconduct, although Dias denied any wrongdoing. The university…
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is out today (Xbox/PC, Steam), and it packs in a whole lot of simulation. It’s hard to imagine topping the 2020 version, which contained the entire world, at scale, 3D modeled and able to be flown…
If confirmed as head of the Department of Health and Human Services, Kennedy could influence U.S. policy on vaccines, drugs and food safety.
A low-pressure system will bring extreme gales and heavy rain to the West Coast over the next three days.
Stunningly preserved fossils of reptilian footprints and underbellies discovered last year in the Italian Alps have helped researchers unearth a tropical lakeside ecosystem that predates dinosaurs.
The mountain lions of Greater Los Angeles are becoming more active at night to cope with humans hiking, cycling and jogging in their habitat.
Patients in China will be able to purchase the blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy for 1,400 yuan, or about $193, just a fraction of the US list price of $1,349, according to media reports. The price in China is in line…
Can therapy rewire the brain? For individuals struggling with both depression and obesity, a new Stanford Medicine study says yes—when the therapy is the right fit. Researchers found that cognitive behavioral therapy focused on problem-solving reduced depression symptoms in a…
Emergent gravity is a bold idea. It claims that the force of gravity is a mere illusion, more akin to friction or heat—a property that emerges from some deeper physical interaction. This emergent gravity idea might hold the key to…
The sixth flight of SpaceX’s giant Starship rocket, set for takeoff on Tuesday from South Texas, will test the vehicle’s limits in new ways. Most importantly, SpaceX will attempt to briefly reignite one of Starship’s six Raptor engines in space.…
Preferred by 61 percent of Internet users, Google’s Chrome browser plays too big a role in maintaining the tech giant’s search monopoly, the US Department of Justice has reportedly decided. On Monday, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that…
Mineral crystals in heart cockles’ shells protect symbiotic algae from ultraviolet rays and could lead to innovations in internet infrastructure.
Scout provided flights from Albany, New York, to San Francisco and accommodation so Ars could test the 2025 Sierra EV. Ars does not accept paid editorial content. Electric trucks aren’t exactly blowing up the sales charts right now. A market…
A small trial used designer CAR T cells to reboot the immune systems of patients with three autoimmune diseases, but it’s still too early to say whether the treatment works in the long term.
Recent research in Poland found that a six-week mobile app-supported training in mindful-gratitude practice decreased prejudice (anti-Semitism, sexism, homophobia, anti-immigrant sentiments) and its link with collective narcissism. A single 10-minute session of mindful-gratitude practice did not produce this effect. The…
Spooky season has come and gone, but those Halloween revelers who took in a haunted house during the season might just have boosted their immune systems by doing so, according to a new paper published in the journal Brain, Behavior,…
In 2024, tobacco use among middle and high school students reached a record low, but new vapes and other products with nicotine keep coming.
We’ve rounded up the best camera deals from Sony, Nikon, Canon and more — save $$$’s on your next mirrorless or DSLR camera.
Looking for the best telescope deals? We’ve rounded up the best deals on the market — don’t miss the chance to save $$$’s off your next telescope.
A study recently published in Sociology of Religion explores the moral values behind support for and opposition to Christian nationalism. The findings show that loyalty and sanctity are key motivators for supporters, while fairness drives opposition. Contrary to popular belief,…
When you think of ancient pyramids, your mind probably goes to Egypt. Ancient Egyptians built these monuments as tombs for their kings, starting around 2700 B.C. Perhaps the most famous of these are the three Pyramids of Giza near Cairo.…
Can it outperform air purifiers with standard HEPA filters? Yes, it can.
By analyzing the resistance genes and proteins of E. coli, researchers can optimize treatments to address both current and future antimicrobial resistance.
Current AI models struggle to solve research-level math problems.
We’ve rounded up the best binocular deals on the market to help you save money — with options for all budgets and experience levels.
Antidepressant side effects may not universally improve as treatment progresses, a new study published in Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica reveals. Researchers found that patients experiencing severe side effects early in their treatment are more likely to discontinue their medication, which skews…
This 2023 satellite photo shows New Zealand’s Mount Taranaki, which is surrounded by a near-perfect circle of deformed trees. The volcano was recently granted the same legal rights as a person.
Officials from NASA and Russia’s space agency don’t see eye to eye on the causes and risks of small but persistent air leaks on the International Space Station. That was the word from the new chair of NASA’s International Space…
Last week, actor and director Ben Affleck shared his views on AI’s role in filmmaking during the 2024 CNBC Delivering Alpha investor summit, arguing that AI models will transform visual effects but won’t replace creative filmmaking anytime soon. A video…
Scientists could win back trust lost during the COVID-19 pandemic if they just showed a little intellectual humility, according to a study published Monday in Nature Human Behavior. It’s no secret that scientists—and the science generally—took a hit during the…
After Ars spent Half-Life 2‘s 20th anniversary week looking back at the game’s history and impact, Valve marked the occasion with a meaty two-hour YouTube documentary featuring insider memories from the team behind the game itself. Near the end of…
While investigating a rare developmental disorder, researchers ended up discovering a spectrum of conditions that are all linked to one gene.
Recent research on animal sleep behaviour has revealed that sleep is influenced by the animals around them. Olive baboons, for instance, sleep less as group sizes increase, while mice can synchronise their rapid eye movement (REM) cycles. In western society,…
Few people are fond of earwigs, with their menacing abdominal pincers—whether they’re skittering across your floor, getting comfy in the folds of your camping tent, or minding their own business. Scientists, too, have given them short shrift compared with the…
Twelve-thousand years ago, people in a coastal village in the Levant used stone weights on their spindles to spin thread faster and more evenly—and, some archeologists are arguing, in the process they pioneered the basic mechanics that eventually made cart…
How do people showcase their best traits to potential partners? According to a new study published in Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences, altruism might be part of the answer. In an online charity game, heterosexual individuals spent more time contributing to a…
President-elect Donald Trump announced last night that he will make Brendan Carr the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. Carr, who wrote a chapter about the FCC for the conservative Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, is a longtime opponent of net…
An AI-generated nude photo scandal has shut down a Pennsylvania private school. On Monday, classes were canceled after parents forced leaders to either resign or face a lawsuit potentially seeking criminal penalties and accusing the school of skipping mandatory reporting…
I have been using the Apple Intelligence notification summary feature for a few months now, since pretty early in Apple’s beta testing process for the iOS 18.1 and macOS 15.1 updates. If you don’t know what that is—and the vast…
When Apple infamously ditched the headphone jack with the launch of the iPhone 7, it at least provided customers with a Lightning-to-3.5 mm adapter either right in the box or as a $9 standalone purchase in its online store. Now…
A low-pressure system headed for Northern California and Oregon is likely to bring extreme rain and strong winds.
Putting out a joke product on April Fools’ Day can sometimes be a clever way to quietly gauge the reaction to a wild idea without having to really commit to it. Nerdish purveyor ThinkGeek did this a few times with…
Amazing animals — A look at the weird and wonderful species that live on our planet
An ancient inscription decorated with lions and sphinxes is finally deciphered, and it involves the “mother of the gods.”
Walmart has Amazon beat in this Sony A7 IV camera deal, and Black Friday is still weeks away. Save $650 on one of the best cameras for astrophotography.
A series of studies on humans and mice examined sex differences in reactions to anesthetics, revealing that female brains are more resistant to the hypnotic effects of these drugs. Testosterone administration increased sensitivity to anesthetics in mice, while castration enhanced…
As SpaceX made its final preparations for the sixth launch of its Starship rocket, the company’s chief operating officer and president spoke at a financial conference on Friday about various topics, including the future of the massive rocket and the…
Over the past decade, spurred on by series like Formula 1 and the World Endurance Championship, the world of motorsport began to embrace hybrid powertrains. In addition to being a sport and entertainment, racing also serves as a testbed for new vehicle…
