Keeping weight off may be stymied by fat cells’ ‘memory’ of obesity
Some genetic changes in fat cells don’t go away after weight loss, a study in mice and human cells suggests.
TECH DEIYO
Science and Technolgy blog
Dolphin in the Baltic Sea has been talking to himself — and researchers think it’s a sign he’s lonely
A solitary dolphin in the Baltic Sea has been recorded talking to himself, leading researchers to wonder whether he’s lonely and calling out for friends.
Study confirms Egyptians likely used hallucinogens in rituals
Last year we reported on preliminary research suggesting that ancient Egyptians may have used hallucinogens in their religious rituals, based on the presence of a few key chemical signatures taken from a ceremonial mug. Now those researchers have extended their…
Urban Arrow’s front-loader is a stylish, functional cargo/kid hauler
So far, all of the cargo bikes we’ve tested have been what are called “long tails,” which means the frame is extended out past the seat, moving the rear wheel back and creating a space for cargo or extra passengers.…
Communicating with aliens one day could be much easier if we study the way AI agents speak with each other
Decoding emergent languages in AI can have many benefits.
Ghosting and stress emerge as predictors of maladaptive daydreaming and narcissism
Ghosting, a common form of rejection in the digital era, can leave individuals feeling abandoned and confused. New research suggests that the effects may be even deeper, linking ghosting and stress to maladaptive daydreaming and vulnerable narcissism. The study was…
Some people don’t have a mind’s eye. Scientists want to know why
The senses of sight and sound are usually mingled in the brain, but not for people with aphantasia.
Scientists glean new details of mysterious, centuries-old shipwreck submerged in Norway’s largest lake
Researchers now think the boat was a local “føringsbåt” for passengers and cargo.
Book of Kells: A 1,200-year-old manuscript made by monks escaping the Vikings
The Book of Kells is considered one of the finest surviving medieval manuscripts.
New study examines personality profiles across 263 occupations
In a study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, researchers found that occupational roles explain a significant portion of variance in personality traits, revealing distinct personality profiles across 263 different occupations. Understanding how personality traits align with specific occupations…
Scientists Say: Monotreme
Monotreme (noun, “MON-oh-treem”) Monotremes are a unique group of mammals that lay eggs. Only five species of monotreme exist today. All live in either Australia or New Guinea. The platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is one example. The other four belong to…
To keep their pools clean, some tadpoles don’t poop for weeks
Some tadpoles seem to have a unique way to keep their watery cribs clean: They don’t poop for weeks! These baby Eiffinger’s tree frogs live in Taiwan and on the Japanese islands of Ishigaki and Iriomote. Even as adults, they’re…
Monster 4,400-qubit quantum processor is ‘25,000 times faster’ than its predecessor
D-Wave says its new Advantage2 processor, which is designed for complex applications in AI, optimization and data science, is faster and more accurate than its existing 5,000-qubit system.
New research: Married men age more gracefully — but for women, it’s complicated
Marriage has long been associated with better health outcomes, but its effects on aging may depend on gender and relationship history. A new study of older Canadians found that married men aged more successfully than their never-married peers, but for…
Why isn’t the darkest time of the year also the coldest?
Why aren’t the solstices the coldest and hottest days of the year?
Brain circuits tied to depression’s “negativity effect” uncovered
A recent study conducted by scientists in France and published in Translational Psychiatry offers new insights into how depression affects the brain’s processing of positive and negative experiences. The research found that during depressive episodes, specific brain circuits become hyperactive…
Women are at higher risk of dying from heart disease. Here’s why.
Cardiovascular disease develops and presents differently in women and men. But medical guidelines are often based on studies that excluded women.
Eating fish during pregnancy linked to lower autism risk in children, study finds
A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition highlights the potential benefits of eating fish during pregnancy. Researchers found that maternal fish consumption was associated with about a 20% lower likelihood of an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis…
Evidence of 2,200-year-old hallucinogenic ritual found in Egyptian vase depicting dwarf god
An analysis of ancient residues left on a vase depicting the Egyptian deity Bes reveals it may have been used to reenact a myth.
Autistic children spend less time looking at cute pictures
A study of children with autism found that their attention to pictures of cute animals and children varies depending on the severity of their autism symptoms. Children with low-to-moderate autistic symptoms and those without autism spent more time looking at…
Sad and surprising truths about narcissistic gift-giving revealed in new psychology research
A recent study published in the Journal of Personality sheds light on how two distinct facets of narcissism affect the likelihood and motivations behind gift-giving. The findings reveal that individuals high in narcissistic admiration are more likely to give gifts,…
Space photo of the week: Stare into the ‘bloodshot eyes’ of a haunting galaxy pair
The James Webb Space Telescope and the Hubble Space Telescope recently released a chilling view of two spiral galaxies, IC 2163 and NGC 2207, merging into one.
Meet Evo, an AI model that can predict the effects of gene mutations with ‘unparalleled accuracy’
Evo is a large language model that is not trained on words but on the genomes of millions of microbes. It can accurately predict the effects of mutations.
China’s Mars rover Zhurong finds possible shoreline of ancient Red Planet ocean
Data from China’s Zhurong rover has revealed what appears to be an ancient shoreline streaking through Mars’ northern hemisphere.
Surprising ADHD research finds greater life demands linked to reduced symptoms
A long-term study has shed new light on how attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) changes over time, finding that most individuals experience alternating periods of symptom remission and recurrence rather than a static course of persistent symptoms. The research, published in the…
Can gray hair be reversed?
Gray hair is often a sign of aging, but is it possible to delay its advance or reverse the color change?
‘Dengue is coming’: Climate-fueled rise in cases will affect the US, scientists warn
New research suggests that climate change is currently driving a surge in global dengue infections and that case rates could increase by 60% by 2050.
Your politics can affect whether you click on sponsored search results, new research shows
American businesses spend close to US$100 billion each year to secure top advertising spots in search engine results – even though it’s not exactly a secret that most online shoppers scroll right past them. In fact, organic links – results…
High school IQ predicts alcohol use patterns in midlife, study finds
A recent study published in Alcohol and Alcoholism reveals a surprising link between intelligence in adolescence and drinking habits later in life. Researchers found that individuals with higher IQ scores in high school were more likely to be moderate or…
Yoga interventions improve self-reported PTSD and depression symptoms, study finds
A new meta-analysis found that yoga interventions improve self-reported symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) immediately after the intervention. However, no improvement was observed when symptoms were assessed by a clinician. These interventions also reduced both immediate and long-term symptoms…
Silo S2 expands its dystopian world
The second season of Silo, Apple TV’s dystopian sc-fi drama, is off to a powerful start with yesterday’s premiere. Based on the trilogy by novelist Hugh Howey, was one of the more refreshing surprises on streaming television in 2023: a…
Do unfaithful men spend more money on gifts for their mistresses than their wives?
New research published in Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences challenges a popular belief: men do not necessarily spend more on gifts for affair partners than for their committed partners. Instead, both men and women spend more on maintaining long-term relationships, with significantly…
Neuroscientists taught rats to drive tiny cars. They took them out on ‘joy rides.’
Scientists taught rats to drive to a certain destination, but the rodents took a detour, suggesting they enjoy both the journey and the rewarding destination.
Cantor’s giant softshell turtle: The frog-faced predator that spends 95% of its time completely motionless
These leathery turtles spend most of their lives buried motionless in river mud, but burst into action to catch their unsuspecting prey.
Large language models not fit for real-world use, scientists warn — even slight changes cause their world models to collapse
Large language model AIs might seem smart on a surface level but they struggle to actually understand the real world and model it accurately, a new study finds.
Study finds people in relationships tend to be happier than singles
A large-scale cross-cultural study published in Evolutionary Psychological Science found that people in relationships, particularly satisfying ones, report higher emotional wellbeing and life satisfaction than singles. Menelaos Apostolou and colleagues investigated whether single individuals are emotionally better off than those…
These are the lasting things that Half-Life 2 gave us, besides headcrabs and crowbars
It’s Half-Life 2 week at Ars Technica! This Saturday, November 16, is the 20th anniversary of the release of Half-Life 2—a game of historical importance for the artistic medium and technology of computer games. Each day up through the 16th, we’ll be running…
50 years on, Lucy still sparks our curiosity
Editor in chief Nancy Shute recounts the 50-year anniversary of the hominid’s discovery, which upended the study of human evolution.
Readers ask about self-correcting quantum computers, oobleck’s experimental value
Readers wondered if mayo qualifies as a non-Newtonian fluid, and X user @Lightning456243 asked how a quantum computer can identify its own errors.
Meet FRED: The world’s 1st-ever, nearly complete fossil database
The near-complete database reflects a spirit of trust and collaboration among the country’s scientific community — but will it last?
The neuroscience of placebo analgesia: Brain pathway explains how expectations reduce pain
A new study has identified a specific brain pathway that could explain how positive expectations of relief reduce pain, even without actual medication. Researchers discovered a circuit connecting the anterior cingulate cortex, brainstem, and cerebellum that activates when mice expect…
Where did the 1st seeds come from?
From delicate dandelions to mighty oak trees, millions of plants use seeds to reproduce. But where did the first seeds come from?
‘Tour de force’ study may explain why trauma can lead to PTSD
Stress can shape how memories are formed, a study in mice suggests. The findings could point the way to future treatments for PTSD and anxiety.
A lot of people are mistaking Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites for UAPs
SpaceX’s Starlink Internet satellites are responsible for more and more public reports of unexplained anomalous phenomena (UAPs), but most recent cases remain unsolved, according to a US government report released Thursday. Starlinks often move across the sky in “trains” that…
Meteorite found in a drawer at university contains 700-million-year-old evidence of water on Mars
The Lafayette meteorite was discovered in a drawer at Purdue University in 1931, with no clear indication of how it got there. A new analysis of the rock reveals evidence of liquid water on Mars 742 million years ago.
Severe COVID-19 may shrink cancer tumors, early data suggest
Immune cells produced during severe COVID-19 infection may shrink tumors. The unexpected mechanism offers a new therapeutic possibility for advanced and treatment-resistant cancers.
Incel forums reveal persistent, widespread misogyny regardless of user engagement
According to a study published in New Media & Society, misogynistic language is pervasive within online communities of involuntarily celibate men (incels), with more than 80% of threads containing misogynistic terms. Michael Halpin and colleagues examined how members of the…
‘Another piece of the puzzle’: Antarctica’s 1st-ever amber fossil sheds light on dinosaur-era rainforest that covered South Pole 90 million years ago
Until now, Antarctica was the only continent on Earth without any known amber fossils. But sediment cores taken from below the seafloor have revealed a tiny piece of fossilized resin holding fragments of an ancient rainforest that covered the South…
35,000-year-old saber-toothed kitten with preserved whiskers pulled from permafrost in Siberia
Researchers have analyzed mummified remains pulled from Siberia’s permafrost in 2020 and determined they belong to a 3-week-old saber-toothed kitten that died at least 35,000 years ago.
The best value rowing machine we’ve ever tested now has a $101 saving in this early Black Friday deal
The budget-friendly ProForm 750R rowing machine is even better value than ever with this price cut.
