Science and Technolgy blog
Complicated births may not have arisen in humans as a trade-off between our need for big brains and pelvises suitable for upright walking, new research in chimps suggests.
Two experiments in Germany using line drawings of female bodies suggest that perceived attractiveness of a woman’s body depends more on its curviness than on the waist-to-hip ratio. The research was published in Scientific Reports. When it comes to judging…
Among the decades-old Windows apps to get renewed attention from Microsoft during the Windows 11 era is Notepad, the basic built-in text editor that was much the same in early 2021 as it had been in the ’90 and 2000s.…
Incredibly well preserved dinosaurs at China fossil site were thought to have been buried in huge volcanic eruptions, similar to the Mount Vesuvius that covered the city of Pompeii 2,000 years ago. But new research says this isn’t how things…
Charles Darwin is famous for proposing the theory of evolution by natural selection, but how much more do you know about the British naturalist?
Pando is a giant aspen clone in central Utah that has been regrowing parts of itself for up to 80,000 years — but new threats mean the plant is now in decline.
In a recent study published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, researchers found that both new mothers and fathers experience increased insecurity about their physical appearance, along with a decline in sexual frequency and satisfaction as they transition…
Welcome to Edition 7.19 of the Rocket Report! Okay, we get it. We received more submissions from our readers on Australia’s approval of a launch permit for Gilmour Space than we’ve received on any other news story in recent memory.…
Sometimes, fireflies shouldn’t follow the light. Especially when the web of an orb weaver spider is nearby. Orb weaver spiders (Araneus ventricosus) can use trapped fireflies to lure in more prey. They seem to do this by tricking the fireflies…
Astronomers have used a range of telescopes, including Hubble, to watch as particles dance around a neutron star collision that created the smallest black hole ever seen.
Scientists identified four new species of king cobra from 154 museum specimens.
The first-ever wooden satellite, called LignoSat, arrived at the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule on Nov. 5 to perform some key in-space tests.
A student-led project comparing satellite images of the Arctic has discovered that a small Russian island has recently vanished after “completely melting” away.
On what would’ve been the astronomer’s 90th trip around the sun, here’s a look at his legacy as a scientist, advocate and communicator.
A recent study published in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics found that children whose mothers used cannabis in early pregnancy did not have an increased risk of being diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or disruptive behavior disorders…
We now know the nerve responsible for dogs shaking water all over your dry clothes.
In a long-sought move, the Food and Drug Administration on Thursday formally began the process of abandoning oral doses of a common over-the-counter decongestant, which the agency concluded last year is not effective at relieving stuffy noses. Specifically, the FDA…
The new research suggests that this dinosaur’s armor was adapted for fighting between members of Borealopelta markmitchelli.
An international coalition of police agencies has taken a major whack at criminals accused of running a host of online scams, including phishing, the stealing of account credentials and other sensitive data, and the spreading of ransomware, Interpol said recently.…
The Republican who is likely to lead the Federal Communications Commission under President-elect Donald Trump detailed how he would run the agency when he wrote a chapter for the conservative Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025. Carr, a longtime opponent of net…
Subscribing to the Max streaming service is expected to become more costly in 2025. That could mean indirectly, like through another streaming password crackdown, or directly, like through increases to monthly and/or annual subscription prices. Password crackdowns as a “form…
Confirming previous rumors, Variety reports that Amazon will be moving ahead with producing a TV series based on the popular Mass Effect video game franchise. The writing and production staff involved might not inspire confidence from fans, though. The series’…
A ghostly white angular roughshark found near Sazan Island, Albania, is the first example of leucism ever recorded in the species.
Potentially deadly comets could be spotted many years in advance by following the meteoroid trails they leave near Earth, new research shows.
One frustrated customer wants to force Intel to pay untold millions in damages, claiming the company deceptively marketed faulty 13th- and 14th-generation CPUs as “enabling amazing experiences to happen on the PC,” when instead products were prone to crashes and…
Sega has put dozens of its Master System, Genesis, Saturn, and other console titles onto modern game stores over the years. But, like that Dreamcast controller stashed in your childhood garage, they’re about to disappear—and getting them back will cost…
Psilocybin, the psychedelic substance found in magic mushrooms, is a promising new treatment for psychiatric disorders, especially depression. The beneficial effects on mood and anxiety of psilocybin are rapid and pronounced after just a single treatment. A small study even…
The mutant of the lab-studied Synechococcus elongatus has traits good for ocean carbon storage.
A scathing new report points to unclear protocols and multiple failures to raise alarms at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico before the collapse of the site’s radio telescope in 2020.
If you’ve been wanting an electric car but everything seems too expensive, there’s some good news on the horizon. A whole lot of EV leases are due to expire in 2026, which should lead to something of a glut, according…
A recent study published in the journal Political Behavior examines how social media influences voters’ information-gathering behaviors and decision quality, particularly in an environment where misinformation can spread. The researchers found that while social media platforms can enhance informed voting…
Scientists in Utah put sticky traps on car bumpers to tally how many bees get hit on a typical trip. The broader toll is immense, they estimate.
NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover was treated to a ‘googly eye’ solar eclipse on Sept. 30 as the planet’s moon Phobos passed in front of the sun.
Ars Technica descended in force last week upon our nation’s capital, setting up shop in the International Spy Museum for a three-panel discussion on artificial intelligence, infrastructure, security, and how compliance with policy changes over the next decade or so…
Since the 1940s, baseball players have been spreading a special kind of “magic mud” on new baseballs to reduce the slick, glossy shine and give pitchers a firmer grip. Now, scientists at the University of Pennsylvania have identified just what…
Across 12 nations, people predominantly make friends based on shared traits, support, and socializing opportunities, with lesser emphasis on self-serving goals like career advancement or mating. This research was published in Personality & Individual Differences. While the reasons for making…
On Wednesday, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman merely tweeted “chat.com,” announcing that the company had acquired the short domain name, which now points to the company’s ChatGPT AI assistant when visited in a web browser. As of Thursday morning, “chatgpt.com” still…
Mercedes-Benz is hard at work putting the finishing touches on the next generation of its sleek CLA sedan. Due to be officially introduced next year, it will feature the latest and greatest in Mercedes’ powertrain technology and software, and ahead…
The dramatic dimming of a star in the nearby Andromeda galaxy could mark the birth of a black hole.
Scientists have discovered a new way of creating superheavy elements by firing supercharged ion beams at dense atoms. The team believes this method could potentially help synthesize the hypothetical “element 120,” which would be heavier than any known element.
An ancient-DNA analysis of victims in Pompeii who died in Mount Vesuvius’ eruption reveals some unusual relations between the people who died together.
A recent study in the Journal of Research in Personality provides evidence of a link between people’s taste preferences and personality traits. The study, conducted across four different countries, suggests that individuals who have a strong liking for sweet foods…
The M4 iMac is a nice computer. Apple’s addition of 16GB RAM to the basic $1,299 model makes it a whole lot more appealing for the vast majority of people who just want to take the computer out of the…
The Mac mini will celebrate its 20th birthday in January. And I think the M4 version of the Mac mini is far and away the most appealing one the company has ever made. When it was introduced during the white…
Clouds form when water vapor—an invisible gas in the atmosphere—sticks to tiny floating particles, such as dust, and turns into liquid water droplets or ice crystals. In a newly published study, we show that microplastic particles can have the same…
Experiments show that the acoustic signature of plastic and prey is similar. That may confuse whales that use echolocation to hunt.
A study of healthy volunteers in the United Kingdom found that the administration of escitalopram, a common antidepressant, increases activity in the right amygdala region of the brain during an emotional processing task known to activate this area. This change…
The moon is Earth’s longtime companion. A bright full moon can light a path through the dark of night. It’s long been important for navigation and marking the passage of time. Many civilizations and cultures have used lunar calendars. The…
Future VR headsets could use a new type of lens inspired by holographic devices. The bilayer bifocal lens relies on external voltage to change the intensities in the foci.
Surface features of Uranus’ icy moon Miranda point to the existence of a once deep ocean, one that still may exist today.
