Science and Technolgy blog
In recent years, materials scientists experimenting with ceramics have started adding an oxidized form of graphene to the mix to produce ceramics that are tougher, more durable, and more resistant to fracture, among other desirable properties. Researchers at the National…
One of the last major hold-outs against USB-C has majorly loosened its grasp. All the accessories that come with Apple’s newest iMac—the Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad—ship with USB-C charging and connection ports, rather than the Lightning ports…
Dozens of people in Wisconsin have been sickened and at least five needed emergency medical services after inadvertently eating pizza tainted with delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the principal psychoactive compound in cannabis, officials of Public Health Madison & Dane County reported late…
Apple’s week of Mac announcements kicks off today with a new lineup of 24-inch iMacs, Apple’s first Macs to launch with the M4 processor from this spring’s iPad Pros. The new models still start at $1,299 can be preordered starting…
Google researchers said they uncovered a Kremlin-backed operation targeting recruits for the Ukrainian military with information-stealing malware for Windows and Android devices. The malware, spread primarily through posts on Telegram, came from a persona on that platform known as “Civil…
AI is giving scammers a more convincing way to impersonate police, reports show. Just last week, the Salt Lake City Police Department (SLCPD) warned of an email scam using AI to convincingly clone the voice of Police Chief Mike Brown.…
A study of dog caregivers in the United Kingdom found that the parenting styles individuals experienced in childhood (from their parents or caregivers) are associated with how they treat their dogs as adults. In particular, participants who experienced a permissive…
There have been times when it seemed like X Window System would be with us forever, even though it’s more than 40 years old, and the last true version was issued in 2012. But with great effort, some organizations and…
If you read enough science fiction, you’ve probably stumbled on the concept of an emergent artificial intelligence that breaks free of its constraints by modifying its own code. Given that fictional grounding, it’s not surprising that AI researchers and companies…
Language processing happens at speeds significantly faster than it takes to speak one word aloud.
Around 1,200 years ago, a cat “made biscuits” in a drying clay jug in Jerusalem, leaving behind the oldest evidence of kneading on record.
Researchers recently explored the range of factors that attract certain Americans to populist beliefs. Their study, published in Political Research Quarterly, suggests that support for populism isn’t tied to any single reason. The findings suggest that populist views are more…
Owners of Ford Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning electric vehicles are getting an over-the-air software update that will finally give Android Auto users a bit of an upgrade. Once the update is installed, Ford’s EVs will report their battery state…
California is banning them in schools. The FDA says they’re fine. But synthetic dyes added to food to make them more colorful have a long, troubled history.
A man who used artificial intelligence technology to create child sexual abuse imagery was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Monday, in a landmark prosecution over deepfakes in the UK. Hugh Nelson, 27, from Bolton, pleaded guilty to a…
Men’s general intelligence is associated with better relationship investment and lower aversive behaviors, according to a study published in Personality and Individual Differences. Past research shows that higher general intelligence (g) is associated with numerous positive life outcomes, such as…
A simple device sucks koala DNA out of the air, making it easier for conservationists to detect the elusive marsupials.
A deep neural network was trained using quantum tunneling to mimic the human ability to view optical illusions.
Is autism a risk factor for conspiracy thinking, or could it actually protect against it? A study in Cognitive Neuropsychiatry set out to explore these contrasting ideas, finding that autism does not seem to influence belief in conspiracy theories at…
The stupefying and stupendous capture of a Starship rocket earlier this month by two mechanical arms marked a significant step forward in SpaceX’s efforts to forever alter humanity’s relationship with the heavens. Yet as remarkable as the rocket catch was,…
As the full moon rises, a mythical werewolf howls and heads out on the hunt. But is this the best time for werewolves to find a meal? In some stories, this transformation can happen at any time of the month…
Dialect (noun, “DY-uh-lekt”) Dialects are varieties of the same language. A dialect might be used by people of a certain region, ethnicity or other social group. Dialects are shaped over time as people make or lose contact with each other.…
Tsunamis and tidal waves are the powerful types of wave on Earth, but very different processes are involved in their formation.
Archaeologists think the felt figurine was used as a symbol of life by the Iron Age people of the region.
In a recent study published in Nature, researchers used advanced brain imaging techniques to explore how certain brain networks differ in people with depression. They discovered that a specific brain network, known as the “salience network,” was on average twice…
Wind can whip up to surprising speeds, depending on if it’s natural or human made.
Ne’Kiya Jackson and Calcea Johnson have published 10 trigonometric proofs of the Pythagorean theorem, a feat thought impossible for 2,000 years.
In a new peer-reviewed study, Ne’Kiya Jackson and Calcea Johnson outlined 10 ways to solve the Pythagorean theorem using trigonometry, including a proof they discovered in high school.
What may be scariest about a spooky black cat is the way superstition and tradition shape people’s perceptions and biases about animals based only on their color.
If U.S. voters elect Kamala Harris – a Black, Asian American woman – president, it would be historic on multiple levels. This is now a real possibility due to voters’ positively evolving stereotypes of women politicians. Stereotypes have long hindered…
Rain has so far been ignored in calculations of the ocean’s capacity to take up carbon, but a new estimate shows it enhances the ocean sink by 5% to 7%.
A study published in Evolutionary Psychological Science found that moderately altruistic individuals are rated as more romantically desirable than highly altruistic or non-altruistic individuals in online dating contexts. Altruism is considered an attractive trait in romantic partners. Studies suggest that…
“If you constantly use an AI to find the music, career or political candidate you like, you might eventually forget how to do this yourself.” Ethicist Muriel Leuenberger considers the personal impact of relying on AI.
A recent study published in Food Quality and Preference explored how recalling a past drinking experience may influence future alcohol consumption desires in women. Researchers found that when female participants remembered a previous episode of alcohol consumption, especially when asked…
The James Webb Space Telescope has discovered lonely quasars in the early universe, with “empty larders” that defy theories surrounding their growth to monster sizes.
A new study has found that individuals with major depressive disorder report mind wandering over twice as often as healthy adults. These individuals saw their mind wandering as more negative. Mind wandering was more frequent in depressed individuals who reported…
A pulsating red star and its spectacular nebula have been captured by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope.
A recent study published in Behavioral Sciences investigates the potential link between early childhood adversity and harmful forms of creativity in young adulthood. The findings suggest that social support and empathy might help prevent this form of malevolent creativity. “I…
The Himalayas’ massive heights result from a unique combination of geologic factors.
The mantle is split up into two domains — the African and the Pacific — that emerged when supercontinent Pangaea broke apart.
A recent study published in Computers in Human Behavior has revealed a possible link between negative childhood experiences and the risk of developing an addiction to short-form video platforms, such as TikTok. The study, conducted on a large sample of…
On the Silk Road, these lost twin cities may have sustained themselves in a foreboding landscape with metallurgy and commerce.
A recent study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research suggests that people with insomnia experience heightened levels of hyperarousal—a state of persistent tension or restlessness—compared to those without sleep difficulties, especially in the morning. This arousal was also found…
What do immigration, inheritance taxation and cannabis legalisation have in common? Not much, actually. Yet if we know somebody’s stance on one of these issues, we can make a good guess about their view on the others. Politics often seems…
Over the Northern Hemisphere’s summer, the world’s temperatures hovered near 1.5° C above pre-industrial temperatures, and the catastrophic weather events that ensued provided a preview of what might be expected to be the new normal before mid-century. And the warming…
As Boeing’s latest chief executive, Kelly Ortberg’s job was never going to be easy. On Wednesday, it got harder still. That morning, Ortberg had faced investors for the first time, telling them that ending a debilitating strike by Boeing’s largest…
Babirusas are believed to have diverged from their pig ancestors between 26 million and 12 million years ago after getting isolated on Sulawesi when sea levels rose at the end of the last ice age.
Scientists say they’ve uncovered where the vast majority of Earth’s meteorites came from.
The largest and oldest-known impact site on the moon is the South Pole-Aitken basin. Thanks to new research, scientists have dated the basin to the period between 4.32 and 4.33 billion years ago.
New research sheds light on the kinds of people most likely to feel ostracized, revealing a link between personality traits, attachment styles, and perceptions of social exclusion. Published in The Journal of Psychology, the study finds that individuals with certain…
