Science & Technology

By triangulating data from linguistics, archaeology and genetics, a new study by an international team of researchers proposes a ‘Farming Hypothesis’ for the spread of Transeurasian languages, tracing the origins of Japonic, Koreanic, Tungusic, Mongoli…

Aiming to emulate the quantum characteristics of materials more realistically, researchers have figured out a way to create a lattice of light and atoms that can vibrate — bringing sound to an otherwise silent experiment.

An effort to reconstruct Earth’s climate since the last ice age, about 24,000 years ago, highlights the main drivers of climate change and how far out of bounds human activity has pushed the climate system.

Human neurons have a lower density of ion channels than expected, compared to neurons of other mammals, according to a new study. The researchers hypothesize that a lower channel density may have helped the human brain evolve to operate more efficiently.

Next generation vaccines for COVID-19 should aim to induce an immune response against ‘replication proteins’, essential for the very earliest stages of the viral cycle, researchers say.

By the end of the century, Louisiana and Florida could be twice as likely to experience two tropical storms that make landfall within nine days of each other, according to new model estimates. Being hit by two storms in quick succession gives communiti…

A needle-free technology that would allow people with diabetes to measure blood sugar levels without having to stick a needle into their fingertips is a step closer to reality.

Dried snack foods such as apple chips are a convenient alternative to fresh fruit, providing longer shelf life and easier storage. Consumers increasingly demand product variety, so companies coat such snack foods with fruit and vegetable powders to enh…

A simple RNA molecule jumpstarts the immune system’s ‘first responders’ to viral infection and can even eradicate the SARS-CoV-2 virus in mice with chronic cases of COVID-19, a new study finds.

Engineers have successfully transferred digitally encoded information wirelessly using nuclear radiation instead of conventional technology. The researchers measured the spontaneous emission of fast neutrons from californium-252, a radioactive isotope …

A new method has allowed scientists to quickly detect a transiting planet with two suns.

Researchers have discovered how drugs can affect various membrane-spanning proteins in addition to their intended target, potentially causing unwanted side effects. The results illuminate one of the central problems of drug discovery and point to new s…

Medical science is a key step closer to the cryopreservation of brain slices used in neurological research, pancreatic cells for the treatment of diabetes and even whole organs thanks to a new computer model that predicts how tissue’s size will change …

Net zero carbon is within reach for a major Australian city through comprehensive adoption of photovoltaics in built environment, new modelling has shown.

Worldwide, millions of people follow vegan and vegetarian diets for religious, ethical, environmental or economic reasons. While these diets have purported health benefits, they can also lack essential nutrients, such as vitamins B12 and D3, if not wel…

Eukaryotic plankton are an essential and highly diverse component of marine ecosystems. A research team has established their global geographic distribution using DNA data and a probabilistic model. The study highlights large variations in geographic s…

Strange ‘eggshell planets’ are among the rich variety of exoplanets possible, according to a study. These rocky worlds have an ultra-thin outer brittle layer and little to no topography. Such worlds are unlikely to have plate tectonics, raising questio…

Researchers have found that fast evolution can lead to nowhere.

The thickness of growth marks in primary (or ‘baby’) teeth may help identify children at risk for depression and other mental health disorders later in life, according to a ground-breaking investigation.

Scientists have revealed why a mutation in the UTX gene disrupts cells’ ability to suppress tumors.