Science & Technology
Therapy to kill hypervirulent bacteria developed
A study has identified a therapy that can penetrate the slime that such infections use to protect themselves from antibiotics. Scientists showed that an antimicrobial peptide from cows has potential for treating incurable infections from the bacterium …
75,000-year-old female Neanderthal from cave where species buried their dead
A new documentary has recreated the face of a 75,000-year-old female Neanderthal whose flattened skull was discovered and rebuilt from hundreds of bone fragments by a team of archaeologists and conservators.
Archaea can be picky parasites
A parasite that not only feeds of its host, but also makes the host change its own metabolism and thus biology. Microbiologists have shown this for the very first time in a specific group of parasitic microbes, so-called DPANN archea. Their study shows…
EPA underestimates methane emissions from landfills, urban areas
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is underestimating methane emissions from landfills, urban areas and U.S. states, according to a new study. The researchers combined 2019 satellite observations with an atmospheric transport model to generate a…
Feathers, cognition and global consumerism in colonial Amazonia
Amazonia is the home of the largest variety of birds in the world. In such a unique environment, craft cultures have flourished by translating the beauty and creativity of environmental materials like feathers into stunning pieces of art. A new article…
The big quantum chill: Scientists modify common lab refrigerator to cool faster with less energy
Scientists have dramatically reduced the time and energy required to chill materials to temperatures near absolute zero. Their prototype refrigerator could prove a boon for the burgeoning quantum industry, which widely uses ultracold materials.
Research breakthrough on birth defect affecting brain size
A team has identified a molecular cellular mechanism that is linked to microencephaly, a condition in which a baby’s head is much smaller than expected.
Identifying risks of human flea infestations in plague-endemic areas of Madagascar
Researchers uncover why some homes in rural Madagascar where bubonic plague is endemic are infested with fleas. Based on their findings, they recommend ways to reduce the flea populations and their impact on human health.
Science has an AI problem: This group says they can fix it
A team of 19 prominent researchers has published guidelines for the responsible use of machine learning in science. They say it could avert a crisis that’s smoldering in every field.