Science & Technology
Chemical reactions can scramble quantum information as well as black holes
A team of researchers has shown that molecules can be as formidable at scrambling quantum information as black holes by combining mathematical tools from black hole physics and chemical physics and testing their theory in chemical reactions.
A deep dive into the genetics of alcohol consumption
Some people have genes that protect them from alcohol abuse. An examination of databases at 23andMe reveal that those same alcohol-protective variants have associations with conditions and behaviors that may have nothing to do with alcohol.
Heat stress from ocean warming harms octopus vision
While climate change has led to an increase in the abundance of octopuses, heat stress from projected ocean warming could impair their vision and impact the survivability of the species.
Rapid, simultaneous detection of multiple bacteria achieved with handheld sensor
A team has developed a method for simultaneous detection of multiple disease-causing bacterial species within one hour using a handheld device.
The sense of smell is influenced by cues from other senses
The sense of smell is highly influenced by the cues from other senses, while the sense of sight and hearing are affected to a much lesser extent, shows a new study.
RNA that doesn’t age
Certain RNA molecules in the nerve cells in the brain last a life time without being renewed. Neuroscientists have now demonstrated that this. RNAs are generally short-lived molecules that are constantly reconstructed to adjust to environmental conditi…
Astronomy: How do brown dwarfs form?
New observations provide insights into whether the birth of the giant planets takes a similar course to that of stars.
Four in five bird species cannot tolerate intense human pressures
In a recent study, researchers found that 78% of the world’s bird species do not thrive in the most modified human-dominated environments. These species are also most likely to have declining populations.
Functional capacity in old age is like an ecosystem that may collapse when disrupted
In old age, a tighter interlinkage between different domains of functional capacity may indicate a loss of system resilience. When functional capacity domains are tightly interconnected, a disruption in one domain can affect others and lead to a collap…
CHEOPS detects a ‘rainbow’ on an exoplanet
The CHEOPS space telescope is providing new information on the mysterious exoplanet WASP-76b. This ultra-hot giant is characterized by an asymmetry between the amount of light observed on its eastern terminator — the fictitious line that separates its…