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.
Physicists build new device that is foundation for quantum computing
Scientists have adapted a device called a microwave circulator for use in quantum computers, allowing them for the first time to precisely tune the exact degree of nonreciprocity between a qubit, the fundamental unit of quantum computing, and a microwa…
Researchers unlock potential of 2D magnetic devices for future computing
A research team has created an innovative method to control tiny magnetic states within ultrathin, two-dimensional van der Waals magnets — a process akin to how flipping a light switch controls a bulb.
Key functions of therapeutically promising jumbo viruses
Viruses known as ‘jumbo’ phages are seen as a potential tool against deadly bacterial infections. But scientists must first decipher the extraordinary makeup of these mysterious viruses. Researchers have now uncovered a key piece of jumbo phage develop…
Time-restricted eating and high-intensity exercise might work together to improve health
Combining time-restricted eating with high-intensity functional training may improve body composition and cardiometabolic parameters more than either alone, according to new research.
Mystery behind huge opening in Antarctic sea ice solved
Researchers have discovered the missing piece of the puzzle behind a rare opening in the sea ice around Antarctica, which was nearly twice the size of Wales and occurred during the winters of 2016 and 2017. A study reveals a key process that had eluded…
Brain imaging study reveals connections critical to human consciousness
A new study involved high-resolution scans that enabled the researchers to visualize brain connections at submillimeter spatial resolution. Together, these pathways form a ‘default ascending arousal network’ that sustains wakefulness in the resting, co…
Sleep resets brain connections — but only for first few hours
During sleep, the brain weakens the new connections between neurons that had been forged while awake — but only during the first half of a night’s sleep, according to a new study.
Roadmap to close the carbon cycle
Reaching net-zero carbon emissions goals requires finding transformative paths to manage carbon in difficult-to-electrify economic sectors.
Scientists identify new brain circuit in mice that controls body’s inflammatory reactions
The brain can direct the immune system to an unexpected degree, capable of detecting, ramping up and tamping down inflammation, shows a new study in mice.