Feeding mode of ancient vertebrate tested for first time
A feeding method of the extinct jawless heterostracans, among the oldest of vertebrates, has been examined and dismissed by scientists, using fresh techniques.
Science & Technology
Cryo-microscopy reveals nano-sized copy machine implicated in origin of life
RNA is thought to have sparked the origin of life by self-copying. Researchers have now revealed the atomic structure of an ‘RNA copy machine’ through cryo-EM. This breakthrough sheds light on a primordial RNA world and fuels advancements in RNA nanote…
Do violent video games numb us towards real violence?
Neuroscientists have investigated whether playing violent video games leads to a reduction in human empathy. To do this, they had adult test subjects play a violent video game repeatedly over the course of an experiment lasting several weeks. Before an…
Experiment could test quantum nature of large masses for the first time
A new experiment could in principle test the quantumness of an object regardless of its mass or energy.
Chasing the light: Study finds new clues about warming in the Arctic
The Arctic, Earth’s icy crown, is experiencing a climate crisis like no other. It’s heating up at a furious pace — four times faster than the rest of our planet. Researchers are pulling back the curtain on the reduction of sunlight reflectivity, or al…
Physicists identify overlooked uncertainty in real-world experiments
The rules of statistical physics address the uncertainty about the state of a system that arises when that system interacts with its environment. But they’ve long missed another kind. In a new paper, researchers argue that uncertainty in the thermodyna…
Key moment in the evolution of life on Earth captured in fossils
New research has precisely dated some of the oldest fossils of complex multicellular life in the world, helping to track a pivotal moment in the history of Earth when the seas began teeming with new lifeforms — after four billion years of containing o…
The power of pause: Controlled deposition for effective and long-lasting organic devices
In organic optoelectronic devices, the control of molecular deposition on thin films is important for optimal surface arrangement and device performance. In a recent study, researchers developed a new method for achieving stable deposition on thin film…
For surgery patients, AI could help reduce alcohol-related risks
Using artificial intelligence to scan surgery patients’ medical records for signs of risky drinking might help spot those whose alcohol use raises their risk of problems during and after an operation, a new study suggests. The AI record scan tested in …