Science & Technology
Researchers investigate new use for plastic bottles
For years, unrecycled plastic bottles have been dumped in landfills. Now, thanks to new research, those bottles may have a second life in that landfill — stabilizing its earth walls.
(How) cells talk to each other
Like us, cells communicate. Well, in their own special way. Using waves as their common language, cells tell one another where and when to move. They talk, they share information, and they work together — much like interdisciplinary teams. Researchers…
Bats struggle during organic farming transition
Bat activity falls as farms make the transition to organic agriculture, new research shows.
Dreaming in technicolor
A team of computer scientists and designers has developed a tool to help people use color better in graphic design.
Introducing the Climate Solutions Explorer
Scientists recently launched the Climate Solutions Explorer — a comprehensive resource that visualizes and presents vital data about climate mitigation, climate impacts, vulnerabilities, and risks arising from development and climate change.
Volunteering in late life may protect the brain against cognitive decline and dementia
Volunteering in late life is associated with better cognitive function — specifically, better executive function and episodic memory.
Future AI algorithms have potential to learn like humans
Memories can be as tricky to hold onto for machines as they can be for humans. To help understand why artificial agents develop holes in their own cognitive processes, electrical engineers have analyzed how much a process called ‘continual learning’ im…
One pill doesn’t fit all: Cholesterol study reveals effects on lung function and brain size
One of the world’s largest studies on the impact of cholesterol-lowering medication has good and bad news for the 200 million people who take statins or other medication for high cholesterol.
New study reveals reptiles’ spontaneous association between vision and hearing
The study showed that reptiles demonstrate spontaneous associations between two different sensory modalities: vision and hearing. Tortoises associated low sounds with large shapes and high pitch sounds with small shapes, even if they had not been train…
Majority of older adults with cognitive impairment still drive
The majority of older adults with cognitive impairment are still driving, despite concerns raised by caregivers and others, a study finds. Researchers say it’s best for caregivers to start conversations surrounding driving earlier while the care recipi…
Artificial ‘rocks’ from macroplastics threaten ocean health
Plastic waste is a problem on our beaches. Hence, it is largely removed in a coordinated manner within a few weeks. However, it can litter other coasts of the world for many months to years due to unregulated waste disposal. Often the garbage on the be…
Omega-3 fatty acids appear promising for maintaining lung health
Omega-3 fatty acids, which are abundant in fish and fish oil supplements, appear promising for maintaining lung health, according to new evidence from a large, multi-faceted study in healthy adults. The study provides the strongest evidence to date of …
Billions of nanoplastics released when microwaving baby food containers
Experiments showed that microwaving plastic baby food containers can release huge numbers of plastic particles — in some cases, more than 2 billion nanoplastics and 4 million microplastics for every square centimeter of container.
Gene variation makes apple trees ‘weep,’ improving orchards
Plant geneticists have identified a mutation in a gene that causes the ‘weeping’ architecture — branches growing downwards — in apple trees, a finding that could improve orchard fruit production.
Chemists recycle shrimp waste as catalyst for hydrogen generation
Flexible spheres of the biomolecule chitosan, made from shrimp waste, can be used for catalysts that generate hydrogen gas from borohydride salts. A research team now shows how the spheres can ‘breathe out’ hydrogen bubbles without breaking. This is an…
Shark shock — scientists discover filter-feeding basking sharks are warm-bodied like great whites
Approximately 99.9% of fish and shark species are ‘cold-blooded’, meaning their body tissues generally match the temperature of the water they swim in — but researchers have just discovered the mighty basking shark is a one-in-a-thousand exception. In…