You’re not getting sleepy: Six myths and misconceptions about hypnosis from an expert
Experts address a number of errors and misconceptions regarding the characteristics and practice of hypnosis.
Science & Technology
Reinventing cosmology: New research puts age of universe at 26.7 — not 13.7 — billion years
Our universe could be twice as old as current estimates, according to a new study that challenges the dominant cosmological model and sheds new light on the so-called ‘impossible early galaxy problem.’
Record-breaking team of citizen scientists contribute data on pinwheel galaxy supernova
Citizen scientists have set a new record for the SETI Institute and Unistellar, comprising the highest number of observers providing data on a single event. Amateur astronomers conducted a groundbreaking observation of supernova (SN) 2023ixf. The obser…
Carbon taxes that focus on luxury consumption are fairer than those that tax all emissions equally
Not all carbon emissions are made for the same reason — they range from more essential purposes like heating a home to nonessential ‘luxury’ activities like leisure travel. However, proposals for the implementations of carbon taxes tend to apply to al…
Thermal cloak passively keeps electric vehicles cool in the summer and warm in the winter
When an electric vehicle is parked outside, its temperature can swing wildly from day to night and season to season, which can lead to deterioration of the battery. To dampen these fluctuations and extend the battery’s lifespan, researchers have design…
Breaking into tears with microrheology to design custom eye drops
In Physics of Fluids, Vega et al. researched human tears at the micron level to reveal new ways of customizing artificial tears to address individual symptoms of dry eye disease. The detailed insights they gained about the composition and behavior of t…
Unborn babies use ‘greedy’ gene from dads to ‘remote-control’ mums into feeding them extra food
Fetuses use a copy of a gene inherited from their dad to force their mum to release as much nutrients as possible during pregnancy, scientists have discovered. The unborn baby ‘remote controls’ its mother’s metabolism so the two are in a nutritional tu…
The science behind skipping stones
An interdisciplinary team presents a study of the dynamics of buoyant spheres at the air-water interface. Their work reveals complex hydrodynamics involved in forming horizontal air cavities and the transition between floating and skipping. One of the …
The ground is deforming, and buildings aren’t ready
A new study has linked underground climate change to the shifting ground beneath urban areas. The phenomenon is affecting all major urban areas around the globe, causing civil structures and infrastructures to crack.
Highly efficient ruthenium-based catalysts with caffeine and theophylline
Researchers are developing highly efficient biosourced catalysts based on caffeine and theophylline, two natural substances.
Newly identified protein regulates the creation of cellulose in plant cells
A team has identified a protein that modifies the cellular machinery responsible for producing cellulose, which could inform the design of more stable, cellulose-enriched materials for biofuels and other functions.