Science & Technology
Extending the life of a lithium metal anode using a protective layer made of an extremely tough gel electrolyte
A research team has succeeded in substantially improving the cycling performance of a lithium metal battery by developing a mechanically very strong polymeric gel electrolyte and integrating it into the battery as a layer to protect the lithium metal a…
Kangaroo Island ants ‘play dead’ to avoid predators
They’re well known for their industrious work, but now a species of ant on Kangaroo Island is also showing that it is skilled at ‘playing dead’, a behavior that researchers believe is a recorded world first.
Water warming study shows unexpected impact on fish size
The theory that water-breathing animals such as fish will shrink due to global warming has been called into question by a new study.
The brain reacts differently to touch depending on context
The touch of another person may increase levels of the ‘feelgood’ hormone oxytocin. But the context really matters. The situation impacts oxytocin levels not only in the moment, but also later.
Human eyes really do play ‘tricks’ on the mind, say experts
A new study has shown that the human visual system can ‘trick’ the brain into making inaccurate assumptions about the size of objects in the world around them.
Research shows mobile phone users do not understand what data they might be sharing
Privacy and security features that aim to give consumers more control over the sharing of their data by smartphone apps are widely misunderstood, shows new research from the University of Bath’s School of Management.
Basic ‘toolkit’ for organ development is illuminated by sea star
One of the basic and crucial embryonic processes to unfold in virtually every living organism is the formation of hollow, tubular structures that go on to form blood vessels or a digestive tract, and through branching and differentiation, complex organ…
Earth’s first animals had particular taste in real estate
Even without body parts that allowed for movement, new research shows — for the first time — that some of Earth’s earliest animals managed to be picky about where they lived.
Scientists create CRISPR-based drug candidate targeting the microbiome
A new drug candidate targeting E. coli in the gut is in phase 1 clinical trials. According to a new paper it may improve the well-being of blood cancer patients and reduce their mortality rate from E. coli infections.
Exploring the underground connections between trees
Fungal networks interconnecting trees in a forest is a key factor that determines the nature of forests and their response to climate change. These networks have also been viewed as a means for trees to help their offspring and other tree-friends, acco…
New research sheds light on how human vision perceives scale
Researchers have discovered new insights into how the human brain makes perceptual judgements of the external world. The study explored the computational mechanisms used by the human brain to perceive the size of objects in the world around us.
Tooth enamel provides clues to hunter-gatherer lifestyle of Neanderthals
A study has given an intriguing glimpse of the hunting habits and diets of Neanderthals and other humans living in western Europe.
Crab populations are crashing. Could losing their sense of smell be one of the important reasons why?
A new U of T Scarborough study finds that climate change is causing a commercially significant marine crab to lose its sense of smell, which could partially explain why their populations are thinning.
How 1,000 undergraduates helped solve an enduring mystery about the sun
For three years at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a group of students spent an estimated 56,000 hours analyzing the behavior of hundreds of solar flares. Their results could help astrophysicists understand how the sun’s corona reaches temperature…
Best treatment for excessive daytime sleepiness
Researchers have found that the drug solriamfetol is the most effective treatment for excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) for people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Tuberculosis disease intensifies HIV antibody response in people with HIV
New research found that people living with HIV that have had pulmonary tuberculosis had broader and more potent HIV antibody responses and differences in HIV sequences predicted to be antibody resistant as compared to those without suspected or documen…
Small wildlife surveys can produce ‘big picture’ results
Small-scale wildlife surveys can reveal the health of entire ecosystems, new research shows.
‘Super-resolution’ imaging technology
Researchers describe developing a super-resolution imaging platform technology to improve understanding of how nanoparticles interact within cells.
Potential found to counter depression by restoring key brain rhythm
A new study in mice and rats found that restoring certain signals in a brain region that processes smells countered depression.