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Prenatal Chlorpyrifos Exposure Linked to Childhood Brain Abnormalities

2025-09-03

Prenatal Chlorpyrifos Exposure Linked to Childhood Brain Abnormalities

A new US study suggests that prenatal exposure to the insecticide chlorpyrifos is associated with brain structural abnormalities and reduced motor function in children and adolescents. Researchers found that higher prenatal exposure levels correlated with greater deviations in brain structure, function, and metabolism, along with poorer motor speed and programming. This supports previous research linking chlorpyrifos to impaired cognitive function and brain development, but provides the first evidence of widespread and long-lasting molecular, cellular, and metabolic effects on the brain. While the study has limitations, such as only showing association and not causation, the ubiquity of chlorpyrifos and similar compounds warrants further research into these potent pesticides.

(www.sciencealert.com)

Tech chlorpyrifos brain development prenatal exposure

Rose Scent May Boost Brain Gray Matter Volume

2025-08-31

Rose Scent May Boost Brain Gray Matter Volume

A Japanese study suggests that consistently inhaling a rose scent for a month may increase brain gray matter volume. Researchers had 28 women wear clothing infused with rose essential oil for a month, comparing them to a control group of 22 women. Results showed increased gray matter volume in the rose scent group, particularly in the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) linked to memory and association. While not necessarily translating to increased cognitive power, the findings could have significant implications for preventing neurodegenerative conditions like dementia. The researchers hypothesize this is due to the brain continually processing the rose scent and storing related memories. The study offers a promising avenue for exploring aromatherapy's potential to improve brain health.

(www.sciencealert.com)

Tech Brain Gray Matter Rose Scent Dementia Prevention

Pleasure Reading Plummets 40% in the US: A Digital Age Warning?

2025-08-28

Pleasure Reading Plummets 40% in the US: A Digital Age Warning?

A new survey reveals a stark 40 percent decline in daily pleasure reading among US adults between 2003 and 2023. Researchers highlight this isn't a minor dip, but a sustained 3 percent annual decrease. This trend correlates with increased consumption of digital media. While those who still read are doing so for slightly longer, the decline is sharper among Black Americans, lower-income individuals, and those living outside cities, highlighting socioeconomic disparities. The research team urges targeted strategies, such as community-led initiatives, to reverse this concerning trend.

(www.sciencealert.com)

Misc declining readership socioeconomic disparity

Nine-Day Milestone: Gene-Edited Pig Lung Transplanted into Human

2025-08-27

Nine-Day Milestone: Gene-Edited Pig Lung Transplanted into Human

A team from the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University achieved a groundbreaking feat: successfully transplanting a genetically modified pig lung into a brain-dead human, maintaining function for nine days. While the experiment was ultimately terminated due to organ rejection, it represents a significant advancement in xenotransplantation. The focus wasn't on immediate success, but on observing the human immune response. The pig lung underwent six gene edits to minimize immune and inflammatory responses. Results highlighted challenges such as pulmonary edema and antibody-mediated rejection. Future research will focus on optimizing immunosuppression, refining gene editing, and ultimately achieving clinical translation.

(www.sciencealert.com)

Tech Xenotransplantation Organ Transplant

Juno Probe Could Intercept Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS

2025-08-17

Juno Probe Could Intercept Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS

A team led by Harvard's Professor Abraham Loeb proposes a daring plan: using NASA's Juno probe, already in orbit, to intercept the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as it approaches Jupiter. The plan leverages Juno's proximity to Jupiter on March 16th, 2026, for an orbital adjustment to enable a rendezvous with 3I/ATLAS. This would mark humanity's first close-up observation of an interstellar object, providing invaluable data to study its composition, origin, and the possibility of it being an artificial construct. While 3I/ATLAS's diameter may be smaller than initially estimated, the intercept remains scientifically significant, offering a unique opportunity to unveil the mysteries of interstellar space.

(www.sciencealert.com)

Tech interstellar comet Juno probe

Record-Breaking Cosmic Neutrino Detected Deep Under the Mediterranean

2025-08-15

Record-Breaking Cosmic Neutrino Detected Deep Under the Mediterranean

The KM3NeT detector, located deep beneath the Mediterranean Sea, has detected a cosmic neutrino with an unprecedented energy of 220 PeV, shattering the previous record. After rigorous analysis, the detection was confirmed, but its origin remains a mystery. Possible sources include extreme environments like galactic centers, gamma-ray bursts, or interactions with the cosmic microwave background. This discovery opens a new window into ultra-high-energy neutrino astronomy.

(www.sciencealert.com)

Tech cosmic neutrino

JWST and ALMA Detect Earliest Stages of Planet Formation Around Sun-like Star

2025-07-18

JWST and ALMA Detect Earliest Stages of Planet Formation Around Sun-like Star

Astronomers using the JWST and ALMA telescopes have discovered evidence of the earliest stages of planet formation around a Sun-like star, HOPS-315, located 1300 light-years away. They detected concentrations of hot minerals, the building blocks of planetesimals – the seeds from which planets grow. This discovery offers invaluable data for studying the initial stages of planet formation and may hold clues to how our own Solar System formed. The HOPS-315 system's similarity to our early Solar System allows for unprecedented insights into its origin and evolution.

(www.sciencealert.com)

Tech

Autism and Gait: Understanding the Differences

2025-07-17

Autism and Gait: Understanding the Differences

A new study highlights diverse gait differences in autistic individuals, including toe-walking, in-toeing, and out-toeing. These differences aren't simply developmental delays, but stem from variations in brain development within the basal ganglia and cerebellum. Often accompanied by other motor skill challenges, the study emphasizes that not all gait differences require treatment; instead, an individualized approach focusing on functional impact is crucial. Community-based interventions like sports and dance can improve motor skills and social interaction in autistic children.

(www.sciencealert.com)

Tech gait neurodevelopment

Rent-a-Brain: The World's First Commercial Hybrid of Silicon and Human Brain Cells

2025-07-04

Rent-a-Brain: The World's First Commercial Hybrid of Silicon and Human Brain Cells

Cortical Labs, an Australian biotech startup, in collaboration with UK company bit.bio, has launched CL1, the world's first commercially available hybrid computer combining silicon circuitry and human brain cells. This groundbreaking system, built from 800,000 neurons grown on a silicon chip, boasts incredibly low energy consumption, significantly outperforming comparable AI in terms of efficiency. CL1 demonstrated superior performance in game-playing tests compared to machine learning algorithms and offers potential applications in drug testing. Units are available for $35,000, or remote access can be rented for $300 per week.

(www.sciencealert.com)

AI

Mind-Blowing: Metal That Heals Itself!

2025-06-22

Mind-Blowing: Metal That Heals Itself!

Scientists have observed a damaged section of platinum metal repairing itself at the nanoscale! During fatigue testing using a specialized microscope, a 40-nanometer-thick platinum wafer, repeatedly stressed, showed cracks spontaneously fusing and healing after about 40 minutes. This unexpected finding challenges conventional materials science and opens doors to revolutionary self-healing materials for everything from bridges and engines to smartphones. While currently observed only under vacuum conditions at the nanoscale, the discovery offers immense potential for future engineering breakthroughs.

(www.sciencealert.com)

Tech self-healing

Casino Blue Light: A Subtle Push Towards Reckless Gambling?

2025-06-21

Casino Blue Light: A Subtle Push Towards Reckless Gambling?

A new study reveals a concerning link between blue-enriched lighting in casinos and riskier gambling behavior. Researchers found that the increased blue light emitted from casino decor and LED screens may affect brain function, reducing sensitivity to financial losses compared to gains. This is particularly relevant given the growing global problem of gambling addiction. The study suggests that manipulating lighting, specifically reducing blue light, could potentially lead to safer gambling practices. However, the small sample size and lab setting warrant further research.

(www.sciencealert.com)

Misc blue light

AI Unlocks Secrets of Milky Way's Supermassive Black Hole: Near-Max Rotation, Defying Theory

2025-06-20

AI Unlocks Secrets of Milky Way's Supermassive Black Hole: Near-Max Rotation, Defying Theory

Scientists used AI and data from the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) to analyze the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way, Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*). The study revealed Sgr A* is spinning near its maximum rate, with its rotational axis pointed towards Earth, and its glow generated by hot electrons. Surprisingly, the magnetic field around it behaves differently than predicted by current theory, suggesting our understanding of black holes may need revision. This research, utilizing millions of simulated black holes to train a neural network, marks a significant breakthrough in supermassive black hole research.

(www.sciencealert.com)

Tech

Axolotl Regeneration: Cracking the Code for Limb Regeneration

2025-06-20

Axolotl Regeneration: Cracking the Code for Limb Regeneration

Scientists have identified retinoic acid as a key molecule in the limb regeneration of axolotls, amphibians known for their remarkable regenerative abilities. This molecule forms a gradient across the body, guiding regenerating cells to rebuild the correct tissues in the right places. Experiments showed that increasing retinoic acid levels caused axolotls to regenerate entire limbs, rather than just the missing part. This research offers a promising avenue for human limb regeneration, suggesting that we might one day be able to regenerate injured tissues and organs like axolotls.

(www.sciencealert.com)

Tech Regenerative Medicine Retinoic Acid

Humanity: A Giant Meatball?

2025-06-11

Humanity: A Giant Meatball?

A Reddit user calculated that if all humans were blended into a single mass, it would form a sphere less than 1 kilometer wide, easily fitting within Central Park. The article humorously compares the total mass of humanity to that of insects, fish, and bacteria, prompting reflection on the sheer scale of life on Earth. The quirky conclusion apologizes to the author's mother.

(www.sciencealert.com)

Misc fun science population

Caffeine's Nighttime Brain Drain: How It Disrupts Sleep and Varies by Age

2025-06-09

Caffeine's Nighttime Brain Drain: How It Disrupts Sleep and Varies by Age

A University of Montreal study reveals caffeine not only keeps you awake but alters brain function during sleep. EEG analysis showed caffeine increases brain signal complexity, pushing the brain towards a 'critical' state – beneficial for daytime focus but disruptive to nighttime rest. Caffeine weakens delta, theta, and alpha waves associated with deep sleep, particularly during non-REM sleep crucial for memory consolidation and cognitive recovery. Younger adults showed greater sensitivity to these effects. Published in Communications Biology, the research highlights the importance of understanding caffeine's age-dependent impact on sleep.

(www.sciencealert.com)

Tech

Mind Uploading: Science Fiction or Future Reality?

2025-06-01

Mind Uploading: Science Fiction or Future Reality?

Uploading consciousness to a computer, achieving digital immortality, sounds like science fiction, but a brain scientist argues it's theoretically possible. While immense challenges remain – such as the need for extremely detailed 3D brain scans and sensory simulations – the technology's advancement could be surprisingly rapid. Though optimistic predictions point to 2045, the author believes it's unlikely within 100 years, but perhaps within 200. The success of this technology would fundamentally alter human existence, raising huge ethical and philosophical questions.

(www.sciencealert.com)

AI mind uploading digital immortality

Mars Atmosphere Loss: Sputtering Caught in the Act

2025-05-30

Mars Atmosphere Loss: Sputtering Caught in the Act

For the first time, scientists have directly observed atmospheric sputtering, a key driver of Mars' ongoing atmospheric erosion. Nine years of satellite data revealed a correlation between argon density at high altitudes and the orientation of the solar wind's electric field, confirming sputtering and showing its strength is over four times higher than previously predicted. Solar storms dramatically increased the effect. This discovery is crucial for understanding Mars' atmospheric and water loss, and the habitability of early Solar System planets. The research is published in Science Advances.

(www.sciencealert.com)

Tech Atmospheric Sputtering

Black Hole Bomb Successfully Simulated in Lab!

2025-05-03

Black Hole Bomb Successfully Simulated in Lab!

Researchers have created the first laboratory analog of the 'black hole bomb,' a theoretical concept from the 1970s. While black holes are known for their inescapable gravity, Penrose proposed in 1971 that a rotating black hole's energy could amplify nearby particles. Zel'dovich later showed a rotating, symmetrical object in a resonant chamber could achieve a similar effect. Adding mirrors creates a positive feedback loop, amplifying energy until explosion. A team from the University of Southampton used a rotating aluminum cylinder and magnetic fields to simulate this, confirming amplification when the cylinder rotates faster than and in the same direction as the magnetic field. This experiment represents a significant step toward understanding black hole physics.

(www.sciencealert.com)

Tech lab simulation

Digital Fossils in AI: How Nonsense Terms Become Embedded in Our Knowledge

2025-05-01

Digital Fossils in AI: How Nonsense Terms Become Embedded in Our Knowledge

Scientists discovered the nonsensical term "vegetative electron microscopy" spreading through AI models. Originating from digitization errors in 1950s papers and amplified by translation mistakes, it became ingrained in large language models. This highlights the challenges of massive training datasets, lack of transparency, and self-perpetuating errors in AI. The incident poses serious issues for academic research and publishing, prompting reflection on maintaining reliable knowledge systems.

(www.sciencealert.com)

AI knowledge reliability

Quantum Rubik's Cube: Infinite Possibilities and a Quantum Advantage

2025-04-23

Quantum Rubik's Cube: Infinite Possibilities and a Quantum Advantage

Mathematicians have created a quantum Rubik's Cube with infinite possible states, introducing novel quantum moves. Unlike the classic Rubik's Cube's finite permutations, the quantum version allows for superposition, where pieces exist in multiple states simultaneously. Simulations comparing classical, quantum, and combined solving algorithms revealed the combined approach performed best, followed by quantum, then classical. While the classical solver could sometimes achieve faster solutions, the quantum solver provided more consistent solving times. This research offers a fresh perspective on quantum computing and presents a fascinating puzzle for math enthusiasts.

(www.sciencealert.com)

Tech

Ancient DNA Reveals Isolated Saharan Population 7,000 Years Ago

2025-04-11

Ancient DNA Reveals Isolated Saharan Population 7,000 Years Ago

A new genetic analysis sheds light on the genetic makeup of humans living in the Sahara's green oasis 7,000 years ago. Researchers sequenced ancient DNA from two women buried at the Takarkori rock shelter in Libya, finding their closest genetic relatives were 15,000-year-old foragers from Morocco. This suggests a long-standing, stable population in North Africa before and during the Saharan humid period. This lineage diverged from those leaving Africa over 50,000 years ago and remained largely isolated for millennia, with only minor gene flow from the Levant, including Neanderthal DNA. The study suggests pastoralism spread through cultural exchange, not large-scale migration.

(www.sciencealert.com)

Tech Sahara Desert human migration

World's Smallest Injectable, Light-Controlled Pacemaker Developed

2025-04-08

World's Smallest Injectable, Light-Controlled Pacemaker Developed

Scientists have developed the world's tiniest temporary pacemaker—smaller than a grain of rice, injectable, light-controlled, and bioresorbable. This breakthrough aims to help children with congenital heart defects and adults recovering from heart surgery. Unlike traditional pacemakers, it eliminates the need for invasive implantation and removal, avoiding risks like the internal bleeding that contributed to Neil Armstrong's death in 2012. Successfully tested in animals and human tissue, human trials are expected in 2-3 years. Future applications could extend to nerve regeneration, wound healing, and smart implants.

(www.sciencealert.com)

Tech implantable devices pacemaker

Euclid Telescope Spots a Perfect Einstein Ring

2025-02-13

Euclid Telescope Spots a Perfect Einstein Ring

The European Space Agency's Euclid telescope has discovered a perfect Einstein ring around the galaxy NGC 6505, located 590 million light-years away. This rare phenomenon, a result of gravitational lensing, shows light from a distant galaxy (4.42 billion light-years away) warped into a ring by the gravity of NGC 6505. The discovery highlights Euclid's observational power and provides a unique opportunity to study a distant galaxy in detail, marking a significant advancement in cosmology.

(www.sciencealert.com)

Tech Einstein Ring Gravitational Lensing Euclid Telescope

Twisted Graphene Reveals a Bizarre New State of Electron Matter

2025-02-08

Twisted Graphene Reveals a Bizarre New State of Electron Matter

Researchers have discovered a strange new state of matter in twisted layers of graphene. By precisely twisting graphene sheets, they created a moiré effect, altering the geometry of electrons and causing them to move in unusual ways along the material's edges, even exhibiting the quantum Hall effect. This topological electronic crystal shows superconductivity and offers new avenues for quantum computing and room-temperature superconductivity research. The research was published in Nature.

(www.sciencealert.com)

Tech topological materials

Unprecedented Solar Storm Creates Mystery Radiation Belts Around Earth

2025-02-07

Unprecedented Solar Storm Creates Mystery Radiation Belts Around Earth

A massive solar storm in May 2024 impacted Earth profoundly, its effects reaching even the ocean floor. Beyond stunning auroras, the storm created two temporary radiation belts within Earth's magnetic field. Remarkably, one belt contained high-energy protons—a never-before-seen phenomenon. These belts persisted for three months, far longer than typical storm-induced belts. While subsequent storms largely dispersed the particles, some remain, posing a potential hazard to satellites. Further research is crucial to understand the long-term effects and risks.

(www.sciencealert.com)

Tech solar storm radiation belts space weather

Swedish Scientists Achieve Control Over Novel Magnetism, Potentially Revolutionizing Electronics

2025-02-05

Swedish Scientists Achieve Control Over Novel Magnetism, Potentially Revolutionizing Electronics

A Swedish experiment has demonstrated control over a new type of magnetism, called 'altermagnetism'. Researchers used X-rays to manipulate nanoscale magnetic vortices in a thin manganese telluride wafer. This altermagnetism, existing between ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism, holds immense potential for applications in spintronics and high-temperature superconductor research, promising breakthroughs in memory storage and energy efficiency.

(www.sciencealert.com)

Tech altermagnetism spintronics nanomagnetism

California Solar Plant Accidentally Burns Thousands of Birds

2025-02-03

California Solar Plant Accidentally Burns Thousands of Birds

The Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System in California's Mojave Desert, using giant mirrors to concentrate sunlight for power generation, has inadvertently become a death trap for birds. Since its operation in 2014, up to 6,000 birds annually fly into concentrated beams of sunlight and spontaneously combust, nicknamed "streamers." Located along the Pacific Flyway, the plant's design flaw, attracting insects which in turn attract birds, exacerbates the problem. While the plant has tried various methods to reduce bird deaths, results have been minimal, prompting collaboration among agencies to find a solution. This highlights that even green energy can have unforeseen impacts on local ecosystems.

(www.sciencealert.com)

Tech bird deaths

Rare Planetary Alignment: 7 Planets to Align in 2025

2025-01-11

Rare Planetary Alignment: 7 Planets to Align in 2025

Get ready for a celestial spectacle! In 2025, a rare alignment of seven planets will grace our night skies. On February 28th, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune will appear in a near-perfect line. A smaller alignment of six planets (excluding Mercury) will occur on January 21st. While not a perfectly straight line in reality, their near-alignment on the ecliptic plane makes for a breathtaking sight. Don't miss this celestial event—binoculars or a telescope are recommended!

(www.sciencealert.com)

Tech planetary alignment celestial event

Dark Energy's Demise? A New Cosmology Suggests Time Itself is to Blame

2025-01-03

Dark Energy's Demise? A New Cosmology Suggests Time Itself is to Blame

A new study challenges the standard model of cosmology, ΛCDM, which relies on the existence of dark energy and dark matter. The alternative 'timescape cosmology' proposes that time flows at different rates in different regions of the universe, creating the illusion of accelerated expansion. Analyzing over 1,500 Type Ia supernovae, researchers found timescape cosmology provides a better fit to observations than ΛCDM. This suggests a potential need to rethink the foundations of cosmology; dark energy might be a misinterpretation of non-uniform expansion rates.

(www.sciencealert.com)

Tech dark energy timescape

New Class of Virus-like Entities Found in Human Gut

2024-12-30

New Class of Virus-like Entities Found in Human Gut

Researchers have discovered a completely new class of virus-like objects in the human digestive system, dubbed 'Obelisks'. These RNA structures, approximately 1,000 nucleotides long, are unlike any known viruses and may represent an entirely new biological entity, potentially bridging the evolutionary gap between simple genetic molecules and complex viruses. Found in human microbiomes, Obelisks code for a novel protein called 'Oblins', but their impact on host cells and their transmission mechanism remain unknown. This discovery opens up exciting new avenues for life science research.

(www.sciencealert.com)

AI virus microbiome

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