Research
How baker’s yeast sheds light on human migration
How baker’s yeast sheds light on human migration Baker’s yeast has been found to have genetic links to human migration, suggesting that humans domesticated it around 7000 BCE. Researchers analyzed DNA from wild and domesticated yeast in different regions of Europe and America, finding distinct subpopulations within continents. The study suggests that the forest populations […]
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NASA Kicks Off Biological Research Aboard Space Station
NASA Kicks Off Biological Research Aboard Space Station NASA has launched several biological experiments aboard the International Space Station as part of its 32nd SpaceX commercial resupply services mission. The experiments include studying how microgravity affects protein production by microalgae, testing a microscope to capture microbial activity, and examining genetic activity in biofilms. Microalgae are […]
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Young bats learn to be discriminating when listening for their next meal
Young bats learn to be discriminating when listening for their next meal Researchers at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute studied how young bats learn to discriminate between tasty and dangerous meals by eavesdropping on frog calls. The study found that juvenile bats respond more strongly to the calls of toxic toads compared to palatable túngara […]
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Reddit bans researchers who used AI bots to manipulate commenters
Reddit bans researchers who used AI bots to manipulate commenters Researchers from the University of Zurich conducted an experiment on Reddit’s r/changemymind community using AI bots to manipulate commenters, leaving 1,783 comments and over 10,000 karma. The researchers used bots pretending to be a trauma counselor, a “Black man opposed to Black Lives Matter,” and […]
📰 News
NASA Gathers Experts to Discuss Emerging Technologies in Astrophysics
NASA Gathers Experts to Discuss Emerging Technologies in Astrophysics NASA recently hosted an “Emerging Technologies for Astrophysics” workshop to discuss how advanced technologies like AI, quantum sensing, and advanced materials can impact future mission planning. The workshop brought together experts from industry, government, and academia to explore specific applications for astrophysics missions and accelerate the […]
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How alcohol abuse damages decision-making brain circuits
How alcohol abuse damages decision-making brain circuits Researchers have demonstrated that heavy alcohol use can damage brain circuits critical for decision-making in rats, leading to long-term behavioral issues. The study found that even after a monthslong withdrawal period, rats exposed to high amounts of alcohol exhibited poor decision-making during a complex task. The researchers linked […]
🏥 Health
2 new therapies can treat ulcerative colitis
2 new therapies can treat ulcerative colitis Two new therapies have been identified as promising treatments for ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory disease of the large intestine. A global study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that a drug called tulisokibart was effective in treating moderate to severe ulcerative colitis, with 26% […]
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Granular systems, such as sandpiles or rockslides, are all around you − new research will help scientists describe how they work
Granular systems, such as sandpiles or rockslides, are all around you − new research will help scientists describe how they work Scientists have long struggled to understand how granular systems, such as sandpiles or rockslides, behave when individual grains interact with each other. A new research approach uses photoelasticity, a property that makes transparent materials […]
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Cancer research in the US is world class because of its broad base of funding − with the government pulling out, its future is uncertain
Cancer research in the US is world class because of its broad base of funding − with the government pulling out, its future is uncertain Cancer research in the US faces an uncertain future due to government funding cuts, which could lead to a decline in research and development of new cancer treatments. The US […]
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‘Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence’ − an astronomer explains how much evidence scientists need to claim discoveries like extraterrestrial life
‘Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence’ − an astronomer explains how much evidence scientists need to claim discoveries like extraterrestrial life Scientists searching for extraterrestrial life need extraordinary evidence to support their claims, as suggested by Carl Sagan’s phrase “Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.” The detection of life on K2-18b, a planet in another star system, […]
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