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Griffith University Associate Professor Joan Vaccaro believes she may have uncovered how our reality differentiates the future from the past. Her paper could topple our understanding of time flow (ironically) forever.
Archaeologists working off the coast of Italy have found a Roman shipwreck containing three thousand fish sauce vessels.
Get it together, world – the top 10 greenest countries in the world are all European! The greenest countries The 2016 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) is a Yale-developed method to quantify the environmental performance of a state; it’s a measure of how ‘green’ a country is. Of course, like any index it has its pros […]
In what seemed impossible just a few years ago, a computer has beaten a Go champion.
Researchers at European Space Agency (ESA) collected fungi that live in one of the harshest places on Earth -- McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica -- then shipped some to the ISS. Here, populations were subjected to both a Martian environment and directly exposed to space. In both situations, fungi survived after 18 months though those breeding in the Martian environment proved to be far better adapted. Lichen were also tested under the same circumstances. These too survived, which gives hope that there might be a chance for life on Mars to exist.
A German astrophysicist decoded ancient Babylonian tablets stuffed with computations. His analysis reveals that these were used by the ancient scholars to predict where and when Jupiter would show up in the night's sky based on abstract computations so advanced they're indispensable to modern science. It's thought analytical geometry was invented at Oxford in the 14th century, but it seems the Babylonians had it covered more than 1,400 years earlier.
The age of the Earth is 4.54 billion years - plus or minus 1% (0.05 billion years). But how do we know this?
Considering how inhospitable Mars is, given there's no air, -55C temperatures, radiation and all, you might think the quality of sleep on Mars is our last concern. A new study suggests that a permanent jet lag on Mars might come with some serious health risks, so maybe we should take this more seriously.
Here we go again. A new study which investigated so-called addictive effects of food got picked up by the media with moronic headlines. The study in question found similar pharmacokinetic properties (e.g. concentrated dose, rapid rate of absorption) between highly processed foods and drug of abuse. The most rewarding food was found to be pizza, but in fact the researchers found cheese is actually the proxy. Apparently, cheese contains a concentrated amount of a protein known to bind to opiate receptors in the brain. Unsurprisingly, here are some of the headlines we've seen since: "Cheese really is like crack: Study reveals the food triggers the same part of the brain as drugs" (Daily Mail) or "Cheese really is crack. Study reveals cheese is as addictive as drugs" (LA Times). It goes without saying that cheese is not crack, and such headlines could be actually demeaning to crack addicts.
Right now coal accounts for 39% of all the world's generated electricity, with gas coming in second but still trailing behind at 22%. King coal is dying though, as ZME Science reported earlier. In less than 15 years, the International Energy Agency estimates renewable energy will become the dominant energy source in the world. Moreover, these estimates are conservative since the report assumes many coal plants will still be online in 2030, which is unlikely.
Marine biologists study microbes in the waters above natural oil seeps in the Gulf of Mexico stumbled upon something unexpected. They found phytoplankton, tiny organisms that comprise the bottom of the marine food chain, thrive in waters with low concentration oil. In some cases, the population is double that a couple miles off the oil seep sites.
The thymus is one of those under appreciated organs you just don’t hear much about. Sitting in your chest, just in front of your heart, the thymus is at its largest and most active during infancy and childhood. By adulthood, the thymus has shrunk to practically nothing, being mostly replaced by fat. It plays an […]
Astronomers find the parent of an orphan planet. The finding makes the solar system the biggest in the galaxy.
A team at University of British Columbia claims that a type of clay found northwest of Vancouver is effective against a dangerous class of drug-resistant bacteria. The clay investigated by the Canadian researchers destroyed the ESKAPE germs, in some instances in less than 5 hours. Furthermore, the clay is completely natural and no toxic side-effects have been reported thus far.
That's not one million or one billion, but roughly on unquadragintillion -- a number so big it exceeds the number of particles in the Universe. So, why is this important?
Water pollution is a big issue, and so far there isn't one single system capable of reliably filtering toxic heavy metals. These are either too small, or selectively filter certain metals when polluted water often contains a mix. Researchers at ETH Zurich claim they've hit a breakthrough. Using cheap, readily available materials they designed a filter that can retain over 99% concentration of mercury, gold cyanide or toxic potassium, to name a few. It can also absorb radioactive waste and help recycle gold.
'Don't judge a book by its cover' right about sums up the Human Library Project. The concept is simple, but very powerful: instead of checking out books, you sit with a random stranger for half an hour and listen to his life story. Titles include Child Of The Holocaust Survivors, The Gypsy Tale, Iraq War Veteran, or Orphanage Boy. Just like a book, you'll be exposed to a unique experience, only you'll also interact with the author, ask questions and learn much more.
The Tudor period started in 1485 and ended in 1603. Many people idealize Tudor England, but life in those Medieval times was rough — and oftentimes brutal. In fact, in some regards, it seems almost impossible to believe how people lived at the time. Here are just some of these strange facets of the medieval […]
Before WWII, there weren't that many plastics around. Today, we use so much that we could literally plaster the planet in one giant clingfilm. A paper published in the journal Anthropocene reviews the state of plastic production, use and pollution and concludes that no place on Earth has been spared.
Authorities sealed off the area and are now investigating possible environmental pollution from the underground lake of acrid oil.
University of Florida researchers have discovered how our bodies control dopamine transport in and out of brain cells.
Researchers in China have genetically engineered autistic monkeys which exhibit almost no social interaction.
In a time when a barrel of oil can cost less than a ... barrel, the EV market suffers. Market leader Tesla Motors saw its shares take a dive this month after it reported sales in the bottom range of its forecast for the 2015 fourth quarter. So, how can Tesla, Nissan or any other player in the EV space right now protect themselves against fluctuating oil prices. When the price is high, the EV market flourishes and, conversely, goes down with oil that sells for pennies. Tesla's boss, Elon Musk, has this covered: he wants to make electric cars that are so exceptional that you won't care anymore about how much a full tank costs.
An innovative type of concrete has the potential to save lives and millions off of taxpayers' money.
When the researchers analyzed some of the most cited contrarian climate change papers -- by other scientists or in the media -- they found these were riddled with methodological errors and not one one of them stood to scrutiny.
NASA is very close to reaching a milestone in the construction of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), Hubble's successor that will be launched in 2018.
Researchers found a way to manipulate single cells in three dimensions using sound waves. They devised acoustic tweezers that can position minute particles or cells anywhere within the fluid enclosure without touching, altering, deforming or labeling the particles in any way. The resolution or accuracy is between 1-2 micrometers. Work like this might enable us to design tissue implants which faithfully mimic the human tissues or organs destined to be replaced. Other methods, like 3D biological printing, alter or even destroy cells keeping them from functioning the way they ought to.
Natural hydrocarbon seeps are providing the nutrients for vast microbial communities to thrive in the Gulf of Mexico.
Oddly enough, one study found being more lenient with return deadlines actually reduced returns, not increased them. With this in mind, 90 days returns might be a lot more productive for retailers than the standard 30 or 60 most use.
Scientific American recently reported that the three countries most affected by dengue fever have approved the use of the first vaccine against this affliction. Officials from Mexico, Philippines and Brazil hope that this will curb the nearly 400 million new infections each year, 22,000 of which result in death.
A study from Emory University looking into prairie voles' consoling behaviors provides new evidence in support of animal empathy. The tests had pairs of voles isolated from each other, one being exposed to mild electric shocks, to study how the rodents react to a distressed mate.
An altered periodic table that shows how each elements was forged.
A North Sea wreck has been identified as a German world war one U-boat, announced ScottishPower Renewables. The vessel found its resting place 90 kilometers (56 miles) off the Norfolk Coast.
The Namib Desert Beetle lives in one of the most inhospitable and driest places on Earth, in the southwest coast of Africa. The beetle, however, employs a nifty trick: it can virtually make water out of thin air, thanks to its body whose geometry collects water droplets and directs them right into the insect's mouth. Now, engineers have adapted this design to keep ice bridges from forming and keep critical aircraft components freeze-free.
A new study finds that many cancers are caused by mutations that block the tumor suppressor gene’s effect, through a process called Intron Retention.
Where are all the aliens? Why haven’t we seen or heard their signals from space? Could we really have been the only planet where life evolved?
Careful with your diet, dads!
A new study by Oxford researchers suggests that we all would like to maximize our profits, it's just that some simply don't understand the rules of the game. In other words, they act altruistic because they don't know how to be selfish, which in effect doesn't make them altruistic at all.
According to a report published by Amnesty International, half of the world's Cobalt, an important element used in lithium batteries, is mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by child miners. Most handheld electronics today (like smartphones or tablets) incorporate lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) based on lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2), which offers high energy density.
The Chinese government seems determined to phase out coal from their economy.
This bright orange zinnia was grown in the Vegetable Production System (also known as the gloriously puny "Veggie"), a deployable unit built to sustain a range of crops including lettuce -- the first space-grown crop that the ISS taste-tested in August.
Our houses are teeming with tiny insects, but have no fear - not only are they harmless, they might help us.
A groundbreaking research out of the Salk Institute suggests synapses are 10 times bigger in the hippocampus. Conversely, this means the memory capacity is 10 times larger than previously thought, given synapse size is directly related to memory. Moreover, the team found these synapses adjust in size constantly. Ever 20 minutes, synapses grow bigger or smaller adjusting themselves for optimal neural connectivity. The clues could prove paramount to developing artificial intelligence or computers that are more akin to the human brain: phenomenal computing power using minimal energy input.
A supercomputer checked if a 22,338,618 digits long number is prime in less than 3 days. Here's how.
Finnish and American scientist made knots out of solitary waves, or knot solitons. This was the first time this was demonstrated possible, though theoretically predicted for decades. These sort of knots are thought to play an important role in the quantum-mechanical foundations of nature, though these have remained elusive in quantum dynamics.
The mosquito-borne Zika virus seems to have spread from Brazil to Colombia, as more than 13,500 people are already infected.
Plastic bags, bottle caps and plastic fibres are among the myriad of micro plastic debris that wash out into the Pacific Ocean. These get ingested by the marine life like fish, mammals and birds which are dying from choking, intestinal blockage and starvation. Moreover, some are toxic pollutants that are absorbed, transported, and consumed in the food chain eventually reaching humans. The most effective way to contain microplastics is to raise floating nets around Asia's coats, not around the Great Pacific Garbage patch, researchers reckon.
A duo of astronomers from CalTech may have found another planet, far away in our solar system.
War may have emerged even before humans settled down.
A medical miracle was conducted at Lehigh Valley Health Network in the UK as a man was brought back to life after being almost frozen solid.
