On a remote tropical island in the Atlantic Ocean, a pair of marooned pirates have been discovered. While they lack eyepatches and cutlasses, the two new species of pirate spider certainly live up to their nautical name, which refers to their habit of violently taking over the webs of other spiders and killing the occupants. … Read more
In the pursuit of sustainable energy solutions, the quest for more efficient solar cells is paramount. Organic photovoltaic cells have emerged as a promising alternative to traditional silicon-based counterparts due to their flexibility and cost-effectiveness. However, optimizing their performance remains a significant challenge. In a pioneering move, new research from Abdullah Gül University (Türkiye) reimagines … Read more
Scientists at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have built and demonstrated the potential efficacy of a new chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell-based immunotherapy specifically designed to treat patients with cutaneous and rare subtypes of melanoma. CAR T-cell therapy uses genetically engineered versions of a patient’s immune cells to target and destroy cancer cells. … Read more
Scientists still are not sure how neurological symptoms arise in COVID-19. Is it because SARS-CoV-2 infects the brain? Or are these symptoms the result of inflammation in the rest of the body? A study by Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin has now produced evidence to support the latter theory. It was published in the journal Nature Neuroscience. Headaches, … Read more
Infertility is a widespread problem: worldwide, one in eight couples fail to fulfill their desire to have children within a year—or even at all. In half the cases, this is due to fertility disorders that stem from the male. However, it is difficult to identify the genetic causes of such fertility disorders in humans. Researchers … Read more
Plant leaves come in many different shapes, sizes and complexities. Some leaves are large and smooth, while others are smaller and serrated. Some leaves grow in single pieces while others form multiple leaflets. These variations in leaf structure play a crucial role in how plants adapt—and survive—in different environments. “Plant morphology is diverse in nature,” … Read more
Researchers from Zhejiang University, China, led by Jiaxin Gao, have shed light on the remarkable ability of the human brain to untangle speech from echoes, a feat that continues to baffle engineering solutions. In their study published in PLOS Biology, they investigated how our brains effortlessly decipher direct speech amidst echoing reverberations, a common occurrence … Read more
Researchers can engineer cells to express new genes and produce specific proteins, giving the cells new parts to work with. But, it’s much harder to provide cells with instructions on how to organize and use those new parts. Now, new tools from University of Wisconsin–Madison researchers offer an innovative way around this problem. Their research … Read more
After decades of puzzling researchers, a 280-million-year-old fossil known as Tridentinosaurus antiquus has been revealed, in part, to be a forgery, casting doubt on its significance for understanding early reptile evolution. Led by Dr. Valentina Rossi of University College Cork, Ireland (UCC), a team of scientists has uncovered the truth behind this enigmatic specimen, cautioning … Read more
Ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism have long been known to scientists as two classes of magnetic order of materials. Back in 2019, researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) postulated a third class of magnetism, called altermagnetism. This altermagnetism has been the subject of heated debate among experts ever since, with some expressing doubts about its existence. … Read more
At the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State University, an international research team has achieved a significant milestone by creating five new isotopes, effectively bringing celestial phenomena closer to Earth. Reported in Physical Review Letters, these isotopes—thulium-182, thulium-183, ytterbium-186, ytterbium-187, and lutetium-190—mark the inaugural batch of new isotopes synthesized at FRIB, a … Read more
An international collaboration between researchers from Innsbruck and Geneva has unveiled a groundbreaking thermometry method tailored for measuring temperatures in low-dimensional quantum gases. Surprisingly, their findings suggest that compressing a gas may lead to cooling—a counterintuitive phenomenon that challenges conventional wisdom. Published in Science Advances, this study marks a significant milestone in our understanding of … Read more
Creating a quantum computer powerful enough to tackle problems we cannot solve with current computers remains a big challenge for quantum physicists. A well-functioning quantum simulator—a specific type of quantum computer—could lead to new discoveries about how the world works at the smallest scales. Quantum scientist Natalia Chepiga from Delft University of Technology has developed … Read more
In a groundbreaking experiment reminiscent of stop-motion photography, scientists have achieved the remarkable feat of isolating the energetic movement of an electron while simultaneously “freezing” the motion of the much larger atom it orbits within a sample of liquid water. Published in the esteemed journal Science, the findings represent a significant leap forward in our … Read more
During the late 1800s and early 1900s, the United States grappled with intense anti-Chinese sentiment, particularly among working-class laborers who perceived Chinese workers as economic threats. Despite facing discriminatory laws such as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which banned Chinese laborers from immigrating to the U.S., Chinese migrants in Los Angeles Chinatown found innovative … Read more
A groundbreaking archaeological study, led by Asier García-Escárzaga, a researcher at the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA-UAB) and the Department of Prehistory of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), sheds new light on the lives of the first Neolithic farmers and shepherds in Andalusia. Their findings reveal that these pioneering settlers established permanent … Read more
An international team of scientists has unveiled the ancient secrets hidden within the caves of Patagonia, reshaping our understanding of early human culture in South America. Published in the prestigious journal Science Advances, their study unveils cave art that surpasses any previously known in the region, dating back a staggering 8,200 years. Nestled within the … Read more
A trio of natural scientists hailing from Macquarie University, alongside an evolutionary specialist from the University of New South Wales, Australia, have unearthed intriguing revelations about imperfect mimicry in spiders and insects. Published in the esteemed journal Biology Letters, their study challenges previous assumptions, suggesting that adaptive processes, rather than constraints or chance, primarily shape … Read more
A collaborative team comprising philologists, chemists, environmental physicists, and engineers from various European institutions has unveiled a compelling revelation regarding the ancient wooden tablets of Easter Island. Published in the esteemed journal Scientific Reports, their groundbreaking study sheds new light on the enigmatic Rongorongo script, a previously undeciphered writing system believed to be indigenous to … Read more
In the ancient community of what is now northern Italy, a fascinating discovery emerged from the depths of time: burial practices intertwining humans and animals, shedding light on enigmatic rituals and beliefs. Within the hallowed grounds of Seminario Vescovile, an archaeological site in Verona, lay the remains of 161 individuals from the third to first … Read more