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Super-pure silicon chips unlock next-generation computers
A new method for making super-pure silicon could pave the way for quantum computers. Depositphotos – By Michael Irving 2024 May 13 – Silicon is so important for electronics and computing that it’s become synonymous with technology – even getting a valley named after …
NASA video: Solar storms are as impressive as the auroras they caused
The extremely bright area at about 4 o’clock shows a solar flare from May 10th rated at X5.8 – the image is rendered in a subset of extreme ultraviolet light. NASA SDO – By Michael Franco 2024 May 17 – While millions of people …
Robotic RV solar panel auto-tracks the Sun to double base camp power
The Roboteos Heliotrope combines the advantages of a deployable ground solar panel system and a roof-mounted RV panel setup. Roboteos – View 10 Images – By C.C. Weiss 2024 May 16 – RVers have two main options for solar charging: vehicle rooftop panels that …
Video: ‘Monster Chopper’ goes full send on its first test ride
Nerves of steel to be jumping this 814 lbs (369 kg) behemoth. Grind Hard Plumbing Co – View 13 Images – By Joe Salas 2024 May 14 – What do you get when you cross a KTM 1190 V-twin wedged into a custom steel-tube …
Comedy Pet Photo Awards celebrates the funniest things on four legs
Tarzan, by Kazutoshi Ono (Japan) “It’s like being in the jungle” Kazutoshi Ono/Comedy Pets – View 30 Images – By Adam Williams 2024 May 14 – One of the best things about having pets is how many laughs they bring. The Comedy Pet Photography …
Anti-intoxicant gel keeps alcohol out of the bloodstream
Ingested before, during or soon after drinking, the gel converts alcohol into harmless acetic acid. Depositphotos – By Ben Coxworth 2024 May 13 – If you enjoy having a drink with friends every so often but don’t want to get drunk, then a new …
Salting your food increases your risk of stomach cancer by 41%
Like a pinch or two of salt at the dining table? Scientists warn that it comes with a significant cancer risk – By Paul McClure 2024 May 09 – There’s already a link between salt intake and stomach cancer in Asian populations. Now, a …
What you’re really saying with your Mother’s Day gift
Here mum, I’ve bought you something! – Fizkes/Shutterstock – By Chih-Ling Liu, Senior Lecturer in Marketing, Lancaster University and by Robert Kozinets, Professor of Journalism, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism Published: 2024 Mar 06 – After your daughter spends the weekend …
Unprecedented 3D wiring diagram of human brain looks like a tiny world
One neuron (white) connects to over 5,000 axons (blue) from other neurons, via at least that many synapses (green). Google Research & Lichtman Lab (Harvard University). Renderings by D. Berger (Harvard University) – View 6 Images – By Michael Irving 2024 May 10 – …
Video: Death by black hole looks absolutely stunning
A still from a simulated video showing what it looks like to fall into a supermassive black hole. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/J. Schnittman and B. Powell – By Michael Irving 2024 May 08 – What would it look like to fall into a …
Earth’s ‘Gateway to Hell’ is growing by 35 million cubic feet each year
This ever-growing permafrost-destroying ‘sink hole’ was originally a small gully in the 1960s. Murton et al/Permafrost Periglacial Processes – By Bronwyn Thompson 2024 May 08 – Whether you’re a John Carpenter fan or a biology enthusiast, you shouldn’t need much convincing to know that …
ePack is a li’l urban semi-trailer truck – that you pedal
A Kenworth has nothing on this thing. Cityshuttle – By Ben Coxworth 2024 May 07 – It’s highly unlikely that you’ve ever seen a pedal-electric delivery vehicle quite like the ePack before. In order to accommodate its 4,000 liters of cargo space, the six-wheeler …
GPT trains robots better than humans – as proven by this dog on a yoga ball
Eureka Research – By Joe Salas 2024 May 06 – This quadruped wobbling along balanced on top of a yoga ball is a fun experiment to watch – but at its core, it demonstrates that AIs like GPT-4 can train robots to perform complex, real-world …
For-profit nursing homes are cutting corners on safety and draining resources with financial shenanigans − especially at midsize chains that dodge public scrutiny
The for-profit nursing home sector is growing, while placing a premium on cost cutting and big profits. Picture Alliance via Getty Images – By Sean Campbell, Investigative journalist, The Conversation And by Charlene Harrington, Professor Emeritus of Social Behavioral Sciences, University of California, …
FBI looks into thrill-seeking New Mexico teachers alleged to have been global art thieves
Willem de Kooning’s Woman-Ochre after it was recovered in 2017. Photograph: Robert Demers/AP – Jerry and Rita Alter, now deceased, are suspected of having stolen artworks in the 80s, including Willem de Kooning’s Woman-Ochre – Edward Helmore Last modified on 2024 May 04 …
Stressed? Study shows light shone on the head and belly helps
Applying low-intensity light to the head and gut simultaneously reduced the effects of chronic stress. Agence France-Presse (AFP)/Alain JOCARD – By Paul McClure 2024 May 03 – Applying non-invasive, low-intensity light to the head and belly simultaneously reduces the effects of chronic stress on …
Leech-inspired device may make for kinder, gentler blood sampling
The bio-inspired device replicates the manner in which leeches (pictured) draw blood through the skin. Depositphotos – By Ben Coxworth 2024 May 02 – Leeches may be creepy, but many people find hypodermic needles even creepier. That’s one of the reasons why scientists have …
Angry? Your blood vessels pay the price, new study demonstrates
Anger is never a great look, especially inside your blood vessels. Depositphotos – By Michael Franco 2024 May 01 – Even brief periods of anger caused by triggering memories can negatively impact our blood vessels’ ability to relax. That’s the finding of a new …
New studies suggest millions with mild cognitive impairment go undiagnosed, often until it’s too late
Mild cognitive impairment can be an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. ivanastar/iStock via Getty Images Plus – By Soeren Mattke, Director of the USC Dornsife Brain Health Observatory, University of Southern California And by Ying Liu, Research Scientist, Center for …
Giant raptor dinosaur had legs taller than you
One of the huge footprints discovered in China that revealed the new giant species of raptor dinosaur. Yingliang – By Michael Irving 2024 Apr 29 – The six-foot-tall raptors in the Jurassic Park movies were terrifying enough, but now scientists have described a giant …
Three women diagnosed with HIV after getting ‘vampire facials’ in New Mexico
A dermatologist performs contour plastic in the lips with filler. Photograph: Equatore/Alamy – Associated Press 2024 Apr 28 – CDC says incidents at unlicensed medical spa are first documented cases of virus transmitted by a cosmetic procedure using needles – Three women who …
Cybersecurity researchers spotlight a new ransomware threat – be careful where you upload files
Avoiding iffy downloads is no longer enough to ensure this doesn’t happen. Olemedia/iStock via Getty Images – By Selcuk Uluagac, Professor of Computing and Information Science, Florida International University Published: 2024 Apr 26 – You probably know better than to click on links …
How bird flu virus fragments get into milk sold in stores, and what the spread of H5N1 in cows means for the dairy industry and milk drinkers
Cows typically get over avian flu in a couple of weeks, but it’s an economic blow for farms. AP Photo/Charlie Litchfield – By: Noelia Silva del Río, Associate Specialist in Cooperative Extension, Production Medicine and Food Safety, University of California, Davis Richard V. …
Flame-throwing robo-dog can now be yours for under $10k
Thermonator can throw a 30-ft flame with laser-sighted precision. Throwflame – By Paul Ridden 2024 Apr 25 – A robo-dog capable of throwing 30-ft flames from its back might seem the stuff of sci-fi nightmares, but such terrors were made real last year with …
Superfood protein pulled out of thin air massively scales up production
Solar Foods has demonstrated how versatile its high-protein Solein powder is. Solar Foods – View 6 Images – By Bronwyn Thompson 2024 Apr 24 – The world’s first commercial-scale factory for making nutrient-rich and versatile protein from air and sustainable energy has opened its doors …
Self-balancing omnidirectional motorcycle spins, slides and glides
James Bruton’s omnidirectional, self-balancing “Screw Bike”. James Bruton – By Loz Blain 2024 Apr 22 – One of the most bizarre vehicles we’ve ever seen in motion. This jaw-dropping electric contraption rolls on four custom-made omnidirectional wheels, mounted sideways so it can self-balance like …
Two lifeforms merge in once-in-a-billion-years evolutionary event
The algae Braarudosphaera bigelowii has been found to have absorbed a cyanobacteria called UCYN-A, which may be a huge step forward for evolution. Tyler Coale – By Michael Irving 2024 Apr 18 Last time this happened, Earth got plants. Scientists have caught a once-in-a-billion-years …
Microsoft AI creates scary real talkie videos from a single photo
The VASA-1 AI model can generate realistic talking head video footage from a single reference photo, which is lip-synced to an audio track. Microsoft Research Asia – By Paul Ridden 2024 Apr 19 – Microsoft Research Asia has revealed an AI model that can …
Octopus-inspired grasper gets it right by mimicking mucus
Octopus suckers are made of very soft, malleable tissue – but they also secrete mucus. University of Bristol. – By Ben Coxworth 2024 Apr18 – A new octopus-sucker-inspired suction cup could make it much easier and more energy-efficient for robots to lift and release …
FBI chief says Chinese hackers have infiltrated critical US infrastructure
The FBI director, Christopher Wray, speaks during a House hearing in Washington DC on 2024 Apr 11. Photograph: Bonnie Cash/UPI/Rex/Shutterstock – Volt Typhoon hacking campaign is waiting ‘for just the right moment to deal a devastating blow’, says Christopher Wray – Reuters Last …
Hybrid camera system gives your smartphone “super-telephoto” zoom
Beaverlab says that the Excope DT1 “pairs cutting-edge optics with advanced digital technology, transforming any smartphone into a high-performance ultra-telephoto camera” Beaverlab Tech. – By Paul Ridden 2024 Apr 18 – Tech company Beaverlab has launched a Kickstarter to raise funds for a smart …
Brazilian woman arrested after taking corpse to sign bank loan: ‘She knew he was dead’
A woman brought her seemingly dead uncle to a bank in Brazil for a loan. Photograph: @realengotv via X – Shock in Brazil after woman is arrested and charged with violating a corpse and attempted theft through fraud – Tom Phillips in Rio …
Junk food damages growing brains so severely it affects long-term memory
Junk food eating during adolescence can have a long-term negative effect on memory. Depositphotos – By Paul McClure 2024 Apr 16 – Eating a fatty, sugary Western diet (read: junk food) during the crucial years of brain development impairs memory long-term, new research has …
New Mexico’s rivers are most threatened waterways in US, report finds
Serpent Lake wetlands in New Mexico, in an undated photo. Photograph: Jim O’Donnell/Courtesy American Rivers – America’s dirty divide – Rivers – Supreme court ruling left more than 90% of state’s surface waters with no pollution protections, since they don’t run continuously. – …
Japan to build NASA a Moon camper van you can drive without spacesuits
Artist’s concept of the Moon camper van. JAXA – By David Szondy 2024 Apr 14 – When NASA returns to the Moon, its astronauts will enjoy tooling around in a pressurized camper van courtesy of JAXA and Toyota. The two-person vehicle is part …
Personalized cancer treatments based on testing drugs quickly leads to faster treatment, better outcomes
Identifying the most effective cancer treatment for a given patient from the get-go can help improve outcomes. Leslie Lauren/iStock via Getty Images Plus – By Diana Azzam, Assistant Professor of Environmental Health Sciences, Florida International University Published: 2024 Apr 11 – Despite many …
Gallery: 50 new marine species found, including this unimpressed sea toad
A Chaunax, a bony fish in the sea toad family, seen on the southwestern flank of Rapa Nui. ROV SuBastian/Schmidt Ocean Institute CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 View 14 Images. – By Paul McClure 2024 Apr 11 – An expedition to underwater mountains off the coast …
Harvard’s bizarre “metafluid” packs programmable properties
Harvard engineers have created a programmable “metafluid”. Depositphotos – By Michael Irving 2024 Apr 09 – Harvard engineers have created a strange new “metafluid” – a liquid that can be programmed to change properties, like its compressibility, transparency, viscosity and even whether it’s Newtonian …
All-terrain Exoquad gets wheelchair users into four-wheelin’ action
Pricing for the Exoquad starts at about US$14,109. Exotek – By Ben Coxworth 2024 Apr 09 – The Exoquad four-wheeler is designed to let wheelchair users independently explore the gnarliest of outdoor environments. And while it packs multiple motors, it has an unpowered sibling …
Theory of Relativity drives plan for Moon standard time
The Moon may soon be going the way of the Earth, with time zones established. Depositphotos – By David Szondy 2024 Apr 08 – Thanks to Albert Einstein, the US Government wants to establish an official time zone for the Moon. It has less …
Super-pure silicon chips unlock next-generation computers
A new method for making super-pure silicon could pave the way for quantum computers. Depositphotos – By Michael Irving 2024 May 13 – Silicon is so important for electronics and computing that it’s become synonymous with technology – even getting a valley named after …
NASA video: Solar storms are as impressive as the auroras they caused
The extremely bright area at about 4 o’clock shows a solar flare from May 10th rated at X5.8 – the image is rendered in a subset of extreme ultraviolet light. NASA SDO – By Michael Franco 2024 May 17 – While millions of people …
Robotic RV solar panel auto-tracks the Sun to double base camp power
The Roboteos Heliotrope combines the advantages of a deployable ground solar panel system and a roof-mounted RV panel setup. Roboteos – View 10 Images – By C.C. Weiss 2024 May 16 – RVers have two main options for solar charging: vehicle rooftop panels that …
Video: ‘Monster Chopper’ goes full send on its first test ride
Nerves of steel to be jumping this 814 lbs (369 kg) behemoth. Grind Hard Plumbing Co – View 13 Images – By Joe Salas 2024 May 14 – What do you get when you cross a KTM 1190 V-twin wedged into a custom steel-tube …
Comedy Pet Photo Awards celebrates the funniest things on four legs
Tarzan, by Kazutoshi Ono (Japan) “It’s like being in the jungle” Kazutoshi Ono/Comedy Pets – View 30 Images – By Adam Williams 2024 May 14 – One of the best things about having pets is how many laughs they bring. The Comedy Pet Photography …
Anti-intoxicant gel keeps alcohol out of the bloodstream
Ingested before, during or soon after drinking, the gel converts alcohol into harmless acetic acid. Depositphotos – By Ben Coxworth 2024 May 13 – If you enjoy having a drink with friends every so often but don’t want to get drunk, then a new …
Salting your food increases your risk of stomach cancer by 41%
Like a pinch or two of salt at the dining table? Scientists warn that it comes with a significant cancer risk – By Paul McClure 2024 May 09 – There’s already a link between salt intake and stomach cancer in Asian populations. Now, a …
What you’re really saying with your Mother’s Day gift
Here mum, I’ve bought you something! – Fizkes/Shutterstock – By Chih-Ling Liu, Senior Lecturer in Marketing, Lancaster University and by Robert Kozinets, Professor of Journalism, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism Published: 2024 Mar 06 – After your daughter spends the weekend …
Unprecedented 3D wiring diagram of human brain looks like a tiny world
One neuron (white) connects to over 5,000 axons (blue) from other neurons, via at least that many synapses (green). Google Research & Lichtman Lab (Harvard University). Renderings by D. Berger (Harvard University) – View 6 Images – By Michael Irving 2024 May 10 – …
Video: Death by black hole looks absolutely stunning
A still from a simulated video showing what it looks like to fall into a supermassive black hole. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/J. Schnittman and B. Powell – By Michael Irving 2024 May 08 – What would it look like to fall into a …