Study finding persistent chemical in European wines raises doubts and concerns

A report by the Pesticides Action Network (PAN Europe) and other NGOs that uncovered high concentrations of a forever chemical in wines from across the EU – including organic – is sparking debate about the causes of contamination and restrictions on the substance.  The report found some wines had trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) levels 100 times Read more about Study finding persistent chemical in European wines raises doubts and concerns[…]

Toothpaste widely contaminated with lead and other metals, US research finds

Toothpaste can be widely contaminated with lead and other dangerous heavy metals, new research shows. Most of 51 brands of toothpaste tested for lead contained the dangerous heavy metal, including those for children or those marketed as green. The testing, conducted by Lead Safe Mama, also found concerning levels of highly toxic arsenic, mercury and Read more about Toothpaste widely contaminated with lead and other metals, US research finds[…]

Unique Study Is Latest to Show Shingles Vaccine Can Help Prevent Dementia

[…] Scientists at Stanford University led the research, published in Nature. They compared people born before and after they were eligible to take the shingles vaccine in a certain part of the UK, finding that vaccinated people were 20% less likely to be diagnosed with dementia over a seven year period. More research is needed to Read more about Unique Study Is Latest to Show Shingles Vaccine Can Help Prevent Dementia[…]

Using the Earth’s atmosphere as a global sensor shows promise

AtmoSense, which began in late 2020, set out to understand the fundamentals of energy propagation from the Earth’s surface to the ionosphere to determine whether the atmosphere can be used as a sensor. A fundamental science effort, AtmoSense aimed to measure acoustic and electromagnetic waves propagating through the atmosphere to see if they could provide Read more about Using the Earth’s atmosphere as a global sensor shows promise[…]

Scientists pioneer method to tackle PFAS ‘forever chemicals’

Rice University researchers have developed an innovative solution to a pressing environmental challenge: removing and destroying per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly called “forever chemicals.” A study led byJames Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Professor of Chemistry and professor of materials science and nanoengineering, and graduate student Phelecia Scotland unveils a method that not Read more about Scientists pioneer method to tackle PFAS ‘forever chemicals’[…]

No Headphones, No Problem: This Acoustic Trick Bends Sound Through Space to Find You

What if you could listen to music or a podcast without headphones or earbuds and without disturbing anyone around you? Or have a private conversation in public without other people hearing you? Our newly published research introduces a way to create audible enclaves – localized pockets of sound that are isolated from their surroundings. In Read more about No Headphones, No Problem: This Acoustic Trick Bends Sound Through Space to Find You[…]

Turning car exhausts into power: New method transforms carbon nanoparticles from emissions into renewable energy catalysts

We have developed a breakthrough method to convert carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) from vehicular emissions into high-performance electrocatalysts. This innovation provides a sustainable approach to pollution management and energy production by repurposing harmful particulate matter into valuable materials for renewable energy applications. Our work, published in Carbon Neutralization, addresses both environmental challenges and the growing demand Read more about Turning car exhausts into power: New method transforms carbon nanoparticles from emissions into renewable energy catalysts[…]

“Cool” years are now hotter than the “warm” years of the past: tracking global temperatures through El Niño and La Niña

Temperatures, as defined by “climate”, are based on temperatures over longer periods of time — typically 20-to-30-year averages — rather than single-year data points. But even when based on longer-term averages, the world has still warmed by around 1.3°C.3 But you’ll also notice, in the chart, that temperatures haven’t increased linearly. There are spikes and Read more about “Cool” years are now hotter than the “warm” years of the past: tracking global temperatures through El Niño and La Niña[…]

A Nasal Spray for Concussions Shows Early Promise

The best treatment for a hard knock on the head might someday involve a quick sniff of a nasal spray. Researchers have found early evidence in mice that an antibody-based treatment delivered up the nose can reduce the brain damage caused by concussions and more serious traumatic injuries. Scientists at Mass General Brigham conducted the Read more about A Nasal Spray for Concussions Shows Early Promise[…]

Ultrathin films are revolutionizing electrical conductivity

What if your electronic devices could adapt on the fly to temperature, pressure, or impact? Thanks to a new breakthrough in downsizing quantum materials, that idea is becoming a reality. In an article published this month in Applied Physics Express, a multi-institutional research team led by Osaka University announced that they have successfully synthesized an Read more about Ultrathin films are revolutionizing electrical conductivity[…]

Robotic exoskeleton can train expert pianists to play faster

A robotic hand exoskeleton can help expert pianists learn to play even faster by moving their fingers for them. Robotic exoskeletons have long been used to rehabilitate people who can no longer use their hands due to an injury or medical condition, but using them to improve the abilities of able-bodied people has been less Read more about Robotic exoskeleton can train expert pianists to play faster[…]

Robot arm developed that allows sense of touch

You can probably complete an amazing number of tasks with your hands without looking at them. But if you put on gloves that muffle your sense of touch, many of those simple tasks become frustrating. Take away proprioception — your ability to sense your body’s relative position and movement — and you might even end Read more about Robot arm developed that allows sense of touch[…]

Scientists find ‘spooky’ quantum entanglement within individual protons

Scientists have used high-energy particle collisions to peer inside protons, the particles that sit inside the nuclei of all atoms. This has revealed for the first time that quarks and gluons, the building blocks of protons, experience the phenomenon of quantum entanglement. […] despite Einstein’s skepticism about entanglement, this “spooky” phenomenon has been verified over Read more about Scientists find ‘spooky’ quantum entanglement within individual protons[…]

The Real Reason People Don’t Trust in Science: They buy propaganda lies

[…] contemplating November’s annual Pew Research Center survey of public confidence in science. The Pew survey found 76 percent of respondents voicing “a great deal or fair amount of confidence in scientists to act in the public’s best interests.” That’s up a bit from last year, but still down from prepandemic measures, to suggest that Read more about The Real Reason People Don’t Trust in Science: They buy propaganda lies[…]

A new way to entangle Particles from a distance

[…] Traditionally, entanglement is achieved through local interactions or via entanglement swapping, where entanglement at a distance is generated through previously established entanglement and Bell-state measurements. However, the precise requirements enabling the generation of quantum entanglement without traditional local interactions remain less explored. Here, we demonstrate that independent particles can be entangled without the need Read more about A new way to entangle Particles from a distance[…]

Scientists Built a Tiny DNA ‘Hand’ That Grabs Viruses to Stop Infections

Imagine if scientists could grab virus particles the same way we pick up a tennis ball or a clementine, and prevent them from infecting cells. Well, scientists in Illinois have built a microscopic four-fingered hand to do just that. A team of scientists, led by Xing Wang of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, has created Read more about Scientists Built a Tiny DNA ‘Hand’ That Grabs Viruses to Stop Infections[…]

Snowfall in the Alps is a third less than a hundred years ago, meteorologists find

From 23% less in the northern Alps to a decrease of almost 50% on the southwestern slopes: Between 1920 and 2020, snowfall across the entirety of the Alps has decreased on average by a significant 34%. The results come from a study coordinated by Eurac Research and were published in the International Journal of Climatology. Read more about Snowfall in the Alps is a third less than a hundred years ago, meteorologists find[…]

Is ‘bypassing’ a better way to battle misinformation? Researchers say new approach has advantages over the standard

Misinformation can lead to socially detrimental behavior, which makes finding ways to combat its effects a matter of crucial public concern. A new paper by researchers at the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General explores an innovative approach to countering the impact of factually incorrect information called “bypassing,” and Read more about Is ‘bypassing’ a better way to battle misinformation? Researchers say new approach has advantages over the standard[…]

Plastic pollution is changing entire Earth system, scientists find

[…] In 2022 at least 506m tonnes of plastics were produced worldwide, but only 9% gets recycled globally. The rest is burned, landfilled or dumped where it can leach into the environment. Microplastics are now everywhere, from the top of Mount Everest to the Mariana Trench, the deepest point on earth. The new study of Read more about Plastic pollution is changing entire Earth system, scientists find[…]

Using mathematics to better understand cause and effect

Consider an example from climate science. Experts studying large atmospheric circulation patterns and their impacts on global weather would like to know how these systems might change with warming climates. Here, many variables come into play: ocean and air temperatures and pressures, ocean currents and depths, and even details of the earth’s rotation over time. Read more about Using mathematics to better understand cause and effect[…]

Researchers unlock a new way to grow quantum dots

The type of semiconductive nanocrystals known as quantum dots are both expanding the forefront of pure science and also hard at work in practical applications including lasers, quantum QLED televisions and displays, solar cells, medical devices, and other electronics. A new technique for growing these microscopic crystals, published this week in Science, has not only Read more about Researchers unlock a new way to grow quantum dots[…]

New 3 point graph mining algorithm finds patterns in complex networks

University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science professor Nikolaos Sidiropoulos has introduced a breakthrough in graph mining with the development of a new computational algorithm. Graph mining, a method of analyzing networks like social media connections or biological systems, helps researchers discover meaningful patterns in how different elements interact. The new algorithm addresses Read more about New 3 point graph mining algorithm finds patterns in complex networks[…]

A simple experiment revealed the complex ‘thoughts’ of fungi – yes vegans and vegetarians: plants also really live and think.

Fungi are fascinating lifeforms that defy conventional notions of animal intelligence. They don’t have brains, yet display clear signs of decision making and communication. But just how complex are these organisms and what can they tell us about other forms of awareness? To begin investigating these mysteries, researchers at Japan’s Tohoku University and Nagaoka College Read more about A simple experiment revealed the complex ‘thoughts’ of fungi – yes vegans and vegetarians: plants also really live and think.[…]

It could take over 40 years for PFAS to leave groundwater

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals, known commonly as PFAS, could take over 40 years to flush out of contaminated groundwater in North Carolina’s Cumberland and Bladen counties, according to a new study from North Carolina State University. The study used a novel combination of data on PFAS, groundwater age-dating tracers, and groundwater flux to forecast PFAS Read more about It could take over 40 years for PFAS to leave groundwater[…]

How personal care products affect indoor air quality

The personal care products we use on a daily basis significantly affect indoor air quality, according to new research by a team at EPFL. When used indoors, these products release a cocktail of more than 200 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air, and when those VOCs come into contact with ozone, the chemical reactions Read more about How personal care products affect indoor air quality[…]