‘Super Melanin’ Speeds Healing, Stops Sunburn, and More

A team of scientists at Northwestern University has developed a synthetic version of melanin that could have a million and one uses. In new research, they showed that their melanin can prevent blistering and accelerate the healing process in tissue samples of freshly injured human skin. The team now plans to further develop their “super Read more about ‘Super Melanin’ Speeds Healing, Stops Sunburn, and More[…]

Scientists create world’s most water-resistant surface

[…] A research team in Finland, led by Robin Ras, from Aalto University, and aided by researchers from the University of Jyväskylä, has developed a mechanism to make water droplets slip off surfaces with unprecedented efficacy. Cooking, transportation, optics and hundreds of other technologies are affected by how water sticks to surfaces or slides off Read more about Scientists create world’s most water-resistant surface[…]

Spacecraft re-entry filling the atmosphere with metal vapor – and there will be more of it coming in

A group of scientists studying the effects of rocket and satellite reentry vaporization in Earth’s atmosphere have found some startling evidence that could point to disastrous environmental effects on the horizon. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that around 10 percent of large (>120 nm) sulfuric acid particles Read more about Spacecraft re-entry filling the atmosphere with metal vapor – and there will be more of it coming in[…]

Faster-Than-Light ‘Quasiparticles’ Touted as Futuristic Light Source

[…]But these light sources [needed to experiment in the quantum realm] are not common. They’re expensive to build, require large amounts of land, and can be booked up by scientists months in advance. Now, a team of physicists posit that quasiparticles—groups of electrons that behave as if they were one particle—can be used as light Read more about Faster-Than-Light ‘Quasiparticles’ Touted as Futuristic Light Source[…]

Climate crisis will make Europe’s beer cost more and taste worse

Climate breakdown is already changing the taste and quality of beer, scientists have warned. The quantity and quality of hops, a key ingredient in most beers, is being affected by global heating, according to a study. As a result, beer may become more expensive and manufacturers will have to adapt their brewing methods. Researchers forecast Read more about Climate crisis will make Europe’s beer cost more and taste worse[…]

Microplastics detected in clouds hanging atop two Japanese mountains

[…] The clouds around Japan’s Mount Fuji and Mount Oyama contain concerning levels of the tiny plastic bits, and highlight how the pollution can be spread long distances, contaminating the planet’s crops and water via “plastic rainfall”. The plastic was so concentrated in the samples researchers collected that it is thought to be causing clouds Read more about Microplastics detected in clouds hanging atop two Japanese mountains[…]

New Fairy Circles Identified at Hundreds of Sites Worldwide

Round discs of dirt known as “fairy circles” mysteriously appear like polka dots on the ground that can spread out for miles. The origins of this phenomenon has intrigued scientists for decades, with recent research indicating that they may be more widespread than previously thought. Fairy circles in NamibRand Nature Reserve in Namibia; Photo: N. Read more about New Fairy Circles Identified at Hundreds of Sites Worldwide[…]

Tire and brake Dust Makes Up the Majority of Ocean Microplastics

When contemplating the emissions from road vehicles, our first thought is often about the various gases coming out of the tailpipe. However, new research shows that we should be more concerned with the harmful particles that are shed from tires and brakes. Scientists have a good understanding of engine emissions, which typically consist of unburnt Read more about Tire and brake Dust Makes Up the Majority of Ocean Microplastics[…]

Researchers developed 3D-printed sensors that can record brain activity on earbuds

Researchers at the University of California San Diego have figured out a way to turn everyday earbuds into high-tech gadgets that can record electrical activity inside the brain. The 3D screen-printed, flexible sensors are not only able to detect electrophysiological activity coming from the brain but they can also harvest sweat. Yes, sweat. More specifically, Read more about Researchers developed 3D-printed sensors that can record brain activity on earbuds[…]

World’s 1st drug to regrow teeth enters clinical trials

The ability to regrow your own teeth could be just around the corner. A team of scientists, led by a Japanese pharmaceutical startup, are getting set to start human trials on a new drug that has successfully grown new teeth in animal test subjects. Toregem Biopharma is slated to begin clinical trials in July of Read more about World’s 1st drug to regrow teeth enters clinical trials[…]

‘Laugh then Think’: Strange Research Honored at 33rd Annual Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony

Since 1999, Slashdot has been covering the annual Ig Nobel prize ceremonies — which honor real scientific research into strange or surprising subjects. “Each winner (or winning team) has done something that makes people LAUGH, then THINK,” explains the ceremony web page, promising that “a gaggle of genuine, genuinely bemused Nobel laureates handed the Ig Read more about ‘Laugh then Think’: Strange Research Honored at 33rd Annual Ig Nobel Prize Ceremony[…]

Grasping entropy: Teachers and students investigate thermodynamics through a hands-on model

Though a cornerstone of thermodynamics, entropy remains one of the most vexing concepts to teach budding physicists in the classroom. As a result, many people oversimplify the concept as the amount of disorder in the universe, neglecting its underlying quantitative nature.   In The Physics Teacher, researcher T. Ryan Rogers designed a hand-held model to Read more about Grasping entropy: Teachers and students investigate thermodynamics through a hands-on model[…]

Paper Cups Are Bad for the Environment Too, Study Finds

[…] A study published last month in the journal Environmental Pollution outlines how paper cups can leach toxic materials into the surrounding environment. This is because paper cups are often coated in a layer of polylactic acid, otherwise known as PLA. It’s a bioplastic and is touted as a biodegradable alternative to traditional plastic. However, Read more about Paper Cups Are Bad for the Environment Too, Study Finds[…]

Microplastics Tied to Behavioral Changes in Mice, Study Finds

[…] Researchers at the University of Rhode Island exposed mice to different levels of microplastics via their drinking water to research the impacts on behaviors and how the plastics build up in their bodies. Researchers observed that the microplastics accumulated in the tissue of multiple organs, including those outside of the digestive systems of the Read more about Microplastics Tied to Behavioral Changes in Mice, Study Finds[…]

Hookworms Successfully Prevent Type 2 Diabetes In Human Trial

A two-year human trial conducted by James Cook University (JCU) has concluded, demonstrating positive results using low-dose human hookworm therapy to treat chronic conditions, particularly in relation to type 2 diabetes. New Atlas reports: [O]f the 24 participants who received worms, when offered a dewormer at the end of the second year of the trial, Read more about Hookworms Successfully Prevent Type 2 Diabetes In Human Trial[…]

Scientists Want To Fix Tooth Decay With Stem Cells

Once tooth decay has set in, all a dentist can do is fill the gap with an artificial plug — a filling. But in a paper published in Cell, Hannele Ruohola-Baker, a stem-cell biologist at the University of Washington, and her colleagues offer a possible alternative. Economist: Stem cells are those that have the capacity Read more about Scientists Want To Fix Tooth Decay With Stem Cells[…]

Visualizing the mysterious dance: Quantum entanglement of photons captured in real-time

[…] Knowing the wave function of such a quantum system is a challenging task—this is also known as quantum state tomography or quantum tomography in short. With the standard approaches (based on the so-called projective operations), a full tomography requires large number of measurements that rapidly increases with the system’s complexity (dimensionality). Previous experiments conducted Read more about Visualizing the mysterious dance: Quantum entanglement of photons captured in real-time[…]

Study gets monkeys drunk for 12 months and doing 9 drinks a day. Injects dopamine inhibitors and discovers they don’t want to do much of anything any more.

[…] a new study published on Monday in the journal Nature Medicine. The gene therapy was tested on macaque monkeys over 12 months, revealing promising results. […] At the beginning of the study, the monkeys were gradually given alcohol until an addiction was established. Then, they began self-regulating their own intake at an amount equating Read more about Study gets monkeys drunk for 12 months and doing 9 drinks a day. Injects dopamine inhibitors and discovers they don’t want to do much of anything any more.[…]

‘We’re changing the clouds.’ An unintended test of geoengineering is fueling record ocean warmth

[…] researchers are now waking up to another factor, one that could be filed under the category of unintended consequences: disappearing clouds known as ship tracks. Regulations imposed in 2020 by the United Nations’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) have cut ships’ sulfur pollution by more than 80% and improved air quality worldwide. The reduction has Read more about ‘We’re changing the clouds.’ An unintended test of geoengineering is fueling record ocean warmth[…]

Gravity Changes how it works at low acceleration shown by observations of widely seperated binary stars

A new study reports conclusive evidence for the breakdown of standard gravity in the low acceleration limit from a verifiable analysis of the orbital motions of long-period, widely separated, binary stars, usually referred to as wide binaries in astronomy and astrophysics. The study carried out by Kyu-Hyun Chae, professor of physics and astronomy at Sejong Read more about Gravity Changes how it works at low acceleration shown by observations of widely seperated binary stars[…]

Scientists observe first evidence of ‘quantum superchemistry’ in the laboratory

A team from the University of Chicago has announced the first evidence for “quantum superchemistry”—a phenomenon where particles in the same quantum state undergo collective accelerated reactions. The effect had been predicted, but never observed in the laboratory. […] Chin’s group is experienced with herding atoms into quantum states, but molecules are larger and much Read more about Scientists observe first evidence of ‘quantum superchemistry’ in the laboratory[…]

AI-assisted mammogram cancer screening could cut radiologist workloads in half

A newly published study in the the Lancet Oncology journal has found that the use of AI in mammogram cancer screening can safely cut radiologist workloads nearly in half without risk of increasing false-positive results. In effect, the study found that the AI’s recommendations were on par with those of two radiologists working together. “AI-supported Read more about AI-assisted mammogram cancer screening could cut radiologist workloads in half[…]

AI-enabled brain implant helps spine damaged patient regain feeling and movement

Keith Thomas from New York was involved in a driving accident back in 2020 that injured his spine’s C4 and C5 vertebrae, leading to a total loss in feeling and movement from the chest down. Recently, though, Thomas had been able to move his arm at will and feel his sister hold his hand, thanks Read more about AI-enabled brain implant helps spine damaged patient regain feeling and movement[…]