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[…]

Dual wavelengths of light shown to be effective against antibiotic-resistant superbug bacterium

Scientists have combined two light wavelengths to deactivate a bacterium that is invulnerable to some of the world’s most widely used antibiotics, giving hope that the regime could be adapted as a potential disinfectant treatment. Under the guidance of project leader Dr. Gale Brightwell, scientists at New Zealand’s AgResearch demonstrated the novel antimicrobial efficiency of Read more about Dual wavelengths of light shown to be effective against antibiotic-resistant superbug bacterium[…]

Animation Shows What the World Would Look Like If You Could See Carbon Dioxide Emissions

The team at NASA made three animations, all showing the carbon dioxide levels throughout the year 2021. Each one shows four major contributors: fossil fuels, burning biomass, land ecosystems, and the oceans. In the view showing North and South America, we can see the results of plants absorbing the gas via photosynthesis and then releasing Read more about Animation Shows What the World Would Look Like If You Could See Carbon Dioxide Emissions[…]

Lung cancer pill cuts risk of death by half, says study

[…] Taking the drug osimertinib after surgery dramatically reduced the risk of patients dying by 51%, results presented at the world’s largest cancer conference showed. […] “Fifty per cent is a big deal in any disease, but certainly in a disease like lung cancer, which has typically been very resistant to therapies.” The Adaura trial Read more about Lung cancer pill cuts risk of death by half, says study[…]

New superbug-killing antibiotic discovered using AI

Scientists have used artificial intelligence (AI) to discover a new antibiotic that can kill a deadly species of superbug. The AI helped narrow down thousands of potential chemicals to a handful that could be tested in the laboratory. The result was a potent, experimental antibiotic called abaucin, which will need further tests before being used. Read more about New superbug-killing antibiotic discovered using AI[…]

A Paralyzed Man Can Walk Naturally Again With ML Brain and Spine Implants

Gert-Jan Oskam was living in China in 2011 when he was in a motorcycle accident that left him paralyzed from the hips down. Now, with a combination of devices, scientists have given him control over his lower body again. “For 12 years I’ve been trying to get back my feet,” Mr. Oskam said in a Read more about A Paralyzed Man Can Walk Naturally Again With ML Brain and Spine Implants[…]

Establishing a wildflower meadow bolstered biodiversity and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, study finds

A new study examining the effects of planting a wildflower meadow in the historic grounds of King’s College, Cambridge, has demonstrated its benefits to local biodiversity and climate change mitigation.   The study, led by King’s Research Fellow Dr. Cicely Marshall, found that establishing the meadow had made a considerable impact to the wildlife value Read more about Establishing a wildflower meadow bolstered biodiversity and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, study finds[…]

Brain waves can tell us how much pain someone is in

Brain signals can be used to detect how much pain a person is experiencing, which could overhaul how we treat certain chronic pain conditions, a new study has suggested. The research, published in Nature Neuroscience today, is the first time a human’s chronic-pain-related brain signals have been recorded. It could aid the development of personalized Read more about Brain waves can tell us how much pain someone is in[…]

Human DNA can be pulled from the air: A Boon For Science, While Terrifying Others

Environmental DNA sampling is nothing new. Rather than having to spot or catch an animal, instead the DNA from the traces they leave can be sampled, giving clues about their genetic diversity, their lineage (e.g. via mitochondrial DNA) and the population’s health. What caught University of Florida (UoF) researchers by surprise while they were using Read more about Human DNA can be pulled from the air: A Boon For Science, While Terrifying Others[…]

The ‘invisible’ cellulose coatings that mitigate surface transmission of pathogens (kills covid on door handles)

Research has shown that a thin cellulose film can inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 virus within minutes, inhibit the growth of bacteria including E. coli, and mitigate contact transfer of pathogens. The coating consists of a thin film of cellulose fiber that is invisible to the naked eye, and is abrasion-resistant under dry conditions, making it suitable Read more about The ‘invisible’ cellulose coatings that mitigate surface transmission of pathogens (kills covid on door handles)[…]

Fake scientific papers are alarmingly common and becoming more so

When neuropsychologist Bernhard Sabel put his new fake-paper detector to work, he was “shocked” by what it found. After screening some 5000 papers, he estimates up to 34% of neuroscience papers published in 2020 were likely made up or plagiarized; in medicine, the figure was 24%. Both numbers, which he and colleagues report in a Read more about Fake scientific papers are alarmingly common and becoming more so[…]