Number 361
Google invests in carbon dioxide battery for renewable energy storage
The battery could help Google reach its goal to run on carbon-free energy 24/7 by 2030.
Scientists are developing artificial blood that could save lives in emergencies
Scientists have been on a quest to develop artificial blood that could be stored in powdered form and reconstituted by medics on the spot to save lives.
Complex organic molecules found in young star’s disk hint at cosmic origins of life
A team of astronomers has discovered complex organic molecules in the protoplanetary disk of the outbursting protostar V883 Orionis.
Curved molecules store sunlight as chemical energy and release heat on demand
Researchers revealed curved anthracene derivatives—organic molecules found in coal tar—that undergo structural changes upon absorbing sunlight and, when triggered to return to their original shape, release the stored solar energy as heat.
Physicists Blow Up Gold With Giant Lasers, Accidentally Disprove Renowned Physics Model
For a chilling second, they thought they broke physics, but they fortunately did no such thing. That said, they broke something else: a decades-long model in physical chemistry having to do with the fundamental properties of matter.
The most complete view of the human genome yet sets new standard for use in precision medicine
An international team of scientists has decoded some of the most stubborn, overlooked regions of the human genome using complete sequences from 65 individuals across diverse ancestries.
Genetic tweak in mosquitoes blocks malaria transmission without affecting insect health
Mosquitoes kill more people each year than any other animal.
New open-source tool makes complex data understandable
This open-source tool transforms simple tables into interactive, visually appealing HTML reports—without any programming knowledge or additional software.
New transfer printing method creates safer, longer-lasting lithium-metal batteries
Unlike conventional wet coating methods, this technique enables uniform coating over large areas without damaging the reactive lithium surface, marking a significant step toward commercial viability.
== yjc
Could the latest ‘interstellar comet’ be an alien probe?
For only the third time ever, we had discovered a true interstellar visitor. And it was weird.
Canadian wetlands are treasures that deserve protection
Canada is home to a quarter of the world’s remaining wetlands, yet they remain like hidden treasures to which most Canadians rarely give a second thought.
Scientists use dental floss to deliver vaccines without needles
This method of vaccine delivery is effective because the areas of gum between the teeth are highly permeable, allowing them to absorb vaccine molecules easily.
New study shows how sweat really forms
Sweat, a clear, odorless substance, is a vital component of a healthy bodily function that helps cool you down and prevent overheating.
Feather-like crest on Triassic reptile challenges ideas about reptile evolution
Body coverings such as hair and feathers have played a central role in evolution. Their structure is characterized by longer and more complex skin outgrowths that differ significantly from the simple and flat scales of reptiles.
== repeat?
Scientists find the world’s smallest snake, once feared extinct, hanging out under a rock
The Barbados threadsnake, last seen decades ago, is native to the country’s mostly razed forests
Just 7,000 steps a day could cut health risks, study says
The figure of 10,000 steps can be traced back to a 1960s marketing campaign in Japan. It was taken out of context and became an unofficial guideline, which many fitness trackers and apps continue to recommend.
Humans Can Be Tracked With Unique ‘Fingerprint’ Based On How Their Bodies Block Wi-Fi Signals
Wi-Fi networks could soon track you without devices, as Italian researchers harness signal distortions to create unique biometric identifiers.
Health Canada recently lowered the recommended drinking water limit for forever chemicals to a total sum of 30 nanograms per litre. A nanogram is one billionth of a gram. That change has prompted calls for more oversight of forever chemicals in the Great Lakes, which supply drinking water to one-fifth of the Canadian population.
The rubber hand illusion works on octopuses too
The rubber hand illusion is a bizarre multisensory trick where people start believing a fake hand is their own.
Study translates fragmentary ancient Sumerian myth around 4,400 years old
Ni 12501 was created around 2400 BCE in ancient Sumer. “Around 2400 BCE, Sumer consisted of politically autonomous city states.
Fossilized nervous system points to ocean origins for spiders and relatives
Spiders and scorpions have existed for some 400 million years, with little change.
== yjc
Apollo 11 In Real Time
A real-time journey through the first landing on the Moon. This website consists entirely of original historical mission material. Relive the mission as it occurred in 1969.
== paywall?, lengthy
Inside a new quest to save the “doomsday glacier”
Arête Glacier Initiative has raised $5 million to improve forecasts of sea-level rise and explore the possibility of refreezing glaciers in place.
Science Confirms What We All Suspected: Four-Day Weeks Rule
Caveat: no loss in pay.
Many Lung Cancers Are Now in Nonsmokers. Scientists Want to Know Why. < Lung cancer is the most common cancer worldwide and the leading cause of cancer death.
== yjc, fond of pickles and sauerkraut
A potted history of fermented foods, from pickles to kimchi
For the uninitiated, fermented foods include anything that uses bacteria to break down organic matter into a new product.
== yjc
Bitter melon for diabetes? Fenugreek for cholesterol? The research behind ancient remedies
The ayurveda, India’s traditional system of medicine with a history spanning more than 3,000 years, encompasses a broad range of therapeutic plants.
== repeat?, too lazy to check but my memory seems to think so, then again maybe I just read it once before
The hidden history behind every rose blooming this summer
All modern roses, in one way or another, stem from a pool of ancient ancestors. The genus Rosa first appeared over 30 million years ago, while the more recent ancestral species that gave rise to today’s roses emerged around 6 million years ago.
Seismic study reveals hidden megathrust earthquake risk off British Columbia
A new study has revealed the first detailed images of a newly developing subduction zone off the coast of British Columbia’s Haida Gwaii archipelago.
Scientists witness dramatic thaw in Svalbard
During a fieldwork campaign in Svalbard in February 2025, researchers encountered exceptionally high temperatures, widespread snowmelt, and blooming vegetation.
Alternative formations can reduce aerodynamic drag of protected rider
Despite the seemingly individual aspect of competitive cycling, it’s very much a team sport. In the Tour de France, each of the 23 teams has eight cyclists who all play a crucial part in the overall success of the team.
The study compared the gene expression signature of Alzheimer’s disease with those elicited by 1,300 approved drugs and found a combination of two cancer medications that could treat the most common form of dementia.
Novel method of targeting disordered proteins could herald a new era for medicine
Scientists have discovered a new way to advance drug discovery and diagnostics by targeting a part of the proteome that was previously thought inaccessible to drug development.
Parasitic barnacles hijack host bodies through root-like networks
Did you know that some of the barnacles that attach to other animals are not just hitching a ride—they actually hijack their host?
== repeat?, different perspective?
Largest supernova dataset hints dark energy may be changing over time
It took about 50 exploding stars to upend cosmology.
A shared five biomarker profile across four major neurodegenerative diseases
Researchers have discovered a five-protein panel present in APOE ε4 carriers across Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Engineered bacteria pave the way for vegan cheese and yogurt
Scientists have successfully engineered E. coli to produce key milk proteins essential for cheese and yogurt production.
AI Comes Up with Bizarre Physics Experiments. But They Work.
Artificial intelligence software is designing novel experimental protocols that improve upon the work of human physicists, although the humans are still “doing a lot of baby-sitting.”
How NASA Saved a Camera From 370 Million Miles Away
An experimental technique rescued a camera aboard the agency’s Juno spacecraft, offering lessons that will benefit other space systems that experience high radiation.
== yjc, paywall?
Can AI Think - and Should It? What It Means To Think, From Plato To ChatGPT
‘Fossil’ Discovered Beyond Pluto Implies ‘Something Dramatic’ Happened 400M Years Ago
The weird elongated orbit of the object suggests that if “Planet Nine” exists, it is much further from the sun than thought, or it has been ejected from our planetary system altogether.
High-resolution climate model reveals detailed regional impacts of 1°C global warming
Global warming does not affect our planet evenly. Some areas such as the Arctic region or high mountain peaks warm faster than the global average, whereas others, including large parts of the tropical oceans, show reduced temperature trends compared to the mean.
Study reveals hidden regulatory roles of ‘junk’ DNA
Transposable elements (TEs) are repetitive DNA sequences in the genome that originated from ancient viruses. Over millions of years, they spread throughout the genome via copy-and-paste mechanisms.
== have recently had previous article on this discovery
Surprising finding could pave way for universal cancer vaccine
An experimental mRNA vaccine has boosted the tumor-fighting effects of immunotherapy in a mouse-model study.
Researchers have shown for the first time in Frontiers in Endocrinology that a particular gene called SDR42E1 is crucial for taking up vitamin D from the gut and further metabolizing it—a discovery with many possible applications in precision medicine.
First Electronic-Photonic Quantum Chip Created In Commercial Foundry
Interdisciplinary academic team integrates quantum light sources and control electronics on a single piece of silicon.
In Shallow Water Ships Trigger Seafloor Methane Emissions, Study Finds
Container and cruise ships triggered the largest and most frequent methane emissions, but the study suggests that ships of all kinds, regardless of their type of engine or size, trigger methane emissions.
== seen something on this before
Android Phones Can Detect Earthquakes Before the Ground Starts Shaking
The Android Earthquake Alerts (AEA) system proved to be as efficient as traditional seismic networks.
Manitoba was home to newly discovered 390-million-year-old extinct fish
Manitoba paleontologist identifies, renames new classification of ancient fish.
== yjc
This is the daftest e-scooter in the world
The company has unveiled The Turbo, a souped-up version of the standard Bo e-scooter with a potential top speed of more than 100 miles per hour and a range of up to 150 miles.
It’s now possible to run useful models from the safety and comfort of your own computer.
For seven weeks, the team will slowly melt the hard-won ice, releasing ancient dust, volcanic ash, and even tiny marine algae called diatoms that were locked inside when water turned to ice.
== in case anyone is interested, paywall?
How to run an LLM on your laptop
It’s now possible to run useful models from the safety and comfort of your own computer.
Some of them want to use you
Some of them want to get used by you
Some of them want to abuse you
Some of them want to be abused