Number 368
From noise to power: A symmetric ratchet motor discovery
Vibrations are everywhere—from the hum of machinery to the rumble of transport systems. Usually, these random motions are wasted and dissipated without producing any usable work.
Clocks created from random events can probe ‘quantumness’ of universe
A newly discovered set of mathematical equations describes how to turn any sequence of random events into a clock.
Octopuses put their best arm forward for every task
Octopuses can use any of their arms to perform tasks, but tend to use a particular arm, or arms, for specific tasks.
Dandelions control the dispersal of their seeds through asymmetrical attachment, finds study
Researchers found that not all seeds are attached to the seed head in the same way, which creates a massive difference in the force required to detach them.
New antibody cocktail shows promise for treating multiple strains of flu
To better serve vulnerable populations and prevent pandemic conditions, scientists have been searching for ways to create better, more universal, mutation-resistant, off-the-shelf influenza A virus therapeutics.
Discovery of new moon or ring system orbiting mysterious distant planet Quaoar
This small, icy, egg-shaped planet in the far reaches of our solar system, beyond Neptune, is already known to have two rings and a moon, but this discovery was unexpected and accidental.
Experiment advances search for dark matter using superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors
Over the past decades, many research teams worldwide have been trying to detect dark matter, an elusive type of matter that does not emit, reflect or absorb light, using a variety of highly sensitive detectors.
Tiny prairie dwellers outshine bison in keeping soil and plant nutrients cycling
Soil nutrients support plants, and the animals who consume plants return these nutrients to the soil, creating a nutrient cycle.
Mysterious flag-waving behavior in a tropical bug is an anti-predator strategy
If you happen to be walking in the forests of Panama, you might just come across a bug that will wave at you.
The tale of the creature with the most chromosomes
The Atlas blue butterfly, also known as Polyommatus atlantica, has been genetically confirmed as having the highest number of chromosomes out of all multicellular animals in the world.
Giant DNA discovered in people’s mouths
Researchers have made a surprising discovery hiding in people’s mouths: Inocles, giant DNA elements that had previously escaped detection.
Genomes uncover the extraordinary drive to survive in microbes beneath Antarctic ice
After drilling through 1,087 meters of ice, the researchers finally reached the SLM and collected both water and sediment samples.
Hawking and Kerr black hole theories confirmed by gravitational wave
The study confirms Professor Stephen Hawking’s 1971 prediction that when black holes collide, the total event horizon area of the resulting black hole is bigger than the sum of individual black holes—it cannot shrink.
Researchers determine that elevated homocysteine stiffens the aorta
Cardiovascular diseases remain the most common cause of death worldwide. In Europe, they account for over 40% of all deaths.
What causes muscle cramps during exercise?
Scientists have traditionally attributed exercise-induced cramps to dehydration or electrolyte imbalances. Athletes and coaches may want to look at the playing surface.
== a bit short on significant info, but I did not try to read the paper
Why some influenza viruses are more dangerous than others
Serious infections with influenza A viruses are characterized by an excessive immune response, known as cytokine storm. It was previously unclear why some virus strains trigger these storms, while others do not.
Competition helps reach more consumers but reduces farmer benefits.
== yjc
Flight attendants have gone 50 years without ground pay—here’s the reason behind it
Flight attendants are/were paid only when planes are in motion, a practice that has persisted for more than 60 years across the global aviation industry. The persistence of unpaid ground time in the aviation industry can be explained through institutional isomorphism theory
‘Bottlebrush’ particles deliver big chemotherapy payloads directly to cancer cells
To guide them to the right location, each particle contains an antibody that targets a specific tumor protein. This antibody is tethered to bottlebrush-shaped polymer chains carrying dozens or hundreds of drug molecules.
First-ever complete measurement of a black-hole recoil achieved thanks to gravitational waves
When two black holes merge, the resulting single black hole emits gravitational waves unevenly in different directions. This imbalance causes the remnant to “kick” away.
Unprecedented gamma-ray burst hints at rare black hole
A team of astronomers have observed an explosion in the universe unlike any ever witnessed before. The gamma-ray bursts from outside the Milky Way galaxy repeated several times over the course of a day.
Research reveals a promising new target to thwart Alzheimer’s decades before symptoms start
A person will have Alzheimer’s years before ever knowing it. The disorienting erasure of memories, language, thoughts is the final act of this enigmatic disease.
== seen something on this before
Orange rivers signal toxic shift in Arctic wilderness
In Alaska’s Brooks Range, rivers once clear enough to drink now run orange and hazy with toxic metals.
== paywall?
DNA Cassette Tape Can Store Every Song Ever Recorded
By combining the information storage capabilities of DNA with a design inspired by a cassette tape, researchers have created a storage medium that can hold 36 petabytes of data.
RSS Co-Creator Launches New Protocol For AI Data Licensing
Without some kind of licensing system, AI companies could face an avalanche of copyright lawsuits that some worry will set the industry back permanently.
== paywall?
Deflecting a deadly asteroid just got a lot less dangerous
Our first attempt at shifting the orbit of an asteroid has provided crucial insight into how we could safely deflect a space rock that was hurtling towards Earth.
MIT scientists may have just cracked the code on EV battery recycling
Researchers just discovered a new way to build an EV battery that makes it easy to break apart at the end of its lifespan.
Baby turtles vanish into the Indian Ocean for years: Now a model shows where they might go
Once newly hatched turtles enter the sea and disperse, they are gone for several years, also known as the “lost years.”
At the heart of the scientists’ discovery is a type of diatom—a single-celled aquatic plant in a glass-like shell—called Epithemia.
Scientists discover why the flu is more deadly for older people
Aging is a leading risk factor in influenza-related deaths. Furthermore, the global population is aging at an unprecedented rate in human history, posing major issues for health care and the economy.
== yjc
Archaeologists uncover rare beetle ornament in ancient Hallstatt cremation burial
The cremation grave belonged to one of 800 discovered in the Lusatian Urnfield culture cemetery, dated to the Hallstatt period (approximately 850 to 400 BC).
Human brains explore more to avoid losses than to seek gains
Human survival has its origins in a delicate balance of exploration versus exploitation.
Why we slip on ice: Physicists challenge centuries-old assumptions
For over a hundred years, schoolchildren around the world have learned that ice melts when pressure and friction are applied.
As we get older, our muscle strength slowly declines—increasing our risk of falls, injuries, and loss of independence. In particular, we rely on our lower body strength for many essential daily activities such as walking and climbing stairs.
For the first time in 40 Years, Panama’s deep and cold ocean waters fail to emerge
During the dry season in Central America (generally between December and April), northern trade winds generate upwelling events in the ocean waters of the Gulf of Panama. Upwelling is a process that allows cold, nutrient-rich waters from the depths of the ocean to rise to the surface.
Warming Seas Threaten Key Phytoplankton Species That Fuels the Food Web
Prochlorococcus inhabit up to 75% of Earth’s sunlit surface waters and produce about one-fifth of the planet’s oxygen through photosynthesis. More crucially they convert sunlight and carbon dioxide into food at the base of the marine ecosystem.
Microsoft’s Analog Optical Computer Shows AI Promise
Unlike a typical binary digital computer, an analog optical computer, or AOC, uses physical systems to embody the computations it performs, avoiding some fundamentally limiting aspects of digital computing.
Discovery of North America’s role in Asia’s monsoons offers new insights into climate change
Remarkably, the North American impact is nearly half as strong as that of the Tibetan Plateau over the East Asian summer rainfall.
Reef-building corals use a previously unknown mechanism involving chloride to ‘see’ visible light
This suggests a mechanism where the opsin’s sensitivity depends on whether the retinal–opsin bond, Schiff base, is protonated or not, with pH shifting that balance.
3D printing ‘glue gun’ can generate bone grafts directly onto fractures
Scientists have developed a tool made from a modified glue gun that can 3D print bone grafts directly onto fractures and defects during surgery.
Macaws learn by watching interactions of others, a skill never seen in animals before
One of the most effective ways we learn is through third-party imitation, where we observe and then copy the actions and behaviors of others. Until recently, this was thought to be a unique human trait.
Apple’s Vision Pro Gaining Traction in Some Niches of Business
Overall, it’s too conspicuous for streetwear or, heaven forbid, the gym—and wasn’t intended for either. Those concerns are really important to many consumers, but aren’t a factor in certain business contexts.
== yjc
How Google Maps helped one Toronto commuter beat traffic — and the tax collector
Precedent-setting legal victory paves the way for more urban commuters to deduct relocation expenses.
Scientists Tap ‘Secret’ Fresh Water Under the Ocean, Raising Hopes For a Thirsty World
The research teams looked in “one of the last places you would probably look for fresh water on Earth.”
Computers are like Old Testament gods; lots of rules and no mercy.
Joseph Campbell