Silica nanocomposite can generate biocides on demand

A surface capable of responding to chemical signals generated by microorganisms and automatically producing biocidal substances—this is not a futuristic vision, but a description of how a silica nanocomposite works.

Gravitational wave signal tests Einstein’s theory of general relativity

When two black holes merge, the collision rings like a bell, emitting specific tones characterized by two numbers, an oscillatory frequency and a damping time. If you measure one tone in data from a collision, you can calculate the mass and spin of the black hole formed in the collision. But if you measure two or more tones in the data—which a clear signal—each is effectively giving you a different mass and spin measurement, according to general relativity.

Team unveils simpler, faster way to make vaccines

The approach could be faster to develop than mRNA vaccines and avoid some of their biggest challenges, including the need for constant cold storage

Corals sleep like us, but their symbionts never rest

Sleep is essential for much of the animal kingdom. During the night, neuron and tissue repair mechanisms are activated to aid recovery from daily activity. This is risky: organisms that sleep are more vulnerable to predators. However, the phenomenon extends from mammals to invertebrates.

Land use acts as a ‘silent amplifier’ of extreme heat, AI-driven study reveals

By analyzing climate drivers researchers found land-use changes significantly reduced the land’s ability to cool itself. When forests were cleared for crops or pasture, evaporation dropped, breaking down natural climatic buffers and creating a dangerous local warming feedback loop.

The infant universe’s ‘primordial soup’ was actually soupy, study finds

In its first moments, the infant universe was a trillion-degree-hot soup of quarks and gluons. These elementary particles zinged around at light speed, creating a “quark-gluon plasma” that lasted for only a few millionths of a second.

How dangling moss saves blue manakin eggs from hungry birds

If something exists in nature, there is most likely a very good reason for it. While there are exceptions, many features “selected” by evolution serve a purpose. Take the blue manakin, a small bird commonly found in southeastern Brazil.

Neuron position found less crucial for brain connectivity than once thought

The human brain contains billions of connected neurons that collectively support different mental functions, including the processing of sensory information, the encoding of memories, attention processes, and decision-making. For a long time, neuroscientists have assumed the position of specific neurons in the brain plays a key role in the brain’s connectivity and proper functioning.

== yjc, unlikely to ever get there, but I am a fan of Japanese food, cooked or otherwise
Japan’s tastiest island

The gridded streets of Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, hide a plethora of lip-smacking secrets – these are the addresses to know right now.

The hidden threat eating away at museum treasures

There’s a class of molds that flourish in low humidity, long believed to be a sanctuary from decay. By trying so hard to protect artifacts, we’ve accidentally created the “perfect conditions for [these molds] to grow.”

Why we buy more at self-service terminals

One of the reasons those large touchscreens, also called kiosks, have become so popular with restaurant chains is that they can significantly increase sales. And that is down to behavioural science, the study of how humans behave, and what drives people to make the choices that they do.

‘Tail walking’ dolphin filmed in California

Whale watchers in California were delighted by a rare display known as ’tail walking’ by a northern right whale dolphin.

Cancer Might Protect Against Alzheimer’s

For decades, researchers have noted that cancer and Alzheimer’s disease are rarely found in the same person, fuelling speculation that one condition might offer some degree of protection from the other.

Oddball flower challenges long-held rule about how new plant species evolve

Lipstick vines get their name from their bright red, tube-shaped flowers. But one member of this group of plants has lost its lipstick-like appearance—its flowers are shorter, wider, and yellowish green in color.

The hidden physics of watersheds: Why some are more sensitive to climate variability than others

Water is everywhere, from the snowpack in the mountains to the tap in our kitchens. But while we often think about rainfall and snow as the main drivers of our water supply, it turns out that something we rarely see has just as much influence.

Cuttlefish use polarized light to create a dramatic mating display invisible to humans

Many organisms leverage showy colors for attracting mates. Because color is a property of light (determined by its wavelength), it is easy for humans to see how these colors are used in animal courting rituals. Less obvious to humans is the polarization of light—a property of light related to the direction the wave is oriented in. Humans can’t perceive polarization.

AI model from Google’s DeepMind reads recipe for life in DNA

The human genome is made up of three billion letters of DNA code – represented by the letters A,C,G and T. Around 2% of it are genes which code for all the proteins the body needs to grow and function. The remaining 98%, which is less well understood, is labelled the ‘dark genome’. It plays a crucial role in organising how genes are used in the body and is where many mutations linked to disease are found.

‘Shark-repellent’ method could reform fisheries by curbing bycatch

For decades, sharks have been the unintended victims of longline fisheries aimed at tuna and swordfish. Rising accidental catches have contributed to population declines and created serious challenges for both conservation and commercial fishing.

Spider monkeys pool their knowledge to find the best fruit

They discovered that the monkeys don’t copy or follow each other or wander randomly. Instead, their movements usually complement one another, with different monkeys exploring different areas to fill in the gaps for the rest of the troop.

Saltier seas in spring double the chance of extreme El Niño events, study finds

Traditionally, scientists have focused on temperature and wind patterns to understand El Niño—periodic shifts in the tropical Pacific between warmer and cooler conditions that influence weather patterns across the globe.

Are llamas big pharma’s secret weapon to find new drugs?

The immune system of all mammals produces antibodies to thwart viral and bacterial attacks. Those made by llamas and other members of the camelid family can squeeze into tighter spots and better penetrate tissue than human ones, because they’re smaller and simpler.

Toothbrush-activated powder whitens, repairs and protects teeth

Even with regular brushing, teeth can become stained from genetic factors or consuming foods and drinks like tomatoes and coffee. Chemical whiteners can help, but they can also damage teeth in the process.

Graphene synthesized in 1879?

Graphene is a transparent, remarkably strong substance, as thin as a single atom and useful in a number of modern applications like semiconductors. One type of graphene, called turbostratic graphene, can be produced by applying a voltage across a resistant carbon-based material and rapidly heating it to 2,000–3,000 degrees Celsius.

High-resolution map shows dark matter’s gravity pulled normal matter into galaxies

When the universe began, dark matter and normal matter were probably sparsely distributed. Scientists think dark matter clumped together first and then pulled in normal matter, creating regions where stars and galaxies began to form.

A new look at trends in human deaths due to climate extremes

A new study of climate extremes since 1988 finds that many regions have seen increases in deaths due to floods, storms and extreme temperatures. In human terms, the harm comes not just from deaths, but also from lost labor and property damage.

Three-in-one process recycles spent lithium batteries, captures CO2 and generates catalysts—all at room temperature

Lithium-ion batteries are increasingly used in everything from smartphones and laptops to electric vehicles and renewable energy storage grids. But spent batteries that aren’t recycled properly are an environmental concern because they can leak toxic metals and flammable chemicals into soil and water. The global volume of these used batteries has been projected to reach 381 million metric tons by 2050.

== repeat?
Ancient Martian Beach Discovered, Providing New Clues To Planet’s Habitability

New findings from NASA’s Perseverance rover have revealed evidence of wave-formed beaches and rocks altered by subsurface water in a Martian crater that once held a vast lake—considerably expanding the timeline for potential habitability at this ancient site.

Thermodynamic Computing Slashes AI Image Energy Use

Generative AI tools such as DALL-E, Midjourney, and Stable Diffusion create photorealistic images. However, they burn lavish amounts of energy. Now a pair of studies finds that so-called thermodynamic computing might generate images using one ten billionth the energy.

Astronomers discover over 800 cosmic anomalies using a new AI tool

Here’s a use of AI that appears to do more good than harm. A pair of astronomers at the European Space Agency (ESA) developed a neural network that searches through space images for anomalies. The results were far beyond what human experts could have done.

Doomsday Clock Ticks To 85 Seconds Before Midnight, Its Closest Ever

Atomic scientists set their “Doomsday Clock” on Tuesday closer than ever to midnight, citing aggressive behavior by nuclear powers Russia, China and the United States, fraying nuclear arms control, conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East and AI worries among factors driving risks for global disaster.

Meet the mysterious electrides

These chemical oddities may explain why Earth seems to be deficient in certain elements — and could prove useful in catalysts and more.

== yjc, paywall?
How to “Ron Burgundy” a robot

Turns out robots will read whatever’s on the prompter.

== repeat?
How a 15,000-Person Island Stumbled Into a $70 Million AI Windfall

From Sandisk shareholders to vibe coders, AI is making — and breaking — fortunes at a rapid pace. One unlikely beneficiary has been the British Overseas Territory of Anguilla, which lucked into a future fortune when ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, gave the island the “.ai” top-level domain in the mid-1990s.

Startup Uses SpaceX Tech to Cool Data Centers With Less Power and No Water

The high-end, expensive chips that power AI can slow down or shut off when they overheat. They can reach more than 200 degrees, but need to be below 150 degrees to work best. Cooling warehouses packed with tens of thousands of them can require fields full of equipment and huge quantities of water.

== yjc
27 stunning images from the Capturing Ecology photo awards

Incredibly rare panthers, patient crocodiles and deadly vipers all celebrated by the world’s oldest ecological society.

Gasoline Out of Thin Air? It’s a Reality!

Aircela is targeting >50% end to end power efficiency. Since there is about 37kWh of energy in a gallon of gasoline we will require about 75kWh to make it. When we power our machines with standalone, off-grid, photovoltaic panels this will correspond to less than $1.50/gallon in energy cost.

Google AI Overviews cite YouTube more than any medical site for health queries, study suggests

German research into responses to health queries raises fresh questions about summaries seen by 2bn people a month.

Canada’s wildfire paradox: fewer fires, greater destruction highlighted in new analysis

The study shows the trend isn’t being driven by more frequent fires but by a smaller number of increasingly large wildfires that are burning more land than in the past.

Evaporative cooling systems could pave way toward more sustainable air conditioning

Rising global temperatures are driving the need for more efficient cooling systems, one of today’s key sustainability challenges. The need for air conditioning in buildings has nearly quadrupled since 1979. This translates into a significant rise in the demand for energy, not only directly impacting household bills, but extending far beyond the residential sector.

Halley’s Comet wrongly named: 11th-century English monk predates British astronomer

The British astronomer and mathematician Edmond Halley was not, after all, the first to understand the cycle of the comet that now bears his name. It was the monk Eilmer of Malmesbury who, as early as the 11th century, linked two observations of the comet.

Two days of oatmeal can reduce cholesterol level

But how does oatmeal exert its beneficial effect? “We were able to identify that the consumption of oatmeal increased the number of certain bacteria in the gut.”

Microbes living in our mouths could hold the key to obesity prevention

There are many known causes for weight gain, such as diet, lifestyle and genetics. The gut microbiome, the community of microbes that live in our digestive tract, also affects weight. But little is known about the possible link between obesity and the microbes living inside our mouths, which is the second-largest microbial ecosystem in the body.

Scientists observe a 300-million-year-old brain rhythm in several animal species

Sleep is a universal biological state that allows all animals, from mammals to amphibians, fish and even insects, to restore their energy and consolidate knowledge that can contribute to their survival. Neuroscientists and zoologists have been investigating the biological underpinnings of sleep and its vital functions for centuries.

New filtration technology could be gamechanger in removal of Pfas ‘forever chemicals’

Researchers found a new way to filter and destroy Pfas chemicals at 100 times the rate of current systems.

Data Leak Exposes 149M Logins, Including Gmail, Facebook

A massive unsecured database exposed 149 million logins, raising concerns over infostealer malware and credential theft.