Science & Tech

A female bark anole (Anolis distichus) lizard. Credit: Jon SuhBy lassoing lizards, putting tiny chips on their legs, and tracking them for three years, Georgia Tech’s James Stroud revealed why species often appear unchanged for millions of years despite Charles Darwin’s theory of constant evolution.Charles Darwin said that evolution was constantly happening, causing animals to… Continue reading Darwin’s Dilemma: “Paradox of Stasis” Lizard Study Challenges the Rules of Evolutionary Biology

Research comparing 16-week regimens of antidepressants and running exercises found both to be similarly effective for mental health. However, running showed more physical health benefits, while antidepressants slightly worsened physical health. Despite this, adherence to running was lower than to medication.First trial to directly compare effects of treatments on mental and physical health shows clear… Continue reading Antidepressants vs. Running: What Works Best to Beat Depression

NASA’s Psyche mission will explore a unique metallic asteroid orbiting the sun between Mars and Jupiter. The asteroid, likely made largely of nickel-iron metal mixed with rock, could contain metal from the core of a planetesimal (the building block of an early rocky planet) and may offer a unique window into the violent history of… Continue reading 6 Fast Facts: NASA’s Asteroid-Exploring Psyche Mission

The footprints come from a group of people of different ages. Credit: National Park ServiceNew research, supported by advanced dating techniques, suggests that humans settled in the Americas around 23,000 years ago, challenging earlier beliefs of a 14,000-year timeline.When and how humans first settled in the Americas is a subject of considerable controversy. In the… Continue reading Tracing Footprints: Humans Got to America 7,000 Years Earlier Than Thought

A geologist has successfully reconstructed a previously unknown tectonic plate named Pontus, once approximately one-fourth the size of the Pacific Ocean. This discovery was made through field research in various regions, including Japan, Borneo, and the Philippines. Credit: Suzanna van de Lagemaat/Utrecht UniversityUtrecht University geologist Suzanna van de Lagemaat has reconstructed a massive and previously… Continue reading Surprising Tectonic Discovery: Geologist Unexpectedly Finds Remnants of a Lost Mega-Plate

NGC 1087, an 80-million-light-year distant galaxy in Cetus, showcases both old and new stars. Discovered in 1785, it had a supernova sighting in 1995. Recent Hubble images like this one provide insights into its ongoing star formation and the interplay between stars and molecular gas. Credit: NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, ESA, R. Chandar (University of… Continue reading Mesmerizing Cetus Constellation Galaxy: A Cosmic Dance of Stars Through Time

UCLA-led research identifies nerve pathways to brown adipose tissue (BAT) with potential implications for obesity treatments. The discovery may enable targeted BAT activation, offering a new approach to weight loss solutions.A UCLA-led team of researchers has found nerve pathways that supply brown adipose tissue (BAT), a type of tissue that releases chemical energy from fat… Continue reading UCLA Discovers Weight Loss Game-Changer: Stimulating Brown Fat To Fight Obesity

Charged ions interacting with the Earth’s magnetic field often create auroras near the planet’s poles. The aurora australis or the “southern lights,” are captured here by the NASA IMAGE satellite. Credit: NASAA new study discovered rapid “collective motion” of iron atoms in Earth’s inner core. This movement may explain the core’s unexpected softness in seismic… Continue reading Rapid “Collective Motion” of Iron Atoms Discovered in Earth’s Solid Inner Core

By Chris Woolston, Washington University in St. Louis October 8, 2023Outside fields drive quantum particles within a diamond to create a long-lived quantum system. Credit: Washington University in St. LouisResearch supported by the Center for Quantum Leaps advances the field of quantum simulation using an atomic-level quantum system.Diamonds are often prized for their flawless shine,… Continue reading Diamonds’ Hidden Potential: Physicists Unlock Quantum Power of Imperfect Crystals

Researchers have identified a signaling pathway, known as the mTORC2-signaling pathway, that may play a pivotal role in age-related hearing loss. When this pathway was deactivated in mice, they began losing their hearing, and by twelve weeks, they were entirely deaf. The study suggests that as the production of vital proteins in this signaling pathway… Continue reading New Findings Pave the Way for Hearing Loss Therapies