Article archives

150 years ago, the Metre Convention determined how we measure the world

150 years ago, the Metre Convention determined how we measure the world

History

By Invited Researcher

Author: Jonathan Simone, Adjunct Professor of Biological Sciences, Brock University On May 20, 1875, delegates from a group of 17 countries gathered in Paris to sign what may be the most overlooked yet globally influential treaty in history: the Metre Convention. At a time when different countries (and even different cities defined weights and lengths […]

What if the universe rotates?

What if the universe rotates?

AstrophysicsCosmology

By Mapping Ignorance

A new study suggests the universe may rotate—just extremely slowly. The finding could help solve one of astronomy’s biggest puzzles. Current models say the universe expands evenly in all directions, with no sign of rotation. This idea fits most of what astronomers observe. But it doesn’t explain the so-called Hubble tension—a long-standing disagreement between two […]

Lexical alignment: the art of speaking in sync and how our brain copes with it

Lexical alignment: the art of speaking in sync and how our brain copes with it

Neurolinguistics

By Invited Researcher

Have you ever found yourself spending five minutes talking to someone and suddenly using their words instead of your own? Say, for example, that you usually say “couch” but now suddenly you call it “sofa.” You say “TV,” but suddenly it’s “the telly.” You’ve never in your life referred to dinner as “tea” but after […]

MI weekly selection #599

MI weekly selection #599

Weekly Selection

By César Tomé

Magma chambers influence composition of Mars’ crust A study explores the history of magma chambers on Mars, revealing how these chambers evolve over time. Numerical modelling indicates that early Mars had higher temperatures, allowing upper crustal chambers to last longer, feeding surface eruptions. Full Story: Eos Complete ape genomes offer insights into human evolution Researchers […]

Under the cosmic microscope: JWST reveals dozens of distant stars in a single galaxy

Under the cosmic microscope: JWST reveals dozens of distant stars in a single galaxy

DIPC Astrophysics

By DIPC

A quiet revolution is unfolding in the study of distant galaxies, one that lets astronomers pinpoint individual stars across the vast gulfs of time and space. Using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), a team of researchers has identified over 40 individual stars in a single galaxy located halfway across the observable universe. These stars […]

First video of catalysis in action at the atomic level

First video of catalysis in action at the atomic level

CatalysisChemistry

By Mapping Ignorance

An international team of scientists has, for the first time, directly observed catalysis in-action at the atomic level. In mesmerizing new videos, single atoms move and shake during a chemical reaction that removes hydrogen atoms from an alcohol molecule. By viewing the process in real time, the researchers discovered several short-lived intermediate molecules involved in […]

MI weekly selection #598

MI weekly selection #598

Weekly Selection

By César Tomé

Salt may play key role in Martian mudflow formation A study in Communications Earth and Environment suggests that salt could explain how mudflows form on Mars despite the planet’s thin atmosphere. Researchers conducted experiments in Mars-like conditions, finding that salt lowers the freezing point of water, allowing mud to flow longer. Full Story: Eos Underwater […]