César Tomé is the editor of Mapping Ignorance.
The idea sounds almost like science fiction: two tiny particles that are quantum mechanically linked might also be connected by microscopic shortcuts through spacetime itself, tiny wormholes. This possibility, known as the ER = EPR conjecture, has become a serious topic at the frontier where quantum mechanics meets gravity. The entanglement-is-just-a-wormhole idea The initials point […]
For more than two decades, the standard picture of the Universe has rested on a surprisingly simple idea. Space is expanding, galaxies are moving farther apart, and a mysterious ingredient called dark energy is driving that expansion to accelerate. In the simplest model, dark energy is constant through time, an unchanging property of empty space […]
Earth’s atmosphere is a vast, swirling engine of weather and climate. Jet streams race across continents, storms spin into hurricanes, and invisible eddies churn the air at every scale. For decades, scientists have struggled to understand exactly how energy and swirling motion flow through these turbulent systems, especially in the layered zones where the air […]
Imagine cooling a liquid so fast it turns into glass: a solid that’s jumbled inside, unlike neat crystal lattices. In 1948, Walter Kauzmann noticed a puzzle. As liquids cool, their entropy (a measure of disorder) drops faster than in crystals. Below a certain temperature, a supercooled liquid would have less entropy than the crystal, implying […]
New bacterium found on Tiangong space station Researchers have discovered a previously unknown bacterium, Niallia tiangongensis, on China’s Tiangong space station. The bacterium, found in swabs taken by the Shenzhou-15 crew, shows unique traits that may help it survive the harsh space environment. Full Story: ScienceAlert Unique facial tattoos discovered on 800-year-old mummy Researchers have […]
Starch bioplastic as toxic as conventional plastic Starch-based bioplastic, often deemed a sustainable alternative, may be as toxic as petroleum-based plastic. The research highlights potential health issues, including organ damage and metabolic changes, from long-term exposure to bioplastic microplastics, raising concerns about their safety. Full Story: The Guardian Heat waves, pollution drive premature deaths A […]
Map highlights ocean pathways for marine species Researchers have created the Migratory Connectivity in the Ocean database, an interactive map that traces routes of 109 marine species. The map, based on 30 years of data, highlights the need for international cooperation to protect these species as their habitats cross national borders. Full Story: ScienceAlert Major […]
Pacific Ocean hotspot linked to volcanic features A study by geologists has connected the Louisville hotspot in the Pacific Ocean to both the Louisville Ridge and the Ontong Java Plateau, the largest volcanic plateau on Earth. “This finding offers us a more accurate history of the Pacific and its volcanic activity and helps us understand […]
Study challenges assumptions about magnetar formation The study of the magnetar SGR 0501+4516 using Hubble and Gaia telescopes has deepened the mystery of its origins. Previously thought to be associated with the supernova remnant HB9, the magnetar shows no connection to it, which suggests that SGR 0501+4516 may have formed through an alternative process, such […]
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 […]