Category archives: Science

Long-term, low-dose THC can improve cognitive decline in mice

Long-term, low-dose THC can improve cognitive decline in mice

HealthPharmacy

By Rosa García-Verdugo

One of the hallmarks of aging is cognitive decline. New research in mice shows that long-term administration with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psicoactive component of marihuana, at low doses can have antiaging-effects, particularly on cognitive decline. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) regulates various bodily and brain functions, including sleep, memory and learning, the immune system and […]

AI pareidolia: Can machines spot faces in inanimate objects?

AI pareidolia: Can machines spot faces in inanimate objects?

Computer scienceNeurosciencePsychology

By Mapping Ignorance

Author: Rachel Gordon, Massachusetts Institute of Technology In 1994, Florida jewelry designer Diana Duyser discovered what she believed to be the Virgin Mary’s image in a grilled cheese sandwich, which she preserved and later auctioned for $28,000. But how much do we really understand about pareidolia, the phenomenon of seeing faces and patterns in objects […]

Iberian lynx’s potential secret weapon against extinction

Iberian lynx’s potential secret weapon against extinction

BiologyGenetics

By Invited Researcher

Many large mammals have lost genetic diversity, often thanks to the actions of people shrinking their populations. The implications can be severe because without genetic diversity, a population does not have a “genetic database” to fall back on to adapt to environmental change. The Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) is no stranger to this reduction in […]

Different surface structures affect catalytic activity of silver

Different surface structures affect catalytic activity of silver

CatalysisChemistryDIPC Interfaces

By DIPC

Catalysis in industry is often driven by empirical investigations and, eventually, by unexpected discoveries. Frequently, the scientific understanding of the process takes much longer to develop. Ideally, it would be preferable to reverse this timeline, where scientific insights precede application. Nonetheless, even when the scientific explanation takes more time, a deep understanding of the underlying […]

The largest animal genome

The largest animal genome

BiologyGenetics

By Invited Researcher

Author: Ramón Muñoz-Chápuli has been Professor of Animal Biology in the University of Málaga until his retirement. He has investigated for forty years in the fields of developmental biology and animal evolution. Lungfish (Dipnoi) are fascinating animals. Despite having gills, they can breathe atmospheric air thanks to a pair of lungs. Their geographic distribution aligns […]

Liquid crystals in motion mimic biological systems

Liquid crystals in motion mimic biological systems

ChemistryCondensed matterMaterials

By Mapping Ignorance

Liquid crystals are all around us, from cell phone screens and video game consoles to car dashboards and medical devices. Run an electric current through liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and they generate colours, thanks to the unique properties of these fluids: rearrange their shape, and they reflect different wavelengths of light. As the lab of […]

AINU, a powerful AI tool for studying cell heterogeneity

AINU, a powerful AI tool for studying cell heterogeneity

BiologyComputer scienceDIPC SupercomputingGenetics

By DIPC

Chromatin is a complex of DNA and histone, a protein, in the nucleus of a cell. One of the main functions of chromatin is to help DNA packing. Cellular phenotypic heterogeneity is a key determinant of many biological functions; yet, it is still not clear whether it stems from the modifications of the chromatin structure […]