Robotics, seals used to figure out reason for Antarctic sea ice holes Researchers used robotic floats and tagged elephant seals to learn why huge holes called polynyas are opening up in Antarctic ice. Strong storms and a higher salt content in the surface waters of the Southern Ocean are likely contributing to the formation of […]
Dragonfish teeth owe translucence to nanoscale structures Nanoscale structures make the teeth of deep-sea dragonfish translucent so they’re invisible to prey. The sharp, thin teeth are obscured in the dragonfish’s mouths due to the way the nanostructures minimize the scattering of light. Science News 10M-light-year-long magnetic field detected between galaxy clusters Two galaxy clusters appear […]
CO 2 used as water alternative in fracking experiment Researchers in China have used carbon dioxide instead of water in a fracking process that could potentially be more environmentally friendly. CO2 was used in five wells drilled in a Chinese oilfield, producing as much as 20 times more oil than the water method, researchers said […]
New tool helps scientists visualize stem cell division A tool developed by the Allen Institute for Cell Science can help scientists see what a human stem cell looks like when it’s dividing. The Integrated Mitotic Stem Cell is a colorful 3D map of an average cell during various points in the cell division process. Forbes […]
E. coli variant created with synthetic genome An artificial version of Escherichia coli was created with a synthetic genome. Researchers built the genome piece by piece because “the bacterial chromosome is so big, we needed an approach that would let us see what had gone wrong if there had been any mistakes along the way,” […]
Oxygen shifts linked to animal evolution during Cambrian explosion The rise and fall of atmospheric oxygen levels during the Cambrian explosion have been linked to the evolutionary changes in animal biodiversity at the time. Researchers looked at changes in organic carbon and sulfur during that period to get an idea of the oxygen fluctuations in […]
Bright gamma-ray flashes found around pulsars Extremely bright gamma-ray flashes known as Cherenkov emissions have been detected circling around pulsars, created when charged particles moving in a sense faster than light travel through the pulsar’s surrounding quantum vacuum. “This is a very exciting new prediction because it could provide answers to basic questions such as […]
Universe is expanding faster than once thought The universe’s expansion rate is faster than previously believed. Researchers used the Hubble Space Telescope and observations by the Araucaria Project to determine that the universe is expanding roughly 10% faster than earlier estimates. Space.com Exploring the neuropeptide behind stress-eating weight gain Stress eating may result in greater […]
Researchers create computers in human cells The human body’s similarity to a computer inspired researchers at ETH Zurich to use CRISPR gene editing to build dual-core processors in human cells. The development could lead to the creation of biocomputers to diagnose and treat diseases. New Atlas Brain cells linked to sleep co-opted by general anesthesia […]
Massive Mars dust storm could offer clues to planet’s dryness The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter’s observations of the massive dust storm that enveloped Mars last year may help researchers learn more about what happened to the planet’s water. Understanding how such atmospheric events form could provide clues about the history of water on Mars, says […]