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Scientists unlock secret of 'Girl With Pearl Earring'
Johannes Vermeer's "Girl With The Pearl Earring" is one of the world's most popular paintings—and now scientists believe they know why, by measuring how the brain reacts when the work is viewed.
Scientists decode key mutation in many cancers, pointing to expanded role of RNA in human gene expression
Inside every cell, inside every nucleus, your continued existence depends on an incredibly complicated dance. Proteins are constantly wrapping and unwrapping DNA, and even minor missteps can lead to cancer. A new study from the University of Chicago reveals a previously unknown part of this dance—one with significant implications for human health.
New cooling system works on gravity instead of electricity
Its abundance of sunlight and heavy investment in solar cell technology has positioned Saudi Arabia well in its transition to becoming a leading exporter of renewable energy. Indeed, solar energy currently makes up more than 80% of the Kingdom's green energy capacity. However, these cells bring a twisted irony, as their operation exposes them to overheating risks. Cooling systems are therefore necessary, but many depend on electricity.
Webb researchers discover lensed supernova, confirm Hubble tension
Measuring the Hubble constant, the rate at which the universe is expanding, is an active area of research among astronomers around the world who analyze data from both ground- and space- based observatories. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has already contributed to this ongoing discussion. Earlier this year, astronomers used Webb data containing Cepheid variables and Type Ia supernovae, reliable distance markers to measure the universe's expansion rate, to confirm NASA's Hubble Space Telescope's previous measurements.
A new and unique fusion reactor comes together due to global research collaboration
Like atoms coming together to release their power, fusion researchers worldwide are joining forces to solve the world's energy crisis. Harnessing the power of fusing plasma as a reliable energy source for the power grid is no easy task, requiring global contributions.
Geological surveys shed light on the formation mystery of Uruguay's amethyst geodes
Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz that has been used as a gemstone for many centuries and is a key economic resource in northern Uruguay. Geodes are hollow rock formations often with quartz crystals, such as amethyst, inside.
Dietary zinc inhibits antimicrobial resistance gene transmission in lab tests
Genes responsible for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) can spread from microbe to microbe through circular genetic material called plasmids, and this lateral transfer occurs in the gut. In Applied and Environmental Microbiology, researchers in Iowa report that the transmission of some AMR plasmids may be inhibited by a readily available source—dietary zinc supplements.
Surprising amount and variety of gamma radiation is produced in large tropical thunderstorms, observations reveal
In the 1990s, NASA satellites built to spot high-energy particles coming from supernovae and other celestial-sized objects discovered a surprise—high energy gamma radiation bursts coming from right here on Earth.
Five-mile asteroid impact crater below Atlantic captured in 'exquisite' detail by seismic data
New images of an asteroid impact crater buried deep below the floor of the Atlantic Ocean have been published today by researchers at Heriot-Watt University.
Scientists discover planet orbiting closest single star to our sun
Using the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (ESO's VLT), astronomers have discovered an exoplanet orbiting Barnard's star, the closest single star to our sun. On this newly discovered exoplanet, which has at least half the mass of Venus, a year lasts just over three Earth days. The team's observations also hint at the existence of three more exoplanet candidates, in various orbits around the star.
Researchers witness nanoscale water formation in real time
For the first time ever, researchers have witnessed—in real time and at the molecular-scale—hydrogen and oxygen atoms merge to form tiny, nano-sized bubbles of water.
Structure of a eukaryotic CRISPR-Cas homolog, Fanzor2, shows promise for gene editing
Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have revealed how Fanzor2's divergence from bacterial ancestors may make it a useful tool for future genomic engineering endeavors.
Brain scan study shows what happens in the brain when a person with schizophrenia hears voices
Auditory hallucinations are likely the result of abnormalities in two brain processes: a "broken" corollary discharge that fails to suppress self-generated sounds, and a "noisy" efference copy that makes the brain hear these sounds more intensely than it should. That is the conclusion of a study published October 3 in the open-access journal PLOS Biology by Xing Tian, of New York University Shanghai, China, and colleagues.
Discovery of 3,775-year-old preserved log supports 'wood vaulting' as a climate solution
A new study published in the journal Science suggests that an ordinary old log could help refine strategies to tackle climate change.
Tongan volcanic eruption triggered by explosion equivalent to 'five underground nuclear bombs,' new research reveals
The Hunga Tonga underwater volcano was one of the largest volcanic eruptions in history, and now, two years later, new research from The Australian National University (ANU) has revealed its main trigger. The research is published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.
Engineers develop a bendable, programmable, non-silicon microprocessor that requires only 6 mW of power
A team of microchip engineers at Pragmatic Semiconductor, working with a pair of colleagues from Harvard University and another from Qamcom, has developed a bendable, programmable, non-silicon 32-bit RISC-V microprocessor. Their research is published in the journal Nature.
The earliest galaxies formed amazingly fast after the Big Bang. Do they break the universe or change its age?
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is the largest and most powerful space telescope built to date. Since it was launched in December 2021 it has provided groundbreaking insights. These include discovering the earliest and most distant known galaxies, which existed just 300 million years after the Big Bang.
Retracing walrus ivory trade of Viking Age reveals early interactions between Europeans and Indigenous North Americans
By examining ancient walrus DNA, an international research team led by Lund University in Sweden have retraced the walrus ivory trade routes of the Viking Age. They found that Norse Vikings and Arctic Indigenous peoples were probably meeting and trading ivory in remote parts of High Arctic Greenland, several centuries before Christopher Columbus "discovered" North America.
Scientists uncover auditory 'sixth sense' in geckos
University of Maryland biologists have identified a hidden sensory talent in geckos that's shaking up what we thought we knew about animal hearing.
First-ever teleportation of logical qubit using fault-tolerant methods
A team of engineers and physicists at quantum computing company Quantinuum has conducted the first-ever teleportation of a logical qubit using fault-tolerant methods. In their paper published in the journal Science, the group describes the setup and teleportation methods they used and the fidelity achieved by each.
