Latest Articles
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May- 2023 -19 MayClimate Change
Antarctica’s Massive Underwater Landslides – Which Could Generate Giant Tsunamis – Caused by Past Climate Change
Lead Image: An international team of scientists has found the cause of giant underwater landslides in Antarctica, which may have triggered far-reaching tsunamis. The researchers identified layers of weak, biologically-rich sediments under the seafloor which, due to their susceptibility to earthquakes and other seismic activity, were behind these landslides. These layers were formed in warmer times, when Antarctica’s temperatures were up to 3°C higher, sea levels were higher, and ice sheets smaller. Scientists have identified weak, biologically-rich sediments beneath Antarctica’s seafloor as the cause of giant underwater landslides that could generate far-reaching tsunamis. These sediments formed in warmer periods and,…
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17 MayDNA
700 Million-Year-Old Family Feud Settled: Genetic Linkages Illuminate Earliest Animal Evolution
Lead Image: A study by MBARI and collaborating scientists used gene linkages to establish that comb jellies, not sponges, are the most distantly related animal to all other animals, helping to clarify a fundamental question about animal evolution that dates back over 700 million years. Mapping gene linkages provides clear-cut evidence for comb jellies as sibling group to all other animals. A groundbreaking study published in Nature by MBARI researchers and their collaborators offers fresh insights into the earliest points of animal evolution, tracing back over 700 million years. The study revolves around the mystery of which animal, sponges or…
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15 MayNASA
Caught in the Act: Astronomers Detect a Star Devouring a Planet for the First Time
This artist’s concept shows a planet gradually spiraling into its host star. The Jupiter-size planet pulls gas away from the star, sending it into space. There, the gas cools and becomes dust, which is visible to astronomers. Credit: R. Hurt & K. Miller (Caltech/IPAC) A star nearing the end of its life swelled up and absorbed a Jupiter-size planet. In about 5 billion years, our Sun will go through a similar end-of-life transition. In a groundbreaking discovery, astronomers observed an aging star consuming a planet for the first time, providing insights into our Sun’s eventual fate, which will undergo a…
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7 MayRobotics
Origami Robotics: Scientists Push the Boundaries of Autonomous Capabilities
Lead Image: An origami-inspired robot designed by a UCLA-led team that can reverse direction when either of its antennae senses an obstacle. Credit: Wenzhong Yan/UCLA A team led by UCLA created autonomous OrigaMechs without chips, utilizing conductive materials. Roboticists have adopted a method resembling the traditional art of paper folding to fabricate autonomous machines from thin, pliant sheets. These lightweight robots are more straightforward and cost-effective to manufacture, and their more compact form makes them more convenient for storage and transportation. However, the conventional requirement of rigid computer chips, which enable advanced capabilities such as sensing, analyzing, and adapting to…
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7 MayBrain
Dreaming Away Dementia: Berkeley Research Shows Deep Sleep Alleviates Alzheimer’s Memory Loss
Lead Image: UC Berkeley sleep scientists have found that deep sleep, also known as non-REM slow-wave sleep, may protect against memory decline in older adults with high amounts of Alzheimer’s disease pathology. Disrupted sleep has been associated with a faster accumulation of beta-amyloid protein in the brain, which is linked to memory loss caused by dementia. However, this new research suggests that higher levels of deep sleep can act as a cognitive reserve factor, increasing resilience against the effects of beta-amyloid protein. By practicing good sleep hygiene, older adults may be able to benefit from this compensatory function against Alzheimer’s…
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