Claude just found a CRISPR-like DNA pattern, but even Anthropic's scientists aren't sure what it does
The large language model took less than a day to identify the curious stretch of DNA
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Are Blue Zones real? One researcher finds the data deeply flawed
The data behind Blue Zones might not be that strong
Gigantic prehistoric snake discovered in India may have been one of the largest ever
A massive prehistoric snake discovered in India may have rivaled the largest snake ever known. Called Vasuki indicus, the 47-million-year-old giant could have reached up to 50 feet long, making it comparable to the legendary Titanoboa. Scientists believe its enormous body made
New knee arthritis treatment delivers lasting pain relief without surgery
A promising new treatment for knee arthritis uses tiny, dissolvable particles to block abnormal blood vessels, easing inflammation and pain without joint replacement surgery. In a study of 194 patients, 80% experienced clinically meaningful pain relief lasting at least 12 months.
Wild bobwhite quail spotted after habitat restoration project
Multiple coveys of wild bobwhite quail were recently sighted at the University of Tennessee's Ames AgResearch and Education Center, marking an encouraging milestone in an ongoing effort to restore habitat for the species at this historic bird dog field trial destination.
AI can act exactly like a human, but we still don't think it's conscious
A new study reveals that people draw a surprisingly sharp line between human consciousness and artificial intelligence, even when both behave identically. Researchers found that participants considered even the most responsive AI less conscious than the least responsive human.
Black women in food industries face systemic roadblocks
Lilly Jan was perplexed and a little annoyed. Last year, Jan, an assistant teaching professor in the Cornell Nolan School of Hotel Administration in the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, was trying to collect information on food industry businesses owned by Black women.
A planet 320 light-years away confirms what scientists long suspected
Astronomers have discovered that a scorching-hot planet 320 light-years away shares a striking chemical similarity with its host star, providing the first direct evidence for a fundamental assumption about planet formation. The breakthrough could help scientists predict what
Simple cleaning steps could curb deadly fungal disease risks for Australia's wild reptiles
With spring underway and the weather warming, reptiles are on the move in suburbs, parks and scrubland across Australia. Snake catchers and wildlife caregivers are responding to calls for help, and reptile enthusiasts—known as "herpers"—are heading outdoors in search of their
AI reveals a hidden chemical shortcut that could turn CO2 into fuel
Scientists used artificial intelligence to uncover nearly 10,000 chemical reactions involved in transforming carbon dioxide into fuels and chemicals, revealing crucial pathways that traditional models had missed. The discovery dramatically improved predictions of CO2 conversion
Ultrashort laser pulses offer a new way to probe electrons' quantum geometry
Researchers at Friedrich Schiller University Jena and the University of Regensburg have developed a method for determining, using light, a quantum property of electrons that has hitherto been difficult to access. The focus is on what is known as Berry curvature—a quantity that
Scientists discover 'D-rex', a giant fungus from Chinese forests whose unique lineage dates back 65 million years
Deep in the forests of Yunnan, China, scientists have discovered a "fungal giant" that challenges our understanding of how large fungi can become. The newly described species, Dianjunus rex, produces vertical fruiting bodies up to 50 cm (20 inches) high and weighing up to 2.2
Isle of Wight fossil Europe's first known long-clawed megaraptoran dinosaur
A new species of dinosaur—a long-clawed predator the size of a large tiger—has been discovered by a UCL-led team from a fossil found on the Isle of Wight. The dinosaur, described in a new paper in the journal Royal Society Open Science, belongs to a group of agile, two-legged
People with a 'good ear' for sounds make better language learners, study suggests
People who are better at noticing fine details in sound—an ability known as auditory precision—can master the pronunciation of new languages faster and more accurately than other learners, a new study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology finds.
210-million-year-old dinosaur discovery reveals a lost world in Africa
A newly identified 210-million-year-old dinosaur from Zimbabwe is helping scientists uncover a surprisingly distinct prehistoric ecosystem. The discovery suggests that ancient climate differences may have separated dinosaur populations across southern Africa, leading to unique
Optical skyrmions can control the motion of magnetic skyrmions
Magnetic skyrmions (MSks) are swirling patterns of magnetization that form inside certain magnetic materials. They can behave like actual particles in many ways, exhibiting a stable internal structure and distinct boundaries. Because they are extremely small and can be pushed
Patterned X-rays map 3D chemical structures faster with fewer measurements
Seeing inside an object is one thing; seeing exactly what it is made of, in three dimensions, is far more difficult. Now, researchers at Bar-Ilan University and collaborating institutions have developed a new X-ray imaging technique that can map the three-dimensional chemical
Computational model guides lighting design to improve color discrimination in aging eyes
Researchers have developed a new computational model that accounts for the effects of aging on our eyes' ability to discriminate color. It could help guide lighting designs that make it easier for older adults to perceive colors while preserving the expected appearance for
How eye-catching social media feeds steer attention toward misinformation
A research team led by Jiyoung Lee, a professor in the Department of Media and Communication, has worked with international researchers to uncover how visual contrast across social media feeds influences how quickly users spot visual misinformation.
Hawaiian coral tests reveal heat tolerance varies by species and location
As ocean temperatures rise, corals' ability to withstand and adapt to heat stress is critical for the future of coral reefs. Many reef-building corals already live near their upper thermal limits, making them vulnerable to bleaching and, with prolonged stress, mortality.
The politics of city rats: What urban rodents tell us about housing and sanitation
Rats are on the ballot in Canadian municipal elections this fall, with several political parties promising to tackle city rat problems. While rats may seem like a niche election issue, they can point to broader societal concerns about housing, public services and civic
NASA Shares Image of a Galactic Smiley Face
Nature has blessed us with brains that are hardwired to find patterns and recognize faces, so it’s no surprise we tend to notice faces even where there aren’t any. Although they may be better educated, the humans at NASA are no different than the rest of us. They recently
Thwaites Glacier could contribute twice as much sea-level rise as previously projected
A new ice sheet model developed by glaciologists at the University of California, Irvine and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory projects that the melting of Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica will contribute up to 30 millimeters (1.2 inches) of sea level rise by 2100—twice
Could meditation reveal an SU(3) symmetry shared by the observer and the universe?
You sit down to meditate. A conversation returns, then thoughts. You bring your attention back to the breath. Sometimes, after many such returns, the effort eases. Thoughts lose their urgency, while awareness remains clear. Less occupies the mind, yet the moment still feels
Drier Texas rivers support simpler food webs and higher animal productivity, study finds
Global warming is often treated as synonymous with climate change, but rising temperatures are only one consequence of the human-driven phenomenon. Changes in rainfall patterns are another, but their effects on ecosystems are less understood.
'Carpet' growth method yields long-sought 2D quantum material
For decades, physicists have sought a practical two-dimensional topological insulator: an ultrathin material whose interior blocks electricity but whose edges conduct it. In ordinary wires, electrons constantly bounce off imperfections, losing energy. But along the edges of a
Liquid metal dealloying creates nanoporous silicon carbide at just 800°C
Silicon carbide (SiC) is a ceramic known for its excellent heat resistance and chemical stability, which makes it attractive for a wide range of applications like electronics, catalysts and energy-related materials. However, SiC generally requires high-temperature processing,
Faster molecular simulations identify promising diamond defects for quantum computers and sensors
A faster way of finding the best diamond-based materials for quantum computers has been developed by a researcher at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL). The new approach has already identified promising materials for practical
New topological microscope tip reveals evidence of 2D altermagnetism
Researchers have fashioned a layered topological material into a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) tip that senses spin-related electronic states at atomic resolution.
DNA 'flight recorder' traces embryonic development cell by cell
For decades, scientists have been able to look at individual moments in the development of an embryo: a snapshot of a developing brain, a picture of how the heart takes shape or a glimpse of cells beginning to form the nervous system.
New method helps researchers study proteins involved in plant health, disease
Plants—like people—come in all shapes and sizes. And just like scientists want to understand the components of the human body to treat disease and improve our lives, they also want to understand how plants thrive, develop disease, succumb or survive.
Hurricane Isaias shows ‘it only takes one’ to wreak havoc after historically calm Atlantic hurricane season
The Category 2 storm spawned tornadoes, flooding and extreme rain when it made landfall
Elephants Engineer Their Ecosystems Even in Death
It’s the circle of life The post Elephants Engineer Their Ecosystems Even in Death appeared first on Nautilus .
Humans and songbirds hear the same sounds, but organize them differently
Researchers from the University of Amsterdam and Leiden University have discovered that humans and songbirds use markedly different strategies to recognize sequences of complex sounds. The findings shed new light on how biology and experience shape the way we perceive complex
Sequence changes help modified mRNA avoid protein-making errors to improve vaccine design
When the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 turned our world upside down, mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 brought a breakthrough. Their success established modified mRNA as a powerful foundation for vaccines and opened the way for new mRNA-based technologies, with potential applications
Researchers uncover multiple genetic paths that lead to mottled feathers in chickens
The white-tipped feathers found in many chicken breeds may look like variations of the same decorative pattern, but new research shows that they do not all share the same genetic origin.
Quantum physicists trace a century of controlling spin
A concept from the field of quantum mechanics, spin is a property of particles that has no direct counterpart in everyday experience. Since the early 20th century, researchers have learned to manipulate it deliberately by means of precisely shaped electromagnetic pulses. This
New electrochemical sensor could make food quality testing faster and less expensive
Researchers at the Oregon State University College of Science have developed a new electrochemical sensor for rapidly and accurately detecting a naturally occurring compound widely used in the food, beverage and fragrance industries.
Want more women CEOs? Start with company structure, research finds
Women managers are significantly more likely to be promoted to CEO at companies organized into separate business units—each with its own revenues, costs and bottom line—than at companies that operate as a single, stand-alone entity, a new study led by the University of
New carbon calculator helps research labs pinpoint emissions and target reductions
Research labs are among the most energy-hungry facilities at universities worldwide. According to both University College London and a Swiss initiative called Green Lab, these labs require anywhere from three to 10 times more power than standard offices of the same size.
3D map of rice development charts gene activity across plant's entire life cycle
Rice is one of the world's most familiar staple foods, but how does a single cell develop into a rice plant with specialized tissues and organs? A new study offers a detailed look at this process through a three-dimensional (3D) spatiotemporal atlas covering 10 organs and 61
Deep-Sea Mining Faces Another Hurdle—Exploding Rocks
Samples spontaneously combusted in the lab The post Deep-Sea Mining Faces Another Hurdle—Exploding Rocks appeared first on Nautilus .
A new way to replace carbon with nitrogen atoms could lead to better medicines
When drugmakers want to improve on compounds they have already created, they can replace a carbon atom with a nitrogen atom. While effective, the techniques they use to perform this chemical swap, known as skeletal editing, have some downsides. For example, older approaches
Candida auris copies its entire genome to survive antifungal treatment, research reveals
New research has revealed an unexpected new mechanism through which the killer fungus Candida auris is resisting antifungal drug treatment. A team led by the University of Exeter and City St George's, University of London, discovered that the fungus creates multiple versions of
Latest Trump administration proposal to change NIH research grant system draws scientists’ ire
One researcher tells Scientific American that the change would reduce transparency and risk politicizing the grant review process
The ocean circulation that persists even after a key AMOC component fails
The Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) is thought to face a potentially existential threat from climate change. But attempts to model what happens to AMOC as the oceans warm show divergent outcomes, leaving its fate unclear. In a paper published in AGU Advances,
Satellite model finds Alpine peatlands may be smaller than official maps show
Peatlands in the Alps are mostly small, scattered and difficult to access. As a result, up-to-date information on their extent and condition is often lacking. An international research team, including researchers from the University of Göttingen, has now developed a
Newly discovered antiviral system in bacteria is 'strangest of its kind'
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes have uncovered an unusual bacterial immune system that operates in reverse of known defenses. The discovery, published in Molecular Cell, details the mechanics of "type VI retrons"—a counterintuitive class of bacterial defenses. More than
Before leaf miner damage shows, horse chestnut leaves alter how they function
Researchers from Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) and Semmelweis University have investigated what happens to horse chestnut leaves when they are attacked from within by the horse chestnut leaf miner. Their findings show that the functioning of the leaf changes while the damage
NASA JPL testing readies Voyager technologies lander for moon mission
A commercial lander that will be at the forefront of NASA's efforts to establish a moon base, humanity's first lunar outpost, has passed a series of critical tests at the agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. The tests simulated the extreme temperatures and
