A human footprint on the Pantanal inferno
One of the world's largest freshwater wetlands—the Pantanal—spreads across a bowl-shaped plain where Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay meet. During the rainy season in most years, floodwater drains from several swollen South American rivers into this.....»»
Simple science summaries written by AI can help people understand research and trust scientists
Artificial intelligence-generated summaries of scientific papers make complex information more understandable for the public compared with human-written summaries, according to my recent paper published in PNAS Nexus. AI-generated summaries not only.....»»
Experiments demonstrate precise delivery of nanoparticles to lung via caveolae pumping system
In recent years, bio-medical engineers have been developing promising techniques that could help diagnose diseases or precisely target specific regions inside the human body. Among these promising therapeutic strategies are methods that rely on the u.....»»
Atlas of the Human Planet: 50 years of population growth and urbanization trends uncovered
The new Atlas of the Human Planet reveals 50 years of global population growth and urbanization trends, providing insights into how cities and rural areas have evolved. This data offers vital tools for addressing future climate, social, and economic.....»»
ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode just came to PCs and Macs
ChatGPT's Advanced Voice Mode feature, which lets you talk to the AI as though it were human, is coming to macOS and Windows desktop apps......»»
Nanofibrils study successfully measures strength of spider web "super fibers"
How small is "small?" Spider silk nanofibrils are just a few molecular layers thick, equivalent to approximately one ten-thousandth the diameter of a human hair. They're invisible to the naked eye and cannot be seen under an ordinary microscope......»»
Prolonged brain development of marmosets could serve as model for human evolution
The development of primate brains is shaped by various inputs. However, these inputs differ between independent breeders, such as great apes, and cooperative breeders, such as the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) and humans. In these species, gro.....»»
Bones from shipwreck suggest right- or left-handedness could affect how clavicle chemistry changes with age
A new study of human skeletal remains from the wreck of the 16th century English warship "Mary Rose" suggests that whether a person is right- versus left-handed may influence how their clavicle bone chemistry changes as they age. Dr. Sheona Shankland.....»»
Changing climate could increase mobility of toxic metals in soils, experimental study shows
The changes scientists expect in the climate could cause toxic metals naturally occurring in soils to become more mobile, destabilize ecosystems and increasingly enter the human food chain via agriculture. Such scenarios are particularly likely to oc.....»»
Compact in-incubator imaging device allows real-time remote monitoring of cell growth
Unlike most cells in the human body, stem cells have the unique ability to divide indefinitely. This property makes them especially appealing to scientists exploring ways to extend human lifespans or develop new methods for repairing damaged tissues......»»
A new genetic web tool can help restore climate-resilient marine ecosystems
In the face of increased human pressures and climate change, a team of Australian scientists led by Dr. Georgina Wood at Flinders University has launched a new online tool to assist marine managers and restoration experts to bolster the resilience of.....»»
Climate change driving "record threats to health": report
Climate change poses a growing threat to human health in a variety of record-breaking ways, a major report said Wednesday, the experts warning that "wasted time has been paid in lives"......»»
How harmful are microplastics to human health?
Microplastics have been found throughout the human body -- including inside lungs, blood and brains -- and while it is not yet clear how harmful they are to our health, some researchers are sounding the alarm......»»
Beehive fences prove effective against elephant raids in Kenya
A groundbreaking, nine-year study has revealed that elephants approaching small-scale farms in Kenya avoid beehive fences housing live honey bees up to 86% of the time during peak crop seasons, helping to reduce human-elephant conflict for local farm.....»»
Open database of plastic products highlights substantial knowledge gaps
Plastics contain a vast number of chemicals, some of which greatly impact the environment and human health. However, information on the presence of individual substances in plastic products is oftentimes not publicly available......»»
Modeling study addresses future algal blooms and human impact
What does the future hold for our lakes globally—clear waters or widespread algal blooms? A new study is the first to model and project algal blooms on a global scale under different socio-economic and climate scenarios. Conducted by the UK Centre.....»»
Apple’s new video gives the M4 Mac mini a human-like personality
Apple launched the M4 Mac mini today. There’s an event-style video introduction that goes in-depth on the new device, but Apple has also released a separate, shorter marketing video. In the new video, the M4 Mac mini gets a human-like personality......»»
From fish to clean water, the ocean matters—how to quantify the benefits
Nature protection, conservation and restoration is "not a trivial matter but key to human survival," according to scientists quoted in a 2005 UN report. To demonstrate this, they developed the concept of "ecosystem services"—the benefits that peopl.....»»
For some reason, NASA is treating Orion’s heat shield problems as a secret
“I’m not going to share right now. When it comes out, it’ll all come out together.” For those who follow NASA's human spaceflight program, a burning question for the last.....»»
How social interactions evolve in schools: Study reveals people tend to gravitate towards groups of similar sizes
A recent study published in Nature Communications uncovers how human social interactions evolve in group settings, providing a perspective on the dynamic nature of social networks. By analyzing how university students and preschool children form and.....»»
Laboratory simulation finds smaller nanoparticles are subject to enhanced agglomeration in gastrointestinal tract
In a laboratory set-up simulating the human stomach and intestine, researchers at the University of Amsterdam have explored the fate of plastic nanoparticles during gastrointestinal digestion. In their paper published in the October issue of Chemosph.....»»