Our ancestors left Africa both with and without modern brains
The genus Homo originated with a brain that still had ape-like features. Enlarge / One of the remarkably intact Dmanisi skulls at the time of its discovery. (credit: Guy Bar-Oz) We have an extensive collection of fossils from the lineages that.....»»
AI tool maps out cell metabolism with precision
Understanding how cells process nutrients and produce energy—collectively known as metabolism—is essential in biology. Modern biology generates large datasets on various cellular activities, but integrating and analyzing the vast amounts of data.....»»
Promising antibiotic candidates discovered in microbes deep in the Arctic Sea
Antibiotics are the linchpin of modern medicine: without them, anyone with open wounds or needing to undergo surgery would be at constant risk of dangerous infections. Yet we continue to face a global antibiotics crisis, as more and more resistant st.....»»
Halide developers detail how new Process Zero feature works under the hood
The popular iPhone and iPad camera app Halide recently introduced a new feature called Process Zero which, as the name suggests, takes photos without all the modern post-processing of smartphone cameras. The developers behind the app have now explain.....»»
Africa"s "youthquake": Huge numbers of young people have no jobs, the wrong skills and little hope
By 2050, one in every three young people on Earth will be of African origin, according to the 2024 International Labor Organization's (ILO) Global Employment Trends for Youth report. Africa's young people will be key players in the direction of futur.....»»
South Africa"s coal workers face uncertainty—study shows they"re being left out of the green transition
South Africa is on the path to decarbonization—doing away with burning coal and other fossil fuels and moving towards renewable, clean energy, such as solar and wind power. However, the coal industry employs 91,000 people. If these workers lost the.....»»
Do cats grieve? Research suggests they do
As we grieve the loss of a pet, we may not be the only ones feeling the pain. Research is showing that cats who are left behind when another animal in their home dies could be mourning along with us......»»
Q&A: Rwanda is creating shiny, modern cities after the genocide—but this won"t help communities heal from the past
Over the past 17 years, Rwanda has cleared informal settlements to make way for modern urban construction. Kigali's ambitious city master plan is expected to be fully realized by 2050. But what about the people who are pushed out in the process, and.....»»
Children and the internet: Helping kids navigate this modern minefield
The United States' most senior public health official, surgeon-general Vivek Murthy, believes social media platforms should come with warning labels. The United Nations' education, science and culture agency says smartphones should be banned in schoo.....»»
Women in global fisheries industry are falling through the safety net, study finds
Millions of women who work in the fisheries industry are being left behind as technologies develop to counter the effects of climate change and economic pressures......»»
Simulations identify how critical elements distribute in abundant mineral ores
Nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co) are critical elements for modern technologies, with high-grade Ni and Co ores becoming increasingly scarce. Mafic and ultramafic deposits are low-grade, abundant alternatives to traditional Ni and Co ores. However, new met.....»»
Unlocking crop yield potential: New modeling approach for sustainable agriculture
Predicting crop yields is a significant challenge in modern agriculture, especially under fluctuating environmental conditions. With the escalating demand for sustainable food production, understanding the complex interplay between environmental fact.....»»
S.Africa plan to "bomb" mice that eat albatrosses alive
Conservationists said Saturday that they plan to bomb a remote South African island with tons of pesticide-laced pellets to kill mice that are eating albatrosses and other seabirds alive......»»
South Africa"s scarce water needs careful management—study finds smaller, local systems offer more benefits
South Africa is a water-scarce country, the 30th driest in the world. Using water wisely will become more and more important as the population grows and droughts related to climate change increase. A lack of clean, fresh water has a negative impact o.....»»
Bird species are disappearing at an alarming rate in Kenya, study finds
Sub-Saharan Africa has a vast amount of uncultivated, arable land—about 2 million km2, accounting for about 50% of the global total. This land is a critical habitat for many animal species, including birds......»»
Dual-screen laptops make more sense with this spiral notebook-like hinge
Having two laptop screens needn't mean foregoing a built-in keyboard. On the left is Screen B, on the right is Screen A. [credit:.....»»
Machine learning uses X-ray diffraction data from polymers to predict the behavior of new materials
Polymers such as polypropylene are fundamental materials in the modern world, found in everything from computers to cars. Because of their ubiquity, it's vital that materials scientists know exactly how each newly developed polymer will perform under.....»»
Indian desert school"s unique design offers respite from heat
In the sweltering heat of India's Thar desert, where summer highs soar above 50 degrees Celsius, an architecturally striking school is an oasis of cool thanks to a combination of age-old techniques and modern design......»»
Classic "Marathon Infinity" lands on Steam as a free Mac title
Bungie has finally brought all of the "Marathon" trilogy of games to Steam, with "Marathon Infinity" now playable for free on modern Macs.Marathon Infinite [Bungie, macOS]In May, Bungie started to bring Marathon to Steam, with the intention of bringi.....»»
Not science fiction: Counter-Strike 2 is being played only using thoughts
After a spinal injury left Alex unable to control his limbs, the Neuralink implant has now enabled him to play Counter-Strike 2......»»
Deviations in particle interactions point to the existence of new bosons
Professors Andreas Crivellin of the University of Zurich and Bruce Mellado of the University of the Witwatersrand and iThemba LABS in South Africa have documented deviations in the way particles interact. These deviations are inconsistent in comparis.....»»