Perseverance rover finds organic molecules in Mars’s Jezero Crater
The molecules are associated with life but can be created by other processes. So they aren't proof there was life there, but they are life's building blocks......»»
Scientists provide direct evidence of breakdown of spin statistics in ion-atom charge exchange collisions
Since the first X-ray image of a comet was reported using an X-ray telescope in 1996, the investigation of charge exchange in collisions between highly charged ions and atoms or molecules has emerged as a hot research topic......»»
Online hate speech surged during 2020 U.S. election, study finds
A new study published today (Oct. 29) details the ways in which the 2020 U.S. election not only incited new hate content in online communities but also how it brought those communities closer together around online hate speech......»»
Scientists create a molecular switch that can control cell division on demand outside of a living system
A living cell is a bustling metropolis, with countless molecules and proteins navigating crowded spaces in every direction. Cell division is a grand event which completely transforms the landscape. The cell starts behaving like the host of an interna.....»»
Invasive plants drive homogenization of soil microbial communities across US, new study finds
Invasive plants are doing more than just taking over landscapes—they're also changing the soil beneath them. A new study co-authored by Matthew McCary, assistant professor of biosciences at Rice University, reveals that these species are reshaping.....»»
Hospitals adopt error-prone AI transcription tools despite warnings
OpenAI’s Whisper tool may add fake text to medical transcripts, investigation finds. On Saturday, an Associated Press investigation revealed that OpenAI's Whisper transcription.....»»
Study finds influential textbooks labeled American actions as imperialist, contradicting American exceptionalism
The ideology of American exceptionalism has long held that the United States is and has been exceptional throughout its history, not making the same mistakes or perpetuating the same evils of other world powers. Yet a new study from the University of.....»»
Is it true that trees pollute the air?
Methane is the most famous volatile organic compound (VOC) in our atmosphere. This week, our host George Zaidan follows up on a Reactions subscriber's question about the 600 teragrams of a less famous VOC released every year: isoprene......»»
CRISPR-Cas10 can flood virally infected bacteria with toxic molecules, researchers discover
CRISPR-Cas9 has long been likened to a kind of genetic scissors, thanks to its ability to snip out any desired section of DNA with elegant precision......»»
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.....»»
Unique multidomain enzymes from bacteria identified
Pharmaceutical scientists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have identified and characterized a unique multidomain enzyme capable of catalyzing two distinct types of reactions, both vital for making drug molecules......»»
More social species live longer, study finds
New research from the University of Oxford has revealed that species that are more social live longer and produce offspring for a greater timespan. This is the first study on this topic which spans the animal kingdom, from jellyfish to humans......»»
Star Wars’ Daisy Ridley reveals why she finds her return as Rey ‘scary’
Daisy Ridley is both excited and scared to make her Star Wars return as Rey......»»
Ripples of colonialism: Decarbonization strategies perpetuate inequalities in human rights, says study
A University of Michigan study of a city in the Democratic Republic of Congo finds that the necessary process of decarbonization is repeating and recreating colonial inequalities......»»
Homelessness, high rents weigh heavily on Angelenos, survey finds
More than 9 in 10 Los Angeles County residents say homelessness is a pressing issue, and 64% feel its impact in their neighborhoods, according to the most recent findings from the USC Dornsife annual LABarometer survey on livability and affordability.....»»
Study finds "elite" online critics maintain influence even after losing status
When a reviewer loses an "elite" badge on the restaurant review site Yelp, the quality of their reviews declines, but the perceived value of those reviews remains surprisingly high because of how the site displays their status, according to new resea.....»»
Misinformation and disinformation: Both prebunking and debunking work for fighting them, finds study
Misinformation, incorrect or false information shared unintentionally, can be extremely damaging. Its climate change-denying sort can make taking much-needed action against global warming more difficult. It can be even deadly, for example, if it enco.....»»
Study finds UK adults aren"t connected to nature
New research indicates that UK adults experience less of a connection with nature than adults from most other countries, ranking 59th out of 65 national groups surveyed......»»
A new spectroscopy method reveals water"s quantum secrets
For the first time, EPFL researchers have exclusively observed molecules participating in hydrogen bonds in liquid water, measuring electronic and nuclear quantum effects that were previously accessible only via theoretical simulations......»»
Study finds cheating boosts male sparrow fitness
Cheating pays. Or at least it does for male sparrows, according to new research......»»
Research on how gut bacteria breaks down dietary fiber could lead to helpful new probiotics
There are trillions of bacteria in the human gut microbiome. When we eat fruits and vegetables, some of these bacteria break down the dietary fiber and provide us with metabolites, small molecules our body can use for energy or cell repair......»»