This Cow and Pig Influenza Virus Could Infect Humans: What We Know So Far
Influenza D is only known to sicken cattle and pigs, but it “has everything it needs” to jump into people.....»»
Scientists discover novel way to attack the trypanosome parasite through its ribosome
Trypanosome is a single-celled parasite that takes an extensive human and economic toll due to its involvement in causing sleeping sickness in humans and a similar disease in cattle. The parasite, found mainly in rural areas of Africa, is transmitted.....»»
How active are the microorganisms in your yogurt? Chemists create a new tool to study probiotic activity
Humans have been fermenting food and drinks—everything from kimchi and yogurt to beer and kombucha—for more than 13,000 years......»»
Research explores cell-based theory of consciousness and what it entails
Humans and other animals with brains perhaps aren't the only beings on the planet to experience consciousness, says a study in the journal EMBO Reports......»»
Photodynamic action weakens resistance to antibiotics in bacteria that attack airways
The development of antibiotics to combat multidrug-resistant bacteria, especially those that infect the airways, has been increasingly tricky, and some scientists have opted to try to weaken the bacteria so that the available therapeutic substances a.....»»
Two possible ways to use black holes as energy source in the distant future
A pair of astrophysicists at Tianjin University, in China, has proposed ways that humans in the distant future might use black holes as an energy source. In their paper published in the journal Physical Review D, Zhan-Feng Mai and Run-Qiu Yang outlin.....»»
New technique could make modeling molecules much easier
Much like the humans that created them, computers find physics hard, but quantum mechanics even harder. But a new technique created by three University of Chicago scientists allows computers to simulate certain challenging quantum mechanical effects.....»»
North America"s first people may have arrived by sea ice highway as early as 24,000 years ago
One of the hottest debates in archaeology is how and when humans first arrived in North America. Archaeologists have traditionally argued that people walked through an ice-free corridor that briefly opened between ice sheets an estimated 13,000 years.....»»
Scientists reveal the molecular structure of a complex bacteriophage
The word "virus" is often associated with negative connotations. However, it is important to note that not all viruses are harmful. In fact, there are many viruses that live inside our bodies and play important roles in our health. One example is bac.....»»
If AI is making the Turing test obsolete, what might be better?
The Turing test focuses on the ability to chat—can we test the ability to think? Enlarge (credit: mevans) If a machine or an AI program matches or surpasses human intelligence, does that mean it can simulate humans per.....»»
Lighting a fire using friction requires an understanding of physics principles—there are ways to make the process easier
Humans have been making fire using friction for thousands of years, with evidence of its use found in archaeological records across different cultures worldwide......»»
Ancient DNA reveals how a chicken virus evolved to become more deadly
An international team of scientists led by geneticists and disease biologists from the University of Oxford and LMU Munich have used ancient DNA to trace the evolution of Marek's Disease Virus (MDV). This global pathogen causes fatal infections in un.....»»
People, not the climate, found to have caused the decline of the giant mammals
For years, scientists have debated whether humans or the climate have caused the population of large mammals to decline dramatically over the past several thousand years. A new study from Aarhus University confirms that climate cannot be the explanat.....»»
Cockroaches can transmit antimicrobial resistance genes between groups
A new paper describes a study of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) transmission among cockroaches, with implications for AMR transmission in humans. The study was published in mSystems......»»
AI provides more accurate analysis of prehistoric and modern animals
A new Rice University study of the remains of prehistoric and modern African antelopes found that AI technology accurately identified animals more than 90% of the time compared to humans, who had much lower accuracy rates depending on the expert......»»
Researchers review miniaturized electrochemical sensor technologies for rapid heavy metal detection
Heavy metals (HMs) are metals with high densities and atomic weights. Originating from geological processes or human activities, including mining, industrial production, and petrochemical plants, they are toxic to humans and animals and considered as.....»»
Parrots and songbirds have evolved distinct brain mechanisms, study shows
When humans learn to speak a language, we learn to produce new vocalizations and use them flexibly for communication, but how the brain is able to achieve this is an important but largely unanswered question, according to Zhilei Zhao, Klarman Fellow.....»»
Nanoparticle flu vaccine design shows promise in early tests
Existing flu vaccines provide only limited, seasonal protection because they target highly changeable proteins on the virus. Scripps Research scientists have now designed a vaccine that should work broadly against influenza A strains—one of the two.....»»
Climate tipping points are nearer than you think. Our new report warns of catastrophic risk
It's now almost inevitable that 2023 will be the warmest year ever recorded by humans, probably the warmest for at least 125,000 years......»»
Social robots leave students wanting, education researchers find
Social robots, artificial intelligence (AI) systems designed to interact with humans, are marketed as capable of fulfilling certain human roles. Elementary and middle school students who interacted with one of these robots in the classroom for 10 wee.....»»
Grunt or whistle: Successful honey-hunters know how to communicate with wild honey-seeking birds
In many parts of Africa, humans cooperate with a species of wax-eating bird called the greater honeyguide, Indicator indicator, which leads them to wild bees' nests with a chattering call. By using specialized sounds to communicate with each other, b.....»»