Tiny worms make complex decisions, too
How does an animal make decisions? Scientists have spent decades trying to answer this question by focusing on the cells and connections of the brain that might be involved. Salk scientists are taking a different approach—analyzing behavior, not ne.....»»
Miniature treadmills accelerate studies of insects walking
Fruit flies walking on miniature treadmills are helping scientists learn how the nervous system enables animals to move in an unpredictable and complex world......»»
Metasurfaces: Tiny tech with big potential
Imagine manipulating light with ultra-thin, flat sheets instead of bulky lenses and mirrors. That's the promise of metasurfaces, a nanostructure technology that can twist and bend light in ways never before possible......»»
Plankton mark seasons in the sea, just like leaves and flowers on land
Britain's seas are rich in wildlife, but many of its species can only be seen with a microscope. These are the plankton—tiny algae and animals found throughout the ocean that are the foundation of the entire marine food web......»»
How stories can teach young people about life in a changing climate
Education is key to empowering young people to respond to climate change. It's something that will reach into every aspect of their lives in complex ways. However, the national curriculum largely confines climate change to a few subjects, meaning tea.....»»
Bioengineers develop protein assembly road map for nature-derived nanobubbles
As far as water gear goes, floaties are not exactly high tech. But the tiny air-filled bubbles some microorganisms use as flotation devices when they compete for light on the water surface are a different story......»»
The world"s fastest single-shot 2D imaging technique films ultrafast dynamics in flames
Candle flames and airplane engines produce tiny soot particles from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as their precursors, both of which are harmful to humans and the environment. These carbon-based particles are also common in space, making up.....»»
Genomic study illuminates mango"s heritage and future
Mango, a tropical fruit with a long cultivation history, faces significant challenges such as low genetic diversity and limited breeding improvements due to complex domestication and self-pollination. These issues hinder genetic advancements in trait.....»»
The right to be wrong: How context or human rationality may influence our decisions
Conventionally, decision-making is portrayed as a rational process: individuals calculate potential risks and aim to maximize benefits. Yet, our brains do not always endorse rational action, particularly when an immediate response is required. Someti.....»»
How new words arise in social media
The more centrally connected someone is within their social media network, the more likely that new words they use will become adopted into mainstream language, according to a new study published in PLOS Complex Systems by Louise Tarrade of École No.....»»
Replica symmetry breaking in 1D Rayleigh scattering system: Theory and validations
In both the natural world and human society, there commonly exist complex systems, such as climate systems, ecological systems, and network systems. Due to the involvement of numerous interacting elements, complex systems can stay in multiple differe.....»»
3D bioprinting materials offer possibility for better bone and soft tissue repair
3D bioprinting is an advanced tissue engineering technique that builds complex tissues using bioactive substances like living cells and scaffolds. It provides personalized tissue repair solutions, reducing immune rejection by using patient-specific c.....»»
How fruit flies use internal representations of head direction to support goal-directed navigation
Animal behavior is known to rely on transforming sensory information into motor commands, often influenced by an animal's internal needs. While in mammals and other large animals this process is supported by complex brain processes, simpler versions.....»»
Study finds RNA molecule controls butterfly wing coloration
A team of international researchers has uncovered a surprising genetic mechanism that influences the vibrant and complex patterns on butterfly wings. In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team, led by Luca L.....»»
Research exposes how repeated information warps our decisions
Imagine the decisions you make every day, such as what to buy, who to trust, or who to vote for, are heavily influenced by a simple yet powerful flaw in your reasoning. Economists at the University of Surrey argue that people are systematically decei.....»»
AI can mitigate bias against women in loan decisions and boost lenders" profits and reputations
Recent research from the University of Bath shows discrimination against women worsens if Artificial Intelligence (AI) is used by lenders for loans, but that ethical lenders could choose to tweak the AI algorithms to address this bias and still impro.....»»
Husbands still dominate investment decisions, research reveals
Husbands still have more control over investment decisions than their wives, despite signs they are riskier investors, according to new research......»»
Researchers present a high-dimensional choice model for online retailing
In a new study, researchers developed a model that helps online retailers to more accurately predict customer purchases from a wide range of products in complex online shopping environments, reducing sales forecast errors by 10%–30% compared to tra.....»»
Q&A: Business expert shares insights from panel formed to examine infant formula crisis
Despite complex regulations for infant formula, contamination in production and supply chain issues at Abbott Nutrition created a dangerous shortage in 2022......»»
Observatory reveals key evidence of cosmic ray acceleration limit in W51 for first time
The Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO) officially released the precise measurements of high-energy gamma radiation from the W51 complex, confirming it as a cosmic-ray accelerator boosting particles up to so-called ultra-high energies.....»»
Nanoplastics put stress on trees and impair photosynthesis
It is well known that more and more plastic waste is ending up in soil and bodies of water. Researchers are particularly concerned about tiny micro- and nano-sized particles. It remains unclear how and to what extent they are able to enter living org.....»»