Scientific investigations before and during the COVID-19 lockdown in Berlin in 2020 show that urban red squirrels are extremely flexible in adjusting their diurnal activities to the presence of humans, domestic dogs, domestic cats, and predators such as beech martens. With the help of wildlife cameras, scientists from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife…
Every now and then, astronomers will detect an odd kind of radio signal. So powerful it can outshine a galaxy, but lasting only milliseconds. They are known as fast radio bursts (FRBs). When they were first discovered a couple of decades ago, we had no idea what might cause them. Every now and then, astronomers will…
New research shows how the Eurasian common shrew (Sorex araneus) changes its brain and bodily size throughout the year. The study, published online in eLife, reveals how changes in gene expression enable these small mammals to shrink their brain in winter and regrow it in spring, defying the typical mammalian pattern where organ size does…
A team of researchers from the United States and Switzerland has reported the discovery of a previously unknown compound in chloraminated drinking water. Inorganic chloramines are commonly used to disinfect drinking water to safeguard public health from diseases like cholera and typhoid fever. It’s estimated that more than 113 million people in the United States…
How can artificial intelligence (AI) help accelerate scientific discovery based on vast amounts of experimental data? A new study by Prof. Li Weixue’s team from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences shows how this can be achieved in heterogonous catalysis. The results were published in Science. How…
Researchers led by Takuzo Aida at the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS) have developed a new durable plastic that won’t pollute our oceans. The new material is as strong as conventional plastics and biodegradable, but what makes it special is that it breaks down in seawater. The new plastic is therefore expected to…
According to the fossil record, cetaceans—whales, dolphins and their relatives—evolved from four-legged land mammals that returned to the oceans beginning some 50 million years ago. Today, their descendants are threatened by a different land-based mammal that has also returned to the sea: humans. According to the fossil record, cetaceans—whales, dolphins and their relatives—evolved from four-legged land…
Nationally, men in colleges and universities currently outpace women in earning physics, engineering, and computer science (PECS) degrees by an approximate ratio of 4:1. To better understand the factors driving these gaps, NYU researchers analyzed bachelor’s degrees awarded in the US from 2002–2022, and found that the most selective universities by math SAT scores have…
Purple tea, the product of long-term natural evolution, stands out for its high anthocyanin content, known for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging effects. Unlike traditional green tea, purple tea is increasingly valued for its potential to boost metabolic health and offer disease prevention benefits. Purple tea, the product of long-term natural evolution, stands out for its high…
In her doctoral research, Outi Niemensivu explores how arts universities’ principles of internationalization and social sustainability intersect and are realized in local, intercultural contexts. In her doctoral research, Outi Niemensivu explores how arts universities’ principles of internationalization and social sustainability intersect and are realized in local, intercultural contexts. Social Sciences Education Phys.org – latest science and technology news…