You can use up all the storage on your phone or max out your computer’s drive, but can you use up all the memory space in your brain? Despite how you might feel before an exam or after a sleepless night before a work deadline, neuroscientists say that for a typical, healthy brain, memory capacity … Read more
A giant, flightless bird that roamed New Zealand before going extinct about 600 years ago is the next species on a controversial list of “de-extinction” targets from the biotechnology company Colossal Biosciences. Colossal announced on Tuesday (July 8) that its scientists and local Indigenous partners will “bring back” the South Island giant moa (Dinornis robustus) … Read more
Artificial intelligence (AI) began as a quest to simulate the human brain. Is it now in the process of transforming the human brain’s role in daily life? The Industrial Revolution diminished the need for manual labor. As someone who researches the application of AI in international business, I can’t help but wonder whether it is … Read more
Scientists in Switzerland have created a new “living” material that contains blue-green algae and could one day be used in buildings to fight climate change, they say. Thanks to the blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, the new material is photosynthetic. This means it can chemically convert carbon dioxide (CO2), sunlight and water into oxygen and sugars, … Read more
Our understanding of plant and tree roots may have been somewhat shallow. New research reveals many plants have a hidden second set of roots that extend far deeper into the soil. According to a new study published June 17 in the journal Nature Communications, this second layer of roots extend over 3 feet (1 meter) … Read more
Male fertility rates have been plummeting over the past half-century. An analysis from 1992 noted a steady decrease in sperm counts and quality since the 1940s. A more recent study found that male infertility rates increased nearly 80% from 1990 to 2019. The reasons driving this trend remain a mystery, but frequently cited culprits include … Read more
The world is awash with the color purple — lavender flowers, amethyst gemstones, plums, eggplants and purple emperor butterflies. But if you look closely at the visible-light portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, you’ll notice that purple (which is different from bluish hues of violet and indigo) is absent. That’s because purple may be made up … Read more
Imagination relies on an ability to differentiate between what’s real and what’s not — and now, scientists have uncovered potential brain mechanisms that make this distinction possible. These, they hypothesize, may be significant in conditions like schizophrenia, which can affect people’s perception of reality. A paper published June 5 in the journal Neuron explored these … Read more
Disease name: Werner syndrome, sometimes called “adult progeria” Affected populations: Werner syndrome is estimated to affect 1 in 100,000 live births worldwide, though its prevalence varies among countries. In Japan, the syndrome affects an estimated 1 in 40,000 to 1 in 20,000 people, whereas the prevalence in the United States is around 1 in 200,000. … Read more
Some lucky people have rare genetic mutations that enable them to feel well-rested after just four hours of sleep, while the rest of us need around eight hours to function. Now, researchers have identified one of these mutations, named SIK3-N783Y, in a human super-sleeper. The team then studied the mutation in genetically modified mice and … Read more
