New Scientist Space - Cosmology
D-Wave says its quantum computers can solve otherwise impossible tasks
Quantum computing firm D-Wave says its machines are the first to achieve "computational supremacy" by solving a practically useful problem that would otherwise take millions of years on an ordinary supercomputer
Categories: Astronomy
Salmon farms are increasingly being hit by mass die-offs
Mass mortality events at salmon farms have been getting more frequent since 2011, sometimes killing millions of fish at once, with causes including heatwaves and poor living conditions
Categories: Astronomy
Jupiter’s stormy surface replicated in lab
By rotating a tank of water at 75 revolutions per minute, it’s possible to replicate some of the stunning, swirling patterns on Jupiter’s surface
Categories: Astronomy
Light and sound therapy for Alzheimer’s may also prevent 'chemo brain'
An experimental Alzheimer's treatment involving sounds and flickering lights also prevented a decline in mental sharpness among mice having chemotherapy
Categories: Astronomy
AI chatbots use racist stereotypes even after anti-racism training
Large language models still demonstrate racial prejudice against speakers of African American English, despite the safety guard rails implemented by tech companies such as OpenAI
Categories: Astronomy
The world just experienced the hottest February on record
February was the ninth month in a row to set a global heat record, with global average temperatures 1.77°C above the pre-industrial average for the month
Categories: Astronomy
Microplastics linked to a greater risk of heart attack and stroke
People with artery plaques containing microplastics were about four times as likely to have a heart attack or stroke as those with plastic-free plaques
Categories: Astronomy
Hunger-inducing mutation makes some Labradors more likely to get fat
Dogs with a mutation in the POMC gene, common in Labradors and flat-coated retrievers, have a stronger appetite for snacks between meals and a lower metabolic rate
Categories: Astronomy
We should be open about organoid research to avoid a backlash
Research that involves creating "mini-organs" from human cells, including those from fetuses, may leave people uncomfortable – so the best approach is to explain the reasoning behind the work and its potential benefits
Categories: Astronomy
The scientific secrets to baking a perfectly moist chocolate cake
Keeping your chocolate cake moist and delicious when you make it party-sized is tricky, but not impossible, says Catherine de Lange
Categories: Astronomy
The Tomb of the Mili Mongga review: Hunting for giants in Indonesia
Samuel Turvey set off for Indonesia in search of fossils and found all sorts of wonders – including the strange story of mythical wild men who just might be lurking on the island of Sumba
Categories: Astronomy
Stark, haunting images show Kazakhstan's former nuclear testing ground
These stunning photographs are all shortlisted for the Sony World Photography Awards 2024
Categories: Astronomy
A tale of two mysteries: ghostly neutrinos and the proton decay puzzle
Searching for the true nature of neutrino particles also provides the perfect experimental conditions to seek evidence of another slippery customer – proton decay, says Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
Categories: Astronomy
Could two genetically modified mice come in handy on Valentine's Day?
Feedback is delighted to learn about a company's Valentine's Day promotion offering "a complimentary breeding pair of genetically modified mice" to potential customers in the mood for romance
Categories: Astronomy
How manners can be a weapon to divide and disempower
Living in close proximity to strangers requires shared social norms – but manners can also be used to divide us, says Kirsty Sedgman
Categories: Astronomy
The Story of Earth's Climate review: 25 discoveries tell tangled tale
Palaeontologist Donald R. Prothero squares up to the tough task of explaining how life and climate have shaped each other over the 4.5 billion years of Earth's history. Amazingly, his book mostly succeeds
Categories: Astronomy
The hunt is on to learn why bowel cancer in young people is rising
Something in the environment seems to be causing a rise in early-onset cases of bowel cancer. Now the hunt is on to find out what it is
Categories: Astronomy
US coastal cities face higher 2050 flood risk because they are sinking
The subsidence of land caused by the extraction of water and fossil fuels is exacerbating the threat of sea level rise in many US cities, including New Orleans
Categories: Astronomy
Ukraine may have been first part of Europe colonised by early humans
Korolevo, a site in Ukraine where early humans made stone tools, has been dated to 1.4 million years ago, suggesting early humans moved from Ukraine into the rest of Europe
Categories: Astronomy
Weird floating crystals can stop stars ageing for billions of years
Some white dwarfs seem to stop ageing for billions of years, and this may be due to the behaviour of unusual ice crystals that heat up the stars
Categories: Astronomy