New Scientist Space - Cosmology
Quantum memory device could stop unhackable networks from failing
A memory device that temporarily saves quantum information could become an important addition to quantum networks because it would allow users to salvage information if it fails to transfer properly
Categories: Astronomy
Damaged coral reefs can recover quickly after restoration work
Four years after being restored with steel frames, coral reefs in Indonesia damaged by blast fishing grow at the same rate as healthy reefs, but they have lower levels of species diversity
Categories: Astronomy
Chemical injection brings dying batteries back to life
Researchers restored degraded lithium-ion batteries to nearly full capacity by injecting them with a chemical that creates more charged particles inside them
Categories: Astronomy
AI chatbot models ‘think’ in English even when using other languages
When answering questions posed in Chinese, French, German or Russian, large language models seem to process the queries in English, which could create cultural issues
Categories: Astronomy
Engineers are diverting Mississippi river to restore Louisiana’s coast
South of New Orleans, a project to divert the Mississippi river could restore ecosystems destroyed by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and build new land to protect against sea level rise
Categories: Astronomy
How one theory ties together everything we know about the universe
All known natural phenomena fit into just a few categories and unifying them all is quantum field theory, says physicist Matt Strassler
Categories: Astronomy
Clownfish avoid the sting of their anemone hosts with sugary slime
As a clownfish spends time with an anemone, its mucus coating begins to change. Chemical tweaks to sugars in the slime may calm stinging cells in anemone tentacles
Categories: Astronomy
6 things to look out for during the total solar eclipse
A total solar eclipse is a unique experience. From shadow bands to the sun’s majestic corona and pinkish prominences, here’s what you can expect to see
Categories: Astronomy
Worm-like amphibian produces a kind of milk for its hatchlings
After hatching from eggs, young ringed caecilians feed on their mother’s skin, but also on a milk-like substance secreted from her rear end
Categories: Astronomy
Experimental weight loss pill seems to be more potent than Ozempic
The results, of 13 per cent weight loss after three months, need to be confirmed by larger and longer studies, but are seen as promising
Categories: Astronomy
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