Category: 7. SciTech

Rocks crumble into the sea as sand. Similarly, the ocean is an inevitable destination of disintegrating human rubbish: microplastics. Much like a natural sediment, these tiny synthetic granules also make their way into the bellies of the creatures that call the sea home. But one tiny organism,… Continue Reading

Jellyfish-like creatures called hydras can develop tumors if overfed, which in turn can be passed on to their clone offspring. A new study on this bizarre phenomenon not only reveals details about the process in hydras, but improves our understanding of transmissable forms of cancer in… Continue Reading

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week – from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter A first-of-its-kind study will use ultrasound and light therapies to… Continue Reading

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week – from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter Ever feel a little electric shock when you pet a cat? Scientists say that… Continue Reading

A wobble in Mars’ orbit could very well be a sign of dark matter, a new study posits. The study builds off the idea that dark matter may actually be made up of thousands of tiny primordial black holes—black holes so tiny they’re basically microscopic. These black holes are… Continue Reading

New types of alternative coffee are making strides across the market, and one of these new “beanless” coffees is made by Atomo. These new coffee substitutes are meant to taste just like traditional coffee while also packing the same caffeinated punch. Traditionally, though, coffee… Continue Reading

Inside your refrigerator and pantry, plastic is everywhere. There’s plastic wrap, storage bags and bins, clamshell takeout containers, beverage bottles, and condiment tubs, of course. Plastics (synthetic polymers) are also a component of the multi-layer material that make up chip bags and… Continue Reading

Earth’s majestic “apex predators” are some of the most prolific hunters in the world. But which ones kill the most? Our new research showed solitary hunters such as bears, tigers and Eurasian lynx have higher individual kill rates than social predators such as wolves and lions. And smaller… Continue Reading

But not all questions about quantum systems are easier to answer using quantum algorithms. Some are equally easy for classical algorithms, which run on ordinary computers, while others are hard for both classical and quantum ones. To understand where quantum algorithms and the computers that can… Continue Reading

Gorillas and humans alike have long sampled the rich diversity of plants that grow in the humid rainforest of Moukalaba-Doudou National Park, in the central African country of Gabon. Side by side, we have uncovered plants that not only nourish us, but sometimes heal us, and now a scientific… Continue Reading