A method to detect quantum beats – extremely short-lived oscillations between spin states in a radical pair – has been invented by researchers in Germany and Russia. Being able to observe quantum oscillations directly could help scientists unravel how a migratory bird’s magnetic compass works, which is believed to be based on a radical pair […]

Everyone loves to visit the seaside, whether to enjoy the physical benefits of an exhilarating swim or simply to relax on the beach and catch some sun. But these simple life affirming pleasures are easily ruined by the presence of litter, which if persistent can have a serious negative impact on both the local environment […]

I wrote a whole fifty-two-part blog post series on The Emergence of Modern Astronomy, much of which covered the same period as this series, so I’m not going to repeat it here. However, an interesting question is, did the developments in astronomy during the Humanist Renaissance go hand in hand with humanism and to what […]

Every galaxy, including our own Milky Way, has at its center a massive black hole whose gravity influences the stars around it. Generally, the stars orbit around the black hole without incident, but sometimes a star will wander a little too close, and the black hole will “make a meal” of the star in a […]

“Diversity means lots of things,” says Amir Goldberg, an associate professor of organizational behavior at Stanford Graduate School of Business. “These days, it evokes the idea of race or gender, but it’s also about how people think.“ Beyond their demographic differences, people working in a group will likely think differently about a collaborative task. That […]

Newly developed risk scores synthesize genetic information into an easy-to-interpret metric that could help clinicians identify young children most at risk of developing obesity. The study, led by researchers at Penn State, used novel statistical methods to establish scoring criteria using data collected from young children. The research also demonstrates that robust results are attainable […]

Increasing the expression of one gene in cells that assist the brain’s neurons protects neurons in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease. These findings come from a new study published Jan. 10 in Nature Communications. High activity of the gene, Nrf2, slowed cognitive and physical decline in the mice and reduced the accumulation of sticky proteins […]

High levels of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) have been found in the sprays and cloths that people around the world have been using on their glasses to prevent fogging when wearing a face mask or shield during the pandemic. The Duke University team in the US used mass spectrometry to analyse four top-rated […]

If researchers could find a way to chemically convert carbon dioxide into fuels or other products, they might make a major dent in greenhouse gas emissions. But many such processes that have seemed promising in the lab haven’t performed as expected in scaled-up formats that would be suitable for use with a power plant or […]

Chinese national Xiang Haitao, who worked almost 10 years as an imaging scientist for Monsanto and then a subsidiary in Missouri, US, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit economic espionage on 6 January. Xiang, who admitted to stealing trade secrets from Monsanto to benefit China, faces up to 15 years in prison and a $5 […]