First hints of nuclear fission in cosmos revealed by models, observations
From DOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory 20/12/23 The elements above iron on the periodic table are thought to be created in cataclysmic explosions like the merger of two neutron stars or in rare classes of supernovae. New research suggests fission may operate in the cosmos during the creation of the heavy elements. Combing through data on […]
Formaldehyde, a carcinogen, is also used by the body to regulate our genes
From University of California – Berkeley 20/12/23 Formaldehyde, a toxin and carcinogen found in construction materials, carpets, car exhaust, cigarette smoke and even permanent press clothing, turns out to play an important role in the body — one that may explain why the chemical causes cancer. In a study published this month in the journal […]
Vocal Fry: A sonic feature of a diverse city #Acoustics23
From American Institute of Physics 20/12/23 Vocal fry has a bad reputation in American English. A subtype of creaky voice, a feature of speech that sounds gravelly and pulselike, this manner of speech is sometimes used to form judgment about the speaker. In many languages, the creaky tone changes the meaning of words, exhibited in […]
Anti-intruder fogging system
From Superinnovators 19/12/23 Italian company UR Fog produces patented anti-fogging systems that pump dense fog into rooms and vehicles when an intruder is detected by an integrated alarm system. The non-toxic, flavourless and residueless fog reduces visibility to zero in seconds deterring the intruder, with 97 percent of thefts avoided according to the company. The […]
World’s first logical quantum processor
From Harvard University 19/12/23 In quantum computing, a quantum bit or “qubit” is one unit of information, just like a binary bit in classical computing. For more than two decades, physicists and engineers have shown the world that quantum computing is, in principle, possible by manipulating quantum particles – be they atoms, ions or photons […]
Cocoa extract supplement found to have benefits for cognition among older adults with lower diet quality
From Mass General Brigham 19/12/23 WHO: Mass General Brigham researchers, Dr. Chirag Vyas and Dr. Olivia I. Okereke at Massachusetts General Hospital, and Dr. Howard Sesso and Dr. JoAnn Manson at Brigham and Women’s Hospital WHAT: Cocoa extract has shown a potential protective effect on cognition but randomized clinical trials in older adults have had […]
Ancient Balkan genomes trace the rise and fall of Roman Empire’s frontier, reveal Slavic migrations to southeastern Europe
From University of Oklahoma 19/12/23 A multidisciplinary study has reconstructed the genomic history of the Balkan Peninsula during the first millennium of the common era, a time and place of profound demographic, cultural and linguistic change. The team has recovered and analyzed whole genome data from 146 ancient people excavated primarily from Serbia and Croatia—more […]
World’s first flushable period pad
From Superinnovators 18/12/23 Imperial College London spin out company Fluus has developed the world’s first flushable period pad with zero microplastics and toxins. The pad consists of top and bottom sheets made from plant fibres, an absorbent core and barrier made from biodegradable polymers, and a non-toxic, plastic-free adhesive derived from tree sap. The product […]
Unlocking brain secrets: New insights into how our minds control impulses
From West China Hospital of Sichuan University 18/12/23 Published in the 2023 Volume 3 issue of Psychoradiology a team of dedicated researchers from The University of Hong Kong and The University of Electronic Science and Technology of China has conclusively identified the right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG) as a key input and causal regulator within […]
The first European manifesto for more sustainable museums
From Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia – IIT 18/12/23 The Center for Cultural Heritage Technologies of the Italian Institute of Technology (CCHT-IIT), the University of Amsterdam/Rijksmuseum, and CNRS/École Normale Supérieure de Paris-Saclay launch the first manifesto for sustainable conservation of cultural heritage. The manifesto aims to improve conservation practices and promote more sustainable and ecological methods […]