50, 100 & 150 Years Ago: October 2022
1972 No Life on the Moon “It seems increasingly likely that we are not alone in the universe. There may be millions of inhabited planets like our own. It is…
How to Brew the Perfect Cup of Coffee, According to Science
The following essay is reprinted with permission from The Conversation, an online publication covering the latest research. Have you ever wondered why the coffee you make at home tastes different…
A long-lost rogue planet could explain unexpectedly distant asteroids
The outer solar system holds some chunks of ice and rock that orbit so far from the sun it’s hard to imagine how they got there – but an ancient…
What Do Mysterious Nord Stream Methane Leaks Mean for Climate Change?
Since 26 September, mysterious leaks have appeared in the underwater Nord Stream gas pipelines—which run from Russia to Germany—close to the Danish island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea. Given…
Computer made from swirly magnets can recognise handwritten digits
A prototype computer built using a magnetic material called a skyrmion has been programmed to recognise handwritten digits. The approach could be particularly energy-efficient Technology 30 September 2022 By Karmela…
Hundreds of Hospitals Are at Risk of Hurricane Flooding
Hundreds of hospitals along U.S. coastlines are in danger of flooding when hurricanes strike, new research warns. And as sea levels continue rising, so will the flood risks. The findings were published…
‘Superagers’ with sharp memories in their 80s have larger neurons
Neurons in a part of the brain involved in memory may be 10 per cent larger in superagers than others aged 80 or over Health 30 September 2022 By Carissa…
Stealth rubber coating could make submarines nearly invisible to sonar
Computer simulations found that a material made from three layers of rubber could absorb most frequencies used for sonar, which if affixed to a submarine would make it difficult to…
People trust AI to make big decisions – as long as a human checks them
Artificial intelligences are increasingly making important decisions that affect our lives, but people consider the calls made to be fairer and more acceptable if a human is in the loop…
How Much People Write Can Reveal Racial Biases
Say you saw something unusual—such as a blue strawberry or a purple cat. You’d engage with it more, hoping to make sense of it. Psychologists have recognized this tendency for…