Chondrites are the oldest rocks in our solar system, dating back 4.567 billion years Roger Lawrence Gibson, Professor of Structural Geology and Metamorphic Petrology, University of the Witwatersrand – 28 September 2023 Meteorites – fragments of rock that have fallen to Earth from space in spectacularly fiery meteors – have been the subject of public […]
It’s reassuring to think humans are evolution’s ultimate destination – but research shows we may be an accident
Matthew Wills, Professor of Evolutionary Palaeobiology at the Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath and Marcello Ruta, Senior Lecturer, Life Sciences, University of Lincoln – 5 September 2023 Depending upon how you do the counting, there are around 9 million species on Earth, from the simplest single-celled organisms to humans. It’s reassuring to imagine […]
New neurotechnology is blurring the lines of mental privacy, human rights the answer?
Laura Y. Cabrera, Associate Professor of Neuroethics, Penn State – 7 August 2023 Neurotechnologies – devices that interact directly with the brain or nervous system – were once dismissed as the stuff of science fiction. Not anymore. Several companies are trying to develop brain-computer interfaces, or BCIs, in hopes of helping patients with severe paralysis […]
The disappearing computer – and a world where you can take AI everywhere
Witness a stunning vision of the next leap in device design. In this exclusive preview of groundbreaking, unreleased technology, former Apple designer and Humane cofounder Imran Chaudhri envisions a future where AI enables our devices to “disappear.” He gives a sneak peek of his company’s new product – shown for the first time […]
Stephen Hawking and I created his final theory of the cosmos – here’s what it reveals about the origins of time and life
“We discovered that when looking back at the earliest stages of the universe through a quantum lens, there’s a deeper level of evolution in which even the laws of physics change and evolve, in sync with the universe that is taking shape.” Thomas Hertog, Professor of physics, KU Leuven – 10 May 2023 The late […]
The massive machines removing carbon from Earth’s atmosphere
ORCA, the world’s first large-scale direct air capture and storage plant, was built in Iceland by Climeworks, led by climate entrepreneur Jan Wurzbacher. The plant is capable of removing 4,000 tons of carbon dioxide from the air each year, extracting a bit more than 10 tons daily. Partnering with Carbfix, they have also developed […]
Alzheimer’s might not be primarily a brain disease, but an autoimmune condition
“Beta-amyloid is not an abnormally produced protein, but rather is a normally occurring molecule that is part of the brain’s immune system. It is supposed to be there. When brain trauma occurs or when bacteria are present in the brain, beta-amyloid is a key contributor to the brain’s comprehensive immune response.” Donald Weaver, Professor of […]
James Webb Space Telescope: An astronomer explains the stunning images
Silas Laycock, Professor of Astronomy, UMass Lowell – 12 July 2022 The James Webb Space Telescope team has released the first science-quality images from the new telescope. In them are the oldest galaxies ever seen by human eyes, evidence of water on a planet 1,000 light-years away and incredible details showing the birth and death […]
Cancers, HIV, autoimmune disorders and genetic diseases could soon be treated with mRNA and DNA vaccines
The two most successful coronavirus vaccines developed in the U.S. – the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines – are both mRNA vaccines. The idea of using genetic material to produce an immune response has opened up a world of research and potential medical uses far out of reach of traditional vaccines. Deborah Fuller is a microbiologist […]
Five of the most exciting telescope pictures of the universe
The Webb telescope is about 100 times more sensitive than Hubble and is expected to transform our understanding of the universe. Carole Haswell, Professor of Astrophysics, The Open University – 27 December 2021 The launch of the James Webb Space Telescope offers unprecedented new opportunities for astronomers. It’s also a timely opportunity to reflect on […]