Can you tie a knot in four dimensions? A mathematician explains.
We all know that we live in three-dimensional space. But what do people mean when they talk about the fourth dimension? Is it just a large space? Is it the general idea of “spacetime” born from Einstein’s theory of relativity? If you’ve ever wondered what the fourth dimension actually looks like, you may have seen […]
‘Truly extraordinary’: Megalaser beaming at us from the far side of space is the brightest ‘cosmic light’ we’ve ever seen
Astronomers have discovered a supercharged space laser beaming toward Earth from the far side of the universe. A beam of cosmic energy revealed in part by a strange space-time trick first predicted by Einstein is the brightest and most distant beam of its kind ever observed. A natural laser called a “hydroxyl megamaser” is essentially […]
Killer whale fin chewed up on Russian coast points to possible cannibalism, scientists say, could explain why some pods are so tightly bound together
The fins of killer whales found washed up in the North Pacific Ocean have distinctive tooth markings, suggesting that killer whales occasionally engage in cannibalism. Scientists say this may explain why some killer whales live in large family groups. There are several different species of killer whales (Orcinus orca), which are sometimes considered separate subspecies. […]
NASA fixes Artemis II rocket that will carry astronauts around the moon for April launch
NASA has announced that it has resolved the helium issue on its Artemis II rocket, which is scheduled to launch to the moon in the coming weeks. Artemis II will carry four astronauts and fly around the moon on a historic journey that will take humanity further into space than ever before. But last month, […]
New study finds bird declines accelerating in three US hotspots
Bird populations are in free fall across North America. And in some hotspots, the decline is accelerating, a new study finds. From 1987 to 2021, bird populations in California, the Midwest, and the Mid-Atlantic region declined at an accelerating rate. Across these hotspots, bird declines were associated with high-intensity agriculture, according to the study. The […]
Introducing the world’s smallest AI supercomputer. It packs “doctor-level intelligence” and is small enough to fit in your pocket, according to its developers.
A US startup has developed what it claims is the world’s smallest artificial intelligence (AI) supercomputer. It’s packed with high-performance hardware and plenty of RAM, and is compact enough to fit in your pocket, yet can run “Ph.D. intelligence” AI models, company representatives say. This means being capable of autonomous problem solving, abstract reasoning, and […]
When was the last time there was no ice in Antarctica?
Almost four times the size of the United States, Antarctica is almost completely covered in a layer of ice several miles thick. But Antarctica isn’t always frozen. So when was the last time there was no ice in Antarctica? Experts told Live Science that this ice sheet formed relatively recently geologically. “Most people would say […]
Diagnostic dilemma: A doctor discovers the genetic mutation behind a family member’s mysterious tooth loss condition
Patient: Dr. John Graham, professor of medical genetics and pediatrics at Cedars-Sinai College in Los Angeles. Symptoms: Most newborns don’t have teeth, but Graham already had some teeth when he was born. These teeth fall out soon after birth, but adult teeth do not replace them. This is a condition known as tooth agenesis. However, […]
Prehistoric aquatic freak with sideways teeth and twisted jaw was already a ‘living fossil’ 275 million years ago
Paleontologists have revealed a strange prehistoric creature with a twisted jaw and sideways teeth. This strange underwater creature was already a “living fossil” when it existed 275 million years ago. The newly described species, named Tanica amnicola, is an ancient member of the Tetrapoda, a large group of tetrapod vertebrates that today includes reptiles, birds, […]
JWST’s ‘small red dot’ may be the ‘parent’ of the universe’s first supermassive black hole
Astronomers may have found evidence that some of the mysterious “little red dots” discovered by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) are not black holes as previously proposed, but rather giant stars from the beginning of the universe. The researchers made this discovery by developing a simplified model of an ancient supermassive star, a potential […]