Stem cells: A new mechanical transducer

Stem cells: A new mechanical transducer

Professor Jiwon Jang and Seungbok Yang, a PhD candidate, from the Department of Life Sciences at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), and Dr. Mahdi Golkaram from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) have uncovered a novel regulator governing how cells respond to mechanical cues. Their findings were … Read more

Fresh rains pound Brazil’s flood-hit south as evacuations double

Fresh rains pound Brazil’s flood-hit south as evacuations double

Residents of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, with capital Porto Alegre pictured here, are bracing for more heavy rainfall. The skies opened once again Friday in southern Brazil, offering little respite for those whose homes have been swallowed by floodwaters, while the number of people forced to evacuate doubled in 24 hours. Residents … Read more

Rolling with the punches: How mantis shrimp defend against high-speed strikes

Stem cells: A new mechanical transducer

Mantis shrimp are small creatures known for their superlatives. Their eyes have 12 to 16 different color receptors, versus our own three, and can detect the polarization of light. Their punches are famously fast, accelerating on par with a 22-caliber bullet. They use these strikes on prey, predators and competitors alike. Ecologist Patrick Green, at … Read more

The smallest and heaviest atom with pure electromagnetic interaction

The smallest and heaviest atom with pure electromagnetic interaction

Graphical abstract. Credit: Science Bulletin (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.scib.2024.04.003 The hydrogen atom was once considered the simplest atom in nature, composed of a structureless electron and a structured proton. However, as research progressed, scientists discovered a simpler type of atom, consisting of structureless electrons, muons, or tauons and their equally structureless antiparticles. These atoms are bound … Read more

Spectacular southern lights might be seen as far north as Queensland after ‘extreme’ solar storm | Australia news

Spectacular southern lights might be seen as far north as Queensland after ‘extreme’ solar storm | Australia news

Aurora australis could be visible from Sydney, Perth and even parts of Queensland this weekend, after an “extreme” geomagnetic solar storm. The Bureau of Meteorology has warned the storm that creates the beautiful auroras could also threaten infrastructure and essential services, including power supply. The BoM’s space weather forecasting centre said the storm’s effects reached … Read more

In Defense of Parasitic Worms

In Defense of Parasitic Worms

CAPTION: Chelsea Wood kneels to search for shore crabs at a beach in Tacoma, Washington. She will later dissect the crabs to search for parasites. CREDIT: Jesse Nichols/Grist The parasites were a sign that the local shorebirds were doing great, Wood explained. As scientists have learned more about parasites, some have argued that many ecosystems … Read more

AI systems are already skilled at deceiving and manipulating humans

Stem cells: A new mechanical transducer

Many artificial intelligence (AI) systems have already learned how to deceive humans, even systems that have been trained to be helpful and honest. In a review article publishing in the journal Patterns on May 10, researchers describe the risks of deception by AI systems and call for governments to develop strong regulations to address this … Read more