Ancient cave “hotel” places humans in the Americas 30,000 years ago

It’s generally believed that the Clovis people were the first humans to inhabit the Americas, as long as 15,000 years ago. But now archaeologists have found evidence in a cave in Mexico that suggests humans visited as early as 30,000 years ago – althou… Continue reading Ancient cave “hotel” places humans in the Americas 30,000 years ago→

Pandemic pollution drop found to boost solar panel output

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world in many ways, some obvious and some less so. Now, scientists have quantified an effect that lies a few links down the chain, finding that solar panels in certain cities have seen a boost in output, du… Continue reading Pandemic pollution drop found to boost solar panel output→

First-ever direct image of two giant planets orbiting Sun-like star

Although astronomers have detected more than 4,000 planets outside our solar system, most of them appear as points of data or dips in light charts. Now, astronomers have captured a very rare sight, with an image of two exoplanets orbiting a star very m… Continue reading First-ever direct image of two giant planets orbiting Sun-like star→

Thermal camera bracelet reads your wrist to track your fingers

Capturing the complexities of the human hand is a difficult task – just ask any artist or animator. Now, engineers at Cornell University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison have developed a new wearable system that uses thermal sensors to accuratel… Continue reading Thermal camera bracelet reads your wrist to track your fingers→

Comprehensive 3D map of the universe fills 11-billion-year gap

A 20-year study of the night sky has allowed astronomers to produce a comprehensive 3D map of the universe, covering 11 billion years of expansion. A new analysis of this map has highlighted a mismatch in the Hubble Constant, and revealed when the expa… Continue reading Comprehensive 3D map of the universe fills 11-billion-year gap→

Graphene-wrapped particles kill drug-resistant bacteria in wastewater

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are emerging as a serious public health threat, and part of the reason is that the bugs can pass resistance genes to each other. Now, researchers at Rice University have developed a system using nanoparticles wrapped in gr… Continue reading Graphene-wrapped particles kill drug-resistant bacteria in wastewater→

GitHub buries 21 TB of open source data in an Arctic archive

While it might seem like the internet is leaving a detailed record of history, the world’s knowledge is all surprisingly vulnerable to being lost in a disaster. To help keep a backup, GitHub has now archived 21 TB of public open source data and buried … Continue reading GitHub buries 21 TB of open source data in an Arctic archive→

Harvard study finds that stem cell stimulation gives us goosebumps

Goosebumps are a weird quirk of our bodies that science doesn’t fully understand. Now, researchers at Harvard have uncovered a biological reason for the reaction: it’s our bodies’ way of stimulating stem cells to drive new hair growth.Continue ReadingC… Continue reading Harvard study finds that stem cell stimulation gives us goosebumps→

Interstellar organic matter might be a major source of Earth’s water

Earth is a famously watery planet, but where exactly it all came from is a mystery. Now, researchers in Japan have suggested a new origin story, by showing that water – and petroleum – can form inside clouds of organic matter, at high temperatures and … Continue reading Interstellar organic matter might be a major source of Earth’s water→

Second-generation of powerful X-ray laser fires for the first time

Scientists have achieved first light with an upgrade to one of the most powerful X-ray lasers the world has ever seen. The Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) images individual atoms and molecules by blasting them with intense X-ray bursts, and now its … Continue reading Second-generation of powerful X-ray laser fires for the first time→