Middle-aged adults in the U.S. tend to report significantly higher levels of loneliness than their European counterparts, possibly due in part to weaker family ties and greater income inequality, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.  “Loneliness is gaining attention globally as a public health issue because elevated loneliness increases one’s risk for depression, compromised immunity, chronic illness and mortality,” said lead author Frank Infurna, PhD, an associate professor of psychology at Arizona State University. “Our research illustrates that peo ..read more

One of the largest studies on wildlife activity—involving more than 220 researchers, 163 mammal species and 5,000 camera traps worldwide—reveals that wild animals react differently to humans depending on where the animals live and what they eat. Bigger herbivores—plant-eating animals like deer or moose—tend to become more active when humans are around, while meat-eaters like wolves or wolverines tend to be less active, preferring to avoid risky encounters. Take Our Poll Unveil the cosmos in style! Our “Science is a Way of Thinking” T-shirt, inspired by the legendary Carl Sagan, is a must-ha ..read more

A novel mixed light field technique that utilizes a mix of ray-controlled ambient lighting with projection mapping (PM) to obtain PM in bright surroundings has been developed by scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology. This innovative technology utilizes a novel kaleidoscope array to achieve ray-controlled lighting and a binary search algorithm for removing ambient lighting from PM targets. It provides an immersive augmented reality experience with applications in various fields. Projection mapping (PM) is a fascinating technology that provides an immersive visual experience by projecting ..read more

The use of antipsychotics during pregnancy isn’t linked to childhood neurodevelopmental disorders or learning difficulties, UNSW Sydney-led study shows – giving assurance to those concerned about continuing their medications during pregnancy.  Antipsychotics – a branch of medication designed to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder – are important tools for mental health care management. They work by blocking the effect of dopamine, which can help reduce psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations or delusions.  Take Our Poll Unveil the cosmos in style! Our “Science is a Way of T ..read more

Astronomers have charted the largest-ever volume of the universe with a new map of active supermassive black holes living at the centers of galaxies. Called quasars, the gas-gobbling black holes are, ironically, some of the universe’s brightest objects. The new map logs the location of about 1.3 million quasars in space and time, the furthest of which shone bright when the universe was only 1.5 billion years old. (For comparison, the universe is now 13.7 billion years old.) Take Our Poll Unveil the cosmos in style! Our “Science is a Way of Thinking” T-shirt, inspired by the legendary Carl S ..read more

NOAA REPORTS FOURTH GLOBAL CORAL BLEACHING CRISIS BEGINS. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Coral Reef Watch has announced the onset of the fourth global coral bleaching event, signaling a dire phase for the world’s corals and the communities dependent on them. Triggered by a consecutive ten-month streak of record-breaking global air temperatures in 2024, ocean temperatures have soared, causing corals to expel essential algae and turn white—a process known as bleaching. This phenomenon increases corals’ susceptibility to starvation, disease, and death, although it ca ..read more

It’s challenging to sustain a pregnancy when food is short, or conditions are otherwise tough. That’s why many mammalian embryos can postpone their growth to get through periods of environmental stress and then re-enter development when conditions improve. This stalling of development is known as embryonic diapause, and understanding the mechanisms behind it might help improve infertility treatments, such as embryo freezing. Now, researchers at the Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Shanghai, China, have discovered how nutrien ..read more

Inside the brains of people with psychosis, two key systems are malfunctioning: a “filter” that directs attention toward important external events and internal thoughts, and a “predictor” composed of pathways that anticipate rewards. Dysfunction of these systems makes it difficult to know what’s real, manifesting as hallucinations and delusions. Take Our Poll Unveil the cosmos in style! Our “Science is a Way of Thinking” T-shirt, inspired by the legendary Carl Sagan, is a must-have for dreamers & science lovers. Premium cotton, sleek design, and a tribute to curiosity. Wear the universe ..read more

In Star Trek: The Next Generation, Captain Picard and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise leverage the holodeck, an empty room capable of generating 3D environments, to prepare for missions and to entertain themselves, simulating everything from lush jungles to the London of Sherlock Holmes. Deeply immersive and fully interactive, holodeck-created environments are infinitely customizable, using nothing but language: the crew has only to ask the computer to generate an environment, and that space appears in the holodeck. Today, virtual interactive environments are also used to ..read more

Retention ponds and wetlands constructed as part of major road schemes can reduce the quantities of tyre particles entering the aquatic environment by an average of 75%, new research has shown. The study analysed samples collected alongside some of the busiest routes in South West England and the Midlands, many used by more than 100,000 vehicles each day. Take Our Poll Unveil the cosmos in style! Our “Science is a Way of Thinking” T-shirt, inspired by the legendary Carl Sagan, is a must-have for dreamers & science lovers. Premium cotton, sleek design, and a tribute to curiosity. Wear th ..read more