Global study suggests connection has strengthened over time across every country and continentAir pollution is helping to drive a rise in antibiotic resistance that poses a significant threat to human health worldwide, a global study suggests.The analysis, using data from more than 100 countries spanning nearly two decades, indicates that increased air pollution is linked with rising antibiotic resistance across every country and continent. Continue reading...
Soil estimated to be home to 90% of world's fungi, 85% of plants and more than 50% of bacteria, making it the world's most species-rich habitatMore than half of all species live in the soil, according to a study that has found it is the single most species-rich habitat on Earth.Soil was known to hold a wealth of life, but this new figure doubles what scientists estimated in 2006, when they suggested 25% of life was soil-based. Continue reading...
Scientists claim it is first non-human example of a predator using another animal to hide itself when huntingThey do not use a false beard, dark glasses or hide behind newspapers, but when it comes to shadowing others, trumpetfish could give private detectives a run for their money.Researchers say that when hunting, trumpetfish conceal themselves behind other species of fish to approach their quarry incognito. Continue reading...
We might be able to genetically engineer something like woolly mammoths, but is it a good idea?We may weep for the dodo, but could and should we bring this lovely bird back from the dead? De-extinction is the science of restoring lost species and it has been in the news, sporadically, for decades.The story in modern times began in 1990 when Michael Crichton published his science fiction novel Jurassic Park, in which he imagined a world where scientists were able to bring dinosaurs back to life. Crichton had trained as a biomedical scientist, so he was aware of the then new polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology that was revolutionising life-sciences labs. PCR enabled molecular biologists to make millions or billions of copies of DNA very quickly meaning that only tiny samples were needed. Continue reading...
Or denser?Today's three puzzles are written by Barry R Clarke, author of Mensa's bestselling book of logic puzzles. Mensa is the society for people with high IQs, which it defines as those who score in the top 2 per cent of intelligence tests.If you breeze through these puzzles, consider yourself a clever clogs! Continue reading...
The solutions to today's puzzlesToday I set you these three problems by Mensa-approved author Barry R Clarke. Here they are again with solutions.1. Switched on Continue reading...
Our inability to confidently predict sea level rise between an extremely challenging two metres and a civilisation-ending 10 metres is an exemplar of the problem facing researchersThese last few months have been a turbulent time to be an oceanographer, particularly one specialising in the vast Southern Ocean around Antarctica and its role in our climate. The media has been awash with stories of marine heatwaves across the northern hemisphere, the potential collapse of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation by mid-century and the record-breaking deficit in Antarctic sea ice emerging this southern winter. Alongside heatwaves and bushfires in North America and southern Europe, flooding in China and South American winter temperatures above 38C, the climate has moved from a future problem" to a now problem" in the minds of many.The global climate is one hugely complex interconnected system. While the Antarctic and Southern Ocean are far removed from our daily lives, they play an oversized role in this system and the future climate that concerns humanity now. Global warming" is really ocean warming". The atmospheric temperature change, the 1.5C Paris target we are now perilously near to exceeding, really is only a few percent of our total excess trapped heat. Almost all the rest is in the ocean and it is around Antarctica that it is predominantly taken up. How this uptake may change in the future as winds, temperatures and ice shift is a critical scientific, and human, question. Continue reading...
The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's National Ignition Facility achieved the feat using lasers to fuse two atomsUS scientists have achieved net energy gain in a nuclear fusion reaction for the second time since a historic breakthrough in December last year in the quest to find a near-limitless, safe and clean source of energyScientists at the California-based Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory repeated the breakthrough in an experiment in the National Ignition Facility (NIF) on 30 July that produced a higher energy yield than in December, a Lawrence Livermore spokesperson said. Continue reading...
Facility in Porton Down, Wiltshire will allow vaccines to be developed for future pandemic pathogensMinisters have opened a new vaccine research centre in the UK where scientists will work on preparing for disease X", the next potential pandemic pathogen.The state-of-the-art Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre is based at the UK Health and Security Agency's (UKHSA) Porton Down campus in Wiltshire. Continue reading...
The long-running series in which readers answer other readers' questions on subjects ranging from trivial flights of fancy to profound scientific and philosophical conceptsWhy are human eyes different colours? Gabrielle Kuper, aged 5, LondonPost your answers (and new questions) below or send them to nq@theguardian.com. A selection will be published next Sunday. Continue reading...
Britain has a chance to solve the universe's ultimate mystery - if it can get global support for a project 3,000ft below ground in the UKBritish scientists have an audacious dream. They want to house a giant international particle detector that would be built 3,000ft underground in a working mine in Yorkshire. The device, they say, would give them a last clear chance to pinpoint what is the source of one of the universe's greatest mysteries: dark matter.We are entering the last-chance saloon to show that these particles are the cause of dark matter, and we want to make sure Britain is at the heart of that work by building the final generation of these detectors," physicist Professor Chamkaur Ghag of University College London told the Observer. Continue reading...
A new method called skeletal editing' offers a hugely simplified way to alter matter, paving the way for world-changing innovations in personalised medicine and sustainable plasticsAsk Mark Levin what excites him about his work, and the associate professor of chemistry at the University of Chicago could double as a poet. We're one of the only fields of science that at its core is about making things that have never existed anywhere else in the universe, and would never have existed if we didn't intervene," he enthuses. We get to manipulate matter at the atomic level to shape it to whatever purpose we can think of."Some of those things that would never have existed are of immense value to humanity. From synthetic dyes to celluloid, materials to medicines, synthetic chemistry has made our world a richer place, and helped us live longer to enjoy it. Continue reading...
As cases rise, scientists say country is mostly in the dark about how infections could play out in coming monthsThe UK is nearly flying blind" when it comes to Covid this autumn, experts have said, amid an increase in cases.While the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) continues to track some metrics of Covid, including hospitalisation numbers, many of the community surveillance studies tracking infection levels have finished. Continue reading...
You and the Universe, adapted from his posthumous 2020 Earth Day message, will bring the late physicist's extraordinary work to life for readers of all ages'A new children's picture book by Stephen Hawking is due to be published six years after the theoretical physicist's death.You and the Universe, co-written by the late professor's daughter Lucy Hawking and illustrated by Xin Li, will inspire kids to ask the big questions about Earth and the cosmos", according to publisher Puffin. Continue reading...
If our industry is to avoid superficial ethics-washing, historically excluded communities must be brought into the conversationAI is advancing at a rapid pace, bringing with it potentially transformative benefits for society. With discoveries such as AlphaFold, for example, we're starting to improve our understanding of some long-neglected diseases, with 200m protein structures made available at once - a feat that previously would have required four years of doctorate-level research for each protein and prohibitively expensive equipment. If developed responsibly, AI can be a powerful tool to help us deliver a better, more equitable future.However, AI also presents challenges. From bias in machine learning used for sentencing algorithms, to misinformation, irresponsible development and deployment of AI systems poses the risk of great harm. How can we navigate these incredibly complex issues to ensure AI technology serves our society and not the other way around? Continue reading...
by Mark Brown North of England correspondent on (#6DHQY)
Project inspired by John Smeaton, a keen astronomer who is seen as the father of civil engineering, is touring Leeds for four monthsJohn Smeaton is far from a household name, but Abby Dix-Mason believes he should be. His achievements were amazing," she said.He was very modest, he wasn't one to brag or boast but the truth is that so much of what he did has changed the world." Continue reading...
High-resolution images from cutting-edge space telescope reveal inner region around central white dwarfStunning images of the final stages of a distant star's life have been captured by the James Webb space telescope (JWST) in unprecedented and exquisite detail.Released by an international team of astronomers, the snapshots reveal the doughnut-shaped structure of glowing gas called the Ring Nebula, a well-known object in the sky, which lies about 2,600 light years from Earth. Continue reading...
Beyond physical changes, some experts suggest that pregnancy may help athletes develop mental resilience and coping strategies, contributing to improved performanceA commentator's suggestion during Australia's opening Women's World Cup match that motherhood" had not blunted" midfielder Katrina Gorry's competitive instincts" drew widespread criticism.Gorry, who later said she did not take the comment personally, is far from the first mother to come back to the highest levels of elite sport. Her post-pregnancy return is emblematic of a growing trend among female athletes, who overcome remarkable physical and psychological changes to continue their professional careers. Continue reading...
by Presented by Ian Sample, with Sean Carroll, produc on (#6DGKX)
The film Everything Everywhere All at Once won the 2023 Academy Award for Best Picture. In this episode from March 2023, just before the Oscars, Ian Sample spoke to the theoretical physicist and philosopher Sean Carroll about why we seem to be drawn to the idea of multiple worlds, and what the science says about how the multiverse might actually workClips: Everything Everywhere All at Once (A24), Independent Spirit Awards, Critics' Choice Awards Continue reading...
By offering unconditional love and validation, parents can empower their child to speak their truthA parent's primary instinct is to protect their children from harm. When a child endures the unspeakable trauma of sexual abuse, parents will often feel guilty and it may take time to process that feeling and heal from it. It's important for them to understand they are not responsible for something that was out of their control.In the aftermath of such a distressing experience, parents are their child's strongest pillar of support and understanding and should focus on what is in their control. As they embark on the arduous path of healing, parents play a crucial role in helping their child find solace and reclaim their sense of security. Continue reading...
Rhinotillexis may be underestimated cause of transmission between staff, say researchersNose-picking should be given greater consideration as a potential health hazard, researchers have said, after finding healthcare workers who engaged in rhinotillexis were more likely to catch Covid than those who refrained.Scientists in the Netherlands say research has previously found healthcare workers who had direct contact with Covid patients were more likely to catch Covid than those who did not. Continue reading...
Research also suggests parents who have two children of same sex are more likely to try for third than those with one of each sexCinderella may have had an evil stepmother and a pair of ugly stepsisters to contend with. But the next time you settle down to the fairytale, spare a thought for parents with three daughters under the same roof.Having three daughters and no sons can lead to a minor dent in mothers' wellbeing that can take a whole decade to pass, according to researchers. Continue reading...
Fossils found in Peru from extinct species show it may have had body mass of 85-340 tonnes - heavier than blue whalesThe fossilised bones of an ancient creature that patrolled coastal waters 40m years ago belong to a newly discovered species that is a contender for the heaviest animal ever to have existed on Earth.Fossil hunters discovered remnants of the enormous and long-extinct whale in a rock formation in the Ica desert of southern Peru. Fully grown adults might have weighed hundreds of tonnes, researchers believe. Continue reading...
Do we really want to live in a democratic world so small-minded that our primary need of our leaders is that they be just like us? Lucinda Holdforth does notPersonal virtues are back in fashion. In the 21st century, Australians are putting up their hands for moral thinking and right action. More than a few will openly scold those who fall short of their high standards. I'm also in favour of personal virtues. I think. I know I am nostalgic for a few vices. So the question arises: what exactly are the modern virtues?Well, you only have to spend half an hour on LinkedIn - although I really don't recommend it - to note how the same concepts are elevated time and again: Authenticity, Empathy, Humility. A few others arise, generally along much the same lines. Self-Care is big. So is Vulnerability. Continue reading...
From the hills of Rio de Janeiro to Greece's Temple of Poseidon, stargazers across the world witnessed this month's supermoon. Called the sturgeon moon, it became visible at dusk on 1 August. Supermoons are full moons that come closest to Earth's orbit, making them seem larger and brighter. The August full moon is named after the abundant sturgeon found in the lakes of North America in that month. It will be followed by a second full moon on 30 August, which will be called a blue moon as it appears in the same calendar month
Overfishing and seabed trawling have decimated the native or common oyster in British watersThe native or common oyster, Ostrea edulis, has been almost wiped out in UK waters by overfishing and by trawling the seabed.Its survival was not helped in the 1960s, by the already depleted species being replaced in restaurants and in oyster farms by the less tasty but larger and faster-growing rock oyster from Japan. Continue reading...
Researchers say findings suggest a link between early sensory biases and aesthetic judgments later in lifeWhether it is rolling yellow wheat fields or a gnarled and twisted olive tree, Van Gogh's landscapes have long entranced art lovers. Now researchers have found the paintings deemed more pleasant by adults are also more captivating for babies.The team say their findings suggest certain biases in what we chose to look at are already present in infancy and carry over into adulthood, although life experiences also have an impact on which paintings we end up preferring when we get older. Continue reading...
Cells taken without consent from cancer victim can reproduce indefinitely and were sold for unjust profit by Thermo Fisher Scientific, relatives arguedLaboratory equipment maker Thermo Fisher Scientific has settled a lawsuit brought by the estate of Henrietta Lacks, a long-deceased cancer victim whose immortal" cells have lived on to fuel biomedical research for decades, lawyers for the estate have said.The story of Lacks, a young African American woman who died in Baltimore in 1951, was made famous in Rebecca Skloot's 2010 book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, which became a movie in 2017 featuring Oprah Winfrey. Continue reading...
New species named Burgessomedusa phasmiformis was found in Canada and is exceptionally well preservedThe oldest species of swimming jellyfish ever recorded has been discovered in 505m-year-old fossils, scientists have said.The fossils were found at Burgess Shale in Canada, an area known for the number of well-preserved fossils found there. Continue reading...
Collection to include images, objects, magazines, books, podcasts, movies and music from 157 countriesA portrait assembled from Lego bricks, woodcuts printed in Ukrainian soil and a collection of poetry from every continent are among thousands of works to be archived on the moon as a lasting record of human creativity.The collection, known as the Lunar Codex, is being digitised and stored on memory cards or laser-etched on NanoFiche - a 21st-century update on film-based microfiche - in preparation for the missions that will ferry the material to the lunar surface. Continue reading...
Heartbeat' signal from probe, now 12bn miles away, picked up after flight control mistakenly pointed its antenna away from EarthEfforts to re-establish contact with Nasa's Voyager 2 probe have received a boost after the space agency detected a heartbeat" signal from the far-flung probe.Mission controllers stopped hearing from Voyager 2 more than a week ago after sending a faulty command that tilted its antenna to point two degrees away from Earth. The small change in orientation was enough to cut all contact with the probe. Continue reading...
Infectious disease agency suggests central portion of state may have become endemic location' for potentially debilitating diseaseLeprosy cases are surging in Florida, said the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with a new report suggesting the central area of the state may have become an endemic location" for the infectious, potentially debilitating disease.There were 159 new cases of leprosy in the US in 2020, the most recent year for which data was studied, according to a report published on Monday by the CDC. Florida was among the top reporting states, and almost a fifth of all cases were reported in the state's central region. Continue reading...
by Hollie Richardson, Jack Seale, Hannah Verdier, Phi on (#6DEK5)
The comic takes a close look at Earth's celestial near neighbour. Plus: everything you wanted to know about heat pumps. Here's what to watch this evening Continue reading...
by Presented and produced by Madeleine Finlay, with P on (#6DEHE)
As the 10th series of the ITV show finishes, viewers may have noticed the perfectly straight, white teeth of the contestants. But are there risks associated with achieving a flawless smile? In this episode from January 2023, Madeleine Finlay speaks to dentist Paul Woodhouse about some of the dangers of dental tourismClips: Dental Design Turkey, Dental Centre Turkey Continue reading...
Dr Vicky Cleak says the health service must improve access to effective treatment, while Dr Deborah White says the blame doesn't lie with GPsI am a consultant psychiatrist who was trained by, and worked in, the NHS, most recently as a liaison psychiatrist in a general hospital. I saw three young men who had made impulsive suicidal attempts where the underlying cause was attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). I was unable to treat them with effective, evidence-based treatment because the psychiatrists in the mental health trust and GP practices locally would not take over the prescribing of stimulant medication. The service was not commissioned locally and the medication was not on the allowed" formulary.There seem to be several reasons why this is the case, including an erosion of senior doctors' autonomy, a lack of training among doctors, persistent views that ADHD is not real", worries that taking it on would overwhelm an already unmanageable workload, and now a burgeoning private sector with financial interests in the NHS not treating it. Continue reading...
Is this popular family of plants really toxic? Many TikTok influencers seem to think so. Here, dietary experts set the facts straightTikTok might be the perfect place to learn the latest viral dance moves, but it is certainly not an oracle when it comes to health advice. While it can be a useful source of fun recipes and food ideas, it is also a hotbed of misinformation about what to eat - and what not to eat.The latest foods in the line of fire are nightshades - a family of plants that includes potatoes, aubergines, peppers, chillies, goji berries and tomatoes. Despite the widespread popularity of nightshades, some celebrities and influencers recommend we cut them from our diet entirely due to the toxins" they contain. These self-styled health gurus argue that nightshades could be harmful to our health, but dietitians and nutritionists don't agree. Continue reading...
The moon will be 222,000 miles from Earth on TuesdayLook out for the full moon this week on 1 August because it is a supermoon.The moon orbits Earth in a slightly elliptical orbit, meaning that sometimes it is a little closer to Earth and sometimes a little further away. A supermoon takes place when a full moon occurs near the Moon's closest orbital point to Earth. Continue reading...
Particles from asteroids and comets lie untouched for years, providing a time capsule of activityAs they clamber up cathedral walls wearing vacuum cleaner backpacks, the researchers look more like ghostbusters than planetary scientists. But for the team at the University of Kent, the equipment is crucial for collecting cosmic dust that becomes stranded on the ancient roofs after falling to Earth from space.Dr Penny Wozniakiewicz and Dr Matthias van Ginneken plan to visit UK cathedrals in search of the exotic dust particles to understand how much material from space reaches Earth and becomes part of the planet or its atmosphere. Continue reading...
It should be relatively easy to see the cosmic display - ending in a rare blue moon - if the skies are clearStargazers will be treated to a very special double feature next month, with a pair of supermoons appearing in August - closing off with a rare blue moon.The first, called Sturgeon, should be able to be seen from the UK on Tuesday 1 August with its peak at 7.31pm (BST) and just 222,159 miles (357,530km) away. According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, the August full moon is traditionally known as the Sturgeon moon because of the abundance of that fish in the Great Lakes in August hundreds of years ago. Continue reading...
When I became pregnant, I didn't think it would bring about any lasting, let alone significant, changes. I was wrongDid you know that you most likely never completely left your biological mother's body? That your cells crossed the placenta while you were growing and probably stuck around in various parts of her body for a while - decades, perhaps for ever?No, it's not the premise of a zombie film. The phenomenon is called fetomaternal microchimerism, and in the past decade scientists have come up with some incredible theories about what the cells might be doing.Lucy Jones is the author of Matrescence, Losing Eden and The Nature Seed Continue reading...
Scientists are cautiously optimistic that new approaches to treating the disabling condition may improve the lives of those affected by itFourteen years ago, the Icelandic neuroscientist Kari Stefansson led a landmark investigation into the genetic risk factors for developing schizophrenia, a debilitating mental health condition in which people may lose touch with reality.Kari is the chief executive of deCode genetics, based in Reykjavik, which has studied genetic information from more than two thirds of the Icelandic population. Since 2009, its work has helped to draw an assocation between people with schizophrenia and those in creative professions. Icelandic writers, painters and musicians were all found to have an inherently higher risk of the condition, which typically develops in adolescence or early adulthood. Continue reading...
Science | The Guardian