57+ min ago (251+ words) It's one of the stranger findings in a while when it comes to cats: Researchers suggest they may have to meow more if a man takes care of them instead of a woman. As the New York Times reports, their theory is that cats have essentially realized that guys aren't... Cats May Meow More for Men It's one of the stranger findings in a while when it comes to cats: Researchers suggest they may have to meow more if a man takes care of them instead of a woman. As the New York Times reports, their theory is that cats have essentially realized that guys aren't great listeners. Or as the study in the journal Ethology puts it in science-speak: Men "require more explicit vocalizations to notice and respond to the needs of their cats." For the experiment out of…...

1+ day, 8+ hour ago (334+ words) The teen rebellion over disappearing AI chatbots has officially begun. After months of warning, the popular chatbot platform Character.AI has started cutting off access for users under 18, and the Wall Street Journal says teens have been taking it ... not well. Posts of grief and frustration are popping up... Teens Are Mourning Their AI Chatbots Several teens told the Journal they relied on chatbots for comfort when human conversations felt too hard or scarce. "I use this app for comfort when I can't talk to my friends or therapist," says one teen. Dr. Nina Vasan of Stanford Medicine said AI companions can feel like a blend of friend, performer, and mirror. "The difficulty logging off doesn't mean something is wrong with the teen," she says. "It means the tech worked exactly as designed." Character.AI's chief executive, Karandeep Anand, said…...

2+ day, 1+ hour ago (407+ words) The Indus Valley Civilization, one of the world's oldest, was a thriving society in what is now Pakistan and northwest India for some 2,000 years. Then it was gone'without signs of war or conquest. A new study in Communications Earth & Environment offers fresh insight into what may... Famed Ancient Civilization May Have Been Toppled Slowly The Indus Valley Civilization, one of the world's oldest, was a thriving society in what is now Pakistan and northwest India for some 2,000 years. Then it was gone'without signs of war or conquest. A new study in Communications Earth & Environment offers fresh insight into what may have happened. The Washington Post reports scientists used paleoclimate data and computer simulations to reconstruct the region's climate between 3000 and 1000 BC and identified four prolonged droughts'each persisting for at least 85 years and impacting 65% to 91% of the region, per a press…...

2+ day, 10+ hour ago (210+ words) Tryptophan, the amino acid often linked to post-turkey-dinner drowsiness, has been discovered on the asteroid Bennu, according to a new study. NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission collected a sample from Bennu in 2020, and it was returned to Earth in 2023 for analysis. The asteroid is of particular interest to scientists because... Tryptophan Turns Up on Asteroid Tryptophan, the amino acid often linked to post-turkey-dinner drowsiness, has been discovered on the asteroid Bennu, according to a new study. NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission collected a sample from Bennu in 2020, and it was returned to Earth in 2023 for analysis. The asteroid is of particular interest to scientists because its makeup is thought to reflect the early solar system, offering clues about the origins of life, per CNN. Previous studies of Bennu's material had already identified 33 amino acids, including 14 of the 20 used by life on Earth, plus all…...

3+ day, 7+ hour ago (329+ words) For the first time in 14 years, Apple is poised to once again ship more smartphones than Samsung. A new report from Counterpoint Research projects Apple will ship about 243 million iPhones this year, edging out Samsung's expected 235 million units, per CNBC . This would give Apple a 19.4%... Report: There's a New Leader in Smartphone Shipments For the first time in 14 years, Apple is poised to once again ship more smartphones than Samsung. A new report from Counterpoint Research projects Apple will ship about 243 million iPhones this year, edging out Samsung's expected 235 million units, per CNBC. This would give Apple a 19.4% share of the global smartphone market, compared to Samsung's 18.7%. Bloomberg now describes Apple as the "world's largest smartphone maker" and "No. 1 phone seller," though shipments do not equal sales. The momentum is largely attributed to strong demand for the iPhone 17 series, with…...

4+ day, 3+ hour ago (387+ words) You probably have a good idea what a lion sounds like. Cue mighty roar. But scientists have just discovered that lions have a second, previously unnoticed type of roar, challenging long-held beliefs about the iconic big cat's vocalizations. A new study published in Ecology and Evolution analyzed thousands of hours... Scientists Discover a New Roar in Lions You probably have a good idea what a lion sounds like. Cue mighty roar. But scientists have just discovered that lions have a second, previously unnoticed type of roar, challenging long-held beliefs about the iconic big cat's vocalizations. A new study published in Ecology and Evolution analyzed thousands of hours of field recordings from Tanzania and Zimbabwe using machine learning, revealing that African lions produce not just the familiar, powerful roar, usually accompanied by moans and grunts, but also a shorter, lower-pitched "intermediary…...

4+ day, 7+ hour ago (360+ words) Australia's social media ban for anyone under 16 is facing a high-profile legal challenge from two teenagers, who say the measure tramples their constitutional rights to free communication. The law, which takes effect Dec. 10, requires platforms like Facebook , TikTok, and YouTube to block accounts for anyone under the age... Teens Take Social Media Ban to Australia's Top Court Australia's social media ban for anyone under 16 is facing a high-profile legal challenge from two teenagers, who say the measure tramples their constitutional rights to free communication. The law, which takes effect Dec. 10, requires platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube to block accounts for anyone under the age threshold. Supporters argue it's necessary to shield young people from harmful content and manipulative algorithms, but the challenge from 15-year-olds Noah Jones and Macy Neyland, supported by the rights group Digital Freedom Project (DFP), says…...

4+ day, 15+ hour ago (355+ words) OpenAI has formally rejected claims that its ChatGPT chatbot contributed to a teenager's suicide, asserting in court that the 16-year-old misused the AI tool and violated its safety rules, NBC News reports. The company's response, filed in California Superior Court, marks its first direct reply to a lawsuit brought by... OpenAI Blames Teen's 'Misuse' of ChatGPT for His Suicide OpenAI has formally rejected claims that its ChatGPT chatbot contributed to a teenager's suicide, asserting in court that the 16-year-old misused the AI tool and violated its safety rules, NBC News reports. The company's response, filed in California Superior Court, marks its first direct reply to a lawsuit brought by the parents of Adam Raine, who accused OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman of wrongful death and negligence after their son's death. The lawsuit alleges that ChatGPT, specifically the GPT-4o model, discouraged…...

5+ day, 15+ hour ago (213+ words) A new study suggests obstructive sleep apnea, a condition marked by a blocked airway during sleep, carries an increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease. Researchers reviewed the health records of more than 11 million US veterans and found that those with sleep apnea were almost twice as likely to be... Sleep Apnea May Raise Risk for Parkinson's Researchers don't suggest that sleep apnea will automatically lead to Parkinson's. But it "significantly increases the chances," co-author Gregory Scott, a professor of pathology at Oregon Health and Science University's School of Medicine, tells the Post. Experts in the field say the findings align with other research linking poor sleep to worse neurological outcomes. One theory is that the repeated lack of oxygen caused by sleep apnea may impair the brain's ability to repair itself during sleep, though other factors could be at play....

1+ week, 6+ hour ago (248+ words) It's a pretty crappy finding, quite literally. In a study to be published in Cambridge Prisms: Plastics , researchers note that while the impacts of plastic pollution on marine life have been well documented, the same can't be said for terrestrial creatures. They set out to change that by studying the... Study of Donkey Poop Reveals a Microplastics Problem The research team used a multidisciplinary approach: quantifying microplastics in animal feces, but also observing feeding behaviors and surveying local attitudes about plastic pollution. Results show that donkeys, often left to forage due to inconsistent feed supplies, are ingesting plastic at alarming rates'roughly one in every 10 to 20 items they consume is plastic. Of the samples studied, 97% contained microplastics that measured between 500 micrometers and 5 millimeters, or about 0.02 inches and 0.2 inches. Vets at Lamu's Donkey Sanctuary have long reported fatalities due to plastic-induced colic....