News
To get string theory, you need only four physics assumptions
1+ hour, 22+ min ago (556+ words) The concept of vibrating subatomic strings is implied by simple physics premises String theory is a proposed theory of everything based on the idea that the universe is made of vibrating strings of energy. The concept of "bootstrapping" " building up…...
The crust under Africa is thinning in a way that hasn't been seen before
3+ hour, 22+ min ago (418+ words) The continent won't split anytime soon. But the thinning is a critical transition The Turkana Rift Zone (shown) in Kenya and Ethiopia is on a critical transition to continental breakup. It's a bit of a stretch, but the analogy works....
Territorial conflict may explain male primates" large size
18+ hour, 21+ min ago (717+ words) The latent threat of rival groups may select for larger males, even without frequent fights Some male primates are much larger than their female counterparts. For example, male black-and-white snub-nosed monkeys ( right) dwarf the females of the species (left). It's…...
Low power, high tech: Energy-efficient computing | Investors Lab
2+ week, 15+ hour ago (246+ words) This test chip, called Ice River, recycles energy that typical computer chips waste as heat. One goal of creating it is to make artificial intelligence more energy efficient. December 17, 2025 at 7: 41 pm " Ice River: A computer chip that reuses energy You've…...
Astronomers may have found a record-breaking pair of black holes
1+ day, 23+ hour ago (444+ words) At some 60 billion times the mass of the sun, the finding is a rare discovery Two black holes spiral together in this artist's impression. Researchers think they've discovered the most massive pair of black holes yet to be caught in…...
Yawning is contagious " even in the womb
2+ day, 4+ hour ago (396+ words) Fetuses sometimes yawn when their mothers do, even without being able to see their faces A new study shows that a mother's yawning can spread to the fetus. It's unclear whether those yawns might influence future behaviors. By Erin Garcia…...
If wings came before flight, what were they for?
4+ day, 19+ hour ago (585+ words) Simulated dinosaurs suggest early wings helped hunt prey An artist's reconstruction shows dinosaurs displaying their feathers and tails to flush insects out into the open. Simulated versions of the dinosaurs hint that the feathers were for show before they were…...
To understand black holes, physicists turn to a mathematical "Rosetta stone
4+ day, 22+ hour ago (328+ words) A link between particle physics and gravity applies to Hawking radiation Hawking radiation is the faint emission of particles from a black hole (illustrated). It's too weak to be seen directly, so physicists are coming up with new ways of…...
Why some brain cells are particularly vulnerable to multiple sclerosis
5+ day, 4+ hour ago (531+ words) In the cortex, DNA damage appears to outstrip the cells" ability to repair themselves When a crucial DNA repair kit is disabled, brain cells die, providing a hint of what can go awry in the late stages of multiple sclerosis....
A grapefruit-sized quantum device mapped Earth's magnetic field from space
5+ day, 20+ hour ago (18+ words) On the International Space Station, a cube holding a diamond-based sensor revealed the potential for quantum magnetometers....