All articles tagged with #scientific discoveries
Originally Published 2 months ago — by Nature
The article highlights how fundamental scientific research, despite current funding cuts, has led to groundbreaking innovations like DNA fingerprinting, MRI, CRISPR gene editing, and advances in medicine and technology, demonstrating the immense societal value of investing in basic science.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by WIRED
During World War II, a group of scientists conducted extreme self-experiments to develop crucial diving research that helped the Allies win the war. Led by Professor John Burdon Sanderson Haldane and Dr. Helen Spurway, the scientists tested the effects of pressure and oxygen on their own bodies in hyperbaric chambers, leading to groundbreaking discoveries in underwater survival. Their work enabled Allied divers to safely scout and clear the waters off the coast of Normandy for the D-Day invasion, ultimately contributing to the success of the mission and the defeat of Hitler.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by CNN
A new study suggests that as the climate warms, meteorites in Antarctica are sinking into the ice at an increasing rate, making them inaccessible to scientists. The loss of these meteorites, which hold clues to the history of our Solar System, could be significant, with an estimated 5,000 meteorites disappearing annually due to melting ice sheets. Researchers have used machine-learning algorithms to identify probable meteorite-rich zones and projected the potential loss of meteorites under different climate change scenarios. The findings highlight the need to prioritize and ramp up collection efforts to prevent the loss of this valuable resource for present and future planetary science.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by VOA Learning English
NASA is planning to conduct several observation projects during the upcoming total solar eclipse on April 8, using aircraft, sounding rockets, and citizen scientists to study the sun's corona and its influence on Earth's atmosphere. The eclipse provides a rare opportunity for scientists to gather new data and make scientific discoveries, with a focus on the sun's outermost atmosphere and its impact on solar activity and Earth.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by National Geographic
National Geographic has been depicting the evolution of dinosaurs, particularly T. rex and other theropods, in its pages over the past 100 years, reflecting the latest scientific discoveries. From the debut drawing in 1919 to the latest renditions in 2024, the depictions of these apex predators have evolved with new knowledge, including changes in size, appearance, and behavior. The magazine's illustrations have adapted to incorporate findings such as the presence of feathers on young T. rexes and the selective nature of theropod violence, contributing to a clearer picture of these ancient creatures.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Yahoo News
Artificial intelligence programs, known as foundation models, are revolutionizing biology by making discoveries about genes, cells, and development. These models, trained on vast amounts of raw data, have the potential to reveal secrets about diseases, create new cell types, and even answer the fundamental question of what separates life from nonlife. While some scientists are optimistic about the profound insights these models may provide, others caution that their limitations and potential risks, such as privacy breaches and the creation of new biological weapons, need to be carefully considered and regulated.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by BBC.com
The Isle of Skye has been a treasure trove of dinosaur fossils for the past 40 years, with discoveries including footprints, bones, and winged reptile fossils. The first fossil was found in 1982 by a young student, and subsequent finds have shed light on the dinosaurs of the Middle Jurassic period, a time of massive diversification in dinosaurs. The fossils, dating back 162-175 million years, have put Skye on the map as an important site for understanding life during this period.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Nature.com
South Korea's first lunar mission, known as Danuri, has provided surprising insights into the Moon's far side. The mission has revealed the chemical composition of lunar minerals through a gamma-ray spectrometer and captured images of craters near the Moon's poles using a NASA camera. However, the magnetic fields on the Moon's far side have baffled scientists, as they appear to be more electrically conductive than the near side. Despite one camera malfunctioning, the mission has exceeded expectations and could continue operating for months or even years longer than anticipated.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Big Think
Humanity's understanding of the universe has evolved over time, with ancient peoples observing and cataloging celestial phenomena thousands of years ago. Key milestones include the prediction of eclipses by the Babylonians, the measurement of Earth's circumference by Eratosthenes, and Aristarchus' estimation of the Moon's size and distance. The discovery of planetary motion in ellipses, the periodic nature of comets, and the existence of distant planets expanded our knowledge. Modern breakthroughs include the measurement of galactic distances, the confirmation of the Big Bang, the discovery of dark matter and dark energy, and the observational evidence for inflation. New discoveries, such as those made by the James Webb Space Telescope, continue to refine our understanding of the cosmos.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Literary Hub
The article highlights the erasure of women from scientific history, focusing on the story of Lise Meitner, a Jewish physicist whose breakthrough discovery of nuclear fission was overshadowed by her male colleague, Otto Hahn. Despite her significant contributions, Meitner was denied credit and the Nobel Prize. The article also mentions other women scientists, such as Rosalind Franklin and Dr. Kati Kariko, who faced similar challenges and were overlooked or undermined in their respective fields. The author emphasizes the importance of correcting the historical record and giving these women their rightful place in scientific history.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The Guardian
Recent scientific discoveries are challenging the long-held perception of Neanderthals as primitive beings, shedding light on their complex nature and prompting us to reconsider our understanding of human evolution. By studying Neanderthals, we may gain insights into our own humanity and what it means to be human.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by NPR
Scientists are utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate the scientific process, including drug design and hypothesis development. AI has the potential to code computer programs, create visual content, and assist doctors with note-taking. The use of AI in protein labs has shown promising results, offering new possibilities for scientific advancements.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Earth.com
Astronomers have captured the aftermath of a massive planetary collision for the first time, observing two ice giant exoplanets colliding around a Sun-like star. The collision resulted in an intense blaze of light and the release of enormous dust plumes. The event was initially detected through the star's infrared brightness, which increased before a visible dimming. The debris cloud from the collision is expected to disperse along the orbit, potentially forming moons around the emergent planet. This rare observation provides valuable insights into the dynamics of exoplanet collisions and the formation of celestial bodies.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The Conversation
Hungarian chemist George de Hevesy, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1943, discovered radioactive tracers by accident while trying to prove that his food was being recycled at a boarding house cafeteria in 1911. He later used radioactive isotopes as tracers to study chemical processes, leading to significant advancements in various fields such as medicine, materials science, and biology. Today, radioactive tracers are routinely used to monitor disease progression, track nutrient uptake, measure water flow, and study wear and corrosion. Scientists continue to develop new isotopes and innovative applications for radioactive tracers.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Breakthrough Prize
The Breakthrough Prize Foundation has announced the winners of the 2024 Breakthrough Prizes in Life Sciences, Fundamental Physics, and Mathematics. The laureates include scientists recognized for their contributions to the understanding and treatment of major diseases such as cancer, cystic fibrosis, and Parkinson's disease, as well as advancements in quantum field theory and differential geometry. The winners will be honored at a gala award ceremony in Los Angeles in April 2024.