Plate tectonics are important for habitability, and it appears that the optimum conditions existed for planets forming early in the galaxy’s lifespan … and may be unlikely to easily recur. Image credit:…
Author: Carolyn Gramling
Astronomers estimate there are 36 communicating civilizations in our galaxy
Research sheds new light on our hope of finding intelligent life across the galaxy. Image credit: Graham Holtshausen Unsplash What if we’re not alone in the universe? Astronomers have long been searching…
Improving treatment of Parkinson’s with better brain maps
Advanced MRI scans may improve treatment of tremors in patients with Parkinson’s disease. A new MRI technique developed by researchers at UT Southwestern can now more precisely target a pea-sized area in…
Millibots act as artificial insects
Millimeter-scale robots were shown to mimic the movement and behavior of living insects for advanced materials science, biological, and biomedical applications. Image credit: Eijiro Miyako Biological species have long been a source…
UN: Falling clean energy costs can provide opportunity to boost climate action during COVID-19 recovery
If governments take advantage of the ever-falling price tag of renewables to put clean energy at the heart of COVID-19 economic recovery, they can take a big step towards a healthy world,…
Lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic
Exploring the unique ethical dilemmas raised by the COVID‐19 outbreak and how they have affected multiple sectors of society, both nationally and globally. Image credit: United Nations “This pandemic is a stark…
Reflecting sunlight to cool the planet could cause other unintended global changes
Scientists model the effects of spraying aerosols into the stratosphere and discover some unintended consequences. There is mounting interest in a global cooling strategy that uses solar geoengineering to limit the amount…
Smart molecules could be the key to computers with bigger memories
Researchers have discovered a single-molecule “switch” that can act like a transistor and offers the potential to store binary information. As we reach our computing capabilities, alternative means of storing and transferring…
How likely is it that COVID-19 will be a seasonal illness?
SARS-CoV-2 transmission appears to be affected by humidity, but experts warn that declines in summer months will not slow transmission enough to make a big dent. Image credit: Annie Spratt on Unsplash…
Human-on-a-chip provides an accurate model for the immune system
A new in vitro model of the body’s immune system better predicts its response to new therapeutics, potentially lowering the high costs and low success rates of drug discovery. Image credit: Hesperos…