The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) has abruptly cancelled its $60-million initiative to boost diversity in university science programs, leaving scientists reeling. The move comes amid US President Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting “illegal” diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies and funding. The cancellation has unsettled many scientists, who are concerned about the impact on…
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Google DeepMind’s AI problem solver, AlphaGeometry 2, has surpassed the level of the average gold medallist in the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO). The AI system, which was upgraded to include Google’s state-of-the-art large language model, Gemini, was able to solve 84% of all geometry problems set in IMOs over the past 25 years. This achievement…
Scientists have discovered the secret behind the mantis shrimp’s powerful punching limb, which can deliver deadly blows without damaging its own body. The study, published in Science, reveals that the shrimp’s club has a multilayered structure that absorbs shock waves, and researchers believe this could inspire the design of new artificial materials with useful properties….
A 42-day ceasefire between Hamas and Israel has provided a vital opportunity for international organizations to assess Gaza’s water, food, health, and infrastructure needs. Scientists in Gaza are calling for a detailed assessment to guide recovery and rebuilding efforts, despite facing homelessness, displacement, and a lack of basic necessities. Forecast for 6 months: The ceasefire…
Tech giant OpenAI has unveiled a pay-for-access tool called ‘deep research’, which synthesizes information from dozens or hundreds of websites into a cited report several pages long. This tool, similar to Google’s released in December, acts as a personal assistant, doing the equivalent of hours of work in tens of minutes. Scientists are divided on…
A recent survey of nearly 5,000 researchers worldwide suggests that artificial intelligence (AI) tools will become widely accepted in scientific research and publishing within the next two years. The majority of respondents believe that AI can already outperform humans in tasks such as reviewing large sets of papers, summarizing research findings, and detecting errors in…
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first clinical trial to test the safety of transplanting genetically modified pig kidneys into living people. The trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of this procedure, which could potentially solve the organ crisis and provide a new source of organs for thousands of…
US President Donald Trump’s plans to roll back climate regulations and promote fossil fuels could lead to devastating environmental, health, and economic consequences. Researchers project that these policies will raise greenhouse gas emissions, increase air pollution, and lead to thousands of premature deaths annually. The policies could also undermine global efforts to combat climate change…
A recent study published in Nature Aging has found that taking omega-3 and vitamin D supplements, combined with regular exercise, can slow down biological ageing by three to four months over a three-year period. The study, which analyzed data from over 700 people aged 70 or over, used four biological clocks to measure the extent…
The US National Science Foundation (NSF) has reopened its website for distributing research grants to scientists after a week-long freeze due to President Trump’s directives to terminate funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. The freeze was temporarily blocked by a federal judge, but the NSF continues to review grants. Scientists are concerned about…