Ranga Dias, a prominent superconductivity researcher, has been fired from the University of Rochester after an investigation revealed extensive misconduct, including data fabrication. Dias’s research had claimed breakthroughs in high-pressure superconductors, but his findings were later retracted due to concerns about their validity. The scandal has cast a shadow over the field of high-pressure superconductivity…
Earth on The Soothsayer / page 9
A groundbreaking study published in Nature reveals that even after drastic weight loss, the body’s fat cells retain a “memory” of obesity, making it difficult to stay trim. Researchers found that the experience of obesity leads to changes in the epigenome, a set of chemical tags that affect gene activity, causing fat cells to malfunction….
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is on the cusp of a major overhaul, with proposals from both chambers of the US Congress and the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump aiming to reform the agency’s structure and research portfolio. The NIH’s advisory group has launched a series of meetings to consider the proposals and…
Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery in understanding the human brain’s unique genetic features, which could lead to new therapies for conditions such as Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia. By comparing human and primate brain cells, researchers found that human dopamine neurons express more genes that boost the activity of damage-reducing antioxidants, allowing them to cope…
Major technology companies, including Amazon, Microsoft, and Google, are investing in next-generation geothermal energy, a low-carbon source that could complement solar and wind power. Start-ups like Fervo Energy and Sage Geosystems are racing to tap into the Earth’s heat, using enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) that create their own reservoirs of heated water. While costs are…
Scientists have successfully edited two genes in tomatoes to increase their sugar content by up to 30%, making them sweeter and more flavorful. This breakthrough could lead to a significant improvement in the global tomato industry, with potential applications in various sectors, including food production and research. Forecast for 6 months: Expect a surge in…
Researchers at Google have successfully used real-time data from around 40 million mobile phones to map conditions in the ionosphere, a region of the upper atmosphere where some air molecules are ionized. This breakthrough could improve satellite navigation, especially in areas where data are scarce, such as Africa, South America, and South Asia. The study,…
The world is bracing for the consequences of climate change, with extreme storms and rising temperatures wreaking havoc across the globe. The re-election of Donald Trump as US president has cast a shadow over the COP29 climate summit, where representatives from nearly 200 countries are gathering to discuss financial aid for low- and middle-income countries…
A recent study has revealed a significant increase in private jet emissions over the past five years, with the number of flights and distance covered by these aircraft soaring. The study found that private flights produced 15.6 million tonnes of CO2 in 2023, a 46% increase from 2019. This trend is concerning, as it exacerbates…
Researchers in South Africa have updated the country’s health-research ethics guidelines to include a new section on heritable human genome editing, a technique that involves introducing genetic changes to sperm, eggs, or embryos, which will be passed down through successive generations. This move has sparked concerns globally, as it could put South Africa one step…