A growing number of children in Calgary, Canada, are suffering from severe tooth decay, with 65% of second-graders surveyed showing signs of the condition. This alarming trend has been linked to the city’s decision to stop adding fluoride to its drinking water in 2011. Experts warn that this may be a cautionary tale for other…
Science on The Soothsayer / page 10
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed the world’s smallest pacemaker, which is smaller than a grain of rice and dissolves after it’s no longer needed. This innovative device is optically controlled and can be used to regulate heart rhythms in children and adults, including those with congenital heart defects. The pacemaker is paired with a…
A recent research voyage by the California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) program has provided crucial insights into the impact of the Los Angeles wildfires on the ocean. The team, led by biological oceanographer Rasmus Swalethorp, collected samples of ash and water to study the effects of the fires on marine ecosystems. Preliminary findings suggest…
Researchers have discovered that worms move faster in environments with randomly-placed obstacles than in empty spaces. This phenomenon has been observed to be similar to the behavior of active polymers in disordered mazes. The study’s findings may have significant implications for the development of new technologies, such as more efficient navigation systems and materials with…
Researchers at the Public University of Navarre in Pamplona, Spain, have developed a new device that renders 3D graphics, allowing users to reach in and manipulate virtual objects. This technology has the potential to revolutionize hands-on educational tools, museum exhibits, 3D artwork, and video games. The device uses elastic strips to create a seamless interaction…
Researchers at the University of Victoria in Canada have developed a low-cost radiotherapy system called KOALA, designed to provide cancer treatment in low- and middle-income countries and geographically remote rural regions. The system uses kilovoltage X-rays, which are significantly cheaper than megavoltage X-rays used in conventional radiotherapy. Initial performance characterization of the proof-of-concept device has…
A growing body of research suggests that uncertainty is becoming a widespread public health problem, affecting people’s ability to think clearly, make sound decisions, and handle stress. Experts argue that accepting uncertainty as a natural part of life is crucial, as it can also bring a sense of adventure, surprise, and novelty. However, the inability…
Researchers at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, have made a groundbreaking discovery about the properties of supercritical water, a state of water that exists at extremely high temperatures and pressures. Contrary to previous theories, they found that supercritical water does not form hydrogen bonds, which are responsible for many of water’s unusual properties. This finding could…
A recent study published in Aging and Mental Health has found that loneliness tends to decrease among middle-aged Americans, contradicting the global trend of increasing loneliness after midlife. Researchers analyzed data from three demographic surveys involving over 64,000 people aged 50 to 90 across 29 countries and discovered that the US is an outlier in…
Physicists at the ATLAS experiment on the Large Hadron Collider have made a groundbreaking discovery, observing the production of top quark-antiquark pairs in collisions involving heavy nuclei. This achievement sheds new light on the early universe and the quark-gluon plasma, a state of matter that existed microseconds after the Big Bang. The study confirms predictions…