Researchers have discovered that the Bogong moth, a species found in Australia, uses the stars to navigate its annual migration to the Snowy Mountains. The moths, which are the first known invertebrates to use stellar cues for navigation, fly over 1,000 kilometers to reach their destination, a feat that is comparable to humans using the…
Science on The Soothsayer / page 10
A team of researchers at the University of Rochester has developed a new solid-state laser that can make precise optical measurements at a vast number of points per second, while sweeping across a broad range of optical wavelengths. This breakthrough could lead to the miniaturization of optical metrology, with potential applications in fields such as…
The United States is facing a nuclear waste crisis, with over 90,000 metric tons of spent fuel stored at reactor sites across the country. Despite plans for an ambitious new generation of nuclear reactors, a solution to storing the dangerous, long-lived refuse remains elusive. The Supreme Court has recently weighed in on the issue, allowing…
Astronomers in China have made a groundbreaking discovery in the Milky Way, observing a rare eclipsing binary pulsar, PSR J1928+1815. This pulsar, a rapidly spinning neutron star, is partially eclipsed by an orbiting companion star every few hours. The discovery sheds new light on how binary star systems evolve and could help scientists study the…
Researchers have discovered a new class of cosmic explosions, dubbed extreme nuclear transients (ENTs), which release more energy than any other known transient event. These events occur when massive stars are shredded by supermassive black holes, releasing a massive amount of energy over a period of several months. The discovery of ENTs provides a new…
A team of researchers at the University of Chicago has developed a portable device called the Airborne Biomarker Localization Engine (ABLE) that can detect gas molecules associated with certain diseases in the air. This device has the potential to revolutionize the way we diagnose and treat diseases, especially in hospitals and public places. The ABLE…
A recent poll has found that less than half of U.S. parents feel comfortable leaving their teenager alone in a hotel room, and only 1 in 5 would be okay with their teen wandering solo around an amusement park. This fear of letting teens roam free is a growing concern for teen development, as researchers…
Climate change is affecting the nutritional value and sensory traits of cheese, particularly Cantal, a firm, unpasteurized cheese from France. Researchers found that cows fed on corn instead of grass produced cheese with lower nutritional value and different taste, color, and texture. As droughts become more frequent, dairy producers are shifting to corn-based diets, which…
Researchers in Canada and Singapore have discovered a unique protein in velvet worm slime that could revolutionize the design of high-performance polymers, making them more sustainable than current versions. This breakthrough has the potential to inspire the creation of recyclable and non-toxic materials that could transform various industries. Forecast for 6 months: Within the next…
Scientists have successfully created an acoustic rainbow, a device that separates white noise into distinct frequencies, or pitches, by using an oddly shaped plastic device. This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize the way we manipulate sound waves and could lead to various practical applications, such as improving room acoustics. The device works by reflecting…