A groundbreaking study has revealed that powerful flares on highly-magnetic neutron stars called magnetars could produce up to 10% of the universe’s gold, silver, and platinum. Researchers have created a model that describes how these flares can create r-process elements, and they may have already observed this cosmic alchemy in action. Forecast for 6 months:…
Science on The Soothsayer / page 13
A team of mathematicians has made a groundbreaking discovery by extending the modularity connection from elliptic curves to more complicated equations called abelian surfaces. This breakthrough has the potential to unlock new insights and solutions to previously intractable problems in mathematics, and may even have implications for other fields such as physics and computer science….
Biologists have discovered a surprising link between the extravagant wing tails of big, green luna moths and a cozy climate. The research, led by behavioral ecologist Juliette Rubin, found that the ribbony tails, which have evolved independently at least five times in the family of luna and other moon moths, are more likely to develop…
Scientists have made groundbreaking discoveries about Bolivia’s Uturuncu volcano, a “zombie” volcano that has not erupted in nearly 250,000 years. Using a novel technique that combines seismology, rock physics, and petrological analyses, researchers have created high-resolution images of the volcano’s structure and found that fluids and gases are accumulating in shallow magma reservoirs, explaining its…
A new genetic study of the elusive saola, a deer-like creature from the mountainous rainforests of Vietnam and Laos, has shed new light on the species’ ancestry and habitat. The study, which analyzed DNA from 26 individual saola hunting trophies, reveals that there are two distinct populations of saolas that diverged between 20,000 and 5,000…
Researchers in Japan have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of topological materials, resolving a long-standing conflict over the nature of bismuth. The team found that surface relaxation in bismuth’s crystal lattice may have masked its true topological properties, leading to conflicting results in previous experiments. This breakthrough has significant implications for the development…
Researchers have discovered that Venus’ surface may be tectonically active, with hot plumes of rock upwelling from the planet’s mantle shaping mysterious landforms called coronae. This finding suggests that Venus’ surface is not a stagnant layer, but rather a dynamic and changing environment. The study used computer simulations and data from NASA’s Magellan spacecraft to…
Researchers at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital have successfully used a new proton therapy technique called step-and-shoot proton arc therapy to treat a patient with head-and-neck cancer. This highly accurate treatment has shown promising results, with the patient experiencing minimal side effects and no radiation toxicity. The technique is an interim solution towards a…
Recent studies have revealed that astrocytes, once thought to be mere support cells in the brain, play a crucial role in shaping brain function. These starburst-shaped cells are involved in sensing key chemical messages, influencing neural conversations, and controlling behaviors. The findings open new possibilities for therapies aimed at mental illnesses such as depression and…
A team of international researchers led by Cristián Peña at Fermilab has developed a new particle detector using superconducting microwires, which can detect high-energy charged particles with unprecedented precision. This breakthrough has the potential to propel the field of high-energy physics towards a new detection paradigm, enabling scientists to explore fundamental physics and potentially paving…