Science on The Soothsayer / page 26

Researchers at Northwestern University have discovered a unique structure within the mantis shrimp’s dactyl club that filters out harmful frequencies, preventing damage to its own tissues. This finding could lead to the development of advanced protective materials for military and civilian applications. The team’s research used ultrasonic techniques to investigate surface and bulk wave propagation…

Researchers from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities have developed an optical sensor that can measure the impact of radiative heat inside buildings, a crucial aspect of maintaining occupant comfort and energy efficiency. The sensor uses low-resolution, low-cost infrared sensors to measure the longwave mean radiant temperature, eliminating the need for expensive and bulky radiometers…

Mathematicians Nalini Anantharaman and Laura Monk have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of hyperbolic surfaces, building on the work of the late Maryam Mirzakhani. Their research has shown that certain critical properties are common in hyperbolic surfaces, which were previously thought to be rare. This breakthrough has significant implications for our understanding of…

A 4-year-old girl who received CAR-T cell therapy 18 years ago has remained cancer-free, making her possibly the longest-surviving patient with cancer to receive this tailored treatment. Researchers have been studying the effectiveness of CAR-T cell therapy in treating solid tumors, including neuroblastoma, and have seen promising results. The treatment involves removing immune cells from…

A team of scientists from the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) has made a groundbreaking discovery about the supermassive black hole M87*. By analyzing observations from 2017 and 2018, the researchers found that the black hole’s rotational axis points away from Earth and that turbulence within the accretion disc plays a significant role in changing its…

Researchers in the US have developed a new technique using frequency combs to measure trace concentrations of gas molecules with unprecedented sensitivity. This breakthrough could open up new applications in medicine, environmental chemistry, and chemical kinetics, enabling the detection of biomedically relevant molecules in exhaled air, such as acetone and formaldehyde. Forecast for 6 months:…

Scientists have discovered a radioactive anomaly in the deep ocean, which could be evidence of a previously unknown cosmic event or a major change in ocean circulation. The anomaly, which is made up of beryllium-10, was found in rocks located deep beneath the ocean and has a half-life of 1.4 million years. Researchers are now…

Astronomers have discovered that Alpha Centauri, the nearest star system to our sun, is likely shedding comets and asteroids into our solar system. This means that we can expect to see a small number of meteors from Alpha Centauri in the sky, with estimates suggesting up to 10 meteors per year. The objects are thought…