A newly identified breakdown product of chlorine-based water treatments, chloronitramide, has been found in tap water systems across the United States. The substance, which is electrically charged and potentially toxic, has been detected in 40 samples from 10 water treatment systems, with concentrations exceeding the threshold allowed for other harmful breakdown products. While the health…
Science on The Soothsayer / page 29
Researchers in Switzerland have made a significant breakthrough in quantum acoustodynamics by creating a mechanical qubit using an acoustic wave resonator. This achievement marks a crucial step forward in the development of quantum computing and sensing technologies. The mechanical qubit, which is not yet suitable for quantum logic operations, has the potential to be used…
Scientists at MIT have made a significant breakthrough in brain stimulation by developing magnetic nanoparticles called magnetoelectric nanodiscs (MENDs) that can be used to stimulate neurons without the need for invasive surgery. These nanoparticles, which are approximately 250 nm across, can be injected into a specific location in the brain and stimulated with an electromagnet…
Human-caused climate change is intensifying Atlantic hurricanes by a whole category on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, according to two new studies. The research found that climate change enhanced the maximum wind speeds of hurricanes by an average of about 29 kilometers per hour (18 miles per hour) from 2019 to 2023. This increase in…
Scientists in the STAR Collaboration have made a groundbreaking discovery by developing a new method to investigate the shapes of atomic nuclei through high-energy collisions. This innovative approach offers unprecedented insight into nuclear structure and promises to deepen our understanding of strong nuclear forces and their role in the composition of neutron stars and the…
For the first time, scientists have captured a zoomed-in photo of a star outside of our Milky Way galaxy. The image revealed surprising details about WOH G64, a giant star that is probably dying. The star, which is about 1,500 times the size of our sun, sits 160,000 light-years away from Earth and is expected…
Researchers from China and Spain have developed a nanoflake-based breath sensor that can detect lung cancer with unprecedented accuracy. The sensor, made from platinum-loaded nanoflakes, can detect isoprene levels in exhaled breath, a biomarker for lung cancer. The device has shown promising results in clinical trials, distinguishing between healthy individuals and lung cancer patients with…
Scientists have proposed a new theory about the origins of Mars’ moons, Phobos and Deimos. According to this theory, the moons may be the remains of an asteroid that was shredded by Mars’ gravity. This theory could help explain the moons’ unusual shapes and orbits. An upcoming mission to collect samples from Phobos may provide…
Researchers in Switzerland have made a significant breakthrough in cancer treatment by developing a hybrid approach that combines ultrahigh-dose-rate (UHDR) electron beams with conventional dose-rate (CDR) photon beams. This innovative technique, known as FLASH radiotherapy, has the potential to spare healthy tissues while effectively targeting malignant tumour cells. The study, published in Radiotherapy and Oncology,…
Researchers warn that generative AI models, trained on their own synthetic content, may collapse and produce nonsensical responses. This could exacerbate bias and lead to a loss of nuance in AI-generated text. Experts suggest that using a combination of human-generated and AI-generated data for training can help prevent this collapse. Forecast for 6 months: In…