Astronomers have created the first weather map of the exoplanet WASP-127b, revealing brutal conditions with winds reaching speeds of up to 33,000 km/hr. The map was created by analyzing light transmitted through the planet’s atmosphere during a transit event. The study provides valuable insights into the planet’s atmosphere and wind patterns, which will aid in…
Science on The Soothsayer / page 4
A recent study reveals that despite the massive rainfall in California in 2023, the state’s aquifers have barely been recharged due to decades of drought and human pumping. The research, led by William Ellsworth, used seismic waves to map the water infiltration in the aquifers, showing that only about 25% of the water lost since…
Researchers at the Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Spain have developed a “sneeze simulator” that uses a three-dimensional model of the nasal cavity to study how respiratory illnesses spread. The simulator can replicate different sneeze intensities and investigate how the nasal cavity affects aerosol cloud dispersion. This breakthrough could lead to improved predictive models for…
Scientists have discovered that a pure form of cellulose produced by bacteria can act as a plant bandage, significantly boosting healing and regeneration in plants. This breakthrough finding has potential implications for agriculture and plant research, with possible applications in facilitating grafting, preserving cut plant material, or serving as a growth medium in laboratories. Forecast…
Unlocking the Secrets of Static Electricity: A Breakthrough in Understanding Contact Electrification
Physicists in Austria have made a groundbreaking discovery in understanding static electricity, also known as contact electrification or triboelectrification. Led by Juan Carlos Sobarzo and Scott Waitukaitis, the team found that the static electricity acquired by identical material samples can evolve differently over time, based on each sample’s history of contact with other samples. This…
Scientists at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria have made a groundbreaking discovery in understanding the phenomenon of static electricity. By studying the electric charge in experiments with a single material, they found that the charge an object picks up can depend on its history, specifically the number of times it had previously touched…
Researchers in Beijing, China, have made a significant breakthrough in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease with the development of a photothermal, nanoparticle-based deep brain stimulation (DBS) system. The system, which combines photothermal gold nanoparticles, dopamine neuron-activating TRPV1 antibodies, and β-synuclein peptides, has successfully reversed the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease in laboratory mice. The treatment works…
The Trump administration’s push to reduce the federal workforce has led to the termination of thousands of employees, including scientists, in government agencies. This move has sparked concerns about public health and safety, as well as the environment. Employees at health agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of…
Researchers in Ireland and Norway have discovered the secret behind polar bear fur’s ability to remain ice-free, even in the harsh Arctic winter. The team found that the fur’s ice-shedding properties are due to a substance called sebum, which contains chemicals that could be used to develop environmentally-friendly anti-icing surfaces and lubricants. This breakthrough could…
Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery of a new type of ice, called plastic ice, which exists on alien planets. This hybrid phase of water has been found to exhibit traits of both solid ice and liquid water, and its existence was confirmed through experiments at high temperatures and pressures. The discovery may help researchers…