The occipitotemporal cortex (OTC) in our brain is quite the multitasker. It's not just about recognizing faces, bodies, or scenes. It's about using what we see to guide our actions. Some researchers argue that we should shift our focus. Instead of just looking at categories like faces or places, we should see how the OTC helps us act on what we observe. This makes s...
A comet from another star system is on a path that seems too precise to be random. It's heading towards Jupiter, and its trajectory suggests it might be more than just a chunk of ice and dust. The comet, called 3I/ATLAS, is expected to get very close to Jupiter in 2026. It will pass just outside Jupiter's gravitational boundary, known as the Hill radius. This isn't ...
The brain is like a bustling city, with different areas working together to keep things running smoothly. For a long time, scientists have focused on the gray matter, which is like the city's main offices where important decisions are made. But now, they're starting to realize that the white matter, like the roads connecting these offices, also plays a crucial role i...
Scientists have cooked up a clever way to tackle a nasty pollutant called formaldehyde. This stuff is everywhere, from factories to dirty water, and it's not great for our health. The trick? They've given yeast cells a superpower boost. First, they tweaked the yeast to produce more of an enzyme that breaks down formaldehyde. Then, they added tiny nano-particles that...
Ever wondered how scientists figure out what's in our bodies? It's not as easy as it sounds. They often use a method called metabolomics. This involves looking at tiny amounts of chemicals, or metabolites, in our cells. The problem is, there are lots of unknown metabolites out there. And without a reference, it's hard to identify them. But now, there's a new tool ca...
A new company is making waves in the world of fertility. Nucleus Genomics offers a service that screens embryos for more than just health risks. It also predicts traits like height and intelligence. This has sparked a heated debate. The company's ads in New York City subways have caught people's attention. They say things like, \"Have Your Best Baby\" and \"These ba...
A strange object named 3I/ATLAS has been making waves in the astronomy world. Recent images captured by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter show a fuzzy white ball zooming past Mars. This object is special because it's from another star system, not our own. The images were taken from about 19 million miles away. They show a cloud of dust and ice around the object, wh...
The recent release of NASA's high-resolution images of 3I/ATLAS has sparked a heated debate among scientists. While NASA celebrates the visual data, Harvard scientist Avi Loeb has spotted something unusual. The object's behavior doesn't quite match what we expect from a typical comet. Loeb noticed that the object's glow is not trailing behind it, as one would expect...
People love watching videos on YouTube. It's a place where anyone can share anything. But what about serious stuff like stem cells? A recent study looked at over 4, 000 videos about stem cells. They wanted to see how people talk about this topic online. The study found that some videos get way more views than others. Why? Because famous people and influencers are ta...
Forensic science is getting a high-tech upgrade. Scientists are now using infrared thermography to measure the surface temperature of corpses and the surrounding air. This method is more accurate and easier than the old ways of checking internal body temperatures like the rectum or liver. The old methods had big problems. They needed a lot of skill and were easily m...