Starting next month, Southwest Airlines is raising the altitude at which flight attendants begin preparing the cabin for landing. From Dec. 4, they will start this process at 18, 000 feet (5, 486 meters) instead of the usual 10, 000 feet (3, 048 meters). The reason? To lower the chances of in-flight
Ever wondered how we know what we're seeing is real? It turns out our brains don't just rely on looks; they also use motion. Scientists have been studying this by focusing on how we perceive visual events. They've found that when things move, their shape, weight, and what they're made of can change
Ever wondered how plants handle both wet and dry conditions? Let's chat about the Arabidopsis thaliana plant. This little guy can flourish in both environments, thanks to a special gene called WRKY22. WRKY22 has a unique instruction zone, known as the promoter region. A tiny tweak in this region all
Atomic Force Microscopy, or AFM, is like a tiny detective in the world of biology. It works by gently prodding surfaces with a super-sharp tip, giving scientists an incredibly close look at things too small to see with regular microscopes. Over time, scientists have gotten better at understanding ho
After the dust settled on the 2024 election, we can take a good look at how the polls fared. They weren’t perfect, but they did a pretty decent job, especially considering the tough environment for pollsters. National polls had Donald Trump and Kamala Harris in a tight race, with Harris slightly ahe
Cancer ranks as the second leading cause of death worldwide. Understanding its incidence, death rates, and how it affects people's lives is crucial for better prevention and healthcare planning. A recent study explored the cancer burden and risks across 204 countries and territories over a 41-year s
Once upon a time, there was a bird named the crested ibis. This bird loved wetlands, and it used to live throughout East Asia. But sadly, it was nearly gone from Korea, Russia, and Japan, with only China having a few left. Scientists in China found seven of these birds and started a special plan to
Ever wondered what keeps African genets busy at night? Two types of genets, the small-spotted and Cape genets, were studied to find out how seasons and competition affect their nightly activities. These tiny carnivores live in the same area but have slightly different habits. Scientists tracked them
Florida’s condo market is facing a big change. By the end of this year, condo associations must have a structural reserve study done. This means finding out how much money is needed for repairs and maintenance over the next 10 years. It’s a lot of money, sometimes in the millions. Condo owners will
Ever wondered how scientists manage massive amounts of data from experiments? Let's dive into how the ALICE experiment at CERN, which studies heavy-ion collisions, connects with the European Data Grid (EDG)—a network of computers that work together like a super-powerful machine. At the heart of ALIC
