A rare and dangerous substance called Bis(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl) sebacate, or BTMPS, has been discovered for the first time in eastern North Carolina. This chemical, used industrially as a UV-blocking component, is now being added to street drugs in both powder and pill form. Senior Scientist Nabarun Dasgupta, who works with the UNC Hill Street Drug Analysis … Read more
Scientists have long been fascinated by Vincent van Gogh’s iconic painting, Starry Night. But recently, researchers from China and France took their admiration to the next level by analyzing the swirling colors and shapes in the painting to see how closely they match up with known atmospheric physics. The team found that not only did … Read more
Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery that could revolutionize quantum computation. Researchers from University College Dublin and the Indian Institute of Technology have found a way to create objects that behave like half of an electron, known as Majorana fermions. This breakthrough could lead to the development of topological quantum computers. The research was published … Read more
Archaeologists have made a significant discovery in Corbeil-Essonnes, Île-de-France, after excavating four rooms in the basement of a house. The operation was prompted by the accidental discovery of a skeleton during renovation work. The excavation uncovered 38 graves, dating back to the 3rd to 10th centuries AD. The cemetery is older than previously thought, with … Read more
Electrical engineering student Simon Liu has made it possible for anyone to harness the power of plasma in the comfort of their own home or office. His open-source project, a tokamak generator, uses an 80mm glass ball filled with xenon gas and some affordable electronics. The device is designed to create a beautiful purple plasma … Read more
Astronomers have made an astonishing discovery – a powerful radio signal that has traveled through space for 8 billion years, one of the most distant and energetic signals ever observed. The mysterious burst, known as FRB 20220610A, is part of the enigmatic fast radio bursts (FRBs) phenomenon. FRBs are intense flashes of radio waves that … Read more
Meta Connect 2024 kicked off with a keynote from CEO Mark Zuckerberg, showcasing new hardware and software to support two of Meta’s big ambitions: AI and the metaverse. The event featured updates on Meta’s Llama AI model, new Quest headsets, and a prototype for fully AR glasses. One of the main announcements was Orion, described … Read more
Pfizer has decided to withdraw its sickle cell disease therapy, Oxbryta, from all markets where it is approved. The company will also discontinue all studies and access programs related to the treatment. This decision is based on the totality of clinical data, which now shows that the risks associated with using Oxbryta outweigh its benefits. … Read more
Low self-esteem can be a sneaky beast, influencing our actions without us even realizing it. In this article, we’ll explore 10 common behaviors that may indicate low self-esteems. 1. Over-apologizing If you find yourself constantly saying “sorry” for the smallest things or apologizing for things that don’t require an apology, it might be a sign … Read more
Meta, a social media company founded by Mark Zuckerberg, has announced significant upgrades to its artificial intelligence (AI) models. The most notable change is the introduction of visual capabilities, allowing users’ photos and other visual information to be analyzed. This upgrade will enable various applications, such as robotics, virtual reality, and AI agents that can … Read more