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Brain Cells Not Required for Memory, Study Finds

A new study published in Nature Communications reveals that memory-like processes are not exclusive to brain cells but can occur in other types of human cells. Researchers at the Center for Neural Science at New York University discovered that two types of non-neural cells, when exposed to specific patterns of chemical stimuli, exhibited memory responses … Read more

China’s Three Gorges Dam Slows Earth’s Rotation by Tiny Amount

The Three Gorges Dam in central China is not only the largest hydroelectric dam on Earth but also has a surprising effect on the planet’s rotation. According to NASA, filling its massive reservoir causes a slight shift in the Earth’s rotation, increasing the length of each day by 0.06 microseconds. Standing 185 meters tall and … Read more

Polygenic Scores Correlate Moderately with Intelligence

A recent study published in Intelligence explores the power of polygenic scores to predict intelligence, finding that these genetic estimates moderately correlate with IQ scores. The researchers analyzed data from 452,864 participants across nine independent studies and found that polygenic scores explained about 6% of the variation in intelligence. The study used a meta-analytic approach … Read more

Perplexity vs ChatGPT: Which AI Chatbot Reigns Supreme?

Perplexity and ChatGPT are two popular AI Q&A tools competing for the top spot. While both offer unique features, their performance varies in different tests. We put them head-to-head to see which one comes out on top. ChatGPT, launched in 2022, uses OpenAI’s GPT family of large language models, including newer models like o1. Perplexity, … Read more

Gazprom Halts Ukrainian Gas Transit Amid EU-Pivot Shift

Russia’s state-controlled energy giant Gazprom will reduce gas flows to Europe via Ukraine, effective December 31, as a five-year transit agreement expires. The move is part of a broader EU shift away from Russian energy, with Norway, the US, and Qatar emerging as key suppliers. Gazprom, which reported a $7 billion net loss in 2023, … Read more

Wordle Review: MAMBO Puzzle Analysis

The New York Times Games’ latest Wordle Review has been published, focusing on Sunday’s puzzle, Dec. 29, 2024. To avoid spoilers, players are encouraged to solve the puzzle first. Here are some key statistics about today’s challenge: * The difficulty of this puzzle was determined by averaging 5.8 guesses out of 6, making it very … Read more

MicroStrategy Buys Another 2138 Bitcoins Worth $41.1 Billion

MicroStrategy, a software company with a significant cryptocurrency stake, has made another major move in the bitcoin market. The firm bought approximately 2,138 bitcoins at an average price of less than $100,000 per coin. This latest purchase brings MicroStrategy’s total bitcoin holdings to an impressive value of over $41.1 billion. The company’s decision to invest … Read more

Sun Unleashes Three Powerful Flares Before 2024’s End

The sun is ending 2024 with a bang, producing three powerful solar flares on December 29. According to NASA, these X-class flares occurred at 2:18 A.M., 11:14 P.M., and 11:31 P.M. EST. Scientists have identified this as the maximum of the sun’s current activity cycle, which is driven by its magnetic fields. The magnetic fields … Read more