Scientists have discovered the secret to Rembrandt’s lustrous sheen effect in his iconic artwork The Night Watch: arsenic. This naturally occurring toxic chemical was found during an ongoing restoration and analysis project at the Rijksmuseum and University of Amsterdam. The study, published in Heritage Science, revealed that Rembrandt used a combination of arsenic sulfide pigments … Read more
Researchers have developed a computer model that mimics how the hippocampus stores new episodic memories without erasing old ones. The model shows that the CA3 region of the hippocampus serves as an anchor point for memories, allowing efficient storage in surrounding regions. The findings reveal insights into how the brain organizes personal experiences and maintains … Read more
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. significantly reduced its stake in Apple Inc. by almost 50% as part of a massive second-quarter selling spree that boosted Warren Buffett’s cash pile to a record $276.9 billion. Berkshire sold $75.5 billion worth of stock on a net basis, with operating earnings rising to $11.6 billion. Warren Buffett was unloading shares … Read more
A team of scientists from the University of California Riverside and Los Angeles found a type of bacteria that can break down certain chemicals called PFAS. These chemicals are made by humans and don’t go away easily in the environment. PFAS were originally used in products like non-stick pans and food containers, but they ended … Read more
It was a project to create a machine that could generate atomic fusion, like the stars do. Researchers wanted to design a reactor that would produce cheap, non-polluting energy. The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (Iter) was started in 2010 and was meant to be finished by 2020. However, the project has been delayed many times … Read more
Researchers developed adjustable arrays of waveguides that introduce synthetic modal dimensions, enhancing the management of light within a system. This innovation can improve the precision of optical communication systems. Synthetic modal dimensions refer to the manipulation of light through waveguides. These waveguides are adjustable, allowing for the precise control of light within a system. This … Read more
DARPA proposes using AI to automatically convert old C code into Rust for memory safety To accelerate the transition to memory-safe programming languages, DARPA is developing TRACTOR, a programmatic code conversion vehicle that uses machine-learning tools to automate the conversion of legacy C code into Rust. This initiative aims to improve software security by reducing … Read more
A record-breaking heat wave is unfolding at the coldest time of year in Earth’s coldest place, Antarctica, causing concerns about the future health of the continent and its consequences for millions of people globally. Temperatures have climbed up to 50 degrees Fahrenheit above normal over parts of Antarctica since mid-July, with some areas typically below … Read more
Researchers at Purdue University have trapped alkali atoms (cesium) on an integrated photonic circuit, which behaves like a transistor for photons. This discovery has the potential to build a quantum network based on cold-atom integrated nanophotonic circuits. The team used lasers to cool and tightly trap the atoms on the integrated circuit, where light propagates … Read more
Hackers from the Chinese group StormBamboo, also known as Evasive Panda, Daggerfly, and StormCloud, compromised an internet service provider (ISP) to spread malware through software updates. The hackers exploited insecure HTTP mechanisms that didn’t validate digital signatures, installing malicious payloads on Windows and macOS devices instead of intended updates. The attackers intercepted DNS requests, modifying … Read more