Vertex Pharmaceuticals and CRISPR Therapeutics’ gene therapy Casgevy has started infusing patients with edited cells, following the company’s second-quarter earnings report on August 1. This marks a breakthrough in sickle cell treatment, as experts predicted a slow uptake due to the complex process of undergoing treatment, which can take up to a year. Meanwhile, bluebird … Read more
Scientists from McGill University have developed a novel process to harness the power of sunlight and convert carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane into valuable chemicals that can be used as fuels and in manufacturing. The photo- driven oxygen-atom-grafting process uses gold, palladium, and gallium nitride as catalysts to transform CO2 and methane into carbon monoxide … Read more
Archaeologists made an exciting discovery on a farm in the mountains of Norway, uncovering four silver bracelets dating back to the 9th century Viking Age. The treasure was hidden deep under the floorboards of what was likely once a house for Viking slaves. The find is significant not only because of its historical value but … Read more
The intricacies of chromosome separation during cell division have long fascinated scientists. A recent study by a team at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Heidelberg, Germany, led by Sara Cuylen-Haering, has shed new light on this process. The researchers discovered that a protein called Ki-67 plays a crucial role in keeping chromosomes apart and … Read more
VS Code is to modern text editors what Chromium is to browsers: a fork magnet. A slew of niche spins have emerged, each putting their own spin on Microsoft’s massively popular original. The latest to join the fray is Void, an open-source alternative to Cursor. Cursor is a subscription-based, cross-platform AI-powered text editor that has … Read more
In 1859, a massive solar flare caused widespread disruptions to telegraph systems across Europe and North America, sparking fires in some cases. This event was later named the Carrington event. Researchers have since discovered that the Earth has been battered by even more extreme solar storms in the past. Using radiocarbon dating, scientists analyzed tree … Read more
Astronomers have discovered a new feature in the distribution of exoplanets, which they’ve dubbed the “Neptunian Ridge.” This finding sheds light on the complex dynamics within the Neptunian Desert, a region with a scarcity of hot Neptunes, and the Neptunian Savanna, where these planets are more commonly found. The team led by an international group … Read more
A Japanese company called Helical Fusion is poised to launch a groundbreaking steady-state nuclear fusion reactor, according to Interesting Engineering. This pilot reactor has significant implications for clean energy if successful. Traditional nuclear reactors use fission, where atoms are split apart, but scientists have long sought to harness the power of fusion, where two atoms … Read more
In today’s age of automation, finding purpose and meaning in work is more crucial than ever. John Ruskin, a 19th-century thinker, offers timeless insights into human motivation, purpose, and the psychology of work. According to Ruskin, automation risks stripping work of its creativity and meaning, reducing it to mere productivity. Ruskin believed that good work … Read more
MIT physicists have proposed a novel method to detect primordial black holes (PBHs) as dark matter candidates. According to their study, if a PBH were to pass within a few hundred million miles of Mars, it would cause a slight deviation in the planet’s orbit, known as a “wobble.” This wobble could be detected by … Read more