Computational models show why staying home really is the best idea
COVID-19 has now forced most of us into our homes for weeks. A recent study highlighted the importance of staying at home in these crucial times, even if you’re feeling well: people with mild, limited or even no symptoms at all were estimated to have caused the majority of severe COVID-19 infections and the wide geographic spread of COVID-19. Continue reading Computational models show why staying home really is the best idea
Should We Help NASA “Shoot for the Moon” Again?
by Christopher Rota figures by Hannah Zucker When the first Apollo program astronauts set foot on the Moon in 1969, their footsteps inspired a generation. This opened a new realm of possibility for what humans can achieve with the necessary motivation and resources. Now, just over 50 years later, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has put the wheels in motion to lay down a fresh … Continue reading Should We Help NASA “Shoot for the Moon” Again?
NASA has Detected Marsquakes, Proving the Red Planet is Seismically Active
Scientists have recently shaken up our perception of Mars. A NASA team has directly shown that Mars is seismically active – much more than scientists expected, too. Continue reading NASA has Detected Marsquakes, Proving the Red Planet is Seismically Active
Hand Washing
Spanish translation available here. Continue reading Hand Washing
Researchers Discover Oldest Ancestor of Almost Every Animal
Researchers at UC Riverside have discovered the oldest ancestor of almost all animals, including humans. This worm fills in a long-missing gap of the evolutionary biology puzzle. Continue reading Researchers Discover Oldest Ancestor of Almost Every Animal
Serological test can detect who has recovered from coronavirus infection
Testing shortages have it made it extremely difficult to track the spread of the novel coronavirus disease COVID-19. A new kind of test can reveal whether someone has ever had the infection, even if it was mild or asymptomatic. Continue reading Serological test can detect who has recovered from coronavirus infection
Study asks, can we forgive robots?
Forgiveness is associated with humans, but may play an integral role in human-robot interactions. A study asks whether we can forgive a robot for commiting a crime. Debating forgiveness rather than punishment, the study adds another ethical dimension to our perception of AI.
Continue reading Study asks, can we forgive robots?
COVID-19 and Emerging Viral Diseases: the journey from animals to humans
by Ziqi Chen figures by Rebecca Senft We live in a universe of viruses. It is estimated that there are billions of types of viruses on earth, and ~320,000 types that infect mammals alone. Many viral species exist in our surrounding environment. As we live, breathe, eat, talk, and go about our daily activities, the number of viruses that we come into contact with is virtually … Continue reading COVID-19 and Emerging Viral Diseases: the journey from animals to humans
Curing Cancer with the Help of a Living Fossil: The Horseshoe Crab
by Stephanie Smelyansky figures by Jovana Andrejevic Nature knows to quit when it’s ahead–just take a look at the horseshoe crab. Since its origins 450 million years ago, the animal has remained relatively unchanged. This living fossil continues to trudge through shallow, brackish waters, its large tank-like shell protecting its soft, wriggly underbody, looking for tiny worms and mollusks to scoop into its belly, just … Continue reading Curing Cancer with the Help of a Living Fossil: The Horseshoe Crab
A Radical New Mechanism for Cell Damage
Scientists have uncovered a new mechanism by which important components of cells can be damaged. Such a discovery could provide new insight into the biology of aging, cancer, and degeneration, as well as development of new drugs and strategies for food preservation. Continue reading A Radical New Mechanism for Cell Damage