Science

Duke University Professor Jennifer Groh and co-authors have found that keeping the head still but shifting the eyes to one side or the other sparks vibrations in the eardrums, even in the absence of any sounds. Surprisingly, these vibrations start slightly before the eyes move, indicating that motion in the …

An international team of physicists has created the first small-scale replica of gamma ray bursts in a laboratory, opening up a whole new way to investigate the properties of these mysterious flashes of intense high-energy radiation that appear from random directions in space. The results are published in the journal …

Daily consumption of a certain form of curcumin, a bioactive compound found in the cooking spice turmeric, improved memory and mood in people with age-related memory loss, according to a new study. Turmeric contains curcumin, which has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Image credit: Joachim Schlosser / …

Google partnered with the XPRIZE Foundation years ago to encourage innovative companies to shoot for the moon — literally. The Google Lunar XPRIZE offered $30 million in prizes to get private remote vehicles on the moon, but there were more bumps in the road than anyone expected. It started to …

Mining on the ocean floor could do irreversible damage to marine ecosystems, according to a new study from the University of Exeter and Greenpeace Research Laboratories. A schematic showing the processes involved in deep-sea mining for the three main types of mineral deposit. Image credit: Design Studio, University of Exeter. …

Consumption of fermentable fiber can prevent obesity, metabolic syndrome and adverse changes in the intestine by promoting growth of ‘good’ bacteria in the colon, according to a study published in the journal Cell Host Microbe. Zou et al found the fermentable fiber inulin restored gut health and protected mice against …

Female domestic cats are much more likely to use their right paw than males, according to a new study published in the journal Animal Behaviour. In the study, male cats showed a left-side bias for natural behaviors, females a right-side bias. Image credit: Jan Mallander. Until now, most studies on …

SpaceX has been on the verge of test-firing its long-awaited Falcon Heavy rocket for weeks, but there’s a new kink in its plans. No, it’s not a mechanical issue with the rocket. It’s the intractable bureaucracy of the US government. After previously suggesting a government shutdown would not delay the …

 A University of St Andrews-led study shows that New Caledonian crows (Corvus moneduloides) acquire hidden food several times faster when using hooked rather than basic (non-hooked) tools, regardless of tool material, prey type and extraction context. The New Caledonian crow (Corvus moneduloides) is the only non-human animal known to craft …

An intermediate-sized asteroid discovered sixteen years ago will fly safely past Earth on February 4, 2018 at 4:30 p.m. EST (1:30 p.m. PST, 21:30 UTC). This is an artist’s impression of an asteroid. Image credit: Mark A. Garlick, Space-art.co.uk / University of Warwick / University of Cambridge. The asteroid, known …