Today's Top Science, Space, Technology, and Environment News.

Today's top science, space, technology, and environment news.

Views expressed in this science and technology update are those of the reporters and correspondents.  Accessed on 15 November 2024, 2226 UTC.

Content and Source:  https://feedly.com/i/my/me.  Today in Science compilation from https://feedly.com and "Scientific American", "Discover Magazine", "Phys.org", "Popsci.com", and ScienceDaily.com."

Please check link or scroll down to read your selections.  Thanks for joining us today.

Russ Roberts (https://hawaiisciencejournal.blogspot.com).

 

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DISCOVER MAGAZINE

Curly-Tailed Cats Communicate with an ‘Accent’

55Scientific American Content / 9h

A genetic mutation makes some cats’ tail curl over their back, giving them something akin to an accent when they communicate with other kitties

What’s the Roundest Object in the Universe?

43Scientific American Content / 9h

Finding a perfect sphere is actually pretty difficult

Fun Facts about Teeth across the Animal Kingdom

30Scientific American Content / 5h

Anglerfish have invisible fangs, narwhal tusks are extra-long canines, and more facts from the weird and wonderful study of teeth will astound you

Ending NASA’s Chandra Will Cut Us Out of the High-Resolution X-Ray Universe

Scientific American Content / 9h

The Chandra X-ray Observatory is facing closure. Shutting it down would be a loss to science as a whole

Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Arecibo Message

Scientific American Content / 9h

On the 50th anniversary of the “Arecibo message,” we present a reflection on humankind’s first attempt to send a transmission to intelligent life in the cosmos.

The Arecibo Message, Earth’s First Interstellar Transmission, Turns 50

67Scientific American Content / 11min

In 1974 we beamed a radio transmission into space that changed the way we think about our place in the cosmos

DISCOVERMAGAZINE.COM

Why Does Everything Look Flat Even Though the Earth Is Round?

Discover Magazine / 5h

Images from the International Space Station clearly shows Earth’s curvature.

Missed the Comet C/2023 A3? Don't Worry, Here are Other Comets to Look For

Discover Magazine / 2h

2025 isn’t expected to be a great year for comets, but with luck, you might get a few good sightings.

Strength Training Early in Life Can Set Up Kids for a Lifetime of Health

Discover Magazine / 6h

An age-appropriate strength training program can have significant benefits for children and adolescents.

PHYS.ORG

As climate warms, California wildfires are becoming more severe, killing more trees

Phys.org / 8h

Wildfires continue to damage California's forests as human-driven climate change amplifies their impacts. A new study published in Environmental Research Letters reveals that the severity of the state's wildfires has rapidly increased over the last several decades, contributing to greater forest loss than would have been expected from past increases in burned areas.

Toxin was released into the Congaree River in South Carolina: Agencies did little to stop it, greens say

Phys.org / 10h

High amounts of a toxic chemical are being discharged into the Congaree and Cooper rivers from plastics factories in South Carolina, but state and federal regulators are doing little to control the pollution, a new report says.

Compound metalens achieves distortion-free imaging with wide field of view

Phys.org / 2h

In a recent study, researchers have developed a compound metalens that enables distortion-free imaging. The study, published in Engineering, presents a novel approach to on-demand distortion engineering using compound metalenses.

Scientists gain new insights into how mass is distributed in hadrons

Phys.org / 2h

Scientists can determine the mass of subatomic particles that are built from quarks by looking at the particles' energy and momentum in four-dimensional spacetime. One of the quantities that encode this information, called the trace anomaly, is linked to the fact that physical observables from high-energy experiments depend on the energy/momentum scales involved.

Cross-species transplantation: Generation of rat offspring from ovarian oocytes in mice

Phys.org / 2h

The idea of maturing oocytes in the ovary to produce offspring has been implemented in various ways. One such method, ovarian transplantation, is a relatively simple procedure for obtaining eggs, compared to in vitro culture of ovaries and follicles. However, it is still difficult to transplant ovaries into cellular immunodeficient mice and produce offspring from the eggs grown in the mice.

Metalenses harness AI for high-resolution, full-color imaging for compact optical systems

Phys.org / 2h

Modern imaging systems, such as those used in smartphones, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) devices, are constantly evolving to become more compact, efficient, and high-performing. Traditional optical systems rely on bulky glass lenses, which have limitations like chromatic aberrations, low efficiency at multiple wavelengths, and large physical sizes. These drawbacks present challe

POPSCI.COM

This AI-generated grandma thwarts scammers with long stories about her cat

O2 launches AI to thwart scammers

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80Popular Science / 4h

Scammers worldwide are making off big. Last year alone, the Federal Trade Commission estimates US consumers lost a record $10 billion due to fraud , a 14% increase from just one year prior. More and more, scammers are targeting older, vulnerable people over the phone. Over than two-thirds of UK residents over the age of 75 surveyed in a recent research paper claimed they had experienced at least

Mountain lions in Los Angeles become night owls to avoid humans

63Popular Science / 7h

To avoid people, mountain lions ( Puma concolor) in the greater Los Angeles area are changing their activity patterns. The big cats that live near areas where humans hike, run, and cycle are becoming increasingly more nocturnal than the mountain lions who live in more remote areas. The findings are detailed in a study published November 15 in the journal Biological Conservation . “People are incr

Famously extra large penguin Pesto is molting

Popular Science / 3h

A large, world-famous penguin is going through some changes. Pesto , the fuzzy King penguin and social media sensation from the Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium in Australia is beginning the natural molting process. It’s completely normal, but the fluffy bird looks a little bit different from when he first went viral over the summer. Here’s what you should know. Pesto is beginning to molt and lose his

The hidden Mac tool for converting annoying HEIC images

Popular Science / 8h

You send a folder full of photos to your friend who uses Windows. They can’t figure out how to open them. What do you do? The photos in question are likely HEIC photos , which aren’t easy to open on Windows (and also difficult for many desktop apps). And while you could open every single photo in Preview or your photo editing app of choice and export them to another format, there’s a faster way o

Become the cool uncle when you gift Xbox Game Pass Core

Popular Science / 8h

While gift-giving is supposed to be all about the act of giving, it really feels great when your gift is the favorite of the day. Instantly become known as the one who always gives the best gifts when you gift the gamer in your life 3 months of the Xbox Game Pass Core for just $19.99. And you can skip straight to checkout to grab this digital code. This means you’re giving three months of access

Don’t get cuffed into a situationship—there’s a better way to stay warm

Popular Science / 10h

It’s that time of year again—cuffing season—when everyone’s trying to lock down a companion for the cold weather months. A recent survey from Dating.com found that 89 percent of singles in the U.S. actively seek a partner for the colder months. But whether you’re single or looking to mingle, the Helios Puffuto Heated Coat will be your winter situationship, and it’s on sale now for only $74.97. Th

SCIENCEDAILY.COM

Biologists reveal the genetic 'switch' behind parrot color diversity

ScienceDaily / 3h

From the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro to the shoulders of pirates: parrots are synonymous with color for people across the world. In a new study, scientists uncover a 'switch' in the DNA of parrots that controls their wide gamut of colors.

How next-day responsibilities influence cannabis use

ScienceDaily / 2h

A study found that people are less likely to consume cannabis if they had an upcoming activity, which is consistent with other studies, and would reduce use the most for job interviews and caring for children. However, people who rated the suitability of using cannabis in each situation more highly also were more likely to consider using the drug.

How stress is fundamentally changing our memories

Stress alters and disrupts memories

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ScienceDaily / 2h

In a new study, researchers identify the biological processes behind stress-induced aversive memory generalization and highlight an intervention which could help restore appropriate memory specificity for people with PTSD.

Exposure to marijuana in the womb may increase risk of addiction to opioids later in life, study finds

Womb marijuana exposure increases opioid addiction

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ScienceDaily / 2h

Evidence has been growing to suggest that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, poses risks to the developing fetus by impacting brain development. Now a new preclinical research study finds that this could increase the risk of addiction to opioids later in life.

Researchers uncover potential treatment for rare genetic disorders

FDA drug may treat rare disorders

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ScienceDaily / 3h

Researchers have identified a potential treatment for Sandhoff and Tay-Sachs diseases -- two rare, often fatal lysosomal storage disorders that cause progressive damage to nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. After years of investigating the diseases' underlying mechanisms, the research team has identified an existing FDA-approved drug that could significantly improve quality of life for affe

AI headphones create a 'sound bubble,' quieting all sounds more than a few feet away

AI headphones create sound bubbles

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ScienceDaily / 4h

Researchers have created a headphone prototype that allows listeners to hear people speaking within a bubble with a programmable radius of 3 to 6 feet. Voices and sounds outside the bubble are quieted an average of 49 decibels, even if they're louder than those in the bubble