Dubbed by one scientist as, “probably the most important paper to be published in the field of dementia in the last five years,” a team of researchers has described a newly defined neurodegenerative disease that closely mimics the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, but which has an entirely different pathological cause.
By Rowan Hooper
Science fiction thrillers usually send in gun-toting heroes like Will Smith or Tom Cruise to kick invading alien butt. Arrival is completely, wonderfully different: it sends in a linguist, played by Amy Adams.
“Language,” one character says, “is the first weapon drawn in a conflict.” The big question to ask the aliens: what is their purpose on Earth?
Continue reading “The science behind the twisting alien linguistics of Arrival” »
Just days after North Korea announced it was suspending its testing programme, scientists revealed that the country’s underground nuclear test site had partially collapsed. This assessment was based on data gathered from smaller earthquakes that followed North Korea’s biggest nuclear test in 2017. A new study published in Science has now confirmed the collapse using satellite radar imaging.
The collapse may have played a role in North Korea’s change in policy. If correct, and with the hindsight of this research, we might have speculated that the North Koreans would want to make such an offer of peace. This shows how scientific analysis normally reserved for studying natural earthquakes can be a powerful tool in deciphering political decisions and predicting future policy across the globe.
In fact, another unusual earthquake in South Korea in 2017 also has the potential to affect geopolitics, this time by changing energy policy. “Seismic shift” may be a cliche often used by journalists and policymakers to describe changing political landscapes, but these recent earthquakes along the Korean Peninsula remind us there can really be authentic links between seismic events and global affairs.
Continue reading “Earthquake science could have predicted North Korea’s nuclear climbdown” »
Science-themed board games are an increasingly popular way to learn about everything from atom building to colonising space.
If you like games, why not sign up for Lootcrate? https://lootcrate.com/MikeInHD
Use Coupon Code: MikeInHD
In the world of Halo, Master Chief is a super soldier outfitted with one of the most advanced sets of body armor ever produced by mankind. So how bullet proof if Master Chief? Master Chief Doesn’t Want to Die.
Continue reading “HOW BULLETPROOF IS MASTER CHIEF — Halo Science” »
There have been a number of efforts to increase genome diversity. In 2010, the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Wellcome Trust in London launched the Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) initiative, which supports Africa-led genome research. And last year, the NIH started enrolment for the All of Us research programme, which plans to collect DNA and health data from hundreds of thousands of people of varying ethnicities in the United States.
Researchers from under-represented groups are making genomics more inclusive by working with communities that have been overlooked or abused.
An inevitable comment is usually something along the lines of women don’t need this kind of help because “insert foolish reason here.” The announcement of the black hole image shows just why this kind of action is needed.
The soon-to-be iconic picture of Katie Bouman reacting to the first image coming through was posted. Suddenly, the Internet trolls in defense of “male scientist” broke upon the scene, The goal to denigrate Bouman’s work on the project and turn the real “hero” of the discovery to another male scientists.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=dh2kWSmxjUo
Become a patron of TRANSHUMANIA today: Read posts by TRANSHUMANIA and get access to exclusive content and experiences on the world’s largest membership platform for artists and creators.
