Lifeboat Foundation

According to a tenet scientists call the cosmological principle, our place in space is in no way exceptional. But recent observations could overturn this long-held assumption.

By Sarah Scoles edited by Lee Billings & Jeanna Bryner

Ever since humans started gazing at the heavens through telescopes, we have discovered, bit by bit, that in celestial terms we’re apparently not so special. Earth was not the center of the universe, it turned out. It wasn’t even the center of the solar system! The solar system, unfortunately, wasn’t the center of the universe either. In fact, there were many star systems fundamentally like it, together making up a galaxy. And, wouldn’t you know, the galaxy wasn’t special but one of many, which all had their own solar systems, which also had planets, some of which presumably host their own ensemble of egoistic creatures with an overinflated sense of cosmic importance.

New research identifies E-TCmito as a key link between neuronal activity and mitochondrial function, highlighting its potential to address cognitive decline in aging and diseases like Alzheimer’s.

New research in mice has identified a critical mechanism that connects neuronal activity with mitochondrial function, offering insight into potential strategies to address age-related cognitive decline. Mitochondria, essential for meeting the energy needs of active neurons, generate adenosine triphosphate (ATP) primarily through oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS).

As mammals age, the efficiency of mitochondrial metabolism in the brain declines, significantly impacting neuronal and network function. The disruption of the OXPHOS pathway contributes to oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, exacerbating these challenges.

Year 2023 I have found both spiders and bees are sentient because their emotional intelligence is very high much like a human child.

‘Fringe’ research suggests the insects that are essential to agriculture have emotions, dreams and even PTSD, raising complex ethical questions.

Unleash 2025 with Archibald Montgomery Low’s visionary spark—where drones, TV, and rocket bikes foretold a future we’re only just embracing.

Photo credit: NASA / Matthew Dominick NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick captured this incredible image of a brilliant red and green aurora in Earth’s thermosphere from the International Space Station (ISS). It was taken from the SpaceX Dragon Endeavour spacecraft on Oct. 7, 2024 around 273 miles above the Indian Ocean. Expedition 72 Flight Engineer Matthew Dominick dedicated much of his personal time to photography, amassing nearly 500,000 photos of Earth as well as snapshots of life aboard the International Space Station. This is a very impressive feat considering that he traveled 99,708,603 total statute miles around our home planet. We.

Non-neural cells can mimic memory-like behavior. These cells ‘remember’ chemical patterns over time, showing that memory mechanisms aren’t exclusive to the brain but rely on fundamental cellular processes.

The “expansion protocol” would be a lot more invasive than you’d enjoy.

NASA’s nuclear propulsion breakthrough promises Mars trips in 45 days. Combining nuclear and plasma systems boosts efficiency, safety, and interplanetary mission success.

Donald J. Cram, a Nobel Prize-winning chemist who taught andconducted research at UCLA for more than 50 years and is remembered bythousands of undergraduates for singing and playing guitar in class, died ofcancer June 17 at his home in Palm Desert. He was 82.

A renowned scientist who was as comfortable riding the waveswith friends in the San Onofre Surfing Club as he was in his lab at UCLAconstructing complex molecular models, Cram won the Nobel Prize in 1987 and theNational Medal of Science in 1993 for his work in host-guest chemistry, a fieldhe helped to create. In 1998, he wasranked among the 75 most important chemists of the past 75 years byChemical and Engineering News.

“DonaldCram stands alone in the incredible variety, beauty and depth of hisaccomplishments,” read the citation for Cram’s National Medal of Science. “His investigations have helped give thisscience its form and sophistication. Hetruly brought art to science by making his science an art.”