DNA computing uses programmable arrays to redefine diagnostics, offering scalable and efficient disease detection at the molecular level.
Scientists trapped ultra-cold molecules, improving quantum computing with better stability, accuracy, and computational possibilities.
Could tiny grains from asteroid Bennu unlock the secrets of life in our solar system?
Does life exist beyond Earth and have the building blocks of life existed in our solar system for billions of years? This is what a recent study published in Nature Astronomy hopes to address as a team of international researchers analyzed dust samples obtained from the asteroid Bennu, which is hypothesized to have broken off from a larger parent body, to ascertain if it contains the building blocks of life as we know it. This study has the potential to help scientists better understand the early conditions of the solar system, along with the formation and evolution of the planets and moons that comprise it, as well.
For the study, the researchers used a transmission electron microscope at Goethe University to analyze grains that were part of the 122 grams (0.27 pounds) of dust samples returned to Earth by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission in September 2024. The goal of the study was to ascertain what components comprise Bennu, which existed since the early days of the solar system more than 4 billion years ago.
In the end, the researchers identified greater amounts of nitrogen, carbon, and ammonia than were obtained from asteroid Ryugu by Japan’s Hayabusa2 spacecraft in 2020. Additionally, this study identified 14 of the 20 amino acids that comprise Earth-based biology, along with all five nucelobases that comprise DNA and RNA. These findings indicate that the building blocks of life potentially existed in the solar system billions of years ago and could comprise some of the planetary bodies of astrobiological interest today, including Saturn’s moon Enceladus and dwarf planet Ceres.
Teslas can now drive themselves from their birthplace at the factory to their designated loading dock lanes without human intervention — Starting with the ~1.2 mile route at the Fremont Factory.
One step closer to large-scale unsupervised FSD.
New research published in the journal Science uncovers how scratching aggravates inflammation and swelling in a mouse model of a type of eczema called allergic contact dermatitis.
“At first, these findings seemed to introduce a paradox: If scratching an itch is bad for us, why does it feel so good?” said senior author Daniel Kaplan, M.D., Ph.D., professor of dermatology and immunology at the University of Pittsburgh.
“Scratching is often pleasurable, which suggests that, in order to have evolved, this behavior must provide some kind of benefit. Our study helps resolve this paradox by providing evidence that scratching also provides defense against bacterial skin infections.”
Death by heartbreak doesn’t just happen in stories. In real life, severe stress can cause the sometimes-fatal takotsubo syndrome.
The real magic of Fermi problems lies in their imperfection. They remind us that it’s okay to be wrong — as long as you’re thoughtfully wrong. “There are no wrong answers,” says Funk. “It’s about the process.”
No single formula exists. Yet each problem invites the same approach: break it down, make realistic (or at least consistent) assumptions, and trust your critical thinking. “No Wrong Answers” is a common Fermi problem refrain because even if your math arrives at a slightly off result, you’ve shown how you reason. And that, ultimately, is the real answer.
So, the next time you’re faced with a seemingly impossible question — whether it’s How many grains of sand are on all the world’s beaches? or How long would it take to drive to the moon? — grab a napkin and a pen. Start breaking it down. Make some guesses. Do some math. You might just surprise yourself with how close you can get.
These insights could drive the development of new drugs to treat transthyretin amyloidosis, a progressive and fatal disease.
Transthyretin, a small but crucial protein, plays a vital role in transporting hormones through the blood and spinal fluid. However, when it misfolds after secretion, it can lead to serious health problems. Misfolded transthyretin forms toxic clumps in the heart and along nerves, causing transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR)—a progressive and often fatal disease. ATTR affects up to 25% of men over 80, leading to symptoms such as shortness of breath, dizziness, and numbness or tingling in the extremities.
In a breakthrough study, researchers at Scripps Research have revealed new structural insights into transthyretin. Their findings, published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology.
What exists at the core of a black hole? A research team led by Enrico Rinaldi, a physicist at the University of Michigan, has leveraged quantum computing and machine learning to analyze the quantum state of a matrix model, providing new insights into the nature of black holes.
The study builds on the holographic principle, which suggests that the fundamental theories of particle physics and gravity are mathematically equivalent, despite being formulated in different dimensions.
Two prevailing theories describe black holes from different dimensional perspectives. In one framework, gravity operates within the three-dimensional geometry of the black hole. In contrast, particle physics is confined to the two-dimensional surface, resembling a flat disk. This duality highlights a key distinction between the two models while reinforcing their interconnected nature.
To travel between the stars requires vast amounts of fuel and energy, but as it turns out, the ocean of night in deep space is full of fuel, if you can collect it along the way.
The Fishback ramjet revisited: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science…
Join this channel to get access to perks:
/ @isaacarthursfia.
Visit our Website: http://www.isaacarthur.net.
Join Nebula: https://go.nebula.tv/isaacarthur.
Support us on Patreon: / isaacarthur.
Support us on Subscribestar: https://www.subscribestar.com/isaac-a…
Facebook Group: / 1583992725237264
Reddit: / isaacarthur.
Twitter: / isaac_a_arthur on Twitter and RT our future content.
SFIA Discord Server: / discord.
Credits: Bussard Ramjet Starship Drive.
Episode 411b, September 10, 2023
Written, Produced & Narrated by: Isaac Arthur.
Graphics: