Lifeboat Foundation: Safeguarding Humanity
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Blog – Page 17

In new research published in Nature, Weizmann Institute scientists introduce a powerful tool to explore quantum phenomena—the cryogenic Quantum Twisting Microscope (QTM).

Using this pioneering instrument, researchers have observed—for the first time—the interactions between electrons and an exotic atomic vibration in twisted sheets of graphene, called a phason. These findings shed new light on the mysterious superconductivity and strange metallicity that emerge when graphene sheets are rotated to the magic angle.

The fundamental properties of materials depend critically on their underlying particles—the flow of electrons governs , and atomic lattice vibrations, termed phonons, drive heat conductivity. However, when electrons and phonons are coupled, remarkable new phenomena can emerge.

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Scientists found a genetic link between autism and DM1, where repeat DNA sequences disrupt brain gene splicing. This sheds light on ASD’s development and opens new paths for targeted treatments. Researchers from The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UN

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Lake sediment cores in Guatemala reveal directional ground shaking from the 1976 earthquake, offering rare insight into seismic directivity and helping reconstruct a 4,000-year paleoseismic history. Sediment cores collected from four lakes in Guatemala have captured evidence of the direction in w

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Without coordinated action, genomic data could be exploited for surveillance, discrimination, or even bioterrorism. Current protections are fragmented, and vital collaboration between disciplines is lacking. Key to successful prevention will be interdisciplinary cooperation between computer scientists, bioinformaticians, biotechnologists, and security professionals – groups that rarely work together but must align.

Our research lays the foundations for improving biosecurity by providing a single, clear list of all the possible threats in the entire next-generation sequencing process.

The paper also recommends practical solutions, including secure sequencing protocols, encrypted storage, and AI-powered anomaly detection, creating a foundation for much stronger cyber-biosecurity.

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In a groundbreaking study, scientists discovered that the brain forms “cold memories” which can later trigger increased metabolism even without a drop in temperature.

By training mice to associate specific visual cues with cold environments, the researchers showed that the animals began heating themselves in anticipation of cold, driven by brain-stored memories. They pinpointed these cold memories to engram cells in the hippocampus and demonstrated that stimulating these cells could artificially activate thermogenesis. This exciting work opens up potential therapeutic strategies for conditions like obesity and cancer by harnessing learned thermal regulation and highlights the deep connections between memory, behavior, and metabolism.

Brain Forms “Cold Memories” That Influence Metabolism.

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UNIGE scientists have identified a brain circuit that may be at the root of the social difficulties experienced by individuals with autism spectrum disorders. From birth, human survival relies on the ability to connect with others. This capacity, crucial for healthy development, appears to be dis

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Cybersecurity researchers have revealed that Russian military personnel are the target of a new malicious campaign that distributes Android spyware under the guise of the Alpine Quest mapping software.

“The attackers hide this trojan inside modified Alpine Quest mapping software and distribute it in various ways, including through one of the Russian Android app catalogs,” Doctor Web said in an analysis.

The trojan has been found embedded in older versions of the software and propagated as a freely available variant of Alpine Quest Pro, a paid offering that removes advertising and analytics features.

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