Lifeboat Foundation: Safeguarding Humanity
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Though they don’t orbit around our sun, sub-Neptunes are the most common type of exoplanet, or planet outside our solar system, that have been observed in our galaxy. These small, gassy planets are shrouded in mystery…and often, a lot of haze. Now, by observing exoplanet TOI-421 b, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is helping scientists understand sub-Neptunes in a way that was not possible prior to the telescope’s launch.

“I had been waiting my entire career for Webb so that we could meaningfully characterize the atmospheres of these smaller planets,” said principal investigator Eliza Kempton of the University of Maryland, College Park. “By studying their atmospheres, we’re getting a better understanding of how sub-Neptunes formed and evolved, and part of that is understanding why they don’t exist in our solar system.”

The findings are published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

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Mind blanking, when the mind temporarily goes blank, is a distinct, common mental state influenced by attention, arousal, and brain activity patterns. Mind blanking is a common but poorly defined mental phenomenon, encompassing experiences that range from mild drowsiness to a complete loss of con

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NGC 4945, a beautiful spiral galaxy over 12 million light-years away, hides a ferocious secret: a ravenous black hole at its center. This supermassive beast doesn’t just consume matter — it blasts it back out at incredible speeds, launching winds that escape the galaxy itself. This featured Eu

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A new butterfly species, Satyrium curiosolus, has been discovered in Alberta. Isolated for millennia, it shows unique traits and faces conservation risks due to low genetic diversity. In Canada’s Rocky Mountains, a modest yet remarkable butterfly has gone largely unnoticed by science for years. W

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Solving one of the oldest algebra problems isn’t a bad claim to fame, and it’s a claim Norman Wildberger can now make: The mathematician has solved what are known as higher-degree polynomial equations, which have been puzzling experts for nearly 200 years.

Wildberger, from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia, worked with computer scientist Dean Rubine on a paper that details how these incredibly complex calculations could be worked out.

“This is a dramatic revision of a basic chapter in algebra,” says Wildberger. “Our solution reopens a previously closed book in mathematics history.”

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“Theories are like toothbrushes,” it’s sometimes said. “Everybody has their own and nobody wants to use anybody else’s.”

It’s a joke, but when it comes to the study of consciousness – the question of how we have a subjective experience of anything at all – it’s not too far from the truth.

In 2022, British neuroscientist Anil Seth and I published a review listing 22 theories based in the biology of the brain. In 2024, operating with a less restrictive scope, US public intellectual Robert Kuhn counted more than 200.

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RIKEN and Fujitsu Limited have developed a 256-qubit superconducting quantum computer that will significantly expand their joint quantum computing capabilities. The system, located at the RIKEN RQC-FUJITSU Collaboration Center, located on the RIKEN Wako campus, builds upon the advanced technology of the 64-qubit iteration, which was launched with the support of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) in October 2023, and incorporates newly-developed high-density implementation techniques. The new system overcomes some key technical challenges, including appropriate cooling within the dilution refrigerator, which is achieved through the incorporation of high-density implementation and cutting-edge thermal design.

This announcement marks a new step toward the practical application of superconducting quantum computers and unlocking their potential to grapple with some of the world’s most complex issues, such as the analysis of larger molecules and the implementation and demonstration of sophisticated error correction algorithms.

The organizations plan to integrate the 256-qubit superconducting quantum computer into their platform for hybrid quantum computing lineup and offer it to companies and research institutions globally starting in the first quarter of fiscal 2025. Looking further into the future, Fujitsu and RIKEN will continue R&D efforts toward the launch of a 1,000-qubit computer, scheduled to be launched in 2026. For more information, see a longer press release on Fujitsu’s websiteThe webpage will open in a new tab..

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The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has today (30 April 2025) approved a new under-the-skin injection version of the cancer therapy, nivolumab (Opdivo), offering a quicker administration option for eligible patients.

The subcutaneous formulation of nivolumab can be given as a 3–5-minute injection instead of the 30-or 60-minute intravenous (IV) infusion. Several common cancers can be treated by nivolumab, including lung, bowel, kidney, bladder, oesophageal, skin, and head and neck cancers.

Patient safety is our top priority, which is why I am pleased to confirm the national approval of the new under-the-skin injection version of nivolumab.

This approval marks an important step forward in improving treatment access and reducing the time patients spend in clinics. It has the potential to ease pressures on NHS services, while also giving patients flexibility in their care.

We’re assured that the appropriate regulatory standards of safety, quality, and efficacy for the approval of this new formulation have been met. As with all products, we will keep its safety under close review.

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