Science

Rocket Lab will build Neutron, a next-generation reusable booster, in Virginia

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Rocket Lab will build its next-generation Neutron launcher on Wallops Island, Virginia, at a site adjacent to the company’s coastal U.S. launch pad. “Its position on the eastern seaboard is the ideal location to support both Neutron’s expected frequent launch cadence and the rocket’s return-to-Earth capability of landing back at its launch site after liftoff,” … Read more

Ancient ‘Vampire’ Cephalopod From 330 Million Years Ago Is a First of Its Kind

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An exceptional fossil unearthed in Montana has given us the earliest known ancestor of vampire squids and octopuses. The cephalopod, belonging to the vampyropod or octopodiform superorder, pushes back the age of the group by about 82 million years.   This challenges our understanding that octopuses evolved from a Triassic ancestor. Fascinatingly, it has not eight, … Read more

Chimps Apply Insects to their Wounds

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Christopher Intagliata: Chimpanzees can make tools, they display emotions, and they can outfox humans at certain memory games. But chimps also resemble us in another way—they use medicine. They’re known to eat tough leaves and bitter plants to purge parasites from their guts.   Now researchers have observed chimps applying a never-before-seen type of treatment—snatching flying … Read more

CERN pauses future research collaboration with Russia at Ukrainian scientists’ request

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The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) will not enter new collaborations with Russian scientific institutions following a request of Ukraine’s scientists to halt partnerships with Russian science institutions in response to Russia’s military invasion of their country.  CERN operates the largest particle physics laboratory in the world including the famous Large Hadron Collider, which … Read more

New class of killer T cells may prevent autoimmune diseases | Science

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The price for a vigilant immune system that can pounce on tumor cells or pathogens is occasional friendly fire—an autoimmune attack. Scientists have now identified a new type of human T cell that quells assaults on healthy tissues, a finding that could suggest treatments for conditions as diverse as lupus and cancer. “It’s a major … Read more

A sweet surprise and a bittersweet farewell — Commander’s report: sol 14

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The HI-SEAS habitat during a night Marswalk.  (Image credit: Courtesy of Britaney Phillips) Commander’s report for the Valoria 3 Martian mission at HI-SEASSol 14 (Aug. 26, 2021) Surprise! Out of nowhere, a pineapple upside-down cake was placed on the living room table, together with a beautiful handmade card for me. The Valoria 3 crew baked … Read more

Russia Is Having Less Success at Spreading Social Media Disinformation

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Days after Russia invaded Ukraine, multiple social media platforms—including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube—announced they had dismantled coordinated networks of accounts spreading disinformation. These networks, which were comprised of fabricated accounts disguised with fake names and AI-generated profile images or hacked accounts, were sharing suspiciously similar anti-Ukraine talking points, suggesting they were being controlled by centralized … Read more

AI Helps Small City Pull Toxic Lead Water Service Lines from the Ground Faster

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Benton Harbor, Mich.—This is a city in crisis. “You can’t drink the water. You can’t brush your teeth with the water. You can’t cook with the water…. You can’t make baby formula with the water,” says Reverend Edward Pinkney, president of the Benton Harbor Community Water Council. The community’s water is not safe to drink … Read more