For many years, the development of artificial intelligence has followed a simple rule: make it bigger with more groups, more connections, more computing power. However, a new study suggests otherwise. Instead of going big, the study’s authors built a very small object – a quantum system with nine spins interacting with an atom – and … Read more
“Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may receive commissions or other income from these links.” Here’s what you’ll learn by reading this story: In 2020, scientists discovered phosphine in the cloud cover of Venus, starting discussions about the possibility of microbial life in this mild but acidic environment. Subsequent studies have shown that many building blocks of … Read more
We used to think of moons as a boring part of the planetary system. For decades, we treated them as celestial remnants – cold, dead rocks that did nothing but mark their planets. We were wrong. Over the years, we’ve discovered that moons can be only as interesting as their host planets. They have oceans … Read more
In order to survive in the human bloodstream, the African trypanosome virus coats itself in a protective membrane made of proteins called variant surface glycoproteins (VSG). A study published in Nature Microbiology has now identified a key protein that allows microbes to properly manipulate this protective “coat”. The researchers found that a newly identified protein, … Read more
The asteroid that recently dominated the headlines, 3I/ATLAS, may be between 10 and 12 billion years old, a new analysis of the isotopic composition of the comet has shown. This so-called “invader” in our planetary system is only the third object reported to enter our cosmic environment from beyond. If these predictions of new comet … Read more