Figured

Acting on a tiny particle levitating in a magnetic trap, physicists have just measured the smallest gravitational pull ever recorded.The particle weighed just 0.43 grams. And the strength of the gravitational force at play was on the scale of attonewtons (10-18 newtons). That's small enough to be right on the verge of the quantum realm, teasing the possibility of finally figuring out how classical physics and quantum mechanics interact."For a century, scientists have tried and failed to understand how gravity and quantum…

Scientists have revealed in unprecedented detail how obesity affects mitochondria in mice, causing the cellular powerhouses to fragment into smaller pieces.Mitochondria are famous as "powerhouses of the cell," given their crucial role in generating energy. Yet the vital work of these organelles is often impaired in people with obesity, for reasons that remain unclear.And while impaired mitochondria are probably bad news, it's also unclear how that might influence obesity or the additional health problems it can cause.In…

Why are Blueberries blue? That question might seem crazy, but stick with me for a minute. See, scientists have spent the past several years trying to understand why the beloved blue fruit appears the way it does. That’s because blueberries, despite their name and appearance, actually have a dark red pigment that covers most of their skin.It’s this pigment that has led to so much confusion in the scientific community. There is so much confusion, in fact, that a new study detailing the reason that blueberries…

Researchers say a rhinoceros was impregnated through embryo transfer in the first successful use of a method that they say might later make it possible to save the nearly extinct northern white rhino subspecies. The experiment was conducted with the less-endangered southern white rhino subspecies. Researchers created an embryo in a lab from an egg and sperm collected from rhinos and transferred into a southern white rhino surrogate mother at the Ol-Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya.“The successful embryo transfer and pregnancy…

Surgeons externally attached a pig liver to a brain-dead human body and watched it successfully filter blood, a step toward eventually trying the technique in patients with liver failure.The University of Pennsylvania announced the novel experiment Thursday, a different spin on animal-to-human organ transplants. In this case, the pig liver was used outside the donated body, not inside—as a way to create a “bridge” to support failing livers by doing the organ’s blood-cleansing work externally, much like dialysis for…

Neuroscientists at Washington State University think they have figured out why cannabis is so notorious for causing the 'munchies' among users.Their research on mice is the first to investigate how cannabis impacts the real-time activity of brain regions that control appetite.The findings support an abundance of anecdotes and rigorous studies on humans, which all strongly suggest smoking, vaping, or eating cannabis can trigger acute cravings and have you headed for the pantry or fridge in no time.Still, while…

January 17, 20243min readTardigrades are microscopic animals that can survive a host of conditions that are too extreme to ever occur on Earth—and scientists want to learn their secretsBy Meghan BartelsScanning electron microscope of tardigrade. Tiny tardigrades have three claims to fame: their charmingly pudgy appearance, delightful common names (water bear and moss piglet) and stunning resilience in the face of threats ranging from the vacuum of space to temperatures near absolute zero.Now scientists have identified a…

Scientists say they’ve finally answered an age-old question: Just why is our pee yellow? In new research, a team found the enzyme produced by gut bacteria that plays a major role in turning our urine mellow. Curiosity aside, the discovery may actually help scientists better understand the gut microbiome and how it can contribute to certain health conditions, like jaundice in newborns.Let’s Eat a Chocolate Xbox ControllerUrine is the finale of our body’s natural drainage system. It’s made out of excess water and waste…

In 2005, federal law compelled retailers nationwide to move pseudoephedrine, sold as Sudafed, from over-the-counter (OTC) to behind it, so as to combat its use in making illicit methamphetamine. This move changed the formulas of cough and cold medicines in the U.S.. It also led me and my colleague Leslie Hendeles to prove that pseudoephedrine’s replacement, oral phenylephrine, was ineffective as a decongestant.We petitioned the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) twice, yet it took the agency more than a decade and a half…

New research may eventually help solve a mystery relevant to holiday drinkers. Scientists at the University of California Davis and elsewhere believe they’ve figured out why some people quickly develop headaches after drinking red wine but not other alcoholic beverages: too much of a particular flavonoid that mixes badly with alcohol. The team is already set to conduct a small clinical trial to further test their theory.How to Know If the Heat Is Making You SickAlcohol can be a specific headache trigger for some people,…