firstofitskind

A superfluid vortex controlled in a lab is helping physicists learn more about the behavior of black holes.A whirlpool generated in helium cooled to just a fraction above absolute zero mimics the gravitational environment of these objects to such high precision that it's giving unprecedented insight into how they drag and warp the space-time around them. "Using superfluid helium has allowed us to study tiny surface waves in greater detail and accuracy than with our previous experiments in water," explains physicist…

Cannabis's effects seem pretty paradoxical on the surface. Some people call Mary Jane their best friend, enjoying feelings of relaxation, profound insight, and a release from troubled nerves. Others spurn the devil's lettuce, overwhelmed by feelings of paranoia, depersonalization, and panic.A new study confirms that particular chemicals in weed are responsible for the drug's two-sided nature, and that particular strains – those with high levels of cannabidiol (CBD) and negligible tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – are more…

Honda has found a new application for its sit-down Segway for lazy shoppers launched last year. The Uni-One is being merged with VR goggles for "a first-of-its-kind extended reality experience that merges the joy of mobility with virtual reality adventures."Honda has been rolling with uniwheel electric mobility solutions since at least 2009, and we even got to try one out at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show in the shape of the Uni-Cub ß. The latest WALL-E-like seated mobility device was introduced last year as an upcoming rental…

Scientists have identified a unique form of cell messaging occurring in the human brain, revealing just how much we still have to learn about its mysterious inner workings.Excitingly, the discovery hints that our brains might be even more powerful units of computation than we realized.Back in 2020, researchers from institutes in Germany and Greece reported a mechanism in the brain's outer cortical cells that produces a novel 'graded' signal all on its own, one that could provide individual neurons with another way to…

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A new paper co-written by Desmond Upton Patton, a professor at Penn's School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) and Penn's Annenberg School for Communication, explores the role of images in the online grieving practices of gang-affiliated Black youth. The study is believed to be the first of its kind and aims to…

Over the weekend, someone posted a cache of files and documents apparently stolen from the Chinese government hacking contractor, I-Soon. This leak gives cybersecurity researchers and rival governments an unprecedented chance to look behind the curtain of Chinese government hacking operations facilitated by private contractors. Like the hack-and-leak operation that targeted the Italian spyware maker Hacking Team in 2015, the I-Soon leak includes company documents and internal communications, which show I-Soon was…

Ruhr University Bochum researchers conducted the first systematic review of ASMR, finding that it induces short-term mental well-being and physiological changes in some individuals. Long-term effects on mental health, however, are yet to be studied.Researchers at Ruhr University Bochum have conducted the first systematic review of Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR).Millions of individuals tune into YouTube and various social media platforms like TikTok, where content creators engage audiences by whispering…

We’re still reeling from last week’s Astrobotic failure, in which a catastrophic propellant leak rendered the Peregrine lunar lander incapable of completing its Moon landing mission. It’s not the outcome we were hoping for, but the global space community doesn’t have to wait long for another opportunity at lunar exploration success: Japan’s SLIM is slated to attempt an innovative lunar landing this Friday morning.China's Plan to Land Astronauts on the MoonScheduled to land on January 19 at 10:20 a.m. EST (Saturday,…

January 17, 20244min readA genetically modified pig liver successfully filtered the blood of a human who had completely lost brain activity and did so for three days. The achievement offers a potential temporary treatment for people with acute liver failureBy Sara Reardon For the first time, researchers have successfully connected a functioning liver from a pig to a human body. In a step toward testing the procedure in living people, a team at the University of Pennsylvania externally connected the liver to the body of a…

The European Union reached a deal Friday on the world’s first regulations for artificial intelligence (AI), paving the way for legal oversight of the popular technology used in services like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. The European Parliament and its 27 member countries had to overcome major differences on a number of sticking points, including generative AI and facial recognition. There were also disagreements on how and whether to regulate the foundation models of chatbot software such as ChatGPT and Google’s Bard,…