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Your kitchen sponge is teeming with microbes. But repeated contact with food waste is not the only reason; a sponge’s unique structure plays a role, too. It could even inspire a new way to grow bacteria for research, according to a study in Nature Chemical Biology. One of the biggest challenges microbiologists face is culturing bacteria species that will not readily grow in a laboratory. Some microbes are incredibly finicky, and scientists often have no idea what conditions these organisms need. “It’s kind of like trying…

Two years and counting into the COVID pandemic, we’ve all seen plenty of misinformation and junk science, whether online, on cable news or even in person by those eager to share their (sigh) “alternative views.” Meanwhile, trust in public health experts and institutions is at a discouraging low. It’s easy for sensible folks to feel exhausted by trying to do the right thing for public health, or for their kids’ education, in the face of so much negativity directed toward science. So the self-titled debut album of the Sound…

This is honestly pretty great.NFT Robin HoodStealing from the rich to give to the poor is arguably pretty awesome — but stealing from colonial museums to put money back in the pockets of African artists is, somehow, even cooler.Billing itself as "the world's first digital repatriation of stolen art to the Metaverse," the Looty non-fungible token (NFT) project aims to digitally "steal" ancient African art back from institutions like the British Museum, sell the NFTs they make from the art, and use some of the proceeds to…

Ford has begun deliveries of the . The first customer to get their hands on the electric pickup is Nicholas Schmidt, who lives in the automaker's home state of Michigan, around from the F-150 Lightning plant in Dearborn. Ford of the EV there last month. The EV is replacing a gas-powered F-150, Schmidt told . Schmidt, who also owns a Tesla Model 3, said he had considered buying a and also placed a reservation for a . He said whichever electric pickup he was able to order first would be the one he bought. After taking…

Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 lowers the risk of long COVID after infection by only about 15%, according to a study of more than 13 million people1. That’s the largest cohort that has yet been used to examine how much vaccines protect against the condition, but it is unlikely to end the uncertainty. Long COVID — illness that persists for weeks or months after infection with SARS-CoV-2 — has proved difficult to study, not least because the array of symptoms makes it hard to define. Even finding out how common it is has…

Okay, that's pretty awesome.Lab-Grown LumberDeforestation is a bigger problem than ever, with humans razing ten million hectares of forest each year, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.To tackle the problem head-on, researchers at MIT have come up with a new way to grow "wood-like plant material" in a lab, according to a statement, potentially paving the way for an environmentally friendly new source for lumber that doesn't harm existing trees.Such lumber could be used to frame houses, make them more…

If you’ve been waiting to upgrade your home with the latest gear, this weekend might be the time to do so. From robot vacuums to Instant Pots, there are a number of great sales for connected appliances and kitchen gadgets for Memorial Day this year. As you can imagine, there are quite a lot of them, so we’ve collected some of the best ones below. Anker Eufy RoboVac 11S Engadget Anker’s Eufy RoboVac 11S is one of our favorite budget robot vacuums thanks to its slim profile, smart features and affordable…

Waterproof phone cases prepare your phone for adventure with powerful splash protection and will keep your phone dry, even when it’s submerged for long periods of time. These waterproof phone cases often include some of the features of traditional phone cases, such as drop protection, while others work like miniaturized dry bags and often hook onto your neck or arm using a lanyard or cord. The former generally fits your phone closely, mirroring its contours, while the latter often features a clear, soft plastic bottom…

The Analogue Pocket is finally getting some of the important feature updates promised at launch. As The Verge notes, Analogue has promised a Pocket OS 1.1 beta in July that will add the expected Library, Memories and FPGA development features. You can expect advancements to arrive "regularly" after that, according to the company. Library will amount to an encyclopedia for classic games. Insert a cartridge and you'll ideally learn everything about your specific copy of a game, including play guides and publisher details.…