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Discovery of bumblebee medicine's simple structure makes synthetic production viable
31 July 2025 @ 4:40 am
Researchers at the University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague have successfully developed a method to chemically synthesize callunene, a natural compound that protects bumblebees from a deadly gut parasite. In a recent discovery, the team also determined that the naturally occurring compound is a 50/50 mixture of its mirror-image forms, meaning the synthetic version can be used directly to safeguard vital pollinator colonies.
4,000-year-old teeth record the earliest traces of people chewing psychoactive betel nuts
31 July 2025 @ 4:00 am
In south-east Asia, betel nut chewing has been practiced since antiquity. The plants contain compounds that enhance the consumer's alertness, energy, euphoria, and relaxation. Although the practice is becoming less common in modern times, it has been deeply embedded in social and cultural traditions for thousands of years. Chewing betel nuts typically results in dark, reddish-brown to black-stained teeth.
Modern tattooers meet their ancient match with the ice mummies of Siberia
30 July 2025 @ 11:00 pm
An international team of archaeologists has used high-resolution digital imaging techniques to examine tattoos on a more than 2,000-year-old ice mummy from the Pazyryk culture of Siberia, shedding light on individual craftsmanship in prehistoric Siberian tattooing for the first time.
Seismic activity on the moon could pose risk to long-term lunar infrastructure
30 July 2025 @ 9:04 pm
A new paper reveals that ground acceleration from moonquakes, rather than meteor impacts, was responsible for shifting lunar landscapes at the moon's Taurus-Littrow valley, where Apollo 17 astronauts landed in 1972. The study also pinpointed a possible cause for those surface changes and assessed damage risk using new models of the quakes—findings that may impact the safety of future lunar missions and the establishment of long-term bases on the moon.
Study outlines alternative approach to detecting inelastic dark matter particles
30 July 2025 @ 9:04 pm
It is now understood that all known matter, i.e., studied by science and harnessed by technology, constitutes only 5% of the content of the universe. The rest is composed of two unknown components: dark matter (about 27%) and dark energy (about 68%). This calculation, confirmed decades ago, continues to surprise both lay people and scientists alike.
Massive sea turtle returns to the ocean off Florida after treatment for a boat strike
30 July 2025 @ 8:30 pm
A massive sea turtle that was found injured along the Florida coast in May following a boat strike was returned to the ocean on Wednesday.
Lavender steps up as a natural preservative in skin-care emulsions
30 July 2025 @ 8:20 pm
Synthetic parabens and formaldehyde releasers are falling out of favor, but keeping creams safe from microbes remains a challenge. The global shift toward "clean-label" cosmetics has left formulators scrambling for milder preservatives. A research paper led by Dr. Maria Trapali (University of West Attica, Greece), now offers a drop-in solution: the simple pairing of Lavandula angustifolia hydrosol with its own essential oil.
Borderline democracy? How Polish voters tolerated restrictions of civil liberties to address immigration crisis
30 July 2025 @ 8:10 pm
In the face of a growing migration crisis in 2021, the Polish government declared a state of emergency along its border with Belarus, suspending basic civil liberties for citizens in the affected areas. A new study in The Journal of Politics investigates whether these restrictions sparked a political backlash at the ballot box—and finds surprisingly little evidence that they did.
Gulf of Maine sees rising pH, defying expectations of increasing ocean acidity
30 July 2025 @ 8:09 pm
The Gulf of Maine—home to commercial fisheries for oysters, clams and mussels—has unexpectedly avoided an increase in seawater acidity, helping to preserve the health of its fisheries.
Turkish city calls for help after heat tops 50C
30 July 2025 @ 8:06 pm
A choking heat wave left astonished locals in southeastern Turkey calling for state help to pay their air conditioning bills after the temperature surged past 50C.