Blogs - Page 3 of 78 - This Week in Science

Computing

New Study IoT Security Fixes

Every second, billions of tiny digital messages move between our phones, smart speakers, and home appliances. But here’s the startling part: a single malicious message—just a few bytes—can open the door to a massive cyberattack. And according to new research, our devices may be missing some of the most important warning signs. Across the world—from […]

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Biology

The Unraveling of Climate Models: Why CO2 and Nitrogen Mismatches Matter

The relationship between carbon dioxide (CO2) levels and plant growth has long been heralded as a key element in climate modeling. However, recent research reveals that this relationship is not as straightforward as previously thought due to the crucial role of nitrogen in ecosystem dynamics. Climate models that overestimate the availability of natural nitrogen fixation […]

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Psychology

What Gore Videos Reveal About How We Really Know

To start at the beginning, I like horror movies. I don’t really like gore. I can handle some, but I get mentally queasy with the more intense stuff. About a year ago, I made a Reddit post about “what’s the best way to enjoy gore?” My thought was that I might be missing some really […]

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Health

Vaccines and Their Surprising Off-Target Benefits: Implications for Dementia Prevention

Vaccines remain crucial for managing various infectious diseases. However, an emerging body of research is shedding light on the ‘off-target benefits’ of vaccines, which seem to offer protection beyond their primary intent. Of particular interest is their potential role in reducing the risk of dementia, a debilitating condition affecting millions globally. Understanding Off-Target Benefits Off-target […]

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Environment

Unpacking the Unresolved Debates in Climate Intervention Research

Over the past decade, as the pace of climate change has intensified, a parallel debate in the scientific community has emerged over climate intervention—or geoengineering—research. While there is agreement on the urgency of addressing global warming, many scientists are split on whether—or how—such interventions should be part of our climate toolkit. One major unresolved debate […]

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Environment

How Mapping Plants Better Could Sharpen Climate Forecasts

Earth’s land absorbs about one-quarter of the carbon dioxide humans release every year—but scientists still can’t agree on how much. Some climate models say plants pull in 100 billion tons of carbon annually. Others say nearly double that. For decades, this gap has haunted climate science. Now, a new study suggests a surprisingly simple reason: […]

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Environment

This Study Could Improve Global Clean Energy Plans

Every major climate pledge in the world talks about “net-zero.” But here’s the twist: net-zero still allows fossil fuels. As long as countries capture or offset their carbon emissions, they can technically keep burning oil, coal, or gas. A new study in Nature Communications asks a radical question: What if a region actually tried to […]

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Meteorology

Superbolts! How New Data Could Improve Storm and Safety Forecasts

Every second, the Earth is struck by about 100 lightning bolts. But only a tiny fraction, so rare they barely register in global datasets, carry currents powerful enough to rewrite what we thought we knew about extreme storms. And a new analysis suggests that these “superbolts” don’t behave the way scientists expected. For years, textbooks […]

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Biology

Monarch Butterflies and their Magnetic Migration: A Deep Dive into Nature’s Navigators

Monarch butterflies are among the most astonishing migratory creatures on our planet. Their annual journey, spanning thousands of miles from Canada to the forests of Mexico, is a marvel of nature that has baffled scientists for decades. Recently, significant strides have been made in understanding the magnetic sense that guides these delicate flyers across vast […]

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