Identifying primordial black holes through gravitational microlensing events can reveal hidden dark matter.
Affordable 'frog saunas' offer a practical solution to combat deadly chytrid fungus infections in frogs.
UK general election outcomes could significantly impact science with implications on immigration, funding, and climate initiatives.
Deep dives
The Hunt for Dark Matter in Primordial Black Holes
Researchers are exploring the potential existence of primordial black holes containing dark matter through gravitational microlensing events. By analyzing decades of observational data, scientists aim to identify long-duration brightenings of stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud, potentially revealing where dark matter is concealed.
A Simple Solution to Combat a Deadly Fungus Decimating Frog Populations
Researchers have devised affordable 'frog saunas' to help frogs infected with the deadly chytrid fungus. By creating warm refugia for frogs, the saunas assist in fighting infections, demonstrating a cost-effective and beneficial method in conservation efforts.
Potential Impacts of UK General Election on Science
The UK general election poses implications for science, especially concerning immigration policies, funding commitments, and climate change initiatives. Both major parties aim to enhance the country's involvement in AI, address ethical concerns, and advance research funding, emphasizing the importance of international collaborations and sustainable advancements.
China's Chang'e 6 Moon Mission: Collecting Rocks from the Far Side
China's Chang'e 6 mission successfully collected rock samples from the far side of the moon, a pioneering endeavor that could unlock mysteries about lunar composition and formation. The mission, representing international collaborations, aims to deepen scientific insights into lunar environments and pave the way for future lunar explorations.
Enhancing Understandings through Lunar Mission Instruments
China's Chang'e 6 mission included sophisticated instruments to study negative ions on the moon's surface and detect radon outgassing, contributing to a broader comprehension of lunar environmental conditions. The collaboration with international partners and innovative technologies marks a significant step towards potential lunar resource utilization and sustained human lunar presence.
Researchers have been scanning the skies looking for black holes that formed at the very beginning of the Universe — one place where elusive and mysterious dark matter is thought to be located. If these black holes did contain dark matter, they would be especially massive and so researchers would be able to see the bending of light as they pass in front of stars. Such events would be rare, so to find them researchers trawled through a decades-long dataset. However, despite the large number of observations, the researchers didn't find many examples of these events and none that were long enough to show signs of much dark matter. So, the hunt for enigmatic material goes on.
How some comb jellies survive the crushing ocean depths, and how giving cash to mothers in low-income households can boost time and money spent on children.
12:39 A simple, solution to tackle a deadly frog disease
A simple ‘sauna’ built of bricks and a supermarket-bought greenhouse, can help frogs rid themselves of a devastating fungal disease, new research has shown. While options to prevent or treat infection are limited, the fungus that causes the disease chytridiomycosis has an achilles heel: it can’t survive at warm temperatures. A team in Australia used this knowledge to their advantage to develop saunas where frogs can warm themselves to clear an infection. Frogs who spent time in these hot environments were able to shake the fungus, and gained some immunity to subsequent infections. While this research only involved one type of frog, it offers some hope in tackling a deadly disease that has driven multiple species to extinction.
