The Science Thinkers

The universe is about 13.8 billion years old and its stars are arguably its most momentous handiwork. Astronomers studying the intricacies of star formation across cosmic time are trying to understand whether stars and the processes that produce them were the same when the universe was younger, about half its current age. They already know … Read more

An international team of researchers has found evidence that suggests the cooling effect of aerosols in cumulus and MSC clouds is twice as high as thought. In their paper published in the journal Science, the group describes their analyses of data from NASA’s Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) database and what they found. Lack of … Read more

The ideal drug is one that only affects the exact cells and neurons it is designed to treat, without unwanted side effects. This concept is especially important when treating the delicate and complex human brain. Now, scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have revealed a mechanism that could lead to this kind of long-sought specificity … Read more

Salk researchers have mapped the genomes and epigenomes of genetically modified plant lines with the highest resolution ever to reveal exactly what happens at a molecular level when a piece of foreign DNA is inserted. Their findings, published in the journal PLOS Genetics. elucidate the routine methods used to modify plants, and offer new ways … Read more

A new astronomical study is the first to find direct evidence of ageing white dwarf stars solidifying into crystals. When the sun dies, it’s going to turn into crystal. Roughly 97% of stars in our sky will also turn into crystals when they die. This makes our universe precious indeed, all thanks to a special … Read more

Nerve axons serve as the wiring of the nervous system, sending electrical signals that control movement and sense of touch. When axons are damaged, whether by injury or as a side effect of certain drugs, a program is triggered that leads axons to self-destruct. This destruction likely plays an important role in multiple neurodegenerative conditions, … Read more

Childcare can be expensive, stressful and annoying to organise, but a University of Otago-led study has found it may also be behind religion’s resilience. Scholars have predicted the demise of religion for a long time, but it is not disappearing as quickly as anticipated. Following the collaborative study, lead author Dr. John Shaver, of Otago’s Religion … Read more

Some iron-based superconductors could benefit from a tuneup, according to two studies by Rice University physicists and collaborators. “Our work demonstrates a new design principle for tuning quantum materials to achieve unconventional superconductivity at higher temperatures,” said Rice’s Qimiao Si, the lead theoretical physicist on the studies, which investigate unusual patterns of superconductivity that have … Read more

There are many planets in the entire universe, but as far as we know, there is only a handful which could possibly support life. Naturally, some say that life may flourish under other conditions, and perhaps even in the absence of water. While that may be true, take a look around – life seems to do quite … Read more

In the year 2135, There is a chance that an asteroid the size of the Empire State Building nicknamed BENNU will crash into Earth. Well, the probability of happening that is 1 in 17000, which is very low, But even so, the near-earth objects like asteroids and comets are a  real threat. Barringer Crater in … Read more

Elemental (metallic) mercury is the shiny, silver-grey metal found in thermometers, barometers, and thermostats and other electrical switches. Mercury: Can break into droplets when spilled. The droplets spread easily and can build up in tiny cracks and spaces in your house. Can vaporize (evaporate) into the air in your house. The vapour cannot be seen or smelled. Can be … Read more

More than 100 years ago, Albert Einstein and Wander Johannes de Haas discovered that when they used a magnetic field to flip the magnetic state of an iron bar dangling from a thread, the bar began to rotate. Now experiments at the Department of Energy’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have seen for the first time … Read more

One way to produce clean water is to heat dirty water until it turns into steam. As the steam rises, it leaves behind the heavier contaminants and can be collected and cooled, providing clean water. There are many ways to heat water, one of which is to use light-absorbing materials at the air/water interface to … Read more

We all know we should eat fruits and vegetables to keep our own heart healthy. But now, scientists are learning that epigenetic changes, or molecular tags that modify our DNA, can cause your children—and even your grandchildren—to inherit the negative effects of your poor diet. However, the details behind this inheritance—and how to stop it—have … Read more

A team of researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has developed a new microfluidics-assisted technique for developing high-performance macroscopic graphene fibers. Graphene fiber, a recently discovered member of the carbon fiber family, has potential applications in diverse technological areas, from energy storage, electronics and optics, electro-magnetics, thermal conductor and thermal management, to structural applications. Their findings … Read more