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New RSV drug for babies is over 90% effective at preventing hospitalization
By Nicoletta Lanese published
In a new study, the RSV drug nirsevimab was 93% effective at preventing young children from being hospitalized for the respiratory infection.
Possible bust of Cleopatra VII found at ancient Egyptian temple
By Owen Jarus published
A small statue of a woman wearing a royal crown may depict Cleopatra VII, an archaeologist claims. Other archaeologists think it is likely someone else.
New study reveals how ancient 'sky disc' was made, squashing claims it was a forgery
By Tom Metcalfe published
The research details the elaborate process used to manufacture the Nebra Sky Disc during the Bronze Age.
13 proteins tied to brain aging seem to spike at ages 57, 70 and 78
By Emily Cooke published
A new study claims to have identified 13 proteins associated with either accelerated or decelerated brain aging. However, experts have questioned the practical implications of the findings.
Google's new quantum chip has solved a problem that would have taken the best supercomputer a quadrillion times the age of the universe to crack
By Keumars Afifi-Sabet published
Google's new 105-qubit 'Willow' quantum processor has surpassed a key error-correction threshold first proposed in 1995 — with errors now reducing exponentially as you scale up quantum machines.
1,500-year-old Anglo-Saxon burial holds a 'unique' mystery — a Roman goblet once filled with pig fat
By Kristina Killgrove published
The sixth-century burial of an Anglo-Saxon teenage girl surprised archaeologists when they discovered a small third-century Roman goblet full of pig fat near her head.
James Webb telescope confirms we have no idea why the universe is growing the way it is
By Ben Turner published
A dense cluster of bright stars, each with six large and two small diffraction spikes, due to the telescope’s optics.
Philippines volcanic eruption: Kanlaon volcano 'may progress to further explosive eruptions'
By Pandora Dewan published
The Kanlaon volcano in the Philippines erupted today (Dec. 9) at 3:03 p.m. local time, spouting an eruption column of up to 1.86 miles (3 kilometers) into the sky and triggering the evacuation of 87,000 people.
Roman scutum: An 1,800-year-old shield dropped by a Roman soldier who likely died in battle
By Kristina Killgrove published
A wood and leather shield dating to around A.D. 250 is one of only a few complete Roman scuta ever found.
'An existential threat affecting billions': Three-quarters of Earth's land became permanently drier in last 3 decades
By Ben Turner published
A car driving by a raging wildfire in Orange County, California.
Cold Moon 2024: How to watch the year's final full moon rise with Jupiter this week
By Jamie Carter published
The Cold Moon — the 12th and final full moon of 2024 — will rise on Dec. 15 and ascend higher into the night sky than any other, to sit alongside the planet Jupiter.
Mysterious fast radio bursts could be caused by asteroids slamming into dead stars
By Robert Lea published
An asteroid hitting a neutron star could release enough energy to power humanity for 100 million years, more than enough to explain fast radio bursts.
Scientists reveal genes that make cats orange
By Lluís Montoliu published
Two new studies have revealed why some cats are orange — an enduring enigma of genetics, until now.
'It explains why our ability to focus has gone to hell': Screens are assaulting our Stone Age brains with more information than we can handle
By Richard E. Cytowic published
Modern technology has fundamentally changed how our ancient minds work.
Did Venus ever have oceans to support life, or was it 'born hot'?
By Robert Lea published
"We would have loved to find that Venus was once a planet much closer to our own, so it’s kind of sad in a way to find out that it wasn't."
Space photo of the week: Astronaut spots 2 nearby galaxies from SpaceX capsule
By Jamie Carter published
NASA astronaut Don Pettit imaged the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds as the International Space Station cruised 260 miles above the Pacific Ocean.
What does a weather report of 30% chance of rain mean?
By Hannah Loss published
A percent chance of precipitation shows the probability there will be at least 0.01 inch of rain, snow or sleet at a given location.
You're born with most of your neurons — but the brain makes some mysterious new ones in adulthood
By Aswathy Ammothumkandy, Charles Liu, Michael A. Bonaguidi published
Understanding how new neurons affect brain function throughout adulthood can offer new approaches to treating epilepsy and dementia.
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