Scientists are developing suitable shelters for the first explorers of Mars, but a new study believes the Red Planet can provide natural settlements for the pioneers. After surveying 1,500 images taken by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, a team of experts believe they have discovered a solution – ‘lava tubes.’ An area, known as Hellas Planitia … Read more
Neolithic man may have been brewing beer 6,000 years ago, according to scientists who have developed a new method to analyse grains. Austrian researchers claim the first evidence of European production of malt-based drinks, including beer, from grains dating back to around 4,000 BC. The team say the thinning of a tiny layer of tissue … Read more
Impressionable young birds pick up style tips from their elders just like humans and ‘feather their nests’ with coloured materials they associate with older trendsetters. Experts set out to see if birds might prefer to build nests of the same colour as the one they hatched in, or whether juvenile experiences were more important. They … Read more
Is there a cure in sight for OCD? Experts discover protein that causes anxiety in humans could be neutralised to provide new treatment for obsessive behaviour Researchers find OCD patients have six times more of ‘iMood’ anxiety protein Scientists say the discovery could ‘radically change the lives’ of OCD sufferers Experts at two London universities may … Read more
The average European carries more than 500 genetic ‘fragments’ from Neanderthals and other archaic human species, a study has found. Among this heritage is included genes that are linked to prostate cancer risk, iron retention, blood clotting speed and smaller height. The ancestors of Europeans are known to have mated with Neanderthals and other archaic … Read more
Humans’ unique laziness when it comes to interacting on social media could be the key to telling us apart from artificially intelligent ‘bots’, a new study shows. US researchers have identified behavioural trends of humans on Twitter that are absent in social media bots – namely a decrease in tweet length over time. The team … Read more
Trials of a vaccine that could protect against the coronavirus are set to begin in the UK. Work on the vaccine, developed by clinical teams at the Oxford University’s Jenner Institute and Oxford Vaccine Group, began in January. Now a study involving up to 510 healthy volunteers between 18 and 55 is to get started. … Read more
It is an issue troubling some of the greatest minds in the world at the moment, from Bill Gates to Elon Musk. SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk described AI as our ‘biggest existential threat’ and likened its development as ‘summoning the demon’. He believes super intelligent machines could use humans as pets. Professor Stephen … Read more
Hopes of eliminating the coronavirus were raised today after leading British experts revealed trials of a vaccine would begin on humans next week. Oxford University scientists are confident they can get jab for the incurable disease rolled out for millions to use by autumn. Tests of the experimental jab on different animals have shown promise … Read more
Stray dogs may have been the ‘intermediary animal’ that spread coronavirus from bats to humans — rather than pangolins, as previously thought — a study claimed. Understanding how coronavirus came to infect humans is vital for discerning how the virus works — and for concocting vaccines and treatments to stop its spread. Canadian researchers who analysed … Read more