As bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have grown in market share, they’ve been criticized for their heavy carbon footprint: Cryptocurrency mining is an energy-intensive endeavor. Mining has massive water and land footprints as well, according to a new study that is the first to detail country-by-country environmental impacts of bitcoin mining. ​As bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies …

Bitcoin mining has ‘very worrying’ impacts on land and water, not only carbon Read More »

Recently discovered microfossils date back half a billion years. Resembling modern-day algae, they provide insight into early life in our oceans. ​Recently discovered microfossils date back half a billion years. Resembling modern-day algae, they provide insight into early life in our oceans. Recently discovered microfossils date back half a billion years. Resembling modern-day algae, they provide …

Bizarre new fossils shed light on ancient plankton Read More »

A new report finds that drastic changes are approaching if risks to our fundamental socioecological systems are not addressed.  The Interconnected Disaster Risks Report 2023 warns of six risk tipping points ahead of us: Accelerating extinctions; Groundwater depletion; Mountain glaciers melting; Space debris; Unbearable heat; and an Uninsurable future. ​A new report finds that drastic …

Report warns about risk tipping points with irreversible impacts on people and planet Read More »

A new study provides evidence that pigeons tackle some problems just as artificial intelligence would — allowing them to solve difficult tasks that would vex humans. ​A new study provides evidence that pigeons tackle some problems just as artificial intelligence would — allowing them to solve difficult tasks that would vex humans. A new study provides …

‘Dim-witted’ pigeons use the same principles as AI to solve tasks Read More »

New research unveils a dataset, gathered over five years, that gives the finest-grained detail into the timing and spatial extent of tarpon migration. The work leveraged networks of thousands of acoustic receivers that tracked 200 tarpon over more than five years. One of the key findings is that there are two distinct subgroups of tarpon, …

On the trail of the silver king: Researchers reveal unprecedented look at tarpon migration Read More »

NASA’s InSight mission to Mars helped scientists map out Mars’ internal structure, including the size and composition of its core, and provided general hints about its tumultuous formation. But findings from a new paper could lead to reanalysis of that data. An international team of researchers discovered the presence of a molten silicate layer overlying Mars’ metallic core …

Scientists discover molten layer covering Martian core Read More »

Scientists have observed the creation of rare chemical elements in the second-brightest gamma-ray burst ever seen — casting new light on how heavy elements are made. ​Scientists have observed the creation of rare chemical elements in the second-brightest gamma-ray burst ever seen — casting new light on how heavy elements are made. Scientists have observed the …

Massive space explosion observed creating elements needed for life Read More »

Researchers have built a superconducting camera containing 400,000 pixels — 400 times more than any other device of its type. Having more pixels could open up many new applications in science and biomedical research. ​Researchers have built a superconducting camera containing 400,000 pixels — 400 times more than any other device of its type. Having …

Highest-resolution single-photon superconducting camera Read More »

Researchers have now developed a technique that advances the ability of these tools, such as ChatGPT, to make compositional generalizations. This technique, Meta-learning for Compositionality, outperforms existing approaches and is on par with, and in some cases better than, human performance. ​Researchers have now developed a technique that advances the ability of these tools, such …

Can AI grasp related concepts after learning only one? Read More »

New research suggests that increasingly severe weather driven by climate change may push oceangoing seabirds to their limits.   ​New research suggests that increasingly severe weather driven by climate change may push oceangoing seabirds to their limits.   New research suggests that increasingly severe weather driven by climate change may push oceangoing seabirds to their limits. …

Rider on the storm: Shearwater seabird catches an 11 hour ride over 1,000 miles in a typhoon Read More »