Physicist Sara Imari Walker is using principles of physics to redefine the concept of life. She introduces Assembly Theory, which measures molecular complexity to distinguish living from non-living systems. This approach could help detect unfamiliar life forms on other planets and better understand life on Earth.
This review article examines the current understanding of the origin and early evolution of eukaryotic cells, highlighting key events and players involved in this process, particularly focusing on the symbiotic relationship between an archaeal host and a bacterial endosymbiont.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have used the anesthetic drug propofol to identify the intricate brain geometry behind the unconscious state, offering an unprecedented look at brain structures that have traditionally been difficult to study.
A new model explains the small Higgs mass and the strong-CP problem by invoking a multiverse scenario. It predicts distinctive signals at hadronic EDM, fuzzy dark matter, and axion experiments.
This study uses ecological niche modeling to reconstruct the palaeodistribution of Neanderthals and anatomically modern humans during Marine Isotope Stage 5, identifying the Zagros Mountains as a potential contact and interbreeding zone.
A new study suggests that cumulative culture, the accumulation of technological knowledge over generations, began in hominin populations around 600,000 years ago, leading to rapid increases in technological complexity.
The article discusses a phenomenon known as the "Dynamic Quantum Cheshire Cat Effect", which is a type of quantum effect that allows physical properties to be separated from the objects to which they belong. The authors show that this effect can be generalized to dynamical settings, where the property that is separated from the particle can propagate in space and lead to a flux of conserved quantity.
Sleep not only consolidates memories but also resets the brain’s memory storage mechanism. This process, governed by specific regions in the hippocampus, allows neurons to prepare for new learning without being overwhelmed, opening potential pathways for enhancing memory and treating neurological disorders.
The Sumerian language was the first to have a written form around 3500 BCE, using a system called cuneiform. This script evolved over time, and was later used by other languages like Akkadian, Babylonian, and Assyrian.
Carvings at Göbekli Tepe in Turkey may represent the world's oldest solar calendar, created as a memorial to a devastating comet strike, researchers suggest.
