Strange Precariously Balanced Rocks Provide Earthquake Forecasting Clues
Precariously balanced rocks (PBRs) are formations found throughout the world where a slender boulder is balanced precariously on a pedestal boulder. They form as blocks…
Imperial College London
Genome of Alexander Fleming’s Original Penicillin Mold Sequenced for the First Time
Researchers have sequenced the genome of Alexander Fleming’s penicillin mold for the first time and compared it to later versions. Alexander Fleming famously discovered the…
CovidNudge: Rapid 90-Minute COVID-19 Test Shown to Be Highly Accurate
A 90-minute COVID-19 test has been shown to have over 94 percent sensitivity, and 100% specificity in a new study. The work, published in the…
Unexpected Discovery of a 410-Million-Year-Old Fossil Forces Rethink of Shark Evolution
Sharks’ non-bony skeletons were thought to be the template before bony internal skeletons evolved, but a new fossil discovery suggests otherwise. The discovery of a…
Rare ‘Boomerang’ Earthquake Tracked by Scientists in the Ocean for the First Time
Scientists observed a ‘boomerang’ earthquake along Atlantic Ocean fault line, providing clues about how they could cause devastation on land. Earthquakes occur when rocks suddenly…
Offshore Wind Power Now So Cheap It Could Pay Money Back to Consumers – Pivotal to Reach Net-Zero Carbon Emissions
The latest round of offshore wind farms to be built in the UK could reduce household energy bills by producing electricity very cheaply. Renewable energy…
Quadruple Helix DNA Formation Tracked in Live Human Cells for the First Time
The formation of four-stranded DNA has been tracked in living human cells, allowing scientists to see how it works, and its possible role in cancer….
The Days the Earth Stood Still: COVID-19 Lockdowns Caused Earth Vibrations From Human Activity to Drop 50%
The lack of human activity during lockdown caused human-linked vibrations in the Earth to drop by an average of 50% between March and May 2020….
Mystery Solved: Why Food Poisoning Bacteria Are So Good at Swimming Through Your Gut
Researchers have solved the mystery of why a species of bacteria that causes food poisoning can swim faster in stickier liquids, such as within guts….
Asteroid vs. Volcanoes: New Modeling Shows What Made the Earth Uninhabitable for Dinosaurs
Modeling of the Chicxulub asteroid impact 66 million years ago shows it created a world largely unsuitable for dinosaurs to live in. The asteroid, which…
Improving Lithium-Ion Battery and Fuel Cell Performance With AI
A new machine learning algorithm allows researchers to explore possible designs for the microstructure of fuel cells and lithium-ion batteries, before running 3D simulations that…
Asteroid That Doomed the Dinosaurs Struck Earth at “Deadliest Possible” Angle
New simulations from Imperial College London have revealed the asteroid that doomed the dinosaurs struck Earth at the ‘deadliest possible’ angle. The simulations show that…
New Analysis Shows World Can Capture and Store Enough Carbon Dioxide to Meet Climate Targets
The capture and storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) underground is one of the key components of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) reports on…
Ancient Antarctica Rainforest Discovery Suggests Prehistoric World Much Warmer Than Thought
Researchers have found evidence of rainforests near the South Pole 90 million years ago, suggesting the climate was exceptionally warm at the time. A team…
Highly Detailed Images of the Human Brain Using Revolutionary Seismic Imaging Technology
The Imperial College London and UCL researchers say their proof-of-concept study, published today (March 6, 2020) in npj Digital Medicine, paves the way for the…
Baby Bee Brain Development Impaired by Pesticides – “Permanent and Irreversible”
Pesticides can impair brain growth in baby bumblebees, affecting their ability to perform a simple learning task as adults, according to a new study. Imperial…
New Hope for Healing Spinal Injuries Using Commonly Available Drugs
Drug Cocktail Holds Promise for Spinal Injuries Scientists have discovered a combination of two commonly available drugs that could help the body heal spinal fractures….
Greenhouse Gas Changes Immediately Affect Mediterranean Rainfall – ‘Hot Spot’ of Climate Change
Mediterranean-type climates face immediate drops in rainfall when greenhouse gases rise, but this could be stopped quickly if emissions are cut. This is the finding…