Ageing explosives from unexploded bombs are becoming more dangerous Geir P. Novik (2024) A study of unexploded shells from the second world war has shown that one of the explosives they contain is becoming more sensitive to impacts, meaning it could be set off if they are dropped during disposal. This explosive, called Amatol, was […]
Technology
Not getting enough sleep may make you feel years older
Prioritising sleep could make you feel younger Uwe Krejci/Getty Images Sleep deprivation could make you feel several years older than you really are. How old someone feels, or their subjective age, has been associated with various physical and mental health outcomes, particularly depression. “Age is more than just the perception,” says Leonie Balter at the […]
Some bamboo toilet paper contains only tiny amounts of bamboo
Some brands of bamboo toilet paper contain very little bamboo Zolga_F/Getty Images Eco-friendly toilet paper brands are selling bamboo loo roll containing as little as 3 per cent bamboo, according to UK consumer group Which?. Unlike the trees that traditionally go into toilet paper, bamboo is a type of grass that can grow quickly even […]
How to make a pinhole eclipse viewer and a box eclipse viewer
You need some basic equipment to view the eclipse safely Liang Sen / Imago / Alamy If you are planning to watch the solar eclipse on 8 April this year – whether you are in the path of totality or not – you will need some equipment to enjoy it fully. The most important rule […]
Bird flu detected in US dairy cows – here’s what you need to know
Cows in a dairy GH Photos / Alamy Dairy cows in multiple US states have fallen ill with bird flu, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). The virus has killed millions of birds worldwide, but this is the first time it has been detected in cattle. How many cows are affected by bird […]
Heat pumps: How to speed up the switch to low-carbon home heating
The rollout of heat pumps and other green heating technologies is going far too slowly in the UK – here’s what’s needed to get it moving Source link
AI forecaster can predict the future better than humans
AI can make predictions about future events, such as the behaviour of the stock market James Thew / Alamy An artificial intelligence can predict the future as well as groups of people for events like political elections or economic trends. People are notoriously bad at predicting the future, at least on an individual level. But […]
The physicist searching for quantum gravity in gravitational rainbows
THE fans roar into life, pumping air upwards at 260 kilometres per hour. Decked out in a baggy blue jumpsuit, red helmet and plastic goggles, Claudia de Rham steps forward into a glass chamber and… whoosh! Suddenly she is suspended in mid-air, a wide grin on her face, thrilling to the simulated experience of free […]
Flavour-predicting AI can tell brewers how to make beer taste better
Beer brewers generate a huge variety of flavours from just a handful of ingredients Kutredrig/Getty Images An artificial intelligence that can predict how a beer will taste from its chemical make-up could help create alcohol-free versions that taste just like regular ones. Predicting flavour from chemical compounds is difficult, as complex interactions between ingredients and […]
Ancient people carved mysterious symbols near dinosaur footprints
Dinosaur footprints and rock carvings, both highlighted with dashed lines, at the Serrote do Letreiro site in Brazil Leonardo Troiano/ National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage, Brazil Mysterious rock carvings found next to dinosaur tracks in Brazil suggest ancient people discovered the footprints thousands of years ago and recognised them as meaningful. The Serrote […]