Game Development

A gravity model that lets dark energy change sign could help resolve a persistent disagreement over how fast the universe is expanding. In an existing theory of gravity, the same present-day matter density can fit two very different histories of the universe. Researchers had largely pursued the one that kept dark energy’s density positive. Exploring […]

A simple membrane uses crude oil’s own deposits to separate lighter components at room temperature, with simulations suggesting nearly one-third less energy use when paired with distillation. Refineries heat crude oil above 350°C (662°F) to separate a mixture that supplies transportation fuels and raw materials for plastics, packaging, textiles, and other consumer products. This century-old […]

Ancient DNA reveals medieval Sicily as a genetic melting pot, where people buried in Christian and Muslim cemeteries shared roots in North Africa, Europe, and the Mediterranean. Sicily changed rulers repeatedly between the 5th and 15th centuries CE, passing through the hands of the Roman and Byzantine Empires, Islamic dynasties, and the Normans and Swabians. […]

Stacking heavy sandbags against a doorway is a familiar response to flooding, but laboratory tests suggest sealing the gaps with ordinary duct tape could keep more water out. Could a cheap roll of duct tape help protect your home from flooding? New research suggests it could make a surprisingly big difference. In controlled tests, correctly […]

Scientists uncover a surprising paradox in how our cells age, revealing that more cellular cleanup isn’t always better and exercise may help restore a youthful balance. Every day, our cells must dispose of damaged proteins and other unwanted material to keep themselves functioning properly. They accomplish this through a natural recycling process called autophagy, which […]

A chronic back pain flare may switch on a brain network tied to identity, linking physical pain with how you see yourself. Researchers at UC San Diego School of Medicine found that movement-triggered flares in people with chronic low back pain activated a brain network associated with identity and inward reflection. Painful heat produced the […]

Nearly 35 years of observational data link greater lifetime cannabis use to poorer sleep in middle age, challenging its reputation as a sleep aid. More than eight hours of sleep might sound like a good night’s rest, but a new Northwestern Medicine study linked recent cannabis use to both a greater likelihood of sleeping that […]

Pottery, coins, and buried defenses point to a Roman fort in west Wales, offering a possible setting for Emperor Magnus Maximus’s camp in medieval Welsh folklore. My recent discovery of a Roman fort and its extraordinary connection with medieval folklore was the fruition of many hours of painstaking research. This all began in 2002 when […]

Submerged ancient forest floors off Mozambique now shelter young reef fish, suggesting overlooked peat reefs could offer some species refuge as coral reefs decline. Much of the seabed along Mozambique’s Bazaruto coastline is shifting sand, leaving marine life few solid places to settle and shelter. Exposed layers of ancient peat provide that foothold, supporting fish […]

A newly discovered giant fungus belongs to a previously unknown family that may have emerged around 65 million years ago, shortly after the mass extinction that killed the non-avian dinosaurs. A fungus discovered in China’s Yunnan forests produces whitish, spore-bearing structures up to 50 centimeters (about 20 inches) tall and weighing as much as 2.2 […]