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Chemistry

A new iron compound hints ‘primordial’ helium hides in Earth’s core

Earth’s core could contain helium from the early solar system. The noble gas tucks into gaps in iron crystals under high pressure and temperature.

Quantum Physics

A quantum computing milestone is immediately challenged by a supercomputer

A quantum processor solved a problem in 20 minutes that would take a supercomputer millions of years. A supercomputer then did a part of it in about 2 hours.

Anthropology

Western Europe’s oldest face adds new wrinkles to human evolution

Face bones unearthed in a cave suggest that members of our genus, Homo, reached northern Spain as early as 1.4 million years ago.

Neuroscience

Parenthood may help the brain stay young

A study of nearly 38,000 adults shows that the number of kids correlates with coordination of brain regions’ activities — regardless of parents’ sex.

Health & Medicine

6 things to know about antidepressants

An abundance of data show that SSRIs, a class of drugs commonly used as antidepressants, are effective, though, like any drug, they have risks.

Planetary Science

Uranus emits more heat than previously thought

Uranus radiates more energy than it gets from the sun, two new studies find — just as Jupiter, Saturn and Neptune do.

Artificial Intelligence

As AI advances, the meaning of artificial general intelligence remains murky

AI models are growing ever-more capable, accurate and impressive. The question of if they represent “general intelligence” is increasingly moot.

Climate

Some trees are coping with extreme heat surprisingly well

Rising temperatures could reduce trees' ability to photosynthesize. Scientists are trying to figure out just how close we are to that point.

Health & Medicine

Brain implants don’t change a person’s sense of self. Hear why

In the fifth episode of The Deep End, volunteers describe what it’s like to live with the stigma of depression and the treatments they seek for it.

Science & Society

5 years after COVID-19 became a pandemic, are we ready for what’s next?

We’ve learned a lot about COVID-19 over the last five years, but big questions remain. Recent federal actions may hinder the disease’s management.

Science & Society

It’s ‘personal.’ What the Stand Up for Science rally meant for attendees

Stand Up for Science rallies in Washington, D.C., and across the United States drew crowds of people worried about cuts to scientific funding.

Artificial Intelligence

Medical AI tools are growing, but are they being tested properly?

AI medical benchmark tests fall short because they don’t test efficiency on real tasks such as writing medical notes, experts say.