Dyes made by microbes could reduce the environmental impact of clothes
A UK start-up is producing dyes made by bacteria and yeast rather than fossil fuel-derived chemicals, which could help clothes manufacturers cut energy use and pollution
Giant megalodon sharks may have sparred with their jaws
Fossil teeth of extinct megalodon sharks have grooves made by other megalodon teeth, hinting at violent encounters between these giant predators
Carbon-neutral hydrogen can be produced from farm waste
Bioethanol made from fermented agricultural waste can be turned into zero-carbon hydrogen through a new process that uses much less energy than other sources
California’s groundwater drought continues despite torrential rain
Seismic measurement of Los Angeles’s depleted aquifers show a year of heavy precipitation hasn’t been enough to refill them
Rewilding is often championed, but could it be bad for biodiversity?
Conservation projects in wealthy but nature-depleted countries can cause food and timber production to “leak” into poorer, biodiverse nations
Why we may crave dessert even when we are full from dinner
In mice, the neurons that dictate the feeling of being full are also the ones that cause sugar cravings, potentially explaining why people are still able to eat sweets after a filling meal
Using AI tools like ChatGPT can reduce critical thinking skills
A survey of workers who used generative AI to complete tasks found that they used critical thinking less when they trusted the AI to do the task accurately
Quantum batteries charge faster the larger they are
Batteries built on quantum principles could offer fast charging and discharging – and the technology may just have moved a little closer to the real world
Most Europeans may have had dark skin until less than 3000 years ago
Ancient DNA from 348 individuals suggests that pale skin became the predominant characteristic of people living in Europe much later than assumed
Mouse brain slices brought back to life after being frozen for a week
In a step towards suspended animation of people, slices of mouse brains have shown near-normal activity after being stored at -150°C for up to a week