Saturday, December 7, 2024

Week in Science: Math and physics can't prove all truths

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December 6—This week, ancient preserved brains don't rot, but some modern brains are rotting on Internet sludge. Plus, scientists solve the mystery of a seven-mile scar across Australia's Outback. Enjoy!

--Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor

Top Stories
Hope Can Be More Powerful Than Mindfulness

In difficult times, a forward-looking mindset may be especially helpful

Some Brains Don't Rot. Here's Why

Misfolded proteins may preserve postmortem brains well after other tissues have decayed

Why 'Brain Rot' Is 2024's Word of the Year

The phrase "brain rot" spiked 230 percent from 2023 to 2024, according to the makers of the Oxford English Dictionary

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Why Gen Z Men Voted for Trump

Gen Z can't stand inequality. Why so many of its men voted Republican is a lesson in understanding male identity

What Caused This Seven-Mile Scar in Australia's Outback, Seen on Google Earth?

A man scouring Google Earth found a mysterious scar in the Australian outback. And now scientists know what caused it

Math and Physics Can't Prove All Truths

Physicists have described a system that requires an incomputable number to fully understand, another example of the provably unprovable puzzles of mathematics

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Nectar-Eating Wolves May Be Pollinating Flowers

There are fewer than 500 Ethiopian wolves, and they may be the first large carnivore known to act as a pollinator

Who Is Jared Isaacman, President-Elect Trump's Pick to Lead NASA?

NASA's presumptive next leader, billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman, already has big plans for the space agency

Why Anthony Fauci Is Concerned about Bird Flu and Public Division

"America's Doctor" says that our common enemy is the danger posed by viruses, not each other.

The Arctic Could Be Functionally Ice-Free in Just a Few Years

The Arctic is likely to become "ice-free" by midcentury—and could pass that grim milestone much sooner—unless much more is done to combat climate change

Too Much Teeth Whitening Can Cause Damage. Here's What to Know

Using teeth-whitening treatments to achieve a brighter smile may be appealing, but experts say overdoing it could cause lasting damage

Hawaiian 'Soul Guide' Crow Returns to the Wild in Conservation Win

The Hawaiian crow, or 'alalā, has been extinct in the wild since 2002. A new effort to reintroduce birds of this species—considered important guides to the souls of the dead in Hawaiian tradition—is underway

Scientist Pankaj

Today in Science: Humans think unbelievably slowly

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