science
Why early humans radically changed their toolkits 200,000 years ago
A decline in ancient megafauna in the Middle East coincided with a shift towards smaller, lighter toolkits in the archaeological record – though scientists are still in debate about why Source link
Migraines could be treated by ramping up the brain's cleaning system
Amplifying the brain’s waste disposal system seems to clear a substance that drives migraines, relieving some of the pain associated with the condition Source link
Iodised salt has become uncool but many of us need to eat more iodine
Iodine deficiency is on the rise among people in the UK, the US and Australia. A century ago this led to drops in IQ, height and thyroid health – and the modern fancy salt fad may be leading to a resurgence, says columnist Alice Klein Source link
Multipurpose anti-viral pill may treat colds, norovirus, flu and covid
AI predicted that a forgotten breast cancer drug could be repurposed to treat many respiratory and gastrointestinal viruses, and subsequent animal tests suggests it may be right Source link
What to read this week: Lixing Sun's ambitious On the Origin of Sex
Ducks with corkscrew penises, fish changing sex – what do we really know about sex and reproduction on Earth? Less than we think, reveals a mind-boggling new book. Elle Hunt explores Source link
The first quantum computer to break encryption is now shockingly close
Traditional encryption methods have long been vulnerable to quantum computers, but two new analyses suggest a capable enough machine may be built much sooner than previously thought Source link
Virus from marine animals is causing weird eye problems in people
A virus seems to have jumped from marine animals into people for the first time ever, and it is causing serious vision problems Source link
New fibre optic record allows 50,000,000 movies to be streamed at once
Improved hardware can send ten times as much data through existing fibre optic cables, potentially providing a way to massively upgrade the internet’s infrastructure without the cost and inconvenience of laying any new cables Source link
AI data centres can warm surrounding areas by up to 9.1°C
Hundreds of millions of people live close enough to data centres used to power AI to feel warmer average temperatures in their local area Source link
We could protect Earth from dangerous asteroids using a huge magnet
A new spacecraft concept called NOVA could keep asteroids from hitting our planet by using a huge magnet to gradually pull them apart while shifting their trajectories Source link