Measuring body fat more carefully can help treat obesity Halfpoint/Getty Images Rethinking the way we define obesity could help millions of people worldwide, claims a team of researchers who want to introduce a new category of “preclinical” obesity. The current definition of obesity, as set by the World Health Organization (WHO), is having excess body … Read more
Meta owns social media platforms including Facebook and Instagram JRdes/Shutterstock By 2024, Meta allowed more than 3,300 pornographic ads – many with AI-generated content – ​​on its social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. The findings come from a report by AI Forensics, a European non-profit organization focused on investigating technology platform algorithms. The researchers … Read more
The sun sets on a hot day in London in July 2024 Guy Corbishley/Alamy Hopes of keeping global warming below 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels are all but ruled out after new data confirmed that 2024 was the first calendar year in which average temperatures exceeded the critical threshold. Last year was the hottest ever recorded … Read more
Italian ryegrass is a common weed in field crops John Cussans Weeds resistant to the herbicide glyphosate have been found in the UK for the first time. The species in question, called Italian ryegrass, is widespread in the UK, but samples impervious to the chemical have only been found on one farm in Kent. Glyphosate … Read more
Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) captured on December 31, 2024 using a telescope in RÃo Hurtado, Chile Lionel Majzik A comet that has surprised astronomers could shine as brightly as Venus in the night sky when it passes Earth in the next few days. Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) was discovered last April by NASA’s Asteroid Terrestrial-impact … Read more
The Horse Hill oil field was discovered in 2015 Invicta Kent Media/Shutterstock More than 100 earthquakes that rocked southern England were likely triggered by oil extraction, experts say. Previous research had ruled out a link, but fresh information about the area’s geology has established a likely link. The earthquakes were all relatively small, measuring between … Read more
The Palisades Fire is moving toward homes in Los Angeles Ethan Swope/Associated Press/Alamy Fast-moving wildfires in the Los Angeles area are burning out of control long after the fire season normally ends in California. Strong Santa Ana winds are not unusual this time of year, but they have arrived after months of drought. The combination … Read more
Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) has likely infected humans for centuries ROGER HARRIS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY Alarmist headlines warning that China is once again being overwhelmed by a mysterious new virus have dominated the past few days. But the virus reported to be responsible for a rise in respiratory infections there, called human metapneumovirus, or hMPV, is actually … Read more
A wastewater treatment plant in California Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Wastewater treatment plants are a major source of PFAS contamination in drinking water in the United States—they discharge enough “forever chemicals” to raise concentrations above safe levels for an estimated 15 million people or more. They can also release long-lasting prescription drugs into the water supply. … Read more
Blinking can do more than just keep our eyes healthy gaiamoments/Getty Images Blinking serves a vital physiological function, removing debris from our eyes and keeping them lubricated. But now researchers have found that it can also have a cognitive role. In 1945, Arthur Hall at the University of Sheffield in the UK reported on the … Read more