China takes the lead in building a quantum internet from space China's Micius satellite has beamed a quantum signal to ground-based stations, the first proof that entangled particles can be transmitted over thousands of kilometers. Though only one pair of entangled photons reached the ground station (out of thousands of pairs that the satellite beamed down), it is a proof of principle that quantum communication can be achieved over vast distances. And such quantum communication offers the promise of a global network that would be hard to hack. | | Image: Nic McPhee / Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0) | | Cats came from Asia and Egypt The domestic cat first came from the Middle East more than 6,000 years ago, according to a new analysis of DNA from hundreds of ancient and modern cats. But that ancient lineage was joined by a new one that came out of Egypt roughly 3,000 years ago and then spread along shipping routes. And the beloved tabby cat only evolved less than 1,000 years ago. Today, of course, cats have conquered the internet, though some still argue that our feline companions are not truly domesticated, even all these thousands of years later. | | Image: CDC / F. A. Murphy (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) | | Designer protein blocks flu Scientists have made a protein that can protect cells, and even mice, from getting infected with the flu. The protein latches onto the outer coating of the influenza virus, blocking its ability to bind to and infect cells. For the moment, the manufactured protein does not block all strains of influenza known to sicken humans, and no one's yet studied the side effects -- but the research raises the possibility of a new weapon in the fight against a very common and deadly disease. | | Recently discovered
"Maybe .... we are not alone:" NASA's Kepler telescope finds 10 more Earth-like planets
Observations from NASA's Kepler Space Telescope revealed 10 rocky worlds that are the right distance from their parent stars for water (if it exists there) to pool on the surface, boosting their chances of hosting life. (The Guardian)
Asia's rivers send more plastic into the ocean than all other continents combined
Every year, millions of tons of plastics are produced and trashed, with much of it eventually ending up in the ocean. Though countries don't tend to report how much plastic they are flushing, a recent study suggests that around 86 percent of ocean plastic pollution is coming from Asia. (Quartz)
Gray seals are making a huge comeback
After nearly being hunted to extinction, gray seals have recolonized the East Coast of the US. A recent aerial survey suggests gray seals off the southeastern Massachusetts coast now number between 30,000 and 50,000. (Popular Science)
Video: See invisible air
Check out what the world would look like if you could see invisible air currents, temperature gradients and differences in pressure or composition of the air. (Veritasium)
Using pig brain cells to fight Parkinson's
Living Cell Technologies, a New Zealand-based biotech company, has been developing a Parkinson's treatment that uses cells from the brains of pigs -- specifically the choroid plexus, a brain structure that makes a cocktail of growth factors. The hope is that compounds made by these cells will nourish the remaining dopamine-producing cells in the brains of patients with Parkinson's. (New Scientist)
| | Animation: Rob Kohr, Travis Spangler, Andy Rash | | | Sunscreen comes in many forms, each with its own impacts on your body and the environment. With so many options, how do you choose which one is best for you? Mary Poffenroth explains how sunscreens work and compares different application methods, SPFs and active ingredients to help you make the best choice. | | | |
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