Taosci
@taosci.bsky.social
Avid follower of science news & general political news from an Australian perspective.
Secular. Metaphysical naturalist.
"The Cosmos is all that is or ever was or ever will be." - Carl Sagan.
Secular. Metaphysical naturalist.
"The Cosmos is all that is or ever was or ever will be." - Carl Sagan.
Reposted by Taosci
Across vertebrates, species with consistently warm body temperatures and larger offspring tend to have larger brains relative to body size, highlighting key factors in brain evolution. doi.org/g98342
Large brains require warm bodies and big offspring in vertebrates, study finds
Vertebrates have extremely different brain sizes: even with the same body size, brain size can vary a hundredfold. As a rule, mammals and birds have the largest brains in relation to their body size, followed by sharks and reptiles.
phys.org
November 3, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Across vertebrates, species with consistently warm body temperatures and larger offspring tend to have larger brains relative to body size, highlighting key factors in brain evolution. doi.org/g98342
Mathematical proof debunks the idea that the universe is a computer simulation:
phys.org/news/2025-10...
phys.org/news/2025-10...
Mathematical proof debunks the idea that the universe is a computer simulation
It's a plot device beloved by science fiction: our entire universe might be a simulation running on some advanced civilization's supercomputer. But new research from UBC Okanagan has mathematically pr...
phys.org
October 31, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Mathematical proof debunks the idea that the universe is a computer simulation:
phys.org/news/2025-10...
phys.org/news/2025-10...
Reposted by Taosci
In 2022, we were very excited to see 3.6sigma evidence of Cosmic Birefringence in Planck+WMAP. We've been waiting for confirmation from other experiments since, and now we are slowly getting it!
New paper is finding 2.9sigma evidence in ACT DR6. This is getting serious!
arxiv.org/abs/2509.13654
New paper is finding 2.9sigma evidence in ACT DR6. This is getting serious!
arxiv.org/abs/2509.13654
September 20, 2025 at 9:07 AM
In 2022, we were very excited to see 3.6sigma evidence of Cosmic Birefringence in Planck+WMAP. We've been waiting for confirmation from other experiments since, and now we are slowly getting it!
New paper is finding 2.9sigma evidence in ACT DR6. This is getting serious!
arxiv.org/abs/2509.13654
New paper is finding 2.9sigma evidence in ACT DR6. This is getting serious!
arxiv.org/abs/2509.13654
Reposted by Taosci
Finally found: using speckle imaging, researchers have spotted what is likely the predicted 1.6-solar-mass companion to the red supergiant Betelgeuse. aasnova.org/2025/07/23/b... 🔭🧪
Betelgeuse’s Companion Star May Have Been Seen at Last
Finally found: using speckle imaging, researchers have spotted what is likely the predicted 1.6-solar-mass companion to the red supergiant Betelgeuse.
aasnova.org
July 23, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Finally found: using speckle imaging, researchers have spotted what is likely the predicted 1.6-solar-mass companion to the red supergiant Betelgeuse. aasnova.org/2025/07/23/b... 🔭🧪
Reposted by Taosci
CRISPR transforms ordinary fat cells into cancer killing machines #NBTintheNews www.thebrighterside.news/post/crispr-...
CRISPR transforms ordinary fat cells into cancer killing machines
Scientists use CRISPR to turn fat cells into cancer-fighting machines, cutting off tumors' nutrient supply and halting growth.
www.thebrighterside.news
February 28, 2025 at 4:32 PM
CRISPR transforms ordinary fat cells into cancer killing machines #NBTintheNews www.thebrighterside.news/post/crispr-...
Reposted by Taosci
Experimental treatment uses engineered fat cells to “starve” tumors #NBTintheNews www.cancer.gov/news-events/...
Genetically Modified Fat Cells Starve Tumors in Mice
White fat cells genetically engineered to aggressively consume glucose and other nutrients can shrink tumors in mice, a new study has found.
www.cancer.gov
March 31, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Experimental treatment uses engineered fat cells to “starve” tumors #NBTintheNews www.cancer.gov/news-events/...
One of the most promising of the commercial Fusion Tokamak concepts: youtu.be/dTbd0wmOwzY?...
Virtual Tour of the CFS Commercial Fusion Campus (June 2025)
YouTube video by Commonwealth Fusion Systems
youtu.be
June 23, 2025 at 11:10 PM
One of the most promising of the commercial Fusion Tokamak concepts: youtu.be/dTbd0wmOwzY?...
Reposted by Taosci
At long last, scientists have a nearly complete cranium from hominins known as Denisovans. scim.ag/4e7QdT4
‘Dragon Man’ skull belongs to mysterious human relative
At long last, scientists have a nearly complete cranium from hominins known as Denisovans
scim.ag
June 20, 2025 at 1:13 PM
At long last, scientists have a nearly complete cranium from hominins known as Denisovans. scim.ag/4e7QdT4
Reposted by Taosci
We may finally know what Denisovans looked like. New protein and DNA studies reveal that the mysterious Harbin skull—once dubbed Homo longi—is a Denisovan. Ghost lineage, no more. 🧬🧠 #Anthropology #Paleoanthropology #HumanEvolution #Denisovans #AncientDNA #SubstackScience
Dragon Man Unmasked: How a Century-Old Skull Rewrites Denisovan History
A Ghost in the Human Family Tree
www.anthropology.net
June 18, 2025 at 10:08 PM
We may finally know what Denisovans looked like. New protein and DNA studies reveal that the mysterious Harbin skull—once dubbed Homo longi—is a Denisovan. Ghost lineage, no more. 🧬🧠 #Anthropology #Paleoanthropology #HumanEvolution #Denisovans #AncientDNA #SubstackScience
Reposted by Taosci
Two Finnish physicists use an 8-dimensional gauge model to develop a simple unified gravity that satisfies the standard model and quantum physics.
The paper is here: tinyurl.com/23odoc2y
#physics 🧪
The paper is here: tinyurl.com/23odoc2y
#physics 🧪
May 24, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Two Finnish physicists use an 8-dimensional gauge model to develop a simple unified gravity that satisfies the standard model and quantum physics.
The paper is here: tinyurl.com/23odoc2y
#physics 🧪
The paper is here: tinyurl.com/23odoc2y
#physics 🧪
Reposted by Taosci
China added more solar generation than the rest of the world COMBINED in 2024 ☀️
China’s 250 TWh of additional solar generation was four times more than the world’s second largest increase in the US
ember-energy.org/lat...
#GER2025
China’s 250 TWh of additional solar generation was four times more than the world’s second largest increase in the US
ember-energy.org/lat...
#GER2025
April 11, 2025 at 9:00 AM
China added more solar generation than the rest of the world COMBINED in 2024 ☀️
China’s 250 TWh of additional solar generation was four times more than the world’s second largest increase in the US
ember-energy.org/lat...
#GER2025
China’s 250 TWh of additional solar generation was four times more than the world’s second largest increase in the US
ember-energy.org/lat...
#GER2025
Reposted by Taosci
Scientists have mapped a mouse brain's visual cortex, tracing 84,000 neurons and 500 million synapses. This 3D reconstruction offers insights into brain function and potential disorder treatments.
Scientists map part of a mouse's brain that's so complex it looks like a galaxy
Thanks to a mouse watching clips from "The Matrix," scientists have created the largest functional map of a brain to date—a diagram of the wiring connecting 84,000 neurons as they fire off messages.
phys.org
April 9, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Scientists have mapped a mouse brain's visual cortex, tracing 84,000 neurons and 500 million synapses. This 3D reconstruction offers insights into brain function and potential disorder treatments.
Reposted by Taosci
Spectacular: The partially eclipsed Sun rising over the St Lawrence River in Quebec, captured on March 29. Video by Jason Kurth.
(I sped up the footage 4x for the impatient...like myself.) 🧪🔭
apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropi...
(I sped up the footage 4x for the impatient...like myself.) 🧪🔭
apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropi...
April 2, 2025 at 4:25 AM
Spectacular: The partially eclipsed Sun rising over the St Lawrence River in Quebec, captured on March 29. Video by Jason Kurth.
(I sped up the footage 4x for the impatient...like myself.) 🧪🔭
apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropi...
(I sped up the footage 4x for the impatient...like myself.) 🧪🔭
apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropi...
Reposted by Taosci
The three-volume feasibility study calls for the Future Circular Collider to smash together electrons with positrons to study the Higgs boson in unprecedented detail before installing a proton "discovery machine" to search for new particles ⚛️🧪 physicsworld.com/a/cern-relea...
CERN releases plans for the "most extraordinary instrument ever built" – Physics World
The Future Circular Collider would study the Higgs boson in unprecedented detail
physicsworld.com
April 2, 2025 at 12:24 PM
The three-volume feasibility study calls for the Future Circular Collider to smash together electrons with positrons to study the Higgs boson in unprecedented detail before installing a proton "discovery machine" to search for new particles ⚛️🧪 physicsworld.com/a/cern-relea...
As an Australian and fellow member of the Commonwealth, I strongly support Canadian sovereignty and independence.
IMO Canada must take US threats seriously.
Interesting video by Economic Circuit.
youtu.be/m_Uze4eLjaQ?...
IMO Canada must take US threats seriously.
Interesting video by Economic Circuit.
youtu.be/m_Uze4eLjaQ?...
Canada Under Threat: Trump, Tariffs, Annexation—and the Nuclear Option
YouTube video by Economic Circuit
youtu.be
March 31, 2025 at 12:33 PM
As an Australian and fellow member of the Commonwealth, I strongly support Canadian sovereignty and independence.
IMO Canada must take US threats seriously.
Interesting video by Economic Circuit.
youtu.be/m_Uze4eLjaQ?...
IMO Canada must take US threats seriously.
Interesting video by Economic Circuit.
youtu.be/m_Uze4eLjaQ?...
Reposted by Taosci
We already knew religious "switching" was huge in the U.S., with far more people *leaving* Christianity than entering it.
We now know what religious switching looks like in other countries.
Christians should be very, very worried.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/the-global...
We now know what religious switching looks like in other countries.
Christians should be very, very worried.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/the-global...
The global religious exodus: Why people are switching—and ditching—faith
The Pew Research Center shows that Christianity is the global loser when it comes to people leaving one religion and adopting another (or none at all)
www.friendlyatheist.com
March 26, 2025 at 2:16 PM
We already knew religious "switching" was huge in the U.S., with far more people *leaving* Christianity than entering it.
We now know what religious switching looks like in other countries.
Christians should be very, very worried.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/the-global...
We now know what religious switching looks like in other countries.
Christians should be very, very worried.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/the-global...
Reposted by Taosci
A new ruthenium-based core-shell nanocluster catalyst offers high efficiency and stability for hydrogen production, potentially reducing costs and enhancing eco-friendly energy solutions. doi.org/g89b5s
Core-shell nanocluster catalyst enables high-efficiency, low-cost and eco-friendly hydrogen production
A Korean research team has successfully developed an advanced electrochemical catalyst. This innovation is expected to lead the next generation of sustainable hydrogen production.
phys.org
March 21, 2025 at 4:47 PM
A new ruthenium-based core-shell nanocluster catalyst offers high efficiency and stability for hydrogen production, potentially reducing costs and enhancing eco-friendly energy solutions. doi.org/g89b5s
Reposted by Taosci
Asgard archaea, a unique group of microbes, may bridge the gap between archaea and eukaryotes, suggesting eukaryotes could be a subgroup within archaea, altering the tree of life.
Origin of life: How a special group of single-celled organisms laid the foundation for complex cells
Ten years ago, nobody knew that Asgard archaea even existed. In 2015, however, researchers examining deep-sea sediments discovered gene fragments that indicated a new and previously undiscovered form of microbes.
phys.org
March 21, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Asgard archaea, a unique group of microbes, may bridge the gap between archaea and eukaryotes, suggesting eukaryotes could be a subgroup within archaea, altering the tree of life.
Reposted by Taosci
The Brief – It’s time for Europe to go nuclear
The Brief – It’s time for Europe to go nuclear
The choice for Europe’s leading nations is simple: Go nuclear or perish.
dlvr.it
March 6, 2025 at 7:42 PM
The Brief – It’s time for Europe to go nuclear
Reposted by Taosci
Norwegian officials fear US may share its intel with Russia, local media reports
Norwegian officials fear US may share its intel with Russia, local media reports
"The allegations have no basis in reality at all. Norway has solid and good intelligence cooperation with the US," Nils Andreas Stensønes, head of the Norwegian Intelligence Service, responded on Thursday.
dlvr.it
March 6, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Norwegian officials fear US may share its intel with Russia, local media reports
Reposted by Taosci
The news comes just days after a disastrous meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
President Trump pauses Ukraine military aid
The news comes just days after a disastrous meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
www.npr.org
March 4, 2025 at 2:23 AM
The news comes just days after a disastrous meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Reposted by Taosci
Trump’s numbers on US & European aid to Ukraine are completely fabricated — Europe has given more to Ukraine and the US hasn’t reached anywhere near $350 billion.
February 24, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Trump’s numbers on US & European aid to Ukraine are completely fabricated — Europe has given more to Ukraine and the US hasn’t reached anywhere near $350 billion.
Reposted by Taosci
"White Christian nationalism has indeed come into remarkable power," writes @robertpjones.bsky.social. "PRRI’s new study demonstrates the danger of this worldview, but it also provides a reality check on the actual reach of White Christian nationalism among all Americans." ow.ly/Z6SJ50V6TQ4
Despite the GOP Devolving into a White Christian Nationalist Party, Majority of U.S. Does Not Support Christian Nationalism
In the wake of the election of Donald Trump with the strong support of White evangelical and other conservative White Christians, my organization, PRRI, released yesterday our annual update of the lar...
ow.ly
February 26, 2025 at 2:49 PM
"White Christian nationalism has indeed come into remarkable power," writes @robertpjones.bsky.social. "PRRI’s new study demonstrates the danger of this worldview, but it also provides a reality check on the actual reach of White Christian nationalism among all Americans." ow.ly/Z6SJ50V6TQ4
Reposted by Taosci
In remarks to reporters Tuesday and in a social media post on Wednesday, Trump made numerous false claims about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Russian war on Ukraine – some of which echoed inaccurate talking points from Vladimir Putin.
Here is a fact check of some of his assertions.
Here is a fact check of some of his assertions.
Fact check: Trump’s barrage of lies about Zelensky and Ukraine | CNN Politics
In remarks to reporters on Tuesday and in a social media post on Wednesday, Trump made numerous false claims about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Russian war on Ukraine – some of which...
cnn.it
February 19, 2025 at 9:10 PM
In remarks to reporters Tuesday and in a social media post on Wednesday, Trump made numerous false claims about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Russian war on Ukraine – some of which echoed inaccurate talking points from Vladimir Putin.
Here is a fact check of some of his assertions.
Here is a fact check of some of his assertions.