Tardigrades, Earthquakes, and Big Bang Alternatives

Tardigrades, 101

Tardigrades are microscopic animals best known for their survivability in extreme environments, including the vacuum of space, pressures six times greater than Earth’s deepest ocean trench, and temperatures ranging from about -270 to 150 degrees Celsius (or -454 to 302 degrees Fahrenheit). Nicknamed “water bears,” these creatures traverse using four pairs of stubby legs that end in claws or adhesive pads and are found in habitats with moist sediments, like lake bottoms (see gallery).

Their resilience comes from their ability to undergo cryptobiosis, in which a tardigrade expels nearly all the water in its body and tucks itself into a dried-up cyst called a tun. During this process, protectant molecules—including Dsup, a protein that shields DNA from radiation—create a glass-like matrix to protect a tardigrade’s cells and reduce its metabolism by 99.99%. Even after decades, tardigrades in a tun state have been revived through rehydration.

Research is ongoing to identify medical applications of tardigrade-specific proteins, including using Dsup to protect healthy cells during radiotherapy cancer treatments.

Also, check out ... 

> There are about 1,500 known species of tardigrades with unique biology. (More)

> Tardigrades absorb oxygen through their skin. (More)

> View the fluorescently stained internal structures of a tardigrade. (More)

> Are tardigrades really indestructible? (More)

Explore everything else we've found on tardigrades.

In partnership with Allen Institute

Launching the Next Science Moonshots

What can a tiny piece of brain tissue tell us about how our brains are wired? Can we predict conditions like Alzheimer’s or arthritis before symptoms appear? How can a virus help treat epilepsy? What exactly is consciousness? If you’re reading this, you’re probably interested in questions like these. At the Allen Institute, they’re interested in the answers.

For over two decades, they’ve pushed the limits of bioscience to shed new light on the fundamental questions of human health. And as a nonprofit on the frontier of scientific discovery, they are working to ensure science remains accessible to all, for the benefit of all.

Today, the Allen Institute remains committed to its founding principles: open access science to enable breakthroughs across the globe; team science to catalyze collaboration and accelerate innovation; and big science to tackle a new generation of moonshots. Sign up to stay informed about their work as they continue to explore the frontiers of bioscience.

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Earthquakes, explained

Earthquakes are geological events caused by rocks beneath Earth's surface becoming overwhelmed by mechanical stress and moving suddenly.

Mechanical stress comes from the gradual movement of tectonic plates—massive pieces of crust and upper mantle that have drifted for billions of years—which can squeeze, stretch, or twist rocks. Once rocks experience stress beyond a critical point, they fracture and release energy built up while under stress.

Earthquakes originate at the focus or hypocenter, where energy is released in all directions as seismic waves. They are felt most intensely at the epicenter—the surface above the focus. Seismologists measure the size of an earthquake on the moment magnitude scale, where each whole-number increase, such as from 4.0 to 5.0, represents a 32-fold increase in released energy.

Analyzing these waves has allowed scientists to learn about Earth’s interior, identify tectonic plate boundaries, and develop warning systems for tsunamis.

Also, check out ... 

> The world's largest earthquake simulator is an 800-ton shake table. (More)

> The energy from a magnitude 25 earthquake would destroy the sun. (More)

> What makes earthquakes so difficult to predict? (More)

> How an earthquake 270 years ago changed history. (More)

Explore everything else we've found on earthquakes. 

Who was Nikola Tesla?

Nikola Tesla was a scientist and engineer whose inventions are largely responsible for our modern electric power infrastructure and paved the way for wireless communication technologies.

Tesla devised a highly efficient induction motor, which utilized alternating current, or AC, electricity—where current switches direction thousands of times per second. The invention made the transmission of electricity on large scales more efficient and cost-effective than direct current, or DC, technologies—where current doesn’t switch direction.

During The Current War, Thomas Edison argued that AC was dangerous and DC, which he had heavily invested in, should be used instead. However, once the 1893 Chicago World's Fair was electrified by AC, the war was won by Tesla and George Westinghouse, who had purchased Tesla's patents for AC power generation, transmission, and application.

Beyond pioneering the technology for the electric grid, Tesla patented the Tesla coil, a device that would serve as the foundation for wireless transmission technologies.

Also, check out ... 

> Tesla's biggest dream was a worldwide network of wireless power. (More)

> Showmanship and remarkable displays were trademarks of Tesla's lectures. (More)

> How Tesla seemingly controlled a boat with his mind. (More)

> The truth behind Tesla's "death ray." (More)

Explore everything else we've found on Nikola Tesla. 

Science Spotlight

Like all great scientists, we love spending time researching the latest scientific breakthroughs, tech releases, engaging explainers, and the connections between science and society that are making headlines. Here's what we found this week.

> New ‘liquid metal’ material enables recyclable, flexible electronics

UW News | William Poor. The self-healing composite material is made from a stretchy polymer infused with tiny liquid metal beads and could replace traditional circuit boards in future generations of wearable electronics. The effort may help put a dent in the millions of tons of electronic waste generated every year. (Read)

> Astronomers develop the first 3D temperature map of an exoplanet

Cornell Chronicle | James Dean and staff. The map of WASP-18b—a gas giant located 400 light-years from Earth—reveals an atmosphere with a temperature zone hot enough to rip apart water vapor. Researchers expect to apply the techniques used to identify atmospheric variations in similar exoplanets. (Read)

> AI tool reveals complete 3D architecture of brain cells

Zuckerman Institute | Staff. Columbia scientists have developed software that can automatically map the tiny, branch-like structures on the surface of neurons in minutes, outperforming existing manual counting methods. The program may help uncover regions that are more susceptible to neurological diseases. (Read)

> Ecosystems in Africa run on less than two-thirds of their pre-colonial 'power'

Leverhulme Centre | Yadvinder Malhi. Mapping how energy flows through African wildlife food webs, an Oxford-led team of researchers found significant declines in large-bodied species—elephants, rhinos, lions—which help shape and sustain vital ecosystem functions, including nutrient cycling and seed dispersal. (Read)

> Exploring the connection between sugar and cancer

Stanford Medicine | Sarah Williams. Certified oncology dietitian Erika Connor has heard the phrase, "sugar feeds cancer," and worries about people being set up for panic and misinformation involving the molecule and disease. In this write-up, she clarifies what patients should know about nutrition during treatment. (Read)

> Tardigrades: Explore the 100+ tardigrade species found in North Carolina. (Read)

In partnership with Allen Institute

The Changing Landscape of Science Research

New microscope technology allows scientists to see exponentially more detail than even a decade ago. Powerful new computer models are being used to evaluate and catalog the resulting data faster and more accurately than ever. And with all of this, cloud-based open science tools are enabling real-time collaboration around the world.

The Allen Institute is building the future of discovery, one moonshot at a time. Get a front-row seat as they turn the unknown into the understood. Sign up for their newsletter and stay ahead of what’s next.

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Best of the Week

We curate hundreds of resources onto 1440 Topics each week. Here are some of our favorites from the world of science and technology.

> Exploring alternative models of the universe beyond the Big Bang theory.

> Is MSG—a compound that excites our taste buds—bad for us?

> The origins of dog personalities.

> ...and what to know about vaccinating your pets so that you don't feel stress.

> If the Earth moves 107,000 kph around the sun, why can't we feel it?

> Move over, large language models! The next AI frontier is world models.

> If it's not to prevent turbulence while flying, then why does airplane mode exist?

> Are there any undiscovered elements, and could any become critical minerals?

> Why do all vertebrate animals engage in yawning?

> Listen to neuroscientists discuss memory and provide tips on boosting it.

Thank you to our readers for inspiring us with their questions! Curious about something in science and technology? Tell us here.

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