Do we live in a simulation? Chances are about 50–50.

 Posted on May 19, 2023  |  10 minutes  |  2047 words  |  Arica Deslauriers

It is not often that a comedian gives an astrophysicist goose bumps when discussing the laws of physics. But comic Chuck Nice managed to do just that in a recent episode of the podcast StarTalk. The show’s host Neil deGrasse Tyson had just explained the simulation argument—the idea that we could be virtual beings living in a computer simulation. If so, the simulation would most likely create perceptions of reality on demand rather than simulate all of reality all the time—much like a video game optimized to render only the parts of a scene visible to a player. [Read More]

Happy Moms Make for Happy Kids

 Posted on May 19, 2023  |  2 minutes  |  337 words  |  Arica Deslauriers

Kids these days are happier when Mom's content in her relationship with her partner, but their bliss is less dependent on Dad's relationship satisfaction, a new study based in the United Kingdom suggests. The findings, announced Saturday (April 2), are based on a sample of 6,441 women, 5,384 men and 1,268 children ages 10 to 15. Overall, 60 percent of young people reported being "completely satisfied" with their family situation, while that number dropped to 55 percent in families with a mother who was unhappy in her relationship. [Read More]

How Do You Grow a Low-Fat Avocado?

 Posted on May 19, 2023  |  3 minutes  |  462 words  |  Fernande Dalal

For avocado lovers who'd prefer a little less fat in their favorite fruit, a Spanish company could have the solution: A new variety of avocado, called the Avocado Light, promises to have a third less fat than avocados commonly found in supermarkets. The variety, sold by the company Eurobanan, says that the avocados are grown in Central and South America, but will only be available in Spain. But how exactly do you grow a low-fat avocado? [Read More]

Marijuana Chemical Could Help Fight Anxiety

 Posted on May 19, 2023  |  3 minutes  |  541 words  |  Fernande Dalal

A compound in marijuana called cannabidiol could help treat people who have anxiety disorders, a new review of previous research suggests. Cannabidiol could be used in addition to talk therapy to treat anxiety disorders such as phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the review concluded. However, most of the studies examining whether the compound works as a treatment for anxiety have been conducted in animals, the researchers said. So more research is needed to see how well the compound might work in people with anxiety disorders, the researchers said. [Read More]

Mother's Stress Exacerbates Child's Asthma

 Posted on May 19, 2023  |  3 minutes  |  503 words  |  Arica Deslauriers

Mothers who are stressed-out may be making their children's asthma worse, according to a new study. Children with asthma whose mothers were angry or irritated or suppressed their emotions were more likely to have serve asthma symptoms a year after the study started than children whose mothers did not respond to stress in this way. However, these findings only held true for children under 7. For older children, having a mother who was over-protective and frequently interfered in the child's life was associated with worse asthma symptoms. [Read More]

Photos: Elusive Snow Leopards Thrive in Surprising Spot

 Posted on May 19, 2023  |  2 minutes  |  291 words  |  Fernande Dalal

Thanks to the vigilant eye of camera traps stationed high in Afghanistan's remote northeast mountains, researchers have uncovered exciting news: A population of endangered snow leopards, one of the most elusive big cats on the planet, is thriving in the region. The big cats live among the dramatic peaks of the desolate Wakhan Corridor, a narrow strip of land 220 miles (354 kilometers) long, and sandwiched between Tajikistan to the north, Pakistan to the south, and a tiny border with China to the east. [Read More]

Redesigned Roofs Withstand Tornadoes and Hurricanes

 Posted on May 19, 2023  |  2 minutes  |  367 words  |  Mittie Cheatwood

The tornado that stormed through Joplin, Mo., on May 22 shredded an estimated 8,000 buildings and stranded desperate families that now must decide whether to rebuild or find a new home. For those choosing to rebuild, Rima Taher, an expert on wind-resistant structures, has a bit of advice: don't do it the old way. "You wonder why we keep doing the same things, making the same buildings," Taher told InnovationNewsDaily. [Read More]

Scientists puzzled by 'unexplained excess mass' lurking in human chromosomes

 Posted on May 19, 2023  |  2 minutes  |  384 words  |  Mittie Cheatwood

How much do you weigh? No, not your body weight (we're not here to judge) — but the weight of your chromosomes, those X-shaped bundles of genetic instructions that make you you? If you don't know offhand, then scientists have you covered. Using one of the U.K.'s most powerful X-ray beams, a team of researchers recently measured the mass of the 46 human chromosomes. The results were surprising: Each chromosome was about 20 times heavier than the DNA contained inside them — a much greater mass than the researchers anticipated, according to their study published March 31 in the journal Chromosome Research(opens in new tab). [Read More]

Shark-Fin Soup Losing its Status as Shark Populations Decline (Op-Ed)

 Posted on May 19, 2023  |  5 minutes  |  973 words  |  Arica Deslauriers

Christine Xu is a programassistant in the China Program and Energy & Transportation Program for the Natural Resources Defense Coundil (NRDC). This post is adapted from one that appeared on the NRDC blog Switchboard. Xu contributed this article to LiveScience's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights. Ever since "Jaws" inflicted a collective fear of sharks upon the public, shark conservationists have strongly supported the Discovery Channel's Shark Week, which was produced specifically to raise awareness and to debunk some very common myths about sharks. [Read More]

State With the Highest Teen Pregnancy Rate Is ...

 Posted on May 19, 2023  |  4 minutes  |  730 words  |  Trudie Dory

Teen pregnancy rates are highest in New Mexico and lowest in New Hampshire, according to a new report on the most current state-level data on pregnancy, birthrates and abortions among 15- to 19-year-olds. The data is from 2008, the most current year that comprehensive information is available, according to the reproductive rights agency the Guttmacher Institute. Though 16 states did see an increase in teen pregnancies between 2005 and 2008, the analysis suggests that overall rates are continuing their decades-long decline. [Read More]