Do cats love their humans as much as dogs do? Here is what science found - Futura, le média qui explore le monde

The experiment Thomas Penny, Yu-Han Tseng and Cecily Lowe observe nanoparticle collisions at Yale University. (Courtesy: Yale Wright Lab) A silica nanoparticle levitated in an optical trap could be used as a tiny pressure sensor that detects collisions with individual atoms and molecules – according to researchers in the US. Their proof-of-principle demonstration originated in the team’s work in developing novel neutrino and dark-matter detectors. It could lead to the development of a background pressure sensor to work alongside other optomechanical sensors.

CARBON nanotubes synthesised using ferrocene have demonstrated antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli in laboratory experiments, suggesting potential applications for nanomaterials in antimicrobial research. Researchers found that multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) inhibited bacterial growth in a concentration-dependent manner, with both minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations of 256 µg/mL. The findings highlight the antibacterial properties of the experimental preparation, although further research is needed to determine the mechanisms responsible and whether these effects could translate into practical applications.

The solar system’s most distant planet shares the sky with the nearly Full Moon this evening, with Saturn standing nearby. Late in the month, the Moon forms a triangle with Saturn and Neptune — note the latter requires binoculars or a telescope to spot. Credit: Astronomy: Roen Kelly

An artistic rendering of the interior structure of Earth (left) compared to a large rocky exoplanet (right). Credit: John Jett and Federica Coppari/LLNL In the deepest region of the Earth's mantle, just above the core, much of the material consists of crystals of magnesium oxide. In larger rocky exoplanets called super-Earths, the higher pressures in the lower mantle may drive magnesium oxide to transform into a new high-pressure crystal structure or a metallic, electrically conductive liquid that generates a magnetic field. And in gas giants, magnesium oxide could exist in the cores themselves.

Project lead Dr. Millicent Smith (center) with co-authors Dr. Shanice Van Haeften (right) and Callum Jamie (left) at the UQ Plant Futures Facility (Image credit: Megan Pope, UQ). Scientists in Australia are mapping a staged “omics” approach to accelerate breeding for heat-adapted chickpeas as rising temperatures threaten flowering, grain filling, and yields. The team aims to provide a practical pathway to accelerate the development of heat-adapted chickpea varieties and strengthen food security in vulnerable regions. The authors note that the average global temperature is projected to increase by 1.8 to 4.0°C by 2100, exacerbating heat stress risk in major chickpea-producing regions, such as India, Pakistan, and Ethiopia, where grain legumes are a key dietary component. Such heat stress during reproductive development is highlighted as a critical constraint to chickpea productivity in the review. It can cause flower and pod loss and reduced pollen viability. Project leader Dr.