Tech

Remains of smallpox virus DNA found in two mummies of indigenous people in northern Chile provide, for the first time, direct genetic evidence that the disease arrived in the Americas with European conquerors. Researchers identified an extinct viral lineage, dubbed CAM9.

A new scientific model based on over a billion satellite observations reveals the planet's dynamic changes and presents a gravitational relief of the Earth that differs significantly from the conventional view of a perfect sphere.

Scientific estimates state that the expansion of the Sun will bring an end to Earth, but a new groundbreaking model now presents an unexpected chance of survival and explains how the planet could dodge a cruel fate.

The upper stage of a SpaceX rocket, left in space after launching two lunar landers, is on a collision course with the Moon. It is expected to crash into the lunar surface this Wednesday.

The race for the terabit is on: while 5G is still spreading globally, researchers are already developing 6G. This new technology promises speeds of 1 Tbps and near-zero latency, but faces significant physical and infrastructure challenges.

The "rogue agents" storm in the AI industry continues to escalate. OpenAI has uncovered additional cases of AI agents breaking out of their Sandbox, while Anthropic revealed that its Claude models hacked into the production networks of three real companies during cyber tests. Washington and Brussels are beginning to take action.

Research from the University of California, Davis, reveals that combining bananas with berries in a smoothie can neutralize up to 84% of beneficial flavanols. This is caused by the enzyme polyphenol oxidase found in bananas.

Dr. Jen Gunter, a health expert and TED speaker, explains the biology behind the body's fluid balance. It turns out that your kidneys and hormonal system know exactly when you need hydration, without the need for apps or forced drinking.

For millions of people, preparing for sleep involves using white noise. We explore why the brain needs background sounds to mask disturbances and how different noise colors affect sleep.

Channel managers have struggled with low engagement due to the muted default setting. WhatsApp is now introducing an elegant solution to give users more control. Here are the details on when this feature will reach everyone.

Sharks have been swimming in Earth's oceans longer than Saturn's icy rings have existed. Data from the Cassini spacecraft and paleontological discoveries of 'skin teeth' are forcing a re-evaluation of the solar system's timeline and Earth's evolutionary history.

In the heart of Rishon LeZion, a group of veteran science popularizers is crafting a dynamic mechanical model of the solar system, navigating complex engineering and educational dilemmas.

WhatsApp is launching a category-based storage cleaning tool for channels, alongside an option for mass deletion of media from multiple channels simultaneously directly in the "Updates" tab.

Do basketball players have a higher chance of scoring the more they have scored before? Researchers tried to prove they don't – until other researchers arrived and discovered a significant flaw in the research method.

The Yair research station in Hatzeva has developed a unique pepper variety resistant to extreme temperatures. This innovation aims to mitigate heat stress in greenhouses and ensure agricultural productivity amid the climate crisis.

A viral post has reignited the debate between those who oppose "laboratory horrors" and those who remind us that without them, we would not have life-saving medicines. New data reveals how many mice and rabbits were killed in laboratories. Meanwhile, breakthrough technologies may make this dilemma a thing of the past.

With the help of software and algorithms from the Israeli company Qedma, IBM managed to use its quantum computer to outperform the world's most powerful supercomputer with 700,000 processor cores, and to perform a complex experiment in the field of physics.

The Academy of Sciences has unveiled a powerful magnet capable of holding hot plasma without it touching the reactor walls. The ambitious project will enable the construction of commercial power plants that will provide unlimited electricity to humanity.

Researchers in the USA who lost funding for their long-term study have found a creative solution: selling "exclusive" photos and videos of cute rodents on a platform typically associated with adult content.

A new study may pave the way for innovative treatments for borderline personality disorder; Ichilov Hospital unveils a new non-profit incubator for health startups; and an Israeli project wins a European award. This week in biomed.

A large-scale study published in 'Communications Psychology' reveals that dreams are a dynamic process, directly influenced by individual personality and environmental factors.

During excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority at the Tower of David Museum, a rare mold for casting a female figurine's face was discovered. This marks the first time such a production tool has been found in Jerusalem.

Astronomers have detected helium gas for the first time in the atmosphere of LHS 1140 b - a rocky planet in the habitable zone, located 464 trillion km away. The breakthrough, made using the Magellan telescope in Chile, proves that Earth-like worlds can maintain a gas envelope for billions of years.

A new study in Nature Communications reveals a mechanism where tiny vesicles guide the immune system to clean up dying cells. Alongside the vital contribution to preventing inflammation, researchers warn that viruses may exploit the mechanism as a "Trojan horse" and bypass the body's defenses.

A new study reveals an unusual cooperative feeding tactic off the coast of Mexico. Killer whales were documented slamming their heads into giant sunfish carcasses to break them apart for young and adult pod members. Researchers state: "It is food processing that makes consumption easier." Dr. Ayers remarked: "I couldn't believe what I was seeing."

A fascinating archaeological discovery made in the autumn of 2024 near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, is set for auction. The hoard of 16 Iron Age gold coins, found by a history professor, is considered one of the most significant collections of Celtic gold ever unearthed in Britain.

While scanning the beach in Ashdod, Avi Chaparak discovered a 2,500-year-old coin. The Israel Antiquities Authority confirmed it is the first of its kind from Cyprus to be found in Israel.

Shipwreck fragments discovered more than a decade ago off the southern coast of Croatia date back to the 7th or 8th century AD. After years of analysis, archaeologists have determined that the vessel was carrying a high-ranking official and their entourage, revealing the largest gold hoard ever found on a shipwreck in the Mediterranean.

A Shanghai hospital promised a breakthrough treatment, but just a week after trillions of engineered viruses were injected into the brain of a 6-year-old patient, she passed away. Parents claim protection mechanisms failed and the tragedy was hidden.

Is your iPhone heating up during light use and the battery draining faster than usual? The new "Liquid Glass" interface and AI mechanisms force the processor to work at maximum frequency on models from iPhone 13 to 16. Six simple settings lower the heat and return control to you.

In a massive 90-minute interview at the Tesla factory in Texas, Elon Musk provides chilling predictions: AI that will surpass humanity within 5 years, a safety alliance with Sam Altman, cooperation with China, and a crash of the labor market. Also: what caused the billionaire to admit he "got carried away" in American politics?

Once a week, the "Checking the Myth" column deals with famous historical distortions, why they were created, and how they affect us to this day. This week: Does moss grow in a specific direction, thereby allowing for spatial orientation? Not in the middle of the forest.

SpaceX's giant spacecraft successfully met all the objectives of the 13th test flight, recording a successful soft landing at sea. The experiment was only marred by a malfunction in landing the launch rocket.

The strongest, most expensive, and most coveted material in the technology world starts as cheap synthetic plastic and undergoes a brutal atomic cooking process. From the Boeing and Lamborghini supply chain to the CFRP revolution, here is the engineering nightmare behind carbon fiber — a material 5 times lighter than steel, 5 times stronger, and almost impossible to recycle.

The open-source model Kimi K3 from China is beating performance benchmarks, writing code, and threatening the American business model. Despite sanctions and the pursuit of distillation in Washington, the Chinese strategy of cheap, high-power models already accounts for a third of traffic in the US. Now, it is igniting a regulatory and economic war over the future of AI.

Food engineering performs a complex chemical trick: extracting one molecule from over a thousand flavor and aroma compounds without destroying the coffee bean. From industrial solvents to supercritical carbon dioxide, this is the engineering struggle behind the scenes of decaf production.

The weekly upgrade from OpenAI and Anthropic proves that voice is becoming the primary interface. With the new GPT-Live models and access to source code, the ChatGPT app is no longer just talking — it is managing desktop workflows.

Ahead of Tu B'Av, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority explores the fascinating world of animal courtship. From songbirds whose melodies trigger egg-laying to the patient rituals of seahorses in Eilat, discover how animals find their mates and why preserving quiet habitats is vital for their survival and romance.

Google has announced Gemini 3.6 Flash and additional dedicated models to enable the deployment of AI agents at scale. Alongside significant cost savings and exceptional output rates, the company confirms that pre-training of Gemini 4 has already begun.