Parents fear YouTubers are bringing ‘brain rot’ to Netflix. But are kids wising up to ‘slop’?
As streamers poach viral creators to appeal to children, digital whack-a-mole has become a new kind of family challengeExasperated dad Simon Hooper shakes his fist at the camera in a viral video. “We managed to get rid of YouTube in our household six…
‘It’s frustrating to see immoral videos do so well’: how YouTube sensation Half-Asleep Chris sent a rollercoaster to space and made Bella the cat a star
His videos of cats, loopy contraptions and theme park rides round the heavens (and his back garden) have notched up a billion views. We meet Chris Burton in the suburban home where it all happensChris Burton is getting ready to redecorate his house. The…
Heart disease and kidney disease can fuel each other. New guidelines aim to break the cycle
Heart disease and chronic kidney disease can accelerate one another, but new guidelines say simple screening and early treatment could substantially reduce the risks. Blood and urine tests, combined with proven heart and kidney therapies, may help catch…
This “new” frog was hiding in plain sight for 100 years
A common frog found across Ecuador and Colombia has finally been recognized as its own species after more than a century of mistaken identity. Museum specimens from the 1800s helped scientists reveal that Pristimantis milpe had been hiding in plain sight…
Compound in blueberries may help muscle cells burn excess fat
Scientists in Japan have identified a natural compound found in blueberries, grapes, and other berries that may help muscle cells burn excess fat instead of storing it. The compound, pterostilbene, reduced abnormal fat buildup in cultured mouse muscle…
Life uses 4 DNA letters. Scientists just made 8 work
Researchers at UC San Diego have demonstrated that a key cellular enzyme can accurately read an eight-letter genetic alphabet, doubling the four letters used by all known life on Earth. Detailed imaging revealed that RNA polymerase handles synthetic DNA…
Scientists overturn a theory about this shark’s strange head
Scientists have overturned a leading explanation for why male and female bonnethead sharks have differently shaped heads. Instead of males developing a pointed snout at maturity, both sexes actually begin with more pointed heads that become rounder with…
Harvard scientists turn knitting into shape-shifting smart fabric
Harvard researchers have transformed ordinary knitting into a platform for creating fabrics that can snap between different shapes and perform useful functions. Using elastic yarns and industrial knitting techniques, the team engineered thick textiles…
Stanford scientists discover a seafood that can reverse signs of aging
A substance found in edible sea squirts appeared to reverse several signs of aging in older mice. Plasmalogen supplements improved memory and learning, strengthened connections between brain cells, reduced inflammation, and even helped the mice grow…
Extreme drought now covers 44% of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico’s normally rainy season has instead brought a severe and fast-growing drought. By August 25, three-quarters of the territory was in at least moderate drought, with extreme drought covering 44 percent and some areas receiving less than 20…