Scientific researchers worry that the capacity for spreading misinformation “goes far beyond the big-name social media sites,” warns the Washington Post. Citing pre-print servers and unvetted “research repositories,” they note that “Any online platform without robust and potentially expensive safeguards is equally vulnerable.” “This is similar to the debate we’re having with Facebook and Twitter. To what degree are we creating…
Tag: preprint
Galaxy Mrk 335 examined with AstroSat
Using the AstroSat spacecraft, Indian astronomers have performed multiwavelength observations of a Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 (NLS1) galaxy known as Mrk 335. Results of this investigation, presented in a paper published February 1 on the arXiv preprint server, deliver crucial information about the emission from this source. Source: https://phys.org/news/2021-02-galaxy-mrk-astrosat.html…
Fornax A galaxy investigated with AstroSat
Using the AstroSat spacecraft, Indian astronomers have performed an imaging and spectroscopic study of the Fornax A galaxy. Results of the study, published January 13 on the arXiv preprint server, provide more clues on the properties of the galaxy and ultraviolet emission from this source. Source: https://phys.org/news/2021-01-fornax-galaxy-astrosat.html…
An updated way to calculate the likelihood of the existence of extraterrestrial civilizations
A small team of researchers from California Institute of Technology, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Santiago High School has developed an updated version of an old equation to calculate the likely existence of extraterrestrial civilizations. The team has uploaded their paper to the arXiv preprint server. Source: https://phys.org/news/2020-12-likelihood-extraterrestrial-civilizations.html…
Amateur astronomer Alberto Caballero finds possible source of Wow! signal
Amateur astronomer and YouTuber Alberto Caballero, one of the founders of The Exoplanets Channel, has found a small amount of evidence for a source of the notorious Wow! signal. In his paper uploaded to the arXiv preprint server, Caballero describes searching the Gaia database for possible sun-like stars that might host an exoplanet capable of supporting intelligent life. Source: https://phys.org/news/2020-11-amateur-astronomer-alberto-caballero-source.html…
To Explain Away Dark Matter, Gravity Would Have To Be Really Weird
To discard the theory of dark matter, “you’ll need to replace it with something even more bizarre: a force of gravity that, at some distances, pulls massive objects together and, at other distances, pushes them apart.” That’s how Science magazine describes a new study, adding that “The analysis underscores how hard it is to explain away dark matter” — even though…
New Nasal Spray Prevents Covid Infection in Ferrets, Study Finds
The New York Times reports: A nasal spray that blocks the absorption of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has completely protected ferrets it was tested on, according to a small study released on Thursday by an international team of scientists. The study, which was limited to animals and has not yet been peer-reviewed, was assessed by several health experts at the request of…
The T-Cell Immune Response To COVID-19 Lasts At Least Six Months
An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Economist: Over the past year, many reports have shown rapidly waning levels of covid-specific antibodies after the initial burst caused by an infection. […] Yet antibodies tell only part of the story. Another important actor is the T-cell. Rather than attacking viruses directly, T-cells attack infected cells, to stop the virus reproducing. The…
Quasi-periodic oscillation detected in the galaxy NGC 4945
Using data from the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) satellite, astronomers from the Florida Institute of Technology have discovered a quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) in the galaxy NGC 4945. The finding, reported in a paper published September 28 on the arXiv preprint server, could shed more light on the nature of this galaxy. Source: https://phys.org/news/2020-10-quasi-periodic-oscillation-galaxy-ngc.html…
First candidate for an extragalactic planet identified
A team of researchers from the U.S. and China has found the first evidence for a candidate planet in another galaxy. In their paper uploaded to the arXiv preprint server, the team describes their work studying the possible planet and what they have found so far. Source: https://phys.org/news/2020-09-candidate-extragalactic-planet.html…