Science and tech

📊 A recent report by MedicalXpress describes a large study published in JAMA #Health Forum examining the link between adolescent cannabis use and later mental health outcomes. ⬜ The study followed about 463,000 adolescents (ages 13–17) from 2016 to 2023. ⬜ Researchers found that teens who used cannabis in the past year had a significantly higher risk — roughly double — of developing psychotic disorders (such as hallucinations or delusions) and bipolar disorder (with or without psychotic features) by age 26. ⬜ They also found increased risks of #depression and #anxiety among #cannabis users.

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🟧 High Altitude May Protect Against Diabetes ⬜ researchers discovered that living at high altitudes lowers diabetes risk because low oxygen triggers red blood cells to absorb more glucose, reducing blood sugar. ⬜ Researchers also tested a drug that mimics this effect in mice, which successfully lowered blood sugar and outperformed existing treatments. ⬜ This finding reveals a new role for red blood cells in glucose regulation and may lead to novel diabetes therapies..

🧪 Scientists Make a Long-Sought “Impossible” Silicon Aromatic Molecule ⬜ After decades of effort by chemistry teams around the world, researchers have finally synthesized a stable aromatic ring made entirely of silicon #atoms, a #molecule long thought impossible. ⬜ Traditional aromatic molecules — like benzene — are based on carbon and are known for their stability due to shared electrons in a flat ring. ⬜ Now, for the first #time, a five-atom #silicon version meeting the strict criteria for aromaticity has been created, confirming theoretical predictions and opening the door to new #chemical structures and materials that were previously unreachable..

Over 16,000 New Species Discovered Each Year Researchers report that more than 16,000 new species of animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms are discovered annually — the fastest rate ever recorded. They say millions of species may still remain unknown on Earth. #Science #Biodiversity #Nature #Discovery

A global study published in the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, analyzing data from over 100,000 young adults aged 18–24, found that those who got smartphones before 13 reported significantly poorer mental health outcomes compared to peers who received them later  . ◽️Symptoms linked to early smartphone ownership include emotional detachment, aggression, and low self-worth  . ◽️Among females who received a phone at ages 5 or 6, 48% reported severe suicidal thoughts, versus 28% who got one at 13 or older. For males, the corresponding numbers were 31% vs. 20%  . ◽️Other observed issues include diminished emotional resilience and confidence in girls, and reduced calmness, stability, and empathy in boys  .

Arctic winters are starting to look more like spring. ◽️Arctic winters, especially in Svalbard, are warming rapidly and now resemble early spring. ◽️February 2025 in Ny-Ålesund saw temperatures 12°C above historical averages, with many days above freezing. ◽️Instead of snow, rainfall occurred frequently, accelerating snowmelt and early plant growth. ◽️This warming is not a temporary anomaly but a sign of long-term climate transformation. ◽️Svalbard is warming 6–7 times faster than the global average, with winters heating nearly twice as fast as other seasons. .

Researchers at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia have created the world's simplest artificial cell capable of chemical navigation, migrating toward specific substances like living cells do.

Japanese researchers have unveiled a transistor made of gallium-doped indium oxide with a game-changing gate-all-around design. It's more stable and efficient than traditional silicon models and could unlock new levels of performance in advanced computing.

A new theory by University of Alaska Fairbanks scientist Gunther Kletetschka argues that time comes in three dimensions rather than just the single one we experience as continual forward progression, and space emerges as a secondary manifestation.