Since the mid-2000s, renowned electronic musician and visual artist Ryoji Ikeda has been reimagining vast datasets into immersive art installations that invite viewers into the hidden realms of science.
During my visit to his latest project, Data Cosm [n°1], I found myself surrounded by an array of sprawling LED screens pulsating with strobe lights. This exhibition, intent on “charting the myriad data of nature,” created an atmosphere that felt both familiar and exhilarating as I navigated through visuals of our planet, our minds, and the cosmos, all synchronized with glitchy soundscapes.
Ikeda’s innovative approach offers an exhilarating experience, reminiscent of virtually traversing a DNA strand at hyper-speed, serving as a visceral reminder of the vastness of the human genome. However, amidst the sensory overload, one can feel detached, raising important questions about our connection to the overwhelming data presented.
Don’t miss this captivating exhibition at 180 Studios in London, running until February 1st.
John Clarke, Michel Devolette and John Martinis awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics
Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images
The prestigious 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to John Clarke, Michel Devolette, and John Martinis. Their research elucidates how quantum particles can delve through matter, a critical process that underpins the superconducting quantum technology integral to modern quantum computers.
“I was completely caught off guard,” Clarke remarked upon hearing the news from the Nobel Committee. “This outcome was unimaginable; it felt like a dream to be considered for the Nobel Prize.”
Quantum particles exhibit numerous peculiar behaviors, including their stochastic nature and the restriction to specific energy levels instead of a continuous range. This phenomenon sometimes leads to unforeseen occurrences, such as tunneling through solid barriers. Such unusual characteristics were first revealed by pioneers like Erwin Schrödinger during the early years of quantum mechanics.
The implications of these discoveries are profound, particularly supporting theories like nuclear decay; however, earlier research was limited to individual particles and basic systems. It remained uncertain whether more intricate systems such as electronic circuits, conventionally described by classical physics, also adhered to these principles. For instance, the quantum tunneling effect seemed to vanish when observing larger systems.
In 1985, the trio from the University of California, Berkeley—Clarke, Martinis, and Devolette—sought to change this narrative. They investigated the properties of charged particles traversing a superconducting circuit known as the Josephson Junction, a device that earned the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1973 for British physicist Brian Josephson. These junctions comprise wires exhibiting zero electrical resistance, separated by an insulating barrier.
The researchers demonstrated that particles navigating through these junctions behaved as individual entities, adopting distinct energy levels, clear quantum attributes, and registering voltages beyond expected limits without breaching the adiabatic barrier.
This groundbreaking discovery significantly deepened our understanding of how to harness similar superconducting quantum systems, transforming the landscape of quantum science and enabling other scientists to conduct precise quantum physics experiments on silicon chips.
Moreover, superconducting quantum circuits became foundational to the essential components of quantum computers, known as qubits. Developed by companies like Google and IBM, the most advanced quantum computers today consist of hundreds of superconducting qubits, a result of the insights gained from Clarke, Martinis, and Devolette’s research. “In many respects, our findings serve as the cornerstone of quantum computing,” stated Clarke.
Both Martinis and Devolette are currently affiliated with Google Quantum AI, where they pioneered the first superconducting quantum computer in 2019 that demonstrated quantum advantage over traditional machines. However, Clarke noted to the Nobel Committee that it was surprising to consider the extent of impact their 1985 study has had. “Who could have imagined that this discovery would hold such immense significance?”
Dan Berman, International Brain Research Institute
The initial comprehensive activity map of the mammalian brain has unveiled groundbreaking revelations regarding decision-making processes.
For many years, neuroscientists aspired to capture neuronal activity throughout the brain at an individual level. However, challenges persist, including the limitations on the number of neurons an electrode can record, the number of electrodes deployable in a single brain, and the number of animals that a solitary lab can study.
To address these hurdles, a collaboration among 12 laboratories is underway, with each conducting identical experiments and recording duplicates to ensure consistency in collected data. This joint effort, tracking the activity of over 650,000 neurons, has resulted in the first comprehensive brain activity map related to complex behaviors.
“This research exemplifies a novel approach to addressing intricate inquiries in contemporary neuroscience,” stated Benedetto de Martino of University College London, who was not a part of this study. “Similar to CERN, which unites physicists to tackle profound issues in particle physics, this project will bring together global laboratories to confront challenges too expansive for individual teams.”
In each facility, mice were trained to maneuver a small LEGO steering wheel to direct a striped target towards the center of the display. The target was easily distinguishable when the stripes contrasted sharply. As contrast dwindled, the target nearly vanished, compelling the mice to rely on prior knowledge to respond accurately for a reward.
Bias was factored into the experiment, impacting the mice’s expectations about the target’s location. For instance, it could appear on either side of the screen. When the bias was inverted, the mice adjusted their expectations accordingly.
The resulting activity map indicates that decision-related processes are dispersed throughout the brain, rather than localized in one specific area. “Many assertions claimed, ‘this region is responsible for this function.’ However, our findings reveal that decision-making involves numerous regions collaborating through a consensus,” remarked team member Alexandre Pouget from the University of Geneva, Switzerland.
Furthermore, the findings support earlier research indicating that decision-related signals form long before an action is executed. Pouget noted that even prior to the commencement of individual experiments, signals linked to forthcoming decisions are evident. These signals accumulate when the target is presented, prompting the mice to move the wheels until a threshold is reached.
The second study reveals that beliefs regarding the target’s position are encoded very early in the brain’s activity. Researchers discovered that whether the signal emerged from the eye or journeyed to the thalamus, the brain’s relay center, advanced expectations regarding the target’s left or right positioning were already established.
This suggests that from the moment sensory information is processed by our brains, it is inherently influenced by knowledge, altering the conscious decision-making process unconsciously, according to Pouget. “While speculative, this may align with what we interpret as intuition,” he added.
Interestingly, the encoding not only captures recent sensory experiences but also seems to document the recent history of choices made. Lawrence Hunt from Oxford University pointed out, “This indicates that our actions and subjective experiences shape our perceptions, rather than the true objective reality.”
Does this imply our decisions are predestined? “The brain and its environment operate as a deterministic system. People often resist this idea, but it is accurate,” Pouget stated. “This means one can predict, to an extent, what actions will be taken before a decision is made. Nevertheless, when new information arises, expectations must be recalibrated, remaining unaware of how the surrounding world will evolve,” he explained.
Looking ahead, researchers are optimistic that the findings and collaborative methodologies will enhance the understanding of conditions like autism. A mouse model of autism suggests these animals struggle to update previous expectations with new information, according to Pouget, which resonates with our behaviors and perceptions.
Feedback is your go-to source for the latest science and technology news from New Scientist. If you have intriguing stories for our readers, please reach out to us at Feedback@newscientist.com.
Sundown Showdown
Feedback has been aware for a while that there are numerous AI-generated music platforms, such as Spotify. I’ll admit, our familiarity was somewhat limited, as we still have a fondness for CDs.
However, we were surprised when New Scientist introduced us to Timothy Rebel, an indie rock band known as Velvet Sunset. Their track sounds like a blend of Coldplay and the Eagles, and their music appears to be generated by algorithms. The Instagram photos seem reminiscent of discarded concept art for Daisy Jones & Six.
Initially, the band denied any claims of being AI-generated. Their X Account discredited the theory that they are “generated,” insisting that their music was created during a long, sweat-filled night in a California bungalow.
Yet, there are no videos and none of the members have an online presence. Eventually, Rolling Stone interviewed Andrew Freron, identified as the band’s “creator.” He confessed it was all a form of “art hoax,” but then Frelon claimed this was also untrue, and the “band” released a statement distancing themselves from him. By now, Feedback has grown weary of this convoluted drama and simply wishes to express our confusion.
On that note, if you’re planning to create an AI band, consider Tim’s advice: “fully embrace the concept.” And if you decide to use a name reminiscent of Lou Reed, think twice. Tim suggests clever names like Rage I’m A Machine, The Bitles, TL (LM)c. Feedback adds playful ideas like pink floppy disks, Lanadel Array, Capchatonia, Alanis Microsoft, and Velvet.
Finally, the new generation of artists could certainly benefit from satirical acts, like a performer named Ai Yankovic.
Sodom Bomb
Science can be slow-paced, but occasionally, it leads to significant discoveries. Since September 2021, Scientific Report revealed some intriguing research claiming archaeological evidence of events influencing the biblical tales of Sodom and Gomorrah’s destruction.
According to the narrative, these cities were destroyed by divine intervention for their sins. In contrast, this study suggested a “. Tunguska-sized airburst,” akin to the 1908 explosion in Siberia, was responsible for the devastation.
This event purportedly occurred around 3600 years ago, annihilating the Bronze Age city of Elhammaum in present-day Jordan. Evidence included “a thick, carbon-rich destructive layer” across the city, alongside signs of “soot” and “melted metals like platinum, iridium, nickel, gold, silver, zircon, chromite, and quartz.”
However, on April 24th, the journal retracted this paper due to “methodological errors” and “misinterpretations.” Over four years, it faced considerable criticism and multiple revisions, as reported by Retraction Watch. Numerous images were manipulated in “inappropriate” ways, and it was noted that the burned and melted materials could have originated from smelting activities rather than explosions.
We found the comments on Pubpeer particularly amusing, with one commenter stating: “The north arrows and shadows in Figure 44C indicate that the sun is almost north-northeast, which is impossible in the Dead Sea.” This type of expert pedantry resonates with us.
In summary, someone produced a paper regarding two notorious cities, manipulated images contravening guidelines, and failed to properly assess alternate hypotheses. That’s quite the transgression.
Avocadon’t
Feedback receives numerous press releases, but we end up ignoring over 90%—mainly due to their irrelevance, like when we got inundated with wedding dress promotions. The primary issue is that most releases are rather dull.
However, one press release caught our attention on July 2nd with the subject line “Avocado is not an enemy.” This announcement was linked to the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament and addressed the decision to discontinue avocado services. The message contended, “It perpetuates myths unsupported by current data. In fact, avocados are among the most nutritious and environmentally friendly fruits available today.”
The release elaborated that avocados have a minimal water footprint and support small farms in places like Peru and South Africa, being rich in heart-healthy fats, fiber, and essential nutrients.
We found this proclamation rather impressive, and noticed the strong praise avocados receive from the World Avocado Organization.
As M. Rice-Davies once said in 1963, we can only add:
Have you spoken about feedback?
You can share your stories with us via email at feedback@newscientist.com. Don’t forget to include your home address. This week’s and past feedback can be found on our website.
Sybil Shainwald, a pioneering advocate for women whose health was irrevocably affected by pharmaceuticals and medical devices for nearly fifty years, passed away at her Manhattan residence on April 9th. She was 96 years old.
Her daughter, Laurie Scheinwald Krieger, announced her passing, although it hasn’t received widespread coverage.
At 48, Scheinwald graduated from law school and joined the New York City law firm Schlesinger & Finz, where she represented Joyce Bichler, a survivor of rare clear-cell adenocarcinoma, linked to medications her mother took during pregnancy. The synthetic hormone DES, marketed under various brand names, was intended to prevent miscarriage.
At the age of 18, Bichler underwent a radical hysterectomy, which removed two-thirds of her ovaries, fallopian tubes, and vagina. She was among thousands known as “DES daughters,” suffering due to their mothers’ medication use, and sued Eli Lilly, a major drug manufacturer, for damages.
In 1947, when the Food and Drug Administration approved DES for use in pregnant women, studies had already shown its cancer-causing effects in mice and rats. It was known to potentially harm the fetus beyond the placenta, yet companies marketed it as a safe treatment for various pregnancy issues, continuing even after evidence of its ineffectiveness surfaced.
By the late 1960s, clear cell adenocarcinoma was increasingly diagnosed in young women whose mothers had taken DES. In 1971, the FDA advised doctors against prescribing it. By then, the National Cancer Institute estimated that 5-10 million women and their children had been exposed to DES.
Bichler’s case arrived in court in 1979, part of numerous lawsuits. However, it faced challenges in proving which manufacturer was liable for the drug. Approximately 300 companies produced DES.
Bichler’s legal team proposed a groundbreaking argument that all manufacturers shared liability. After five days of deliberation, the jury agreed, and Bichler was awarded $500,000 in damages.
Scheinwald’s contribution was pivotal. Bichler stated in an interview, “I was a shy young woman discussing my reproductive health publicly. It was daunting. Sybil was the only woman who understood.”
On the fourth day of jury deliberation, Eli Lilly proposed a $100,000 settlement. Most of her legal team suggested Bichler consider accepting it.
“Sybil pulled my husband and me aside and asked, ‘What do you and Mike wish to do? Don’t be afraid,'” recalled Bichler. “Sybil empowered us to reject that offer.”
She added, “I did what needed to be done, but it was Sybil’s support that made it achievable.”
By the early 1980s, Scheinwald established her own office and became the leading legal representative for DES daughters. Over the next four decades, she represented hundreds of women.
In 1996, she won a class action lawsuit that secured a fund for the affected daughters, funded by pharmaceutical companies to cover medical expenses, counseling, and educational outreach.
Additionally, she fought against other harmful products affecting women.
She represented a woman whose silicone breast implants led to autoimmune issues, women harmed by the Dalkon Shield intrauterine device, and those affected by Norplant. She once urged the FDA not to approve Norplant due to potential unknown side effects.
She also assisted women internationally in securing compensation for false breast implants and Dalkon Shield. She was particularly concerned that African women were often uninformed about the risks associated with Dalkon Shield, which continued to be prescribed even after being withdrawn from the U.S. market.
Additionally, she addressed another long-acting contraceptive that, like DES, was tied to cancer in animal studies, which had been prescribed for decades starting in the late 1960s. This contraceptive was given to women across around 80 countries, disproportionately affecting marginalized populations, including poor and disabled women. She viewed it as a form of dangerous population control. However, it wasn’t approved by the FDA as a birth control option until 1992.
“Birth control pills have always been about drugs and devices for women,” Scheinwald stated in an oral history session conducted by the Veteran Feminists of America in 2019. “We stake our lives on these medical interventions.”
“We’ve tirelessly fought for representation,” noted Cindy Pearson, former executive director of the National Women’s Health Network. “Sybil was fearless in addressing any issue, regardless of the power of the opposition.”
Sybil Brodkin was born on April 27, 1928, in New York City. She was the sole daughter of Anne (Zimmerman) Brodkin and Morris Brodkin, who owned a restaurant. She graduated from James Madison High School in Brooklyn at the age of 16 and went on to William & Mary University in Williamsburg, Virginia, earning a Bachelor of Arts in History in 1948.
She married Sidney Scheinwald, an accountant and consumer advocate. He served as the Associate Director of Consumer Union in 1960, now known as Consumer Reports.
Sybil earned her Master’s in History from Columbia University in 1972 and received funding to create the oral history of the consumer movement at the Consumer Movement Research Center, which she directed until 1978.
At 44, she began attending New York Law School as a night student, ultimately completing her law degree in 1976. She aspired to study law while pursuing her history degree at Columbia, but the joint program did not come to fruition; as she recounted in her 2019 oral history, “You’d be replacing a man who had practiced for forty years.”
Scheinwald was still actively addressing issues up until her death.
She is survived by her daughter Krieger, another daughter, Louise Nasr, a son, Robert, brother Barry Schwartz, four grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Her husband Scheinwald passed away in 2003, and her daughter Marsha Scheinwald died in 2013.
“My practice involves suing corporations on behalf of women, ensuring that my work continues for many years to come,” Scheinwald remarked in a 2016 speech. “And regrettably, I won’t run short of clients.”
Gender gaps within science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) still persist despite significant advancements. Women continue to be underrepresented, with only 29.2% of STEM employees being women compared to nearly 50% in non-STEM occupations, as reported in the Global Gender Gap Report (2023).
However, the urgent need to address goes beyond just getting women into STEM. A recent study at UCL revealed that female she-STEM students are twice as likely to have experienced sex discrimination compared to non-STEM students.
With advancements in hackers and digital technologies, the demand for cybersecurity professionals is on the rise to combat digital threats. The global cybersecurity market is projected to reach $424.97 billion by 2030, highlighting the importance of closing the gender gap to address this deficit.
Throughout history, women in STEM fields have overcome barriers, but there is still a long way to go. Here are five remarkable women who have significantly contributed to STEM:
5 women who advanced STEM
Ada Lovelace (1815-1852)
Katherine Johnson (1918-2020)
Dame Stephanie Shirley “Steve” (1933-present)
Michelle Zatlin (1979-present)
Elizabeth Coulon (1994-present)
Ada Loveless
Augusta Ada, Countess of Lovelace (1815-1852) British mathematician and writer. – (Photo courtesy of Universal History Archive/Getty Images)
Ada Lovelace, a prominent figure in computer engineering, was ahead of her time. She envisioned a steam-powered flying machine at 12 and played a significant role in Charles Babbage’s analytical engine, laying the foundation for modern computing.
Katherine Johnson
Portrait of NASA/NACA female physicist and scientist Katherine Johnson, 1955. – Image courtesy of NASA. (Photo via Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)
Katherine Johnson, an African-American mathematician, played a crucial role in NASA’s early missions, including Glenn’s orbit in 1962 and the Apollo 13 mission. Her calculations contributed to landing humans on the moon and creating a flight plan for crew safety.
Mrs. Stephanie Shirley
Entrepreneur and philanthropist Dame Stephanie Shirley has been appointed a Member of the Order of the Brotherhood by the Duke of Cambridge. – Photo credit: John Stillwell – WPA Pool / Getty Images
Stephanie Shirley, a work-from-home pioneer, founded Freelance Programmers and overcame industry obstacles through her innovative approach, paving the way for equal labor rights. She also founded Autistica, a charity dedicated to autism research.
Michelle Zatlin
CloudFlare’s Michelle Zatlin will be on stage judging Startup Battlefield. – Photo by Steve Jennings/Getty Images for TechCrunch
Michelle Zatlin, a technology pioneer, co-founded Cloudflare, a cybersecurity company that prevents cyberattacks and safeguards internet traffic. Cloudflare’s projects, such as “Athenian” and “Project Cyber Safe Schools,” focus on election integrity and cybersecurity in schools.
Elizabeth Coulombe
Elizabeth Coulombe, co-founder of Tero. – Photo credit: Tero
Elizabeth Coulombe, the CEO of Tero, developed a device that recycles food waste into organic fertilizer in hours, addressing global food waste issues. Her innovation has prevented significant waste from reaching landfills, contributing to environmental sustainability.
Women have played pivotal roles in shaping a better world, from cybersecurity to environmental sustainability, demonstrating their impact and contributions to solving pressing global issues.
Paleontologists have described a new species of enantiornithine bird with a toothless beak from the Chinese Jehor bird family. This discovery delayed the earliest appearance of edentulism (lack of teeth) in enantiornithines by about 48 million years.
fossil skeleton of Impalavis Attenborough and bird restoration. Image credit: Ville Sinkkkonen / Wang other., doi: 10.1016/j.cretres.2024.105867.
Impalavis Attenborough They lived in what is now northeastern China about 120 million years ago (early Cretaceous period).
This bird was a member of a group called. enantiornis, or “the opposite bird.” It is named for the feature of its shoulder joint that is “opposite” to that found in modern birds.
Enantiornithines were once the most diverse group of birds, but became extinct 66 million years ago following a meteorite impact that wiped out most dinosaurs.
Paleontologists are still working to understand why enantiornithids went extinct and the birds that gave rise to modern birds survived.
“The enantiornithines are very strange. Most of them had teeth and still had clawed fingers,” said Dr. Alex Clark. student at the University of Chicago and the Field Museum.
“If you were to travel back in time to northeast China 120 million years ago and walk around, you might have seen something that looked like a robin or a cardinal. But it had an open mouth and a bunch of teeth. . When you lift your wings, you’ll notice that you have little fingers.”
“Scientists previously thought that the first record of this group without teeth was from the late Cretaceous period, about 72 million years ago.”
“This little man is Impalavis Attenborough, pushing it back about 48 to 50 million years. Therefore, the lack of teeth, or edentulism, developed much earlier in this group than we thought. “
fossilized skeleton Impalavis Attenborough It was discovered by an amateur fossil collector near the village of Toudaoyingzi in northeastern China and donated to the Tianyu Natural Museum in Shandong Province.
“I think what attracted me to this specimen was the forelimbs, not the lack of teeth,” said Dr. Jingmai O’Connor, associate curator of fossil reptiles at the Field Museum.
“It had a huge bicrest, and a bony protrusion on top of the upper arm bone that had muscles attached to it.”
“I had seen such emblems on birds from the Late Cretaceous period, but never in the Early Cretaceous period like this one. That’s when I first suspected that it might be a new species. It was.”
rare wing bones Impalavis Attenborough Muscle attachments that allowed this bird to flap its wings with extra force may have been possible.
“We’re looking at potentially very strong wingbeats,” Clark said.
“Some of the bone features are similar to those of modern birds such as puffins and murres, which can flap their wings at crazy speeds, or of birds such as quail and pheasants. Although they are small birds, they generate enough force to instantly fly almost vertically when threatened.”
On the other hand, a toothless beak Impalavis Attenborough Modern toothless birds have a wide variety of diets, so researchers aren’t necessarily sure what they ate.
Like its fellow enantiornithines, and unlike modern birds, it does not appear to have a digestive system called a gizzard or gastric mill to help grind up its food.
“Although most enantiornithines appear to have been quite arboreal, differences in forelimb structure suggest that Impalavis Attenborough Although it probably still lived in trees, it probably went down to the ground to feed, and it had a unique diet compared to other enantiornithines. This suggests that there is a possibility, and that it may also explain why they lost their teeth.” said Dr. said Connor.
In their study, the scientists also reexamined previously known bird fossils. Chiapiavisand suggests that it was also an early toothless enantiornithine.
“This discovery… Impalavis Attenborough “We show that the lack of teeth may not have been as unique in early Cretaceous enantiornithines as previously thought,” the researchers said.
The specific name is Impalavis Attenborough Attenborough’s strange bird, after the naturalist Sir David Attenborough.
Sir David Attenborough said: “It is a great honor to have your name attached to a fossil, especially one as spectacular and important as this one.”
“It seems the history of birds is more complicated than we thought.”
“All birds are dinosaurs, but not all dinosaurs fall into the special type of dinosaur known as birds. All squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares. Is the same.”
“The newly explained Impalavis Attenborough Since it’s a bird, it’s also a dinosaur.”
a paper description Impalavis Attenborough Published in an online journal Cretaceous research.
_____
Wang Xiaoli other. 2024. The first edentulous enantiornithines from the Early Cretaceous Jehol ornithians (Birds: Ornithorax). Cretaceous research 159: 105867; doi: 10.1016/j.cretres.2024.105867
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Strictly Necessary Cookies
Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
![Ryoji Ikeda's Data Cosmo [n°1] - 180 Studios, 2025. Photography by Alice Lubbock.](https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/23114419/SEI_281523359.jpg "New Scientist Spotlights Innovative Art by Pioneering Artist Ryoji Ikeda 1")
