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MIT scientists discover millions of “silent synapses” in the adult brain

MIT neuroscientists have uncovered a surprising secret hidden in the adult brain: millions of “silent synapses,” dormant connections that lie in wait until new learning calls them into action. Once thought to exist only in early development, these inactive links make up about 30% of synapses in the adult cortex and can be rapidly activated to form fresh memories. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/USeB6vi

How an exoplanet odd couple survived by traveling in from the cold together

By probing the atmosphere of a mini-Neptune exoplanet, the James Webb Space Telescope has found that it formed much farther from its star than it is today, possibly explaining the origin of many other mini-Neptunes in the process. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/7mVJGzl

Europe's 1st reusable spacecraft 'Space Rider' clears key hurdles on the road to launch

Space Rider, a novel spacecraft concept from the European Space Agency, is passing key milestones in its tests and qualifications to bring the vehicle to flight readiness. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/1ZxMLrz

'Whatever Russia is testing, it's sophisticated': 2 Russian satellites get within 10 feet of each other in orbit

Two Russian satellites got within 10 feet (3 meters) of each other recently, demonstrating a sophisticated set of orbital maneuvering skills. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/AEZ4FQq

4,000-year-old tablets reveal magic spells, kings feared, and a beer receipt

Long-forgotten ancient tablets have been decoded, uncovering a mix of magic, politics, and daily life from early civilizations. Among the discoveries are rare anti-witchcraft rituals meant to protect kings and a regnal list that could point to the real-life existence of Gilgamesh. Some texts reveal correspondence between rulers, while others show the rise of complex bureaucracies. One tablet even records something as ordinary—and relatable—as a receipt for beer. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/74uLRrK

A tiny world at the edge of our solar system grew a mysterious atmosphere, and we don't know how

A trans-Neptunian object was found to possess a surprising thin atmosphere after astronomers witnessed the object occult a distant star. from Latest from Space.com https://ift.tt/F68oaAT

Scientists just created exotic new forms of matter that shouldn’t exist

A new quantum physics study reveals that simply changing a magnetic field over time can unlock entirely new forms of matter that don’t exist under normal conditions. By carefully “driving” materials with timed magnetic shifts, researchers created exotic quantum states that could be far more stable and resistant to errors—one of the biggest challenges in quantum computing. This breakthrough suggests that the future of quantum technology may depend not just on what materials are made of, but how they’re manipulated in time. from Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily https://ift.tt/aIDNQxE