NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Hurt (IPAC)
TRAPPIST-1 Letdown
Many space enthusiasts got their hopes up earlier this year when scientists discovered TRAPPIST-1, a star with a collection of seven Earth-sized planets — three of which were in the star’s habitable zone and could house life-sustaining liquid water. Now, researchers have found these three planets have a very low chance of harboring life. They’re much closer to their sun than we are to ours, so TRAPPIST-1’s ultraviolet radiation would likely strip away most of their atmospheres. While depressing, this knowledge helps us get a better grip on the odds of finding life somewhere beyond our little corner of the universe.
Taking a Shot at Amyloid
Experts have developed a vaccine that prevents the buildup of amyloid — a protein linked to the neurodegenerative disorder Alzheimer’s disease — in primate brains. The team took DNA from amyloid proteins and integrated it into a vaccine. When ...
