MUTTS
Mutts Cartoon
News
Kamchatka earthquake is among top 10 strongest ever recorded. Here’s what they have in common
Kamchatka Krai earthquake location. USGS – By Dee Ninis, Earthquake Scientist, Monash University And by John Townend, Professor of Geophysics, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Published: 2025 Jul 30 – Today at about 11:30am local time, a magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck …
‘AI veganism’: Some people’s issues with AI parallel vegans’ concerns about diet
Ethical concerns – like the mistreatment of content creators decried by this protester – drive both veganism and resistance to using AI. Mario Tama/Getty Images – By David Joyner, Associate Dean and Senior Research Associate, College of Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology Published: 2025 …
Not all probiotics are created equal – some help gut recovery, others harm
Some probiotics help gut recovery, while others harm it. Depositphotos – By Paul McClure 2025 Jul 26 – Not all probiotics are created equal. A new study found that one commonly available strain made a gut infection worse, while another helped stop it in …
Temporary tattoo could prevent sexual assaults – by changing color
In this proof-of-concept tattoo, lettering changes from yellow to red when exposed to the date rape drug GHB. Adapted from ACS Sensors 2025, DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.4c03737 – By Ben Coxworth 2025 Jul 26 – While it’s very important to know if a “date rape” drug …
The first 100% effective HIV prevention drug is approved and going global
Not for profit: Gilead, with the Global fund, is waving royalties from the breakthrough drug to reach two million people worldwide. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Jul 26 – An epidemic that’s been sustained for 44 years might finally be quelled, with the …
Finally: A diagnostic test for chronic fatigue syndrome?
A researcher at the Jackson Laboratory working on examining biological markers to identify chronic fatigue syndrome. Jackson Laboratory – By Michael Franco 2025 Jul 25 – While it’s estimated that millions worldwide suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome, a test for the condition still doesn’t …
World-first obesity pill reprograms fat cells to burn calories with zero effort
Breakthrough: Novel fat-burning drug advances to next human trial stage. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Jul 23 – The first human-tested weight-loss drug that burns calories through creatine-based heat generation, without reducing appetite, has successfully completed its Phase I trial. Scientists from the …
How germy is the public pool? An infectious disease expert weighs in on poop, pee and perspiration – and the deceptive smell of chlorine
A 2023 CDC report tracked more than 200 pool-associated outbreaks over a four-year period. But a few basic precautions can ward off these dangers. Maria Korneeva/Moment via Getty Images – By Lisa Cuchara, Professor of Biomedical Sciences, Quinnipiac University Published: 2025 Jul 23 – …
Four-day workweek makes for healthier, more satisfied workers
Working a four-day week without a pay decrease significantly improved worker well-being. Depositphotos original extended using GenAI – By Paul McClure 2025 Jul 21 – A new international study found that a four-day workweek with no loss of pay significantly improved worker well-being, including …
Incredible ‘marine mind control’ lets these ancient predators invade as one
The secret language of sea stars has been uncovered for the first time. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Jul 20 – They’ve been crawling across the seafloor for more than 500 million years – predating the dinosaurs – yet sea stars remain some …
Clawback of $1.1B for PBS and NPR puts rural stations at risk – and threatens a vital source of journalism
Nathan Heffel and Grace Hood rehearse their Colorado Public Radio public affairs program in Centennial, Colo., in 2017. Andy Cross/The Denver Post via Getty Images – By Allison Perlman, Associate Professor of Film & Media Studies, University of California, Irvine And by Josh …
How weather changes cause migraines – a neurologist explains the triggers and what you can do to ease the pain
Migraines can be debilitating – and frustrating when triggered by weather you can’t control. fizkes/iStock/Getty Images Plus – By Danielle Wilhour, Assistant Professor of Neurology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Published: 2025 Jul 10 – “Is it just me, or is there …
Dazzling Turkish laser weapon takes down missiles without a blast
Dramatic illustration of the laser countermeasure in action. ASELSAN – By David Szondy 2025 Jul 20 – When is a laser weapon not a weapon? When it’s the ASELSAN YILDIRIM 100 Directed Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) System that doesn’t actually destroy incoming infrared missiles, but …
Mysterious radio pulses beneath Antarctica defy rules of particle physics
The unusual radio signals were first detected nearly ten years ago by a special experiment designed to detect radio waves caused by cosmic rays hitting the atmosphere. Stephanie Wissel / Penn State – By Jay Kakade 2025 Jul 20 – It may sound like …
Idi Amin made himself out to be the ‘liberator’ of an oppressed majority – a demagogic trick that endures today
Idi Amin addresses the United Nations General Assembly in 1975. Bettmann/Getty Images By Derek R. Peterson, Ali Mazrui Professor of History & African Studies, University of Michigan Published: 2025 Jul 18 – Fifty years ago, Ugandan President Idi Amin wrote to the governments …
‘Universal cancer vaccine’ trains the immune system to kill any tumor
This new approach could pave the way to fighting any cancer. https://www.depositphotos.com – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Jul 18 – Following on from their breakthrough human trial that successfully reprogrammed the immune system to overpower glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumor, the same scientists have …
Anti-nausea drug lowers risk of death from aggressive breast cancer by 39%
An anti-nausea drug used to combat the side effects of chemo can improve breast cancer outcomes. Depositphotos – By Paul McClure 2025 Jul 16 – A common anti-nausea drug used during chemotherapy may do more than ease discomfort, it could help women with aggressive …
Four simple ways to fix any sleep problems long term
Researchers identify the four science-backed ways to treat sleep disorders. https://www.depositphotos.com – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Jul 16 – Not all physical activities are created equal when it comes to a good night’s sleep. Now, a new study has found that there are four …
Weird space weather seems to have influenced human behavior on Earth 41,000 years ago – our unusual scientific collaboration explores how
Wandering magnetic fields would have had noticeable effects for humans. Maximilian Schanner (GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany) – By Raven Garvey, Associate Professor of Anthropology, University of Michigan By Agnit Mukhopadhyay, Research Scholar at University of Alberta; Research Affiliate, University of Michigan …
Who was the first pirate?
Swashbucklers depicted in movies like ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ aren’t necessarily true to life. Disney – By Brandon Prins, Professor of Political Science, University of Tennessee Published: 2025 Jul 14 – Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you …
Black cat finds a new human virus – and it’s not his first time
Pepper has become an unlikely disease research hero. John Lednicky – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Jul 14 – Black cats may be considered bad luck in many Western societies, however, one such sooty feline has brought good fortune to a team of scientists, playing …
Monday anxiety is very real – and we now have the biological proof
Mondays leave a distinct stress-response mark on your body, new research finds. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Jul 13 – For the first time, scientists have found a distinct biological source of “Monday dread” that’s independent of work status and not seen in …
Bacteria in the gut found to absorb PFAS ‘forever chemicals’
Certain gut bacteria has been found to soak up toxic PFAS chemicals allowing the body to excrete them as waste. Peter Northrop / MRC Toxicology Unit – By Jay Kakade 2025 Jul 12 – A new study published in Nature Microbiology has reported a …
Rural hospitals will be hit hard by Trump’s signature spending package
Health policy experts predict that cuts to Medicaid will push more rural hospitals to close. sneakpeekpic via iStock / Getty Images Plus – By Lauren S. Hughes, State Policy Director, Farley Health Policy Center; Associate Professor of Family Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical …
Are thawing glaciers about to wake up dormant volcanoes around the globe?
Investigations into several regions in the Chilean Andes suggests melting glaciers can wake up dormant volcanoes. Gemini – By Pranjal Malewar 2025 Jul 11 – For centuries, glaciers have sat like frosty crowns atop slumbering volcanoes, keeping Earth’s fury tucked safely beneath layers of …
Proof that immigrants fuel the US economy is found in the billions they send back home
Migrant workers pick strawberries during harvest south of San Francisco, Calif. Visions of America/Joe Sohm/Universal Images Group via Getty Images – By Ernesto Castañeda, Professor, American University Originally Published: 2024 Oct 24 – Donald Trump has vowed to deport millions of immigrants if he …
The AI therapist will see you now: Can chatbots really improve mental health?
Chatbot ‘therapists’ use artificial intelligence to mimic real-life therapeutic conversations. Pooja Shree Chettiar/ChatGPT, CC BY-SA – By Pooja Shree Chettiar, Ph.D. Candidate in Medical Sciences, Texas A&M University Published: 2025 Jul 10 – Recently, I found myself pouring my heart out, not to a …
Like it or not, radar means ET knows we’re here
Alien civilizations hundreds of light years away may be able to lock in on Earth’s radar systems. AI generated image using Microsoft Designer – By David Szondy 2025 Jul 08 – If you’re hoping that we can avoid the attention of alien civilizations by …
75% of stomach cancer cases could be prevented with a simple treatment
Millions of today’s youth are expected to develop stomach cancer. Depositphotos – By Paul McClure 2025 Jul 07 – Globally, stomach cancer is on the rise in young people, but new research shows that three-quarters of future cases could be prevented by screening for …
Why Texas Hill Country, where a devastating flood killed dozens, is one of the deadliest places in the US for flash flooding
A Kerrville, Texas, resident watches the flooded Guadalupe River on 2025 Jul 04. Eric Vryn/Getty Images – By Hatim Sharif, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Texas at San Antonio Published: 2025 Jul 05 Updated: 2025 Jul 07, 8:28pm EDT …
Vitamin C switches on ‘dormant’ genes to rebuild aging skin
Scientists demonstrate how vitamin C can genetically restore skin quality. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Jul 06 – Perhaps best known as a immune-system boost or antidote to scurvy, vitamin C has been found to rejuvenate aging skin by reactivating genes responsible for …
Mystery of lost civilization revealed by ancient temple ruin discovery
This is digital reconstruction of the temple revealing a complex about the size of a city block. Called Palaspata after the native name for the area, the site was strategically perched at the crossroads of several ancient trade routes. José Capriles / Penn …
Along with the ideals it expresses, the Declaration of Independence mourns for something people lost in 1776 − and now, too
The committee assigned to draft the Declaration of Independence, from left: Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin, Robert R. Livingston and John Adams. Currier & Ives image, photo by MPI/Getty Images – By Maurizio Valsania, Professor of American History, Università di Torino Published: …
AI is advancing even faster than sci-fi visionaries like Neal Stephenson imagined
In Stephenson’s novel ‘The Diamond Age,’ a device called the Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer offers emotional, social and intellectual support. Christopher Michel/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA – By Rizwan Virk, Faculty Associate, PhD Candidate in Human and Social Dimensions of Science and Technology, Arizona State …
These five things halve your risk of common age-related gut pain
Diverticulitis risk can be greatly reduced even if you’re genetically more likely to develop it, new study finds. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Jul 01 – You may not have heard of diverticulitis – unless you’ve suffered through a bout of it – but …
Your phone isn’t secretly listening to you, but the truth is more disturbing
How does Facebook occasionally deliver such disconcertingly timed advertisements? Is it really listening to users through their smartphone microphones? Or is the truth much more unsettling? Depositphotos – By Rich Haridy 2025 Apr 24 – Perhaps one of the most pervasive longstanding technology conspiracy …
Fossil footprints confirm the earliest human activity in North America
The footprints were first discovered in 2019 and researchers have since debated the accuracy of tools used to trace their age. Courtesy of David Bustos/White Sands National Park – By Jay Kakade 2025 Jun 30 – Using new radiocarbon dating on ancient footprints found …
“Sugarbag” honey boasts remarkable antimicrobial properties
Honey from this species of Australian stingless bee has remarkable antimicrobial properties. Wikimedia Commons/Graham Wise CC BY 2.0 – By Paul McClure 2025 Jun 29 – Honey produced by some species of Australian stingless bees possesses impressive bacteria- and fungi-killing properties, according to new …
An extra cup of leafy greens each day reduces heart disease death risk
Eating extra green leafy veg each day can reduce your risk of dying from heart disease. DALL-E – By Paul McClure 2025 Jun 26 – Eating just one extra serving of leafy greens a day could help protect your heart, according to a new …
AI goes full HAL: Blackmail, espionage, and murder to avoid shutdown
AI will resort to blackmail if faced with failure or being switched off. AI generated image made with Microsoft Designer – By David Szondy 2025 Jun 28 – In what seems like HAL 9000 come to malevolent life, a recent study appeared to …
Kamchatka earthquake is among top 10 strongest ever recorded. Here’s what they have in common
Kamchatka Krai earthquake location. USGS – By Dee Ninis, Earthquake Scientist, Monash University And by John Townend, Professor of Geophysics, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Published: 2025 Jul 30 – Today at about 11:30am local time, a magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck …
‘AI veganism’: Some people’s issues with AI parallel vegans’ concerns about diet
Ethical concerns – like the mistreatment of content creators decried by this protester – drive both veganism and resistance to using AI. Mario Tama/Getty Images – By David Joyner, Associate Dean and Senior Research Associate, College of Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology Published: 2025 …
Not all probiotics are created equal – some help gut recovery, others harm
Some probiotics help gut recovery, while others harm it. Depositphotos – By Paul McClure 2025 Jul 26 – Not all probiotics are created equal. A new study found that one commonly available strain made a gut infection worse, while another helped stop it in …
Temporary tattoo could prevent sexual assaults – by changing color
In this proof-of-concept tattoo, lettering changes from yellow to red when exposed to the date rape drug GHB. Adapted from ACS Sensors 2025, DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.4c03737 – By Ben Coxworth 2025 Jul 26 – While it’s very important to know if a “date rape” drug …
The first 100% effective HIV prevention drug is approved and going global
Not for profit: Gilead, with the Global fund, is waving royalties from the breakthrough drug to reach two million people worldwide. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Jul 26 – An epidemic that’s been sustained for 44 years might finally be quelled, with the …
Finally: A diagnostic test for chronic fatigue syndrome?
A researcher at the Jackson Laboratory working on examining biological markers to identify chronic fatigue syndrome. Jackson Laboratory – By Michael Franco 2025 Jul 25 – While it’s estimated that millions worldwide suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome, a test for the condition still doesn’t …
World-first obesity pill reprograms fat cells to burn calories with zero effort
Breakthrough: Novel fat-burning drug advances to next human trial stage. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Jul 23 – The first human-tested weight-loss drug that burns calories through creatine-based heat generation, without reducing appetite, has successfully completed its Phase I trial. Scientists from the …
How germy is the public pool? An infectious disease expert weighs in on poop, pee and perspiration – and the deceptive smell of chlorine
A 2023 CDC report tracked more than 200 pool-associated outbreaks over a four-year period. But a few basic precautions can ward off these dangers. Maria Korneeva/Moment via Getty Images – By Lisa Cuchara, Professor of Biomedical Sciences, Quinnipiac University Published: 2025 Jul 23 – …
Four-day workweek makes for healthier, more satisfied workers
Working a four-day week without a pay decrease significantly improved worker well-being. Depositphotos original extended using GenAI – By Paul McClure 2025 Jul 21 – A new international study found that a four-day workweek with no loss of pay significantly improved worker well-being, including …
Incredible ‘marine mind control’ lets these ancient predators invade as one
The secret language of sea stars has been uncovered for the first time. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Jul 20 – They’ve been crawling across the seafloor for more than 500 million years – predating the dinosaurs – yet sea stars remain some …