🤖 Computer Science

Machine learning predicts upper secondary education dropout as early as the end of primary school

This study uses a 13-year dataset to predict school dropout rates with machine learning, considering academic performance, cognitive skills, motivation, behavior, and well-being. The models achieved an AUC of 0.61 by Grade 6 and 0.65 by Grade 9, aiming to help educators identify at-risk students and improve retention strategies. Further data collection and analysis are needed to enhance model effectiveness.

Mouth-based touchpad enables people living with paralysis to interact with computers

Tomás Vega, inspired by his experience with stuttering, co-founded Augmental, which develops technology to enhance human capabilities. Their first product, the MouthPad, enables users with movement impairments to control devices using tongue and head movements. This touchpad, positioned on the roof of the mouth, translates gestures into real-time cursor movements via Bluetooth, helping users interact seamlessly with computers, smartphones, and tablets.

⚛️ Physics and Chemistry

Study suggests germanium isotope really does have an 11-day half-life

The "gallium anomaly" arises from a shortfall in the expected production rate of germanium-71 when neutrinos interact with gallium-71, suggesting possible new particles like sterile neutrinos. However, recent research from Lawrence Berkeley and Lawrence Livermore national laboratories proposes that this discrepancy might be due to a mismeasured half-life of germanium-71. Their precise measurements, published in Physical Review C, suggest that correcting the half-life could explain the anomaly without invoking new physics.

Dimetallocene with two different metal centres synthesised for the first time

Researchers have synthesized the first sandwich molecule with two different metal atoms, providing new insights into the chemistry of metallocenes and offering ways to stabilize similar compounds. Metallocenes consist of two cyclopentadienyl anions (Cp-) bonded to a metal center, like in ferrocene. These structures, which can include metals such as nickel, ruthenium, and osmium, are stabilized when the metal's electronic configuration resembles that of a noble gas.

Nuclear physicists tame radius calculation problem

Researchers have developed a new method to accurately calculate atomic nuclei sizes, solving previous underestimations by ab initio approaches. This wavefunction matching technique produces results aligning with experimental data for elements with atomic numbers 2 to 58, improving precision in nuclear structure calculations. This advancement aids nuclear astrophysics, particularly in understanding stellar helium fusion and complex nuclear interactions.

🧬 Biology & Medicine

A dad’s diet affects his sperm — and his sons’ health

A study published in Nature on June 6 found that a father's diet affects his sperm and his sons' metabolism. Male mice on a high-fat diet showed increased levels of certain RNA types in their sperm, leading to metabolic issues like glucose intolerance in their male offspring. Similarly, human fathers with high body mass index (BMI) had sons with comparable metabolic problems.

Most Life on Earth is Dormant, After Pulling an ‘Emergency Brake’

Researchers discovered a natural protein called Balon, found in Arctic permafrost bacteria, which can halt protein production in cells. This mechanism, likely present in many organisms, may be crucial for dormancy—a survival strategy in harsh conditions. Dormancy is common, with an estimated 60% of microbial cells hibernating at any time, and some cells in non-dormant organisms also remain inactive until conditions improve. This emphasizes the importance of dormancy in the survival and lifecycle of many life forms.

Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms Much Lower Than Previously Thought

A meta-analysis found that true antidepressant discontinuation symptoms occur in about 15% of patients, with severe symptoms in 2%. Researchers estimate that one in six to seven patients experiences these symptoms due to pharmacological causes, though this may be an overestimate due to difficulties accounting for residual or re-emerging depression or anxiety. The study was published in The Lancet on June 5.

AI-driven mammography cuts workload by 33%, boosts breast cancer detection

Regular mammography screening reduces breast cancer mortality but increases radiologists' workload due to the high volume of non-suspicious mammograms. Double screening to reduce false positives adds further strain, especially given the shortage of specialized radiologists. AI can help by efficiently screening reports and assisting radiologists in identifying suspicious lesions, reducing workload while maintaining sensitivity.

🔭 Space & Astronomy

Watch Live as SpaceX Launches Starship on Its Fourth Test Flight

SpaceX plans to launch the fourth test flight of its new Starship prototype on Thursday, June 6, aiming for splashdown in the Indian Ocean to demonstrate reusability. The 120-minute launch window opens at 8 a.m. ET from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas. The event will be live streamed on SpaceX's website and its social media channels, starting at 7:30 a.m. ET.

1st telescope removed from controversial astronomy hub on Hawaiian volcano

A telescope on Maunakea in Hawaii has been fully decommissioned, marking a first in the site's history. This involved dismantling the telescope, removing it, and restoring the site to its original state. The action is part of an agreement between the University of Hawaii and the Maunakea Stewardship and Oversight Authority to ease tensions related to the planned construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on the mountain.

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