New insights into dinosaurs, pain and carbon capture

New insights into dinosaurs, pain and carbon capture

By Laura Helmut

Written in 1974, the essay “What’s it like to be a bat?”, still taught in cognitive science and philosophy courses, argues that humans will never fully understand the consciousness of other organisms. That may be true, but we’re getting close. And it’s not just bats. New research combining neuroscience and advanced fossil scanning is revealing the size, shape, and specialization of dinosaur brains, which can tell us a lot about what dinosaurs were like. In this issue’s cover article, evolutionary biologist Amy M. Baranov and paleontologist Daniel T. Ksepka reconstruct dinosaur perception and behavior. Tyrannosaurus Rex, Triceratops, Stegosaurus, and other classic characters. Enjoy gorgeous, dramatic illustrations by Beth Zaiken. Read more about her career in paleoart in her contributor column.

we Scientific American The discovery that dark matter exists, and the subsequent search for its true nature, has fascinated scientists for decades. As physicists Tracy R. Slatier and Tim MP Tate recall, initially, scientists came up with quite a few fantastic hypotheses, some of which linked dark matter to other mysteries of physics. But now, most of the easy answers have been ruled out, and many of the less-easy answers have been ruled out as well. Physicists have broadened the scope of their search, and to understand the scope of their search, take a closer look at this graphic by Tate and Senior Graphics Editor Jen Christiansen. As the authors write, “The scope of the problem is both intimidating and exhilarating at the same time.”

A long-awaited painkiller may soon be available. One in five adults in the United States suffers from chronic pain, and many more suffer from episodic acute pain. Over-the-counter medications don’t provide adequate pain relief, and opioids have dangerous side effects. A new drug that has gone through several stages of clinical trials blocks sodium channels in nerves, dampening pain signals before they reach the brain. Health writer Marla Broadfoot discusses this approach and what it means for people who suffer from pain.

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Currently, new painkillers and other drugs are tested on animals before being tested on humans. But more efficient and accurate experimental models are being designed to replace at least some of the rats, monkeys, rabbits, and other guinea pigs. As author Rachel Nuwer explains, organ-on-a-chip technology mimics human cells and tissues. Organoids made from a patient’s stem cells can show signs of disease in a petri dish. Artificial organs also make it easier for scientists to study rare diseases.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 175-year climate record, last year was the hottest year on record. The average temperature in 2023 will be 0.15°C higher than the second-hottest year, 2016, a difference that is a record in itself. We have to do something. There is a lot of work to be done. Direct air capture, which sucks carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, has attracted considerable private and public investment. Journalist Alec Rune explains how it works, how it could be scaled up, why it looks promising, and why we should be wary of some of the claims that it will solve climate change.

Einstein’s general theory of relativity explains almost everything there is to know about gravity. But it doesn’t explain the quantum nature of space-time, and physicists have been trying to understand quantum gravity for decades. Now, a series of proposed laboratory experiments may finally point us in the right direction. Philosopher Nick Huggett and physicist Carlo Rovelli explain, again with some enlightening illustrations from our great Jen Christiansen.