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According to the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden, this year’s Nobel Laureates identified the mechanism for, “one of life’s most essential adaptive processes.” Animals use oxygen to convert food into energy. While we have understood the importance of oxygen’s function in the body for centuries, it was not until this collaboration that we now grasp how cells adapt to shifts in oxygen levels. When oxygen levels are critically low—a state called hypoxia—the body responds with a boost in the hormone erythropoietin (EPO) from the kidneys....

It’s worth noting that the ‘village’ would really just be a space habitat (no shops, churches, or town hall). Nevertheless, when ESA’s Johann-Dietrich Woerner announced his idea, he specified that “This moon village should mean partners from all over the world contributing to this community”. And it looks like American companies want a piece of that action. A Federal Aviation Administration advisory group has just voted for the FAA to step in and help facilitate American companies’ participation....

Amped is a video series made with our partners Nexus Media that looks at the science and technologies that are remaking energy for the world of tomorrow.

The craft is called Alia, and it was created by Beta Technologies, an aviation startup based in Burlington, Vermont. A single propeller, powered by two electric motors, gives it its thrust through the air. Electric aviation is in its infancy, and the burgeoning industry—which includes other firms like Joby, Wisk, Kitty Hawk, Archer—has generally focused on the idea of using electric aircraft as air taxis, like Ubers in the sky, for travel around cities....

Researchers from Yunnan University and Durham University studying ancient forms of priapulida, or penis worms, found that the fleshy marine crawlers used to live a hermit crab-like lifestyle over 500 million years ago by hiding inside shells they found on the seafloor. Their conclusions were published in Current Biology this week. Curiously, the penis worms’ squatting strategy evolved before hermit crabs’, which traces back to around 170 million years ago....

The group wiped its website clean, leaving a post that said it was discontinuing operations “due to resource limitations.” Following the August article, public health officials across the country argued that Coca-Cola had funded the group in an effort to play down the association between sugary soft drinks and obesity. While the group had previously claimed that Coke had given them an “unrestricted gift” and the company had “no input” on the research, the Associated Press reported last week that they had obtained emails between Coca-Cola and GEBN group leaders that showed the beverage company had both hand-picked GEBN’s group leaders and, “edited its mission statement and suggested content for the group’s website....

Then there’s the opposite problem: you’re driving down a dark road and feel like you can’t see clearly with your low beams. In fact, according to the AAA, if you’re cruising at just 39 miles per hour on an unlit road with only your low beams, you could “outdrive” them, meaning that by the time an object in your path is illuminated, it’s too late to stop for it. While new technology could be a solution, it’s worth slowing down and exploring the current state of vehicle illumination....

Well, UNOSAT, a collaborative project between CERN and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, is exploring how grid computing and satellite imaging can be used to help ships monitor, track and avoid pirates on the high seas. By producing maps that show where recent attacks and incidents have occurred, the organization hopes that it will help sailors safely navigate pirate-infested waters. An article in International Science Grid This Week explains, “Typically, computer-intensive UNOSAT raw images are transferred to EGEE, where programs heavily compress satellite images for transmission over low-bandwidth connections, allowing users to access the latest maps from devices as simple as mobile phones....

To help ease those challenges, Kehl worked on a team that developed a machine learning algorithm that could pull information from doctors’ and radiologists’ notes in electronic health records in order to identify how particular patients’ cancer progressed. Their tool, published this week in the journal JAMA Oncology, might in the future help identify patients who could benefit from clinical trials or other specific interventions—and it’s a piece of larger efforts to bring artificial intelligence into oncology....

Audi can’t help you avoid red lights entirely, but its Traffic Light Information system, which is available on all of Audi’s models except A3 and TT, can tell you what to expect from traffic signals. The technology is currently working in 13 metropolitan areas with more than 4,600 intersections, and those numbers are growing. Audi piloted this program on a few models with the city of Las Vegas back in 2016, but it has been adding cities and models ever since, until now it is gaining critical mass....

According to Redwood’s estimates, the campus will eventually be able to provide 100 GWh in recycled components per year—enough to annually power an estimated 1 million EVs—and can eventually scale upwards as demand grows. The startup already has a similar facility in Nevada, which announced its own expansion earlier this year. Redwood’s newest project is located in what is becoming known as America’s Battery Belt—a region stretching from the Midwest to the Deep South increasingly focused on the production of electric vehicles and EV components....

Best overall: Alex Tech 10ft – 1/2 inch Cord Protector Wire Loom Tubing CableBest for standing desks: Stand Up Desk Store Under Desk Cable Management TrayBest hub: Anker Cable Management Box and Desk Cord OrganizerBest for glass desks: Scandinavian Hub Store Under Desk Cable Management TrayBest budget: Newlan Reusable Cable Ties How we chose the best cable management for desks Many of us on the PopSci gear team currently work from home, having ditched a regular office cubicle long ago....

Best curling iron: CHI Ceramic Tourmaline Curling IronBest for beach waves: Bed Head Wave Artist Deep WaverBest splurge: T3 Twirl Trio Interchangeable Curling IronBest on a budget: Conair Double Ceramic Curling IronBest automatic curling iron: CHI Spin N’ Curl Ceramic Rotating Curler What to consider when shopping for the best curling iron When looking to add a curling iron to your hair styling tool collection, there are a few key factors to consider, starting with your hair type....

Best overall: ViewSonic ELITE XG320U Best 1440p: Asus ROG Swift PG329QBest 4K: LG UltraGear 27GP950-BBest FreeSync Premium Pro: Samsung Odyssey G7Best ultrawide: LG 34GP83A-B UltraGear Gaming MonitorBest budget: Gigabyte M27Q What is AMD FreeSync? AMD FreeSync is one of two versions of adaptive sync technology, also known as variable refresh rate. Introduced by graphics card manufacturer AMD in 2015, FreeSync mitigates “visual artifacts,” or flaws in your monitor’s image like stuttering and screen tearing....

Best overall: Tribord Subea EasybreathBest for people who wear glasses: Ocean Reef Aria ClassicBest for photographers: WildHorn Outfitters SeaviewBest for kids: Zipoute Kids Full-Face Snorkel MaskBest budget: Zipoute Full-Face Snorkel Mask Things to consider before buying a full-face snorkel masks If you’ve never used a full-face snorkel before, you may not know what to look for or how to prioritize the fit and features you’ll need to have the best experience possible in the water....

What’s the future of at-home fitness? Will people’s fitness regimes return to their pre-pandemic forms? According to Jefferies, traffic at gyms has rebounded to 83 percent of January 2020 levels. That’s certainly the highest attendance has been since the pandemic began. Though gym memberships are making a comeback, home fitness routines won’t be left by the wayside. Fitness enthusiasts have continued to frequent virtual options such as FlexIt’s virtual personal training, MYXFitness’s group cycling, and FightCamp’s virtual boxing that allow you to work with professionals and personalize your workouts from home or wherever else you may be....

Of course, editing video on a laptop requires some sacrifices. At home, you might have a pair of 4K monitors that allow your timeline to stretch as far as you want while still displaying your software’s many different panels. Your portable system, on the other hand, has a 17-inch panel—if you’re lucky. Laptops also have fewer USB ports than desktop machines, which makes it harder to connect all your peripherals....

Low magnesium levels are associated with disease states such as diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and depression. Magnesium also plays a role in the prevention of osteoporosis. Although some foods are high in magnesium, it is often deficient. Supplementation is necessary to make up for dietary shortages and ensure you reap the benefits of this important mineral. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for magnesium is around 310 mg per day, depending on gender and age....

How we picked the best paper shredders Methodology When searching for the best paper shredders, I considered over 50 models from 10 brands in all price ranges, looking for a balance between performance and price. My picks were based on the following criteria: Ease of use: Reverse buttons to remove jams, simple emptying mechanisms, and easily empty baskets add to overall ease of use. Safety: Thermal overload sensors and safety mechanisms that turn off the cutters when the lid is removed from the basket are among the features I looked for....

Best overall: iPhone SE (3rd Generation)Best camera: Google Pixel 6aBest display: Samsung Galaxy A53 5GBest gaming: iPhone 11Best budget: OnePlus Nord N20 5G How we picked the best phones under $500 I’ve written about technology for over a decade for sites like TechnoBuffalo, XDA Developers, and Popular Science. During that time, I’ve reviewed dozens of smartphones, from the Nexus 6P to the recently introduced OnePlus 10 Pro. To select our picks, I drew on my experience writing about smartphones, consulted trusted sources and professional reviewers, and researched the most popular models available....