Here are today’s most important updates from the realm of Science and Space.
Cosmic Makeover: How Space Radiation Transformed Comet 3I/ATLAS Over Billions of Years
James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) observations show that interstellar comet
3I/ATLAS has a thick, irradiated outer crust, a result of billions of years of exposure to cosmic radiation in interstellar space. This transformed surface has a different composition than its pristine interior, which formed in another star system. The comet's overall composition is also unusual, being very rich in carbon dioxide relative to water, likely due to its interstellar origin. The comet's surface has been altered by interstellar space radiation, creating a thick, "irradiated" crust that is significantly different from its original state.
Being Polite Is Overrated? ChatGPT Improves When Users Get Rude
A new study from Penn State has revealed that ChatGPT's accuracy may improve when it's prompted rudely. Researchers tested OpenAI's GPT-4o model using over 250 unique prompts ranging from very polite to very rude and the results were unexpected. According to the preprint study, the AI model performed best when given blunt or impolite instructions. In fact, "very rude" prompts like "Hey, gofer, figure this out," led to an 84.8% accuracy rate on multiple-choice questions-four percentage points higher than polite phrasing like "Would you be so kind as to solve the following question?”
Mystery Solved: New Blood Group Discovered After Half a Century
While we're most familiar with the ABO blood group system and the Rh factor (the plus or minus), humans actually have many different blood group systems based on the wide variety of proteins and sugars that coat our blood cells. Most major blood groups were identified early in the 20th century. Many discovered since, like the Er system first described in 2022, are only found in a small number of people. This is also the case for the new blood group. Previous research found more than 99.9 percent of people have the AnWj antigen that was missing from the 1972 patient's blood. Because this antigen lives on a myelin and lymphocyte protein, the researchers named the newly described system the MAL blood group.
New Study Finds: A Simple Mind Exercise Can Make Your Brain Younger
A new clinical trial led by McGill University has provided the first human evidence that online brain training can improve the brain's learning and memory systems. The study found that older adults who used the BrainHQ app, designed like a game, for 10 weeks showed noticeable improvements in cholinergic function, a vital brain chemical system linked to attention, memory, and decision-making. This system typically declines with age, but the findings suggest that regular mental exercises through such apps can help strengthen brain function and possibly slow cognitive aging. This landmark study, published in JMIR Serious Games, represents a pivotal advancement in leveraging digital interventions to enhance cognitive resilience and brain health among older adults.
