One of the most striking facts in science is that we don't know what 95% of the universe is made of. Up to 70% is thought to be dark energy, which is making the universe expand. But not by the writers of this study, who say that it doesn't exist at all! eurekalert.org/news-releases…

A little something that may make you think; hadn't that been figured out yet? A study bolsters the case that eyelashes evolved to help water out of our eyes. eurekalert.org/news-releases… #eyelashes #sciencenews

Happy New Year, everyone. Let's start the New Year by closing out some business from the last one, as Matilda's Lab pays a scientific tribute to Jimmy Carter. matildaslab.wordpress.com/20… #jimmycarter #scicomm

Because there are so many microbes of so many different types absolutely everywhere. Each time a new isolated area is discovered, it brings with it a completely new and novel micro- ecosystem. eurekalert.org/news-releases… #microbiology #sciencenews #discovery

Not only are book versions of stories generally better than the film versions, but it turns out that they are also better for neurological health. eurekalert.org/news-releases… #sciencenews

Things get out of sorts at this time of year, so why not a Tuesday newsletter? 2024 is at an end. Time to reflect and look forward. I also have bacterial builders, why reading is good for you, a carnivorous squirrel and a World War I solution to pH control open.substack.com/pub/matild…

I was aware that Salmonella can change its surface antigens to evade an immune response, so I should probably have been less surprised to learn that Staph aureus can become vaccine resistant. I was surprised. eurekalert.org/news-releases… #microbiology #sciencenews #vaccines

Fun fact: The Parker Solar Probe was tested for thermal resistance using the contents of McDonald's Apple Pies. #PossiblyAFakeFact

In another display of optimisation in nature, air breathing sea animals have separately worked out the most efficient depth at which to swim. eurekalert.org/news-releases… #sciencenews #marineanimals

The moral of this story is that if you want to discover something new, sometimes all you have to do is look. bbc.co.uk/newsround/60137514 #sciencenews #newspecies #biology

Most animal body forms first appear in the fossil record in the Cambrian era, already in a recognisable form. This makes new fossils from Pre-Cambriam very exciting, like this tiny ancestor of the arthropods eurekalert.org/news-releases… #fossil #sciencenews #precambrian #paleontology

Merry Christmas everyone. I have a little Christmas treat for you. A double Map of Life addition. A TURkey (of course) and a TURtle (because, why not?). #turkey #evolution #infographic

We've made it to the end! Door 24 of the Matilda's Lab advent calendar and the most viewed post of the year. matildaslab.wordpress.com/20… Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas! #spiderweb #advent #scicomm

I know that the placebo effect is a real thing, but this is just crazy. A spoonful of sugar doesn't just help the medicine go down, it IS the medicine...in cows. eurekalert.org/news-releases… #sciencenews #antibiotics

We all need some alone time every once in a while, but it may be that not all alone time is the same with regards to the benefits that it brings us. eurekalert.org/news-releases… #mentalhealth #sciencenews #psychology

Pictures of eyes are used in stores as we know that people act differently with just the slightest hint of being observed What wasn't known is the psychological burden that people carry from feeling constantly under surveillance eurekalert.org/news-releases… #psychology #sciencenews

Well said, Bob.

We're getting right to the business end of the advent countdown now. The 3rd most viewed blog post this year may be relevant over a period when children get overexcited. matildaslab.wordpress.com/20… #parenting #scicomm #advent #psychology

If you feel like you suffer a runny noise more frequently than those sound you, that may be a consequence of your nose fungus! eurekalert.org/news-releases… #runnynose #fungus #microbiome #sciencenews

Midwinter brings door number 21 of the advent calendar. The 4th most viewed post of the year is about how we can give each other electric shocks. matildaslab.wordpress.com/20… #staticelectricity #scicomm #science #physics