August 21, 2023: In search of a theory of everything, the sophistication of cats' noses and Russia's lunar mission crashes. —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor | | | Many physicists believe a single underlying theoretical framework governs the universe. When uncovered, this so-called theory of everything would finally answer some lingering questions, including defining dark matter, the invisible substance that serves as gravitational scaffolding for galaxies, and understanding dark energy, the enigmatic force that powers the accelerating expansion of the universe.
How it would work: A theory of everything would be multifaceted. A unification of the four known forces of physics (electromagnetism, gravity, strong force that binds atoms together, and weak force that pulls atoms apart) would be a good start. Even more pressing would be to reconcile the rules of quantum theory with the rules of Einstein's theory of general relativity—or to find new rules completely.
What the experts say: A theory of every "would change things the way that major fundamental advances always do," says Katherine Freese, physics professor at the University of Texas at Austin. "You don't know what they're going to be until you get there." | | | Researchers created a computational model of a cat's nose based on tomography scans and tissue slices from a deceased house cat whose body was donated for research. The model showed that the animal's nasal passages directed smells through an extensive network of tightly coiled, sensor-studded channels called turbinates. The scientists hypothesize that this structure may function like a gas chromatograph—a sophisticated chemical device that separates different compounds based on their solubility. In cats, the structure sorts and channels odors to scent receptors located along the nasal channel.
Why this matters: The coiled turbinate structure in cats is more than 100 times more efficient than the straight channel found in the noses of amphibians and some mammals, including rats. The complexity underscores how sophisticated the cat's sense of smell is (cats everywhere are not impressed that we're JUST discovering this).
What the experts say: One next step is to map the solubility of various scents to the locations of specific smell receptors in cats' noses, says Tom Eiting, a physiologist at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine. | | | • She helped build the atomic bomb to stop the Nazis, but was haunted by what it did to Japan. Here's the story of Lilli Hornig, the only female scientist named in the film Oppenheimer. | 19 min listen | | | Luna 25 launches from Vostochny Cosmodrome on August 10. Credit: ©Roscosmos/ZUMA Press wire/ZUMAPRESS.com/Alamy | | | • From 2007 through 2021, suicide rates among young people ages 10 to 24 increased by 62 percent. From 2014 to 2021, homicide rates rose by 60 percent. Child mental health is in a state of emergency, writes Steven Berkowitz, a professor of psychiatry at University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. "Struggling children and teens in the U.S. need earlier interventions. Although schools are ideal places to teach social skills, they still do not offer enough activities to help young people develop resilience to cope with adversity," he says. | 6 min read | | | Welcome to a new week. Here in the Northeast we got a much-appreciated break from the heat and humidity over the weekend. But dangerous heat remains entrenched in the middle of the country and the South. Check out our coverage on this year's extreme heat and tips for coping. Please stay safe out there. | Reach out anytime with feedback and suggestions: newsletters@sciam.com. See you tomorrow! | —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor | | Subscribe to this and all of our newsletters . | | | | Scientific American
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