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March 31, 2025—Quantum researchers hatch a butterfly, a gut microbe might control sugar cravings, and neuroscientists map the origin of near-death experiences. —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor | | Mark Garlick/Science Photo Library/Getty Images. | | - This is how near-death experiences arise in the brain. | 5 min read
- The threat from near-Earth asteroid 2024 YR4 is over, but thousands of other asteroids are out there. Will we be ready to defend ourselves? | 11 min read
- Intermittent fasting may help some people reduce how many calories they consume. But does time-restricted eating improve other indicators of health? | 9 min read
- It's not in your head: There are real, physiological reasons why 50-degree days feel warmer in spring than in fall. | 6 min read
- In an open letter released today, about 1,900 top U.S. scientists warn that the Trump administration's moves against researchers imperil the nation's health, economy and national security. | 3 min read
| | A fractal pattern known as "Hofstadter's butterfly." Yazdani Group | | | Quantum Butterfly Spreads Its Wings | A team of scientists arranged two sheets of graphene on top of one another, applied a magnetic field and measured the energy spectrum of electrons zipping between the two sheets—a common experimental setting for studying the superconducting potential of graphene. But a small error in calculation led to the discovery of a curious fractal pattern in the electrons' energy levels, known as "Hofstadter's butterfly." Predicted almost fifty years ago by computer scientist Douglas Hofstadter, the butterfly only emerges under very specific electromagnetic conditions, which the scientists achieved by accident. | Why this matters: This is the first time the butterfly has been observed experimentally in a real material. The butterfly is like a "fingerprint" for the material being studied, explains Michael Scheer, study co-author and graduate student at Princeton. The distinct settings under which the butterfly appears will be slightly different based on the physical properties of whichever material is being studied, in this case graphene. So the technique could prove useful for research in nanotechnology or condensed matter physics. What the experts say: "There's something very satisfying about us working on this problem 50 years after Hofstadter's calculation," says Nuckolls. "In Hofstadter's original paper, he basically concludes that 'what I've calculated and predicted is really awesome, but no one's ever going to see it because the [conditions] are never going to be achieved.' Yet 25 years after that, researchers started seeing the first evidence supporting his calculations." —Gayoung Lee, news intern | | | Microbes that Control Cravings? | Researchers measured the levels of a particular protein called free fatty acid receptor four (FFAR4) in mice and people with and without diabetes. They found that those with diabetes had low levels of the protein. In mice, the lower FFAR4 levels were tied to a decreased abundance of a gut microbe called Bacteroides vulgatus. Why this matters: The researchers found that, in mice, less FFAR4 correlated with a greater preference for a high-sugar diet. That's where the gut microbe comes in: B. vulgatus produces a metabolite called pantothenate—better known as vitamin B5—which triggers production of the hormone GLP-1, which regulates appetite. So, less FFAR4 means less B. vulgatus, less pantothenate and less GLP-1. What the experts say: The identification of pantothenate from B. vulgatus as a molecule that stimulates GLP-1 secretion and reduces sugar preference is "a major finding," says Sergueï O. Fetissov, a physiologist at the University of Rouen Normandy in France. It could open up new treatments for type 2 diabetes. | | | | |
CONTENT BROUGHT TO YOU BY SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN TRAVEL | | Join Us for an Extraordinary Eclipse Experience | | Take an unforgettable journey to witness the 2026 total solar eclipse from a semi-private ship. Surrounded by the shimmering sea, you'll feel the collective excitement as you watch totality approach with fellow science lovers and your trip leader, Senior Editor Clara Moskowitz. | | | | |
- Attacks on trans kids (by blocking gender-affirming healthcare) might be effective politics, but they are lousy medicine, writes Dan Vergano, senior opinion editor for Scientific American. Courts and medical reviews are increasingly coming down on the side of gender-affirming care for kids and teens. "What matters is they receive comprehensive medical and psychological care along the way, whatever they and their parents decide," he says. In the U.S. this approach is endorsed by a host of medical organizations. | 5 min read
| | Graphene is a single-atom-thick layer of carbon atoms, and physicists seem to keep finding surprising things the material can do. It's strong, light and flexible. And not only can it conduct electricity at super high speed, but it's also a superconductor—allowing energy to flow without resistance. You won't necessarily see it with your own eyes, but graphene may soon be in nearly every electronic device you touch. | | Welcome to a new week of discovery. I love hearing from you—write to me anytime: newsletters@sciam.com. See you tomorrow! —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor | | | | |
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