Sunday Special: Scientists push the fast-forward button on evolution

Welcome back, Superhuman. Scientists can be a paranoid bunch. That seems especially true for a team of researchers at the University of Manchester, who claim that a common piece of tech could be opening Earth up to surveillance by far-off alien civilizations. Meanwhile, the age-old “chicken and egg” problem may finally have an answer.

SCIENCE SUNDAY

The most interesting scientific discoveries and breakthroughs this week

1. Scientists use open-source system to ramp up the timeline for evolution: University of Sydney researchers have created PROTEUS, a kind of "biological AI" that speeds up evolution inside mammalian cells. The team claims it has already evolved antibiotic-resistant proteins in just a couple of experimental rounds, and could potentially change how we design everything from cancer treatments to gene therapies.

2. Scientists claim alien civilizations can theoretically spy on us: According to University of Manchester researchers, Earth’s aviation radar systems pump out over 2000 trillion watts of signals into space — enough to reveal our whereabouts to potential aliens 200 light-years away. There are some caveats, though: the signals may act as a “universal sign of intelligent life,” but only for advanced extraterrestrial civilizations with sophisticated technology — the kind that can rival our best telescopes.

3. We may finally have an answer to the chicken-and-egg problem: University College London researchers have developed a system where RNA can make partial copies of itself when cycled through hot, cold, acidic, and alkaline conditions. This breakthrough provides the strongest experimental evidence yet for the "RNA world" hypothesis of life's origins — a theory that early life banked on RNA molecules to store genetic information and catalyze chemical reactions, positioning RNA (not DNA) as the key to life’s origin.

4. History's most ambitious timekeeping project makes a breakthrough: While cesium-based clocks lose out on a second every 100M years, advanced optical clocks remain precise for billions of years. Now, a 69-scientist team has synced 10 optical atomic clocks across 6 countries, completing 38 frequency measurements with remarkable accuracy. This paves the way for a new definition of the second by 2030, the potential implications of which could underpin everything from GPS navigation to financial transactions.

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NEW TECH

Our favorite new tech gadgets this week

1. Anker Nano Power Bank: A portable charger that’s truly portable. You can pop it into your bag or pocket and not feel as if you’ve just added several pounds to your load.

2. LifeStraw Personal Water Filter: A handy way to keep your water safe to drink. You can either use it at home or take it with you while traveling.

3. Rokid AR Spatial: AR glasses that turn any space into a private 300-inch screen. Runs on Android, supports voice commands, and floats up to three apps in view.

4. Petlibro Scout: A pet camera that recognizes each of your animals by name. It captures eating, litter box use, and surprise selfies, then builds a smart daily recap.

SOCIAL SIGNALS

What’s trending in tech on socials this week

🔥 Burning Up: A video showing Formula 1 tires under thermal imaging is racking up thousands of views on Reddit. Users can’t believe how hot F1 tires get during the race.

✨ Youth Fountain: A recent study claims that feeling 10 years younger can come from just 2 weeks without smartphone internet, thanks to boosted mood, focus, and well-being.

🚗 Retro Ride: The Peel Trident was a retro-futuristic car in the 1960s that looked more like a spaceship than a car. It was famously described as “cheaper than walking”, thanks to its 49cc engine and 330lbs body. Check out what it looked like here.

☢️ Dance of Death: A video showing radon (an invisible radioactive gas) in a cloud chamber is going viral on social media.

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ONLY GOOD NEWS

A healthy dose of optimism to kickstart your week

Digital Detox: Scientists have found a way to package forest therapy for people who can't escape their concrete jungles. A new study found that a quick dip in a virtual forest can reboot your brain almost as effectively as the real thing. It immersed volunteers in a 360° VR Douglas-fir forest with authentic sounds and essential oil scents, finding mood improvements and memory boosts. These digital "forest baths" may potentially support mental wellbeing in clinics, waiting rooms, and workspaces where actual greenery is scarce.

Age Surge: New research reveals we don't age gradually in a steady decline — instead, we go through dramatic bursts of aging at three specific points in our lives: around the ages of 40, 60, and 80. Scientists studying thousands of blood samples found that protein levels suddenly shift at these ages, leading to muscle loss, skin decline, and increased disease risk. Understanding these "tipping points" could potentially aid longevity research and lead to targeted treatments.

Protein Patch: Scientists at the University of Sydney claim to have successfully reversed Parkinson's symptoms in mice. Using a simple copper supplement, they targeted a protein called SOD1, which normally protects brain cells, but forms clumps in Parkinson’s. These clumps damage neurons, cause tremors, and impair motor function. If clinical trials in humans are successful, the breakthrough could form one part of a combined approach to actually slow down the progression of the disease instead of just managing symptoms.

SUNDAY SCIENCE TRIVIA

Watch: World’s most powerful magnet rips itself apart

Don’t Cheat: You can read more on the incident here or watch the terrifying visuals of the explosion here.

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Zain and the Superhuman AI team