126 articles from FRIDAY 11.11.2022

Observatory achieves 'first light' with new planet finder

A new planet-hunting instrument at W. M. Keck Observatory has achieved "first light," capturing its first data from the sky and marking an exciting chapter in the search for Earth-sized planets around other stars, which are extraordinarily difficult to detect due to their small size. Operating on the Keck I Telescope on Hawaiʻi Island's Maunakea, the Keck Planet Finder (KPF) is the world's most...

Having good friendships may make for a healthier gut microbiome

Social connections are essential for good health and well-being in social animals, such as ourselves and other primates. There is also increasing evidence that the gut microbiome—through the so-called "gut-brain axis"—plays a key role in our physical and mental health and that bacteria can be transmitted socially, for example through touch.