The Rest Is Science

The American Council on Science and Health is questioning whether shaken baby syndrome rests on solid scientific evidence, asking whether it is reliable medicine or junk science. The piece argues that courts and lawyers, rather than scientists, have effectively been setting the standards for what counts as proof in these cases, with major consequences for criminal convictions and child protection decisions.

New research reported by Phys.org explains how the circadian clock governs phases of wakefulness, shedding light on the mechanisms that determine when the body stays alert and when it rests. The findings add to scientific understanding of sleep regulation and could inform future work on sleep disorders and shift-related fatigue.

A Nature retrospective revisits the 1966 Nobel Prize in Physics, awarded to Alfred Kastler for the discovery and development of optical methods for studying atomic spectra, work known as optical pumping. The piece highlights how the achievement rested on collaboration across laboratories and laid foundations for later developments in atomic physics and laser science.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists argues that alarmist claims about artificial intelligence destroying humanity rest on weak science, and that this doomerism ultimately benefits major AI companies. By framing existential risk as the central issue, the argument goes, firms can steer debate away from present-day harms, regulation and accountability while appearing responsible.

A new article argues that computer science has long understood what it would take to keep advanced AI under control, drawing on the 1983 film 'WarGames', in which a military supercomputer nearly triggers nuclear war. The piece suggests today's AI safety debates rest on well-established principles of control and containment that the field has developed over decades.

Researchers are highlighting how the brain's biological clock and sleep-related neural circuits interact to regulate rest and circadian rhythms. The topic centres on advances in neuroscience that explain how internal timing mechanisms control sleep-wake cycles and what disruptions to these circuits mean for health. The subject is drawing attention in science news coverage globally.

Sleep technology is experiencing rapid growth, with a wide range of gadgets and devices now marketed to consumers hoping to improve their rest. Forbes reports on the booming sector but cautions that shoppers should understand the products and the science behind them before spending money, as not all devices deliver the benefits they promise.