Researchers have uncovered some fascinating science stories that might have gone unnoticed by the general public. 
A team of researchers has discovered the highest scoring Boggle board, a configuration of lettered dice that yields an astonishing 3,625 points. The discovery was made using computational methods and represents a significant improvement over previous attempts to find the optimal board. Researchers used a combination of machine learning algorithms and exhaustive search techniques to identify the highest-scoring board.
Meanwhile, scientists have shed new light on the origins of Egypt's Karnak Temple complex. A comprehensive geological survey conducted by researchers at the University of Southampton found that the temple was built on an island of higher ground created by the Nile River channeling. The study suggests that the temple's construction is linked to the annual flooding of the Nile and the changing landscape over time.
On Mars, a team of researchers has explored the mysterious gullies that form on some of the planet's dunes. Using computer simulations, they found evidence that these gullies are formed by the sublimation of CO2 ice under the Martian surface. This process creates debris flows that carve out channels in the sand, producing the characteristic sinuous shape of the gullies.
Snakes have also been studied in a recent research paper published in the Journal of Experimental Biology. Researchers at Monash University used high-speed cameras to capture the strikes of 36 different species of snakes and found that vipers are the fastest to strike, accelerating up to 710 meters per second squared. The study provides new insights into the unique biting styles of different snake species.
Researchers have also examined the microstructure of spaghetti, with a focus on gluten-free pasta. A study published in Food Hydrocolloids found that the microstructure of gluten-free pasta can be improved by using a combination of salt and specific starches. The researchers used small-angle x-ray scattering and neutron scattering to analyze the structure of both regular and gluten-free pasta.
Finally, a digital archaeologist has developed an AI-powered tool to identify ancient finger flutings in caves. By training machine learning models on images of finger flutings created by volunteers, she was able to achieve around 84% accuracy in classifying whether a given flutting was made by a man or woman. The research highlights the potential for using AI to analyze and understand prehistoric art.
				
			A team of researchers has discovered the highest scoring Boggle board, a configuration of lettered dice that yields an astonishing 3,625 points. The discovery was made using computational methods and represents a significant improvement over previous attempts to find the optimal board. Researchers used a combination of machine learning algorithms and exhaustive search techniques to identify the highest-scoring board.
Meanwhile, scientists have shed new light on the origins of Egypt's Karnak Temple complex. A comprehensive geological survey conducted by researchers at the University of Southampton found that the temple was built on an island of higher ground created by the Nile River channeling. The study suggests that the temple's construction is linked to the annual flooding of the Nile and the changing landscape over time.
On Mars, a team of researchers has explored the mysterious gullies that form on some of the planet's dunes. Using computer simulations, they found evidence that these gullies are formed by the sublimation of CO2 ice under the Martian surface. This process creates debris flows that carve out channels in the sand, producing the characteristic sinuous shape of the gullies.
Snakes have also been studied in a recent research paper published in the Journal of Experimental Biology. Researchers at Monash University used high-speed cameras to capture the strikes of 36 different species of snakes and found that vipers are the fastest to strike, accelerating up to 710 meters per second squared. The study provides new insights into the unique biting styles of different snake species.
Researchers have also examined the microstructure of spaghetti, with a focus on gluten-free pasta. A study published in Food Hydrocolloids found that the microstructure of gluten-free pasta can be improved by using a combination of salt and specific starches. The researchers used small-angle x-ray scattering and neutron scattering to analyze the structure of both regular and gluten-free pasta.
Finally, a digital archaeologist has developed an AI-powered tool to identify ancient finger flutings in caves. By training machine learning models on images of finger flutings created by volunteers, she was able to achieve around 84% accuracy in classifying whether a given flutting was made by a man or woman. The research highlights the potential for using AI to analyze and understand prehistoric art.