Scientists find cannabis won’t make you ‘lazy & unmotivated’, but it can make you less reliable

ScientiFix, our weekly feature, offers you a summary of the top global science stories of the week, with links to their sources.

AKANKSHA MISHRA, The Print, 28 April, 2024, New Delhi: A study by the University of Toronto that looks into the long-term effects of chronic marijuana usage came up with an 

The study, published in the peer-reviewed Sage journal on 23 April, had 260 respondents recruited from Reddit. The participants were studied five times a day for seven days to get both short and long-term effects of using marijuana.  

Using cannabis was linked to increased positive emotions and decreased negative ones, with little impact on motivation. However, it did lower conscientiousness scores — people were seen as less reliable, and having low willpower and focus. 

Surprisingly, no evidence of a cannabis hangover was found. Frequent users had more negative emotions but were more motivated, with lower self-control. These findings offer insight into chronic cannabis use amidst evolving attitudes about the substance and legalisation in certain countries. Read more. 

Breakthrough laser technology to detect illegal ivory

A groundbreaking study by scientists from Bristol’s School of Anatomy and Lancaster Medical School introduces a promising solution to the challenge of telling the difference between illegal elephant ivory and legal mammoth tusk ivory. 

The peer-reviewed study, published on 24 March in Plos One journal, shows that using Raman spectroscopy, researchers successfully identified biochemical differences between mammoth and elephant tusks with high accuracy and speed.

This non-destructive method, involving a laser-based approach, could revolutionise ivory detection at customs, providing a valuable tool to combat wildlife trafficking. 

Spectroscopy is a method of shining a laser through a substance and measuring the scattering of the light to analyse the chemical composition of substances. It is applied in forensics, air pollution measurement, and archaeological studies. 

This advancement heralds hope for protecting endangered elephant species and curbing the lucrative elephant hunting industry. Read more. 

Why can robots not run faster than animals? New study on locomotion finds out

A peer-reviewed paper, published on 24 April in Science Robotics, sheds light on the striking performance gap between animals and robots in terms of locomotion. Despite robots’ potential to surpass biological constraints, animals still outperform them — a discrepancy highlighted by animals’ ability to grow from a single cell, self-repair, and contain reproductive machinery. 

Focusing on legged locomotion for clarity, researchers aim to understand why animals consistently outrun robots. They found that while robots are assembled from discrete components at the macroscale, animals are formed from nanoscale structures, which could have a role in how their motor functions work. 

Robots and animal structures, the study found, also use different materials and physical phenomena for power, sensing, and control — three factors that affect running.

The study delves into the advancements in autonomous robots and enhances our understanding of animal locomotion and will provide insights for future research in bioinspired robotics. Read more. 

Revolutionary atomic clock promises precision for ship navigation

Vector Atomic, Inc., a pioneer in navigation and communication technology, unveiled a groundbreaking atomic clock designed for maritime use. Their research, published in Nature on 24 April, highlights a compact atomic clock, akin to three shoeboxes in size, boasting unprecedented precision. 

For comparison, atomic clocks can be as large as a room or even a small building. Tested aboard the HMNZS Aotearoa during routine operations, the clock demonstrated exceptional accuracy, maintaining time within 300 trillionths of a second per day.

Currently, ship clocks, though robust, lack the accuracy of laboratory counterparts. This is what led Vector Atomic to bridge this gap.

This innovative clock promises to revolutionise maritime navigation. With its ongoing developments, including plans for satellite integration, Vector Atomic said it aims to usher in a new era of precision timing, vital for both military and civilian applications at sea. Read more.