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Last refreshed: 06/06/2026 10:36 · 51 articles added
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Science & Tech

Dark Matter May Be Remnant from Previous Universe, Scientists Suggest

Scientists have proposed a new theory suggesting that dark matter, one of the universe's greatest mysteries, could be a remnant left behind from a previous universe that existed before the Big Bang. This hypothesis offers a potential explanation for the elusive substance that makes up approximately 27% of the universe but cannot be directly observed. The theory could provide new insights into the nature of dark matter, which has puzzled physicists for decades as they attempt to understand its composition and role in cosmic structure formation.

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Science & Tech

Spring Flower Connects Ants, Bees, Butterflies, Woodpeckers, Gardeners, Winemakers and Robbers

The chochlačka flower serves as a vital spring food source that connects diverse forms of life across Slovakia's ecosystems. The early-blooming plant provides essential nutrition for insects including ants, bumblebees, and butterflies, while also attracting woodpeckers and supporting the activities of gardeners and winemakers. The flower's broad ecological role extends even to providing cover or resources used by criminals, highlighting its widespread presence in Slovak landscapes. This interconnected web demonstrates how a single plant species can serve as a crucial link in maintaining biodiversity and supporting both wildlife and human activities during the critical spring season when food sources are often scarce.

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Science & Tech

Apple Plans New Mobile Revolution, Tech Analysis Shows

Technology analysts have identified Apple's latest strategy to revolutionize the mobile phone market once again. The company appears to be preparing significant changes to its smartphone approach, though specific details of the planned innovations remain undisclosed. Apple has historically transformed the mobile industry through breakthrough products, starting with the original iPhone in 2007, and the company now seems poised for another major shift in how consumers interact with mobile technology.

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Science & Tech

Spanish Archaeologists Map Underwater Cemetery of Shipwrecks Near Gibraltar

Spanish archaeologists have completed a comprehensive underwater survey of the Gibraltar Strait and Algeciras Bay, documenting centuries of shipwrecks spanning from ancient Carthaginian vessels to World War II-era ships. The three-year Herakles Project, conducted from May 2020 to March 2023, mapped what researchers describe as an underwater cemetery in the waters off southern Spain opposite Gibraltar. The strategic location between the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, linking Europe and Africa, has served as a crucial maritime route since ancient times, making it a natural collection point for maritime disasters across millennia. Despite its historical significance as one of the world's most important naval passages, researchers said the area had previously received insufficient archaeological attention, prompting the systematic survey to document its rich underwater heritage.

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Science & Tech

Samsung Promotes New Galaxy S26 Ultra Through In-Store Visits

Samsung is encouraging customers to visit selected retail stores to view the new Galaxy S26 Ultra smartphone in person, moving away from online-only purchasing options. The company is promoting the device with a campaign that includes opportunities to win the phone for free. The marketing approach emphasizes physical store visits rather than the convenience of online ordering from home, suggesting a shift toward hands-on customer experience for the premium smartphone model.

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Science & Tech

Investment Platform XTB Launches Emergency Lock Feature for Account Security

XTB, an investment application, has introduced an emergency lock feature designed to help clients quickly protect their assets. The new security function allows users to instantly block withdrawals, card payments, and asset sales with a single click when they detect suspicious login activity or notice anything unusual with their account. The feature represents an enhanced security measure aimed at keeping investor funds safe from potential threats.

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Science & Tech

Košice University Acquires Advanced Microscope for Medical Research and Sensor Development

The University of Košice has acquired a cutting-edge microscope worth 300,000 euros, marking a significant investment in the institution's research capabilities. The advanced equipment will support both medical research and the development of sensors, representing a unique addition to the university's scientific infrastructure. The microscope enhances the university's ability to conduct high-level research across multiple disciplines, positioning it as a significant research asset in eastern Slovakia.

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Science & Tech

Košice Hosts First National AI Olympiad Finals

Košice is hosting the national finals of Slovakia's first artificial intelligence olympiad, marking the culmination of several months of preparation. The pilot edition of the competition brings together students from across the country to compete in AI-related challenges. The event represents Slovakia's effort to promote artificial intelligence education and skills among young people, reflecting the growing importance of AI literacy in the digital economy.

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Science & Tech

Scientists Submit Revised Zoning Plans for Four National Parks to Environment Ministry

Scientists have delivered revised zoning proposals for four national parks to Slovakia's Ministry of Environment. The new zoning plans replace what experts describe as problematic D zones with a more predictable framework using C zones that carry third-level protection status. The Ministry of Environment oversees Slovakia's protected areas and national parks, which are divided into different protection zones ranging from strict preservation areas to zones allowing limited human activity. The revision appears aimed at clarifying and strengthening environmental protections by establishing more consistent management frameworks across the country's national park system.

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Science & Tech

Slovak Scientist Leads Major Study of African Elephant Genome

A Slovak researcher has led the largest genomic study of African elephants, advancing scientific understanding of these species. Patricia Chrzanová Pečnerová, who specializes in mammoth and elephant research, applied knowledge gained from studying extinct giants to current elephant populations. The research represents a significant contribution to understanding elephant genetics and biology, with potential implications for conservation efforts. Pečnerová's work bridges paleogenomics - the study of ancient DNA - with modern wildlife research, demonstrating how insights from extinct species can inform our understanding of their living relatives.

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Science & Tech

American Primatologist Challenges Human Exceptionalism in New Book

American primatologist Christine Webb argues in her new book "The Arrogant Ape" that humans are not as exceptional as commonly believed. Webb contends that the widespread belief in human uniqueness stems more from cultural conditioning than from undeniable biological differences. The researcher, who has spent years studying primates, came to this conclusion after observing empathetic behavior in baboons and other non-human primates. Her work challenges the long-held assumption that qualities like empathy, intelligence, and complex social behavior are exclusively human traits, suggesting instead that these characteristics exist across the primate spectrum.

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Science & Tech

Meta Violates Competition Rules with AI Access Fees for WhatsApp, Regulators Find

Meta is violating competition laws by charging rival artificial intelligence companies fees for access to WhatsApp, according to regulatory findings. The practice of replacing outright bans with fee-based restrictions has been determined to have a similar anti-competitive effect. The charges represent Meta's attempt to limit competitors' access to its messaging platform while maintaining a veneer of openness through paid access rather than complete prohibition.

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Science & Tech

European Bison Population in Poloniny National Park Drops by Two After Female Dies and Calf Relocated

The European bison population in Slovakia's Poloniny National Park has decreased by two animals following the death of a female and the relocation of her calf. The young bison was moved to a zoo after wildlife officials determined it could not survive in the wild without its mother. The calf had been found among domestic cattle before being captured and transferred to captivity. Poloniny National Park, located in northeastern Slovakia along the Polish and Ukrainian borders, is home to a small population of European bison as part of conservation efforts for the species, which nearly went extinct in the 20th century.

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Science & Tech

Why We Can't Find Things Right in Front of Us: How the Brain Filters What We See

Scientists explain why people frequently cannot locate everyday items like ketchup bottles even when they are directly in their line of sight. The brain actively selects what information reaches conscious awareness, filtering out details that it deems less important at any given moment. This selective attention mechanism helps prevent cognitive overload but can result in the common experience of searching for objects that are plainly visible. The phenomenon demonstrates how perception is not simply a passive recording of visual input, but rather an active process where the brain determines what deserves conscious attention based on current priorities and expectations.

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Science & Tech

Mushrooms Still Contain Minimal Traces of Chernobyl Disaster Contamination

Finnish authorities report that mushrooms continue to contain minimal traces of radioactive contamination from the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster, though concentrations have declined as expected over time. The Finnish radiation safety authority's findings indicate that while detectable levels of radioactivity persist in fungi, the amounts remain at minimal levels nearly four decades after the nuclear accident. Mushrooms are particularly susceptible to absorbing radioactive particles from soil, making them useful indicators for monitoring long-term environmental contamination from the Chernobyl disaster, which spread radioactive fallout across much of Europe following the reactor explosion in what is now Ukraine.

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Science & Tech

Conservationists Sound Alarm Over National Park Zoning Proposal in Eastern Slovakia

Environmental protection groups have raised serious concerns about a proposed zoning plan for the Poloniny National Park, warning that it represents a fundamental failure in conservation policy. The conservationists argue that the zoning proposal would significantly weaken environmental protections in the park, which is located in eastern Slovakia near the borders with Poland and Ukraine. Poloniny National Park, established in 1997, is Slovakia's youngest national park and encompasses part of the East Carpathian Biosphere Reserve, protecting valuable old-growth beech and fir forests along with diverse wildlife habitats. The park's zoning system determines which areas receive strict protection and which allow limited human activities, making any changes to these designations critical for long-term conservation efforts.

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Science & Tech

Nature Reserve Near Prešov Faces Reduced Protection to Allow Logging

Slovakia's Šarišský hradný vrch National Nature Reserve near Prešov faces a reduction in its protection status that would permit commercial logging for the first time. The reserve currently holds the country's highest fifth-level protection status, which prohibits timber harvesting entirely. However, a document under review at the Prešov District Office proposes lowering this protection level. The protection project was not prepared by state conservation authorities but by Ligularia, a private company commissioned by the town of Veľký Šariš. Slovakia operates a five-tier nature protection system, with fifth-level reserves representing the most pristine and sensitive ecosystems requiring absolute protection from commercial activities.

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Science & Tech

Chimpanzee Conflict Studies Reveal Insights into Human Aggression, Slovak Research Shows

New research examining deadly conflicts among chimpanzees is providing scientists with fresh insights into human behavior and aggression patterns. The study highlights significant behavioral differences between chimpanzees and bonobos, with chimpanzees displaying notably more aggressive tendencies than their bonobo relatives. Both species represent humanity's closest living relatives in the animal kingdom, making their behavioral patterns particularly valuable for understanding the evolutionary roots of human conflict and social dynamics. The research challenges simplistic comparisons between animal and human warfare, suggesting that primate aggression operates on fundamentally different principles than human conflict.

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AI Experts Unable to Predict Which Jobs Artificial Intelligence Will Replace

Artificial intelligence specialists acknowledge they cannot accurately forecast which professions will be displaced by AI technology. The admission highlights the uncertainty surrounding the future impact of artificial intelligence on employment markets, even among those most familiar with the technology's capabilities and development.

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