Research & tools
New findings and tools
Studies question comets' role in starting life and examine sea ice and mummy medicine
This science roundup covers three studies. One model-based study of more than 100,000 comet impact simulations suggests cometary delivery of prebiotic molecules such as hydrogen cyanide was rare and that life more likely arose from Earth's interior. A second study proposes that sea ice on ocean exoplanets could concentrate chemicals for abiogenesis, and a third analyses historical Mumia vera products. The articles contain no security-relevant content.
Study of 25,000 psychedelic support hotline calls finds cannabis linked to highest distress rate
A study in Science Advances analysed 25,419 anonymised interactions with volunteers on the Fireside Project's Psychedelic Support Line between April 2021 and February 2026. Callers who had used cannabis reported the highest distress rate (47.2 percent), and 43 calls described 'facilitator abuse' at ceremonial or retreat settings, mostly involving ayahuasca. The authors note sampling bias and self-reported data, and found that callers' satisfaction depended most on whether volunteers seemed genuine and caring.