¶For decades, organic chemistry textbooks have generally taught that the influence of certain atoms can travel through three or four bonds within a molecule. According to the traditional explanation, that influence becomes progressively weaker as it moves farther from the original atom.

¶The researchers say the evidence paints a different picture.

¶“Instead, we show that the inductive effect in a neutral molecule does not extend beyond one bond. As a result of this, we need to refine explanations for certain types of reactivity. This can provide a more coherent framework for explaining chemical structure and reactivity.”

¶Rather than treating the inductive effect as an influence that gradually travels along a chain of atoms, the team’s interpretation confines it to the bond directly connected to the relevant atom in a neutral molecule.

¶Science is never written in stone, that’s part of its beauty.

¶Japanese IT giant GMO Internet Group revealed a van designed to carry engineers, repair equipment, replacement parts and a spare humanoid robot to a site.

¶“The humanoid ‘ambulance’ carries the replacement humanoid to the site and replaces it with the damaged humanoid,” said Shota Takizawa, an engineer at GMO Air.

¶The “ambulance” is not what the headline, and the company’s branding, want you to believe.

¶Despite its ambulance-style markings and purple roof lights, the vehicle is effectively a mobile repair workshop. Its interior has space for robots, laptops and maintenance equipment.

¶It’s Geek Squad, but for robots.

¶“When humanoids become more popular, this kind of service will be needed,” Takizawa said.

¶He’s not wrong.