Scientists who want to learn more about a tiny flower recently discovered in West Texas are hoping it will bloom again in a couple of weeks after rain finally fell in the area. ⌘ Read more
Scientists who want to learn more about a tiny flower recently discovered in West Texas are hoping it will bloom again in a couple of weeks after rain finally fell in the area. ⌘ Read more
In a review published in the journal Oxford Open Climate Change, top scientists issued an urgent warning that fossil fuels and the fossil fuel industry are driving interlinked crises that threaten people, wildlife, and a livable future. ⌘ Read more
Imagine walking into your kitchen and instantly knowing if the fish you bought yesterday is still fresh—or entering an industrial site with sensors that immediately alert you to hazardous gas leaks. This isn't science fiction—it's the promise behind our newly developed nanomechanical sensor array, a powerful tool we've created to detect and analyze complex gases in real-time. ⌘ Read more
One of the ocean currents in the Arctic Ocean is at risk of disappearing this century because of climate change, according to a new joint study from the University of Gothenburg and the German Alfred Wegener Institute. As a result, the North Atlantic could be flooded with freshwater, which would weaken the global ocean circulation. ⌘ Read more
A new artificial intelligence tool could aid in limiting or even prevent pandemics by identifying animal species that may harbor and spread viruses capable of infecting humans. ⌘ Read more
Scientists know that streams and rivers can contribute significant quantities of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. One way these bodies of water come to contain greenhouse gases is via groundwater, which picks up carbon and nitrogen as it seeps and flows through rock and sediment near rivers. ⌘ Read more
Living trees absorb carbon, aiding climate change mitigation. But what role do dead trees play in carbon storage? UVM researchers found that large, downed trees in streams tie up tremendous stores of carbon—and this pool of carbon storage is growing over time. Moreover, large trees in streamside forests proved important for recruiting carbon into streams over time—reflecting the environmental value of big, old trees. ⌘ Read more
In a study published in Systematic Biology, researchers from Imperial College London, UCL, Dalhousie University and the United Nations Environment Program World Conservation Monitoring Center described how their new simulation methods improve understanding of how patterns of biodiversity emerge across the globe. ⌘ Read more
A newly described plesiosaur fossil from southern Germany is providing crucial evidence about the diversification of these ancient marine reptiles during the Early Jurassic. ⌘ Read more
Venus—a hot planet pocked with tens of thousands of volcanoes—may be even more geologically active near its surface than previously thought. New calculations by researchers at Washington University in St. Louis suggest that the planet's outer crust may be constantly churning, an unexpected phenomenon called convection that could help explain many of the volcanoes and other features of the Venusian landscape. ⌘ Read more
Astronomers from the University of Sheffield and Pennsylvania State University have performed X-ray and optical observations of a massive star known as Melnick 39. As a result, they found that Melnick 39 is a colliding-wind binary system composed of two O-type supergiant stars. The finding was detailed on March 21 on the pre-print server arXiv. ⌘ Read more
Devastating floods reshaped southern Brazil's landscape in May 2024. Rio Grande do Sul—the fifth most populous state in Brazil—was hit with unprecedented rainfall, affecting 2.3 million people. A new study led by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) published in Geophysical Research Letters uses satellite data to help uncover what caused the deluges and examine how it impacted some of the state's most vulnerable ... ⌘ Read more
Humans like to think that being multicellular (and bigger) is a definite advantage, even though 80% of life on Earth consists of single-celled organisms—some thriving in conditions lethal to any beast. ⌘ Read more
Researchers have discovered an unexpected superconducting transition in extremely thin films of niobium diselenide (NbSe2). Publishing in Nature Communications, they found that when these films become thinner than six atomic layers, superconductivity no longer spreads evenly throughout the material, but instead becomes confined to its surface. ⌘ Read more
Scientists have developed a new resource to better protect seabirds from the impacts of offshore wind farms. The innovative modeling tool has the potential to save wildlife, while ensuring the effective and sustainable development of renewable energy sources. ⌘ Read more
Banks facing regulatory sanctions for financial misconduct tend to adopt riskier business practices, according to new research. ⌘ Read more
For nearly 15 years, almost no information was available on the population status of Uganda's large carnivores, including those in its largest national park, Murchison Falls. These species represent a critical part of Uganda's growing tourism economy. The country is home to the famed tree-climbing lions, which are much sought after for this unique behavior. Together, lions and leopards generate ten ... ⌘ Read more
The first orbital rocket launched from continental Europe crashed seconds after blast-off Sunday, dealing a blow to the continent's bid to build a new space economy. ⌘ Read more
Dozens of tiny black weevils cling onto a fern plant as it is tossed onto a leafy green mat coating the surface of South Africa's Crocodile River. ⌘ Read more
Ants are among nature's greatest success stories, with an estimated 22,000 species worldwide. ⌘ Read more
People often think about archaeology happening deep in jungles or inside ancient pyramids. However, a team of astronomers has shown that they can use stars and the remains they leave behind to conduct a special kind of archaeology in space. ⌘ Read more
Scientists have long sought to unravel the mysteries of strange metals—materials that defy conventional rules of electricity and magnetism. Now, a team of physicists at Rice University has made a breakthrough in this area using a tool from quantum information science. Their study, published recently in Nature Communications, reveals that electrons in strange metals become more entangled at a crucial tip ... ⌘ Read more
Early Friday, a major 7.7 magnitude earthquake that originated near Mandalay, Myanmar, shook the Earth as far as Bangkok, about 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) away. ⌘ Read more
The Melsonby hoard is a remarkable collection of more than 800 Iron-Age metal artifacts, which was found in a field near Melsonby, North Yorkshire, in December 2021. ⌘ Read more
A new study reveals that the devastating 2023 flood in Derna, Libya, was not merely the result of extreme rainfall but was drastically intensified by a major design shortcoming and its resulting collapse of two embankment dams. ⌘ Read more
More than 80 years ago, Erwin Schrödinger, a theoretical physicist steeped in the philosophy of Schopenhauer and the Upanishads, delivered a series of public lectures at Trinity College, Dublin, which eventually came to be published in 1944 under the title "What is Life?" ⌘ Read more
If one side of a conducting or semiconducting material is heated while the other remains cool, charge carriers move from the hot side to the cold side, generating an electrical voltage known as thermopower. ⌘ Read more
Arctic sea ice had its weakest winter buildup since record-keeping began 47 years ago, a symptom of climate change that will have repercussions globally, scientists said Thursday. ⌘ Read more
Metamaterials are artificially-structured materials with extraordinary properties not easily found in nature. With engineered three-dimensional (3D) geometries at the micro- and nanoscale, these architected materials achieve unique mechanical and physical properties with capabilities beyond those of conventional materials—and have emerged over the past decade as a promising way to engineering challenges where all other existing materials have lacked success. ⌘ Read more
Together with an international team of researchers from the Universities of Southern California, Central Florida, Pennsylvania State and Saint Louis, physicists from the University of Rostock have developed a novel mechanism to safeguard a key resource in quantum photonics: optical entanglement. Their discovery is published in Science. ⌘ Read more
Professor Ariando and Dr. Stephen Lin Er Chow from the National University of Singapore (NUS) Department of Physics have designed and synthesized a groundbreaking new material—a copper-free superconducting oxide—capable of superconducting at approximately 40 Kelvin (K), or about minus 233°C, under ambient pressure. ⌘ Read more
Wildfires in South Korea are now the largest and deadliest on record, having burned more forest and killed more people than any previous blaze, officials said Thursday, as the death toll hit 27. ⌘ Read more
An extinct lineage of parasitic wasps dating from the mid-Cretaceous period and preserved in amber may have used their Venus flytrap-like abdomen to capture and immobilize their prey. ⌘ Read more
Fatherlessness and a lack of male role models are often cited as causes of an apparent crisis of masculinity among boys. This is not new. These arguments have been made for nearly half a century, both in the UK and the US, as the root of a multitude of social issues. ⌘ Read more
When a company launches a new initiative, framing it as an "all or nothing" pathway to success is tempting, especially when the goal is restoring the status quo of years before, perhaps when business was more profitable. ⌘ Read more
Researchers at the University of Nottingham's School of Chemistry used transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to observe the complete lifecycle of palladium nanoparticles in a liquid environment, from nucleation through growth to dissolution, with the entire cycle repeating multiple times. This study is published in Nanoscale. ⌘ Read more
Monogamous and non-monogamous individuals report similar levels of satisfaction in both their relationships and sex lives, according to a comprehensive new meta-analysis. ⌘ Read more
New technology can separate the fibers in the sugar beet pulp left over after sugar production. Part of the fiber can be used as a nutritional supplement due to its anti-inflammatory properties and beneficial effects on our gut flora. Another part of the fiber, the cellulose, can be made into components to replace, for example, plastic. ⌘ Read more
The legal profession accounts for approximately 20 million jobs worldwide, including 12 million lawyers, around 4 million paralegals, and 4 million operational and administrative workers. Additionally, it involves another 14 million jobs within its broader ecosystem, encompassing notaries, translators, and other related professionals. ⌘ Read more
A flower-shaped structure only a few micrometers in size made of a nickel-iron alloy can concentrate and locally enhance magnetic fields. The size of the effect can be controlled by varying the geometry and number of "petals." ⌘ Read more
Sea lions and other ocean mammals in Southern California are falling victim to a poisoning event that a local expert calls the worst in recent memory. It is stranding the mammals along the coast as warnings are issued to beachgoers of the threat posed by animals that are transformed by their illness. ⌘ Read more
A recent study by Dr. Ellen Green, published in the International Journal of Paleopathology, analyzed the faunal assemblage recovered from the Romano-British ritual shaft at Nescot. Despite only being used for a relatively short time, the shaft contained one of the largest dog assemblages ever recovered in Roman Britain. ⌘ Read more
SpaceX sent up a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office from the Space Coast on Monday afternoon. ⌘ Read more
A new study provides fresh insight into traditional acid-base chemistry by revealing that the mutual neutralization of isolated hydronium (H3O⁺) and hydroxide (OH⁻) ions is driven by electron transfer rather than the proton transfer that is expected in bulk liquid water. ⌘ Read more
Scientists have long thought that our solar system's ocean worlds, such as Jupiter's moon Europa and Saturn's moon Enceladus, may harbor extraterrestrial life in the form of microbes. But detecting it could be a challenge because missions to ocean worlds have relied on probes, not landers. ⌘ Read more
Using the Green Bank Telescope (GBT), astronomers have detected a new giant molecular cloud in the Milky Way galaxy. The newfound cloud has a size of nearly 200 light years and its mass is estimated to be some 160,000 solar masses. The finding was reported in a paper published March 18 on the arXiv preprint server. ⌘ Read more
NASA websites have dropped references to landing the first woman on the moon as part of the goals for its Artemis program. ⌘ Read more
A private European aerospace company is set to make the first test flight of its orbital launch vehicle from Norway on Monday. ⌘ Read more
It's highly technical work in what looks more like a lab than a museum: A fragment of a glazed roof tile from Beijing's Forbidden City is analyzed in a state-of-the-art X-ray diffraction machine that produces images, which are then projected onto computer screens. ⌘ Read more
In recent years, some large physics experiments worldwide have been trying to gather evidence of a nuclear process known as neutrinoless double beta (0νββ) decay. This is a rare process that entails the simultaneous decay of two neutrons in a nucleus into two protons, without resulting in the emission of neutrinos, which is instead associated with standard double beta decay. ⌘ Read more
Dogs have many jobs, but one you may not expect is identifying grapevines coated in a destructive and highly contagious fungus. Although dogs can detect serious vine infections by smell, scientists don't know exactly what odor molecules are triggering the response. ⌘ Read more
In 2023, an academic journal, the Annals of Operations Research, retracted an entire special issue because the peer review process for it was compromised. ⌘ Read more
A longstanding question in evolutionary biology is how sexual selection influences how entire genomes develop. Sexual selection is where individuals with certain traits have higher reproductive success, leading to the spread of those traits throughout a species. ⌘ Read more
From laundry detergent to dishwasher tablets, cleaning products are an indispensable part of life. Yet the chemicals that make these products so effective can be difficult to break down or could even trigger ecosystem-altering algal blooms. Now, researchers reporting in ACS' Langmuir have addressed those challenges with an environmentally compatible detergent made of tiny wood fibers and corn protein that removes stains on clothes and dishe ... ⌘ Read more
Despite decades of warnings about overfishing, Southeast Asia's capture fisheries have proven remarkably robust. ⌘ Read more
The Politecnico di Milano, coordinator of the WORLD—Waste Oils RecycLe and Development project, proposes an innovative, circular and sustainable process to turn used vegetable oil into a valuable resource. ⌘ Read more
In a groundbreaking study on the synthesis of cellulose—a major constituent of all plant cell walls—a team of Rutgers University-New Brunswick researchers have captured images of the microscopic process of cell-wall building continuously over 24 hours with living plant cells, providing critical insights that may lead to the development of more robust plants for increased food and lower-cost biof ... ⌘ Read more
Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, the University of Cologne, and the University of Copenhagen have uncovered a hidden talent of the Casparian strip—a root structure best known for acting like a plant's security guard. It turns out this natural barrier also plays a key role in making sure legumes get the right amount of nitrogen from their bacterial partners. ⌘ Read more
The Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki volcano in south-central Indonesia erupted three times into Friday, sending an ash column 8,000 meters (26,200 feet) high and prompting authorities to expand the danger zone around the volcano. ⌘ Read more
A creak, a thunderous roar, and then the plunge: Argentina's Perito Moreno Glacier calves several times a day, as hundreds of visitors strain to see which side it will break off and capture the moment on their screens. ⌘ Read more
New research shows that some great hammerhead sharks are homebodies. Scientists studying great hammerheads around Andros in the Bahamas shark sanctuary have found that while some individuals migrate, others prefer to stay at home—potentially because their environment provides them with everything they need. This information could help protect the critically endangered species. ⌘ Read more
A research team led by Prof. Liu Xuanyong from the Shanghai Institute of Ceramics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has introduced a pioneering antibacterial strategy that disrupts bacterial energy metabolism by interfering with proton and electron transfer in bacterial membranes. ⌘ Read more
Mitochondria are the powerhouses in our cells, producing the energy for all vital processes. Using cryo-electron tomography, researchers at the University of Basel, Switzerland, have now gained insight into the architecture of mitochondria at unprecedented resolution. ⌘ Read more
Feathers are among the most complex cutaneous appendages in the animal kingdom. While their evolutionary origin has been widely debated, paleontological discoveries and developmental biology studies suggest that feathers evolved from simple structures known as proto-feathers. ⌘ Read more
Most of the United States' major climate regulations are underpinned by one important document: It's called the endangerment finding, and it concludes that greenhouse gas emissions are a threat to human health and welfare. ⌘ Read more
Scientists stalking a small marsupial through a remote Australian rainforest say they may have found a clue to the mystery of why its bigger kangaroo cousins hop instead of walk. ⌘ Read more
Charles Kibaki Muchiri traced the water trickling across the surface of the Lewis Glacier with his fingers, illustrating how quickly climate change is melting the huge ice blocks off of Africa's second-highest mountain. ⌘ Read more
Quantum gravity is the missing link between general relativity and quantum mechanics, the yet-to-be-discovered key to a unified theory capable of explaining both the infinitely large and the infinitely small. The solution to this puzzle might lie in the humble neutrino, an elementary particle with no electric charge and almost invisible, as it rarely interacts with matter, passing through everything on our planet w ... ⌘ Read more
University of Toronto researchers have discovered nine new genes used by bacteria to protect themselves against phages—viruses that infect them. ⌘ Read more
Three cyclones have battered Mozambique in three months, pounding one of the world's most impoverished regions, pushing thousands of people into distress and leaving experts wondering whether more frequent storms will become the norm. ⌘ Read more
Spring is almost here—officially, at least. The vernal equinox arrives on Thursday, marking the start of the spring season for the Northern Hemisphere and the fall in the Southern Hemisphere. On the equator, the sun will be directly overhead at noon. Equinoxes are the only time when both the north and south poles are lit by sunshine at the same time. ⌘ Read more
The risk of damaging flooding from a major tsunami may be greater than many realized along stretches of California's renowned coastline, state officials say, further reinforcing the need for residents to take note if they live in or visit hazardous areas. ⌘ Read more
Bird banding has long been a valuable tool for studying the movements of migratory birds, providing essential insights into their migration patterns, behavior, and ecology. However, despite decades of bird banding efforts in Japan, the extensive dataset accumulated over the years has not been fully utilized in avian movement research. ⌘ Read more
In a study published in Restoration Ecology, researchers from the University of Eastern Finland measured post-restoration Sphagnum moss layer growth on 18 peatland sites in Finland 10 years after restoration. ⌘ Read more
Environmental conditions can cause damaging stress to plants, posing challenges for home gardeners and farmers. Therefore, early detection—before leaves visibly discolor, wilt or wither—is crucial. ⌘ Read more
Flowers can produce showy displays that appeal to pollinating insects or animals, but some "cheat" by enticing pollinators but not rewarding them with nectar. Research in New Phytologist indicates that the tendency of flowers to be "honest" and reward pollinators with nectar is partly genetic, meaning that it can be passed down through generations. ⌘ Read more
New RNA-based active agents reliably protect plants against the Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), the most common virus in agriculture and horticulture. They were developed by researchers at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU). ⌘ Read more
The Trump administration plans to lay off hundreds of scientists and researchers from the U.S. federal government as part of drastic cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), lawmakers warned Tuesday. ⌘ Read more
Recent research by scientists at the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT), Texas Tech University, and several other collaborating institutions have identified ancient fossils of a newly described tree species named Astropanax eogetem. ⌘ Read more
NASA's two stuck astronauts headed back to Earth with SpaceX on Tuesday to close out a dramatic marathon mission that began with a bungled Boeing test flight more than nine months ago. ⌘ Read more
In 1957, Hollywood released "The Deadly Mantis," a B-grade monster movie starring a praying mantis of nightmare proportions. Its premise: Melting Arctic ice has released a very hungry, million-year-old megabug, and scientists and the U.S. military will have to stop it. ⌘ Read more
New theoretical physics research introduces a simulation method of machine-learning-based effective Hamiltonian for super-large-scale atomic structures. This effective Hamiltonian method could simulate much larger structures than the methods based on quantum mechanisms and classical mechanics. ⌘ Read more
When light interacts with metallic nanostructures, it instantaneously generates plasmonic hot carriers, which serve as key intermediates for converting optical energy into high-value energy sources such as electricity and chemical energy. Among these, hot holes play a crucial role in enhancing photoelectrochemical reactions. However, they thermally dissipate within picoseconds (trilliont ... ⌘ Read more
China's marriage rate is in steep decline. There were 6.1 million marriage registrations nationwide in 2024, down from 7.7 million the previous year. This decline has prompted Chen Songxi, a Chinese national political adviser, to propose lowering the legal marriage age from 22 to 18. ⌘ Read more
If SpaceX gets its way, the Space Coast will get a lot more rocket rumbles and sonic booms as the company increases Falcon 9 launches and builds out new landing pads at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center. ⌘ Read more
Amplified spontaneous emission is a physical phenomenon that entails the amplification of the light spontaneously emitted by excited particles, due to photons of the same frequency triggering further emissions. This phenomenon is central to the functioning of various optoelectronic technologies, including lasers and optical amplifiers (i.e., devices designed to boost the intensity of lig ... ⌘ Read more
A pair of US astronauts stuck for more than nine months on the International Space Station will be returned to Earth on Tuesday evening, NASA said. ⌘ Read more
People think that Harry Potter, Spiderman and Gandalf would vote the same way they do, whereas Darth Vader, Cruella de Vil and Joffrey Baratheon would vote for the rival party. ⌘ Read more
Young people today face increasing levels of uncertainty. They're navigating volatile job and housing markets and contending with a future that's likely to be significantly marked by the climate crisis. Evidence also indicates that this generation is experiencing a sharp deterioration in mental health. Developing resilience is often hailed as the solution. ⌘ Read more
At least 33 people have been killed and dozens more injured when tornadoes and violent storms raked across the central United States, as forecasters warned more severe weather was expected Sunday. ⌘ Read more
Greece is riding a weather "rollercoaster," with weekend temperatures spiking to a record high for March just ahead of a forecast bout of snow and frost, meteorologists said on Sunday. ⌘ Read more
As an infant, Connor Phillips was born three months premature with cerebral palsy. The science that saved his life was the inspiration that led to his role studying brain processes as a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. ⌘ Read more
A predator's gotta eat, but sometimes what they eat harms people sharing the landscape, and that often leads to the carnivore's death. ⌘ Read more
A global survey of more than 30,000 people in 30 countries has revealed how people around the world feel about climate change, and how those emotions relate to perceptions of and support for climate interventions that could address the crisis. The new study is published in the journal Risk Analysis. ⌘ Read more
In response to President Donald Trump's declaration of a "national energy emergency," the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently listed hundreds of energy and infrastructure projects that would be eligible for fast-track permitting. ⌘ Read more
Violence is trapping women across Northern Ireland in cycles of trauma and homelessness, with some facing further abuse in temporary accommodation, despite moving there to find a place of safety. ⌘ Read more
Just hours after touching down on the surface of the moon on March 2nd aboard Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost 1 lander, the Southwest Research Institute-led Lunar Magnetotelluric Sounder (LMS) was activated and deployed its five sensors to study the moon's interior by measuring electric and magnetic fields. The LMS instrument is the first extraterrestrial application of magnetotellurics. ⌘ Read more
As a crucial climate lawsuit heads to trial in Germany next week, experts say the case brought by Peruvian farmer Saul Luciano Lliuya against German energy giant RWE could set a significant precedent in the fight to hold major polluters accountable for climate change. ⌘ Read more
Global sea level rose faster than expected in 2024, mostly because of ocean water expanding as it warms, or thermal expansion. According to a NASA-led analysis, last year's rate of rise was 0.23 inches (0.59 centimeters) per year, compared to the expected rate of 0.17 inches (0.43 centimeters) per year. ⌘ Read more
Synthetic cannabinoids, a class of new psychoactive substances, bind to cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 much more strongly than tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), raising public health concerns due to their toxicity and addiction risk. ⌘ Read more