Science
Rescue satellite gets close to NASA's doomed telescope, even if it can't save it
A private spacecraft that was supposed to supply a lifeline to NASA's Swift Observatory managed to get close to the sinking telescope and even snap photos more than a week after t…
Patent-reading AI could strengthen early warning systems for hazardous chemicals
Patents are far more than legal documents protecting intellectual property. They are a vast source of scientific information about chemicals under development, often years before …
Divergent molecular mechanisms for fungal plant biomass conversion
Fungi are major degraders of plant biomass, including leaves, stems and roots. Investigating the molecular mechanisms that control this process is essential for identifying ways t…
Critically endangered pygmy raccoons observed making their own paper toys
Some of the most intriguing scientific breakthroughs happen when researchers aren't explicitly looking for them. Take, for example, the pygmy raccoon (Procyon pygmaeus), a critica…
An activity-based probe library for identifying protein function
Proteins are vital to living systems. They build and repair tissues, act as enzymes to speed chemical reactions, regulate hormones and transport nutrients—all of which are importa…
Brainless sea sponges use sunset to prepare for metamorphosis—and attach in 30 minutes
Well before I start collecting coats, keys or shoes, my dog always knows when we're about to leave. By picking up on subtle cues, he anticipates our next movements, reminding me h…
Lunar Occultation of Venus
On Wednesday, June 17, skywatchers across the United States—and parts of Canada—enjoyed a rare event: a daytime lunar occultation of Venus. A lunar occultation occurs when the Moo…
Davyne changes color beyond human sight, opening path to invisible security tags
While studying the properties of hackmanite, researchers created a new material called davyne that changes color in the near-infrared region. The color change cannot be detected w…
On this day in space! Sept. 4, 1962: NASA's Mariner 2 spacecrafts performs the 1st-ever maneuver in deep space so it could reach Venus
On Sept. 4, 1962, NASA's Mariner 2 spacecraft performed the first-ever rocket maneuver in deep space as it did a quick mid-course correction on its way to Venus. Here's why it mat…
Hubble Telescope sees spectacular 'superbubble' | Space photo of the day for Sept. 4, 2026
The Hubble Space Telescope has spotted a spectacular 'super bubble' in our Milky Way's nearest neighbor the Large Magellanic Cloud. Check out our space photo of the day.
AI-driven polymer discovery could replace years of trial and error with closed-loop testing
In the realm of materials science, there is a plethora of datasets and tools at our disposal—the issue is how to effectively use these resources in harmony. Researchers at the Adv…
How did the infant sun form? Scientists get surprising new insights from 4.6-billion-year-old space dust
New research suggests that dust from meteorites contains a "fossil record" dating back 4.6 billion years to the formation of the sun, revealing the role magnetism played in the bi…
We played 'Exodus', a sci-fi RPG that should please 'Mass Effect' fans, even if you can't romance the talking octopus
An explosive hands-on demo has us more excited than before for the new action RPG led by BioWare veterans, who talked to us about its making.
How hibernating squirrels retain sense of touch in the cold
For most mammals, cold suppresses neural activity and diminishes the sense of touch. But the thirteen-lined ground squirrel can detect touch in conditions as low as 4°C (39°F), ab…
Researchers test far-ultraviolet light to prevent bird flu in poultry
When a strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, tore through U.S. poultry farms in early 2025, farmers culled tens of millions of birds, and egg prices soared.
Scientists watch a comet being born 3 billion miles away
A rare look at a centaur transforming into a comet with coma is providing a missing link in the evolution of small, icy solar system bodies.
Molecular snapshots reveal how bacteria assemble outer membrane proteins
Gram-negative bacteria are responsible for several infections that are hard to treat because of their high resistance to antibiotics. These bacteria possess an outermost layer cal…
Underserved Communities Again Ask Courts to Restore Justice Grant Funding
Plaintiffs are continuing to press the Trump administration in federal court to restore $3 billion in grant funding for environmental and climate justice programs that would benef…
Farmed Salmon May Not Be as Nutritious as It Once Was, New Research Suggests
Eat more fatty fish. That dietary advice has changed the way the world consumes salmon, pushing consumer demand ever upward and production to higher and higher levels. Most of tha…
Week in wildlife: a hitchhiking crab, a shy wallaby and penguins in little jackets
This week’s best wildlife photographs from around the world Continue reading...
Australian ski resorts to close up to a month early due to global heating and El Niño
‘Challenging’ weather conditions and lack of snowfall are being blamed after a winter that broke multiple heat records Major Australian alpine resorts are closing their ski operat…
APOD: 2026 September 4 – Na Uhane Mahoe Huki Pu i ke Ola
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 September 4 – Na… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the …
A Trio of Tropical Cyclones in the Pacific
The Pacific was buzzing with storms while the Atlantic was notably quiet.
Your house may be a haven for wildlife. It's time we design homes with nature in mind
Ever found a bare-nosed wombat napping under your house or heard a possum thumping around in your attic?