Science
Why Iceland Chose Fish Over European Alliances
Over the weekend, Iceland voted against resuming talks to join the European Union. At the heart of the referendum question: fish. More than a decade since talks previously collaps…
Did you solve it? The fin-tastic fish puzzle
The solution to today’s underwater conundrumsEarlier today I set you the following puzzles. Here they are again with the solutions.A fish is swimming in a tank that is two metres …
What's next for Roman Space Telescope? Here's how NASA's flagship observatory will open up the universe
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has left Earth, but it'll be a while before it starts its highly anticipated science mission. Here are the next steps for the observatory.
Interstellar travel V: Warp drives, wormholes, and halo drives
Welcome back to our series on Interstellar Travel, where we look at the many proposals made for sending missions to the stars since the dawn of the Space Age. In our first install…
Extraordinary immune gene diversity in Atlantic herring exceeds that of other vertebrates, including humans
Atlantic herring travel in massive schools that can contain hundreds of millions—and sometimes even billions—of fish. While this abundance is characteristic of one of the most suc…
Ben Jennings on the end of the UK summer – cartoon
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Caught right-handed: Mystery of coiling snake embryos explained
An international team led by Canadian researchers has found evidence explaining why snake embryos form a curious spiral. This ability to coil as embryos enables snakes to hatch wi…
How the Tasmanian tiger outfoxed its prey
The Tasmanian tiger hunted more like a fox than its fearsome namesake, according to a new UniSC biomechanics study of predatory animals across the globe. The University of the Sun…
Rocky Mountain find reveals new funnel-web spider far from its Northwest relatives
Researchers at the University of Idaho have identified a new species of spider in the mountains of northern Idaho and given it a name that pays tribute to the university itself: H…
SpaceX, NASA delay next astronaut launch to ISS due to leak on Dragon spacecraft
The launch of SpaceX's Crew-13 mission to the ISS, previously scheduled for Sept. 12, has been delayed due to an oxidizer leak on the Dragon spacecraft. A new target has not yet b…
JWST reveals likely Type II supernova from when universe was only 2 billion years old
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have identified one of the most distant exploding stars ever confirmed. The supernova, SN 2023aeaf, was found at a redshift of 3.1…
On this day in space! Aug. 31, 1965: NASA's ginormous Super Guppy carrier plane takes 1st flight like a flying whale
On August 31, 1965, NASA's Super Guppy cargo plane took its first test flight. like a flying whale. Here's why it mattered for the space agency.
Chemists develop method for the synthesis of natural compounds with potential in medicine
A team of scientists from the Department of Organic Chemistry at the Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, has reported a new method that simplifies the preparation of c…
Metamaterials may enable invisibility cloaks, thinner lenses and smarter wireless networks
Who has not dreamed of an invisibility cloak like the one used by Harry Potter? It sounds like magic, but it could become reality with the help of so-called metamaterials. In the …
New gene activation tool may do what CRISPR cannot: Work inside the body
The ability to precisely adjust the expression of genes inside the human body—ramping up protective ones and tamping down harmful ones—holds enormous potential for treating and pr…
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Launches
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, transits the Sun during launch from the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Aug. 30, 2026. R…
Why innovative 'bio‑materials' are still more sci‑fi than fashion revolution
Walk around any major fashion exhibition and you might get the impression that biofabricated materials are about to transform fashion. Grown using living organisms, they're often …
Roman telescope leaves its rocket behind | Space photo of the day for Aug. 31, 2026
NASA caught a breathtaking image of its next-generation Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope deploying into space shortly after launch.
Why the image of 'clean and green' is no longer enough for Australian agriculture exports
Australia's agricultural exports have long traded on a simple label: clean and green.
Physicists take Hall effect in a new direction
Carnegie Mellon University scientists have uncovered a new phenomenon that challenges a longstanding assumption about how electronic materials respond to magnetic fields. The disc…
Coral recovery time cut short by warming oceans
Given enough time, coral reefs can recover from cyclones, bleaching and other destructive events. But a new report released today suggests they are losing that time. The "Status o…
Smelling test: children need education in sniffing aromas, scientist says
Exclusive: Dr Will Tullett says better understanding of scents can improve wellbeing and perception of the worldChildren need a better education in sniffing aromas, a leading hist…
AI streamlines search for new ceramics that generate electricity
A tedious process of trial and error is normally required to discover ceramic materials that generate electricity under mechanical stress. Known as piezoelectric ceramics, these v…
September full moon 2026: When, where and how to see the Harvest Moon
Your guide to September's full Harvest Moon, from peak times to skywatching highlights.