Science
A migration running out of time? New Zealand banded dotterels reach Australia later each year
On open beaches, gravel riverbeds and bare volcanic plateaus, banded dotterels—or double-banded plovers, as they are called in Australia—are a familiar and much-loved sight across…
What can free‑living Indian street dogs teach us about how to care for pet dogs?
We give our pet dogs shelter, veterinary care, affection, training and play. We decide when they eat, where they sleep, when they go outside, who they meet and how they move throu…
Franklin created famed 'Photo 51' after calculating key features of DNA's helix from an earlier image, study reveals
"Photo 51" was a cleaner version of an earlier X-ray image, "Photo 49," that Rosalind Franklin had already used to calculate key features of DNA, challenging long-held assumptions…
Mangroves shield coasts from waves, but seedlings need calm waters to take root
Mangrove forests, which are widespread along subtropical and tropical coasts, play a vital role in coastal protection, as they dampen the force of waves and storm surges. They als…
Conservation parks don't have to be vast—as one tiny grasshopper reminds us
A vast stretch of land where animals roam widely and plants grow freely. That's what most people would picture if they thought of a conservation area.
Did you solve it? The treacherous puzzle of the round table
The solutions to today’s puzzlesEarlier today I set you these six puzzles. Here they are again with solutions.The round table Continue reading...
The 'Halloween Fireballs' are coming. Here's what to expect from the Taurids this year
The Southern and Northern Taurid meteor showers will produce occasional bright, slow-moving meteors worldwide during October and November, with moon-free peaks in 2026.
How nature lovers can aid ecology with an assist from AI
Millions of people worldwide, likely without realizing it, are capturing rare and valuable data that can help researchers assess trends in ecosystem health. Such data, however, ar…
One step closer to quantum computers that can correct their own mistakes
Researchers from Rutgers, IBM and collaborating institutions have shown that a quantum computer can check what is happening inside it and respond while it is running, repeatedly r…
ALMA catches a dying star mid-transformation, with a ring from its last outburst
Astronomers have used radio observations from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to catch a dying star in the middle of a dramatic transformation, and the dat…
'Molecular sunscreen' may explain why DNA uses thymine despite its vulnerability to UV damage
Scientists have long sought to understand the complex origins of intelligent life. It remains unclear how biological systems not only formed but survived and persisted under the e…
On this day in space! Oct. 12, 1964: The Soviet Union launches Voskhod 1, the 1st multi-person cosmonaut crew, into space
On Oct. 12, 1964, the Soviet Union launched Voskhod 1, a 24-hour crewed mission that achieved several "firsts" for human spaceflight. Here's why it mattered.
The Preliminary Lunar Science Report for Artemis II is out
On April 1, 2026, the crew of the Artemis II mission launched into space atop NASA's Space Launch System (SLS). Roughly 3 1/2 hours after launch, the rocket's upper stage separate…
Some house cats carry a gut parasite that can infect humans, study finds
Giardia duodenalis is a microscopic, flagellated parasite that often calls the human and animal gut its home. In most cases, it coexists harmlessly with its host, and most infecte…
Atypical B cells shift immune roles as they develop, malaria study finds
B cells are an important part of the immune system and help the body recognize and fight infections. A group of B cells known as atypical B cells has attracted considerable intere…
How the impossible geometry of 'Tomb Raider III''s UFO level was made
Bigger on the inside? Where have we heard that before?
Namibian salt flats look like an alien planet | Space photo of the day for Oct. 12, 2026
The Etosha Pan in northern Namibia, the largest salt flat in the country, looks otherworldly in this satellite photo.
AI platform and database map protein phase separation across species
Scientists at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have developed an AI-powered database and a platform that could enable researchers to more accurately pre…
DNA reveals genetic divide in Australian brolgas, with southern birds facing greater diversity risks
New research on the brolga, an iconic Australian crane species, has shown important genetic differences between northern and southeastern populations, with evidence that those in …
Why some anglers always follow the rules
New research sheds light on why a surprising number of fishers always follow fishing rules, even when enforcement is unlikely and breaking the rules offers a financial reward.
AI system could transform rabies testing around the world
Rabies virus detection in cell cultures could soon become faster and more accessible, thanks to the world's first AI system for this purpose, developed by researchers at the Unive…
What caused a mysterious atmospheric explosion in Siberia in 1908?
Fire erupted in the morning skies over Siberia on June 30, 1908, as an atmospheric explosion occurred that remains unmatched by any similar event in modern history.
AI platforms offer promise in limiting the illegal wildlife trade
New University of Kent research has found promising signs that AI platforms have the potential to limit the illegal wildlife trade. The research paper titled "Assessing safeguards…
Hybrid quantum computers could finally get to grips with light and matter
Many of nature's most important processes depend on how particles of matter interact with light and other force-carrying particles. So far, however, it has proven difficult for co…