Science
Chance Instagram sighting leads to discovery of rare giant water lily in Colombia
A new paper published in the journal Phytotaxa describes a new species in the genus Victoria, the Colombian giant water lily (Victoria colombiana). With only three other known spe…
Bees struggle to smell flowers when air pollutants combine
Bees, moths and other pollinating insects have a harder time smelling flowers in polluted air, according to research led by the University of Reading. Scientists analyzed 22 exper…
Fossil bite marks suggest first evidence of a small raptor feeding on an apex predator
A prehistoric cold case near Drumheller reveals either a small-time raptor scavenged on an apex predator, or a baby Albertosaurus engaged in a shocking act of cannibalism. These t…
New 'computational microscope' simulates DNA packaging at more than ten times previous scale
The DNA in our cells wraps around proteins called histones to form nucleosomes, which organize into chromatin. This organization helps pack genetic material into the nucleus and i…
Chemists uncover the true active surface of nickel catalysts
Nickel is a promising, cost-effective and robust catalyst for alkaline water electrolysis—a key technology for the climate-neutral production of hydrogen. However, the actual stru…
A dead Soviet satellite just broke apart in orbit (again). Experts say it's part of 'a worrying trend'
An old Soviet satellite has fragmented into multiple pieces in low Earth orbit, the latest in a string of recent breakup events.
Lensless imaging method enables long-term monitoring of living cells without staining
In a study led by Tampere University, researchers have developed a new lensless imaging method that produces precise quantitative data on living cells from a single image. The com…
Real-time oxygen measurements expose hidden losses in solar water splitting
A new technique developed at Imperial College London measures oxygen production in real time, revealing hidden losses in solar water splitting. The researchers found that electric…
Nitrogen fixation 'off switch' discovery could one day help crops make their own fertilizer
Nitrogen is essential for life. It's needed to build proteins, DNA and many other components of cells. Although nitrogen gas makes up almost 80% of Earth's atmosphere, most organi…
How enzyme activity can accelerate molecular movement inside cells
A cell sitting in fluid looks like one of the most passive things in biology. Nutrients drift toward it on the aimless currents of molecular motion, and now and then one bumps int…
Nonchaotic model reveals how predictability can emerge from seemingly unpredictable dynamics
Predicting a system's final outcome from its initial state is the ultimate goal for many physicists. In certain complex systems, however, this goal is thwarted by chaos, where eve…
How researchers tell different quantum excitations apart in individual molecules
Molecules can be placed in a wide variety of quantum states. How can these states be distinguished in measurements when theoretical models are unreliable? Which excitation process…
NASA Briefing to Highlight Contributions to Martian Moons Mission
Media are invited to join NASA for a media teleconference at 4 p.m. EDT, Thursday, Oct. 15, to preview the agency’s contributions to JAXA’s (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) Ma…
Tracking down cellular gene functions with AI and microscopy
A new technology promises to enable more comprehensive investigations into how individual genes determine the appearance and behavior of cells. Researchers led by professor Veit H…
Layered semiconductor unlocks magnetic control of light emitted by quantum condensates
Quantum technologies are considered key technologies of the future. However, research in this field requires not only scientific expertise but sometimes also highly specialized la…
NASA's hunting for a secret underground cave on the moon
Will future astronauts take shelter in moon caves?
Gravity and light reveal how liquids turn into thin fibers
From spiders spinning their webs to the manufacturing of textiles, the formation of fibers from liquids plays an important role in both nature and industry. Yet accurately predict…
3D-printed inserts bring single-objective light sheet microscopy to commercial sample chambers
Light sheet microscopy allows biologists to selectively light up a thin slice of a sample. This method can improve image contrast by reducing background light while remaining gent…
Hearing tests reveal how sea lions and fur seals hear human-made noise
Curtin University and Taronga Conservation Society Australia researchers have conducted the first hearing tests on Australian sea lions and long-nosed fur seals, revealing what so…
NASA Announces Bold Science Initiatives for America’s Golden Age Summit
NASA is launching two new science and technology initiatives to deepen scientific understanding and accelerate the innovation that will shape America’s future in space. The initia…
Liquid-crystal-like magnetism explains puzzling properties in a rare-earth compound
In some materials, physical properties don't emerge from their individual particles, but from the collective behavior of their quantum spins. Now, researchers led by Pengcheng Dai…
Why 'vertical farming' is not a fix for our food system
The Canadian government launched its first National Food Security Strategy in June 2026. The strategy aims to invest $750 million to increase year-round Canadian production of fru…
Light-driven method puts notoriously reactive hydrogen atoms to work for chemical synthesis
Hydrogen is the simplest element in the periodic table, consisting of just one proton and one electron. In chemistry, however, the smallest of atoms is anything but simple. First …
Are insects really 'poor people's food'?
Do people eat insects when there is nothing else to eat? Are insects really "food for the poor" or famine food?