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APOD: 2026 September 3 – The Eclipse and the Stork
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Peatland Fires Darken Skies in Indonesia
With Indonesia gripped by drought, fires are smoldering on the surface and underground.
There’s a quick way to slow climate change. Why isn’t everyone doing it? – podcast
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that traps more than 80 times as much heat than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period and causes 25% of global heating today. We definitely don’t…
Australia’s new environmental protection agency approves coal project, angering climate groups
Queensland open-cut Saraji mine will be able to keep digging until 2055 as Anthony Albanese denies tensions with Pacific leaders over fossil fuelsFollow our Australia news live bl…
Crash in dugong population estimates, a warning sign governments can't ignore
A 50% decline in the Gulf of Carpentaria dugong population estimate is a wake-up call for urgent action to protect dugongs in the Gulf, based on surveys undertaken by researchers …
Five-metal 2D catalysts could convert CO₂ to CO without needing an extra electrical boost
Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is usually discussed as something the world needs to get rid of. Activities such as the burning of fossil fuels for daily use, including electricity and trans…
Cellular maintenance crew may miss as much as half of certain misfolded proteins
As proteins are made in a cell, they are folded into the 3D structure that allows them to work, but sometimes this process can go wrong. When it does, the misfolded proteins lose …
Caterpillar twitches in an ultraquiet chamber help biologists understand how these insects hear without ears
In a quiet summer garden, a caterpillar perches on a branch, munching serenely on leaves. A moment later, it freezes. It senses danger—and just in time. From behind, a wasp approa…
China’s Carbon Pollution Fell in Recent Months as Oil Demand Plummeted
China’s carbon pollution fell modestly in recent months after the country’s consumers and industries sharply cut their use of oil, according to a new analysis. With oil and gas ma…
Trees use a 'muscle' to correct their posture—a newly discovered role for tension wood
A research team from INRAE and the University Clermont Auvergne has shown that trees are capable of correcting a curvature they detect in their stems through a specific biological…
Trapped light generates nanoscale magnetization
Using an engineered metasurface that traps light, Cornell researchers have demonstrated a new way to generate strong static magnetic fields without using external magnets or magne…
Copper's oxygen-rich early oxidation layer could inform catalyst design and nuclear waste storage
Copper roofs lose their reddish color over time because a pale green layer of copper oxide forms on their surface, protecting the roof from further corrosion for many years. But w…
Fish dads offer new insight into behavioral effects of receiving paternal care
The plot of "Finding Nemo," a film that features an overprotective single father fish taking on dangers at sea to care for his son, may be more reflective of actual fish dad behav…
Making superconductors thinner can change how they accommodate magnetic fields
What happens when a superconductor becomes so thin that electrons can no longer behave as if they were moving through an ordinary three-dimensional piece of metal? This question h…
PACMAN AI framework for controlling fusion systems safely makes key decisions in milliseconds
Inside some fusion energy systems, particles hotter than the core of the sun can become unruly in a few thousandths of a second, far faster than any human operator can react. A ne…
Astronomers discover mysterious 10-sided cloud structure at Saturn's south pole
A mysterious giant 10-sided pattern of clouds has recently formed around Saturn's south pole, a new study finds.
Hubble tracks new decagon encircling Saturn's south pole
Recent observations with NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have revealed a giant, evolving, 10-sided atmospheric wave encircling Saturn's south pole. This discovery marks the first ti…
Ancient fossil from China reveals animal‑microbe partnerships dating back 550 million years
We often think of microbes as organisms that live around us, like the Salmonella bacteria and flu viruses that cause illness. But some of our most intimate relationships are with …
New model explains how bacterial promoter elements set gene activity and regulation
Bacterial promoters are DNA sequences that recruit RNA polymerase to initiate transcription, primarily through two elements called −10 and −35. However, the contributions of these…
'Pac-Man' enzyme breaks down bioplastics and penicillin in laboratory tests
In the ocean, plastic waste collects to form large garbage patches that endanger marine life. This is partly because the synthetic plastic polymers used today can only be broken d…
Cluster's final reentry strengthens data for safer, more sustainable satellite design
The Cluster mission danced its final dance as Tango reentered the atmosphere Sept. 1 at 11:30:31 p.m. CEST. The end of the Cluster mission in 2024 marked the start of the reentry …
China's private, reusable Pallas-1 rocket aces debut launch (video)
Galactic Energy's new Pallas-1 rocket aced its debut launch on Monday (Aug. 31), successfully reaching orbit. The vehicle's first stage did not attempt a landing, however.
NASA Revamps Challenge Linking Community College Studies to Aerospace Careers
Community college students across the U.S. now have another opportunity to discover how their education can lead to fulfilling roles at the forefront of aerospace, science, engine…
This was always the way: 'The Mandalorian and Grogu' is finally on Disney+
This 'Star Wars' spin-off movie disappointed at the box office, but it could find renewed life as a streaming smash hit.