Science
Endangered Lantau toads show genetic and call differences that could signal an emerging species
The short-legged horned toad (Boulenophrys brachykolos), listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, is the o…
Stem cells survive unexpectedly rough space travel
In early 2024, laboratory-grown neurospheres (i.e. clusters of neural stem cells) were sent to the International Space Station (ISS) to be exposed to microgravity. The return trip…
Unusual stars may not owe their origins to hypernovae after all
Evidence for hypernovae, theorized to be the most powerful explosions in the universe, has been disputed in two papers by University College London (UCL) researchers.
Astronomers Solve Cosmic Cold Case with NASA Hubble Data
Diligent sleuthing by astronomers uncovered a surprising chemical clue that indicates the white dwarf star HS 0209+0832 may host a second-generation planet. This artist’s concept …
Striking new images of unique supernova remnant reveal pearl-like chains
The only known supernova remnant of its kind in the Milky Way has an unexpectedly intricate structure: chains of gas knots resembling pearls on a string, each wide enough to fit t…
NASA’s Curiosity Rover Catches Stunning Martian Dawn
A newly released panorama captured by NASA’s Curiosity rover offers the most detailed view yet of distant, wind-carved Martian cliffs, highlighting features the mission’s scientis…
What happens when food-safety chemicals react with food?
Following the major Cyclospora outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce, consumers might assume that produce labeled "triple-washed" offers greater protection from foodborne illness. Bu…
Heavy fermions emerge at an atomic-layer interface, unlocking new ways to design quantum materials
A research team led by the University of Osaka has directly observed, for the first time, an unusual heavy-fermion state forming at the boundary between a one-atom-thick material …
Where are the best places for life in the cosmos? A universe in a supercomputer yields an answer
Earth seems like a troubled place right now, but at least our cosmic surroundings appear peaceful. This is not universally true, as explosions, collisions and other dangers lurk i…
To keep GPS constellations from drifting, look to the moon
Global positioning systems are a key feature in everyday life for much of the world's population. Whether it's ensuring a ship delivers its goods safely or helping you avoid a roa…
Warming oceans reshape plankton, potentially leaving fish with less nutritious food
The world is changing. As humans, we tend to focus on what happens on land, but the planet's food systems depend on both terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
A symbiotic marketplace: Gutless worms swap essential bacterial partners over time
A typical scene at a local farmers market: Various stalls offer fruit, vegetables and much more. Every customer has their favorite stalls, though these may change occasionally. So…
How political, cultural, and economic forces can shape the risk of zoonotic disease
In eastern Ethiopia, pressures like conflict and displacement are changing how people and their camels travel, shifting livestock into new environments and potentially influencing…
Can a passing black hole disturbance leave a trace in Hawking radiation?
Black holes, despite their extreme nature, are described by surprisingly few basic parameters: their mass, charge and spin. Two black holes may have formed for completely differen…
Bacteria use collisions to navigate crowded environments, micro-maze experiments reveal
Some bacteria can sense when they bump into each other and use these interactions to shape how the group organizes and moves. This discovery reveals a new way microbes explore the…
Molecular complexity as a signature of life
An abundance of complex molecules has been proposed as a universal signature of life.
Blue light could cut food poisoning from raw chicken
A low-power blue light could be the key to significantly reducing food poisoning caused by raw chicken in the U.K., scientists at the University of Reading have found. Campylobact…
Remaking scents: could fragrance tech help take pressure off endangered plants?
Firms working on reproducing compounds without need for repeated harvesting but conservationists are scepticalMany of the world’s most expensive perfumes begin with a wounded tree…
NASA’s Webb Captures Commotion From Nebula’s Stellar Jets
A cauldron of cosmic creation is being revealed in a new image from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. Webb has unveiled numerous stars formerly hidden by clouds of dust in a stel…
Africa's rhinos often get the spotlight—but Indonesia's two rhino species are far closer to extinction
Small, hairy and cheekily charismatic. Those words sprang to mind when I first met a Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) after traversing the maze of wooden slat paths …
Yosemite's meadows can be restored, but it will take time and effort
Researchers at Colorado State University are leading an attempt to restore Yosemite National Park's iconic meadows before it's too late by reintroducing native plants that once co…
Rising heat linked to faster telomere loss in wild Australian birds
Extreme heat can have a profound impact on wild animals, causing their death in the most extreme cases and leaving less visible marks in others. Understanding the effects of tempe…
Seagrass meadows bounce back with new fish communities
Seagrasses are flowering plants that thrive in marine environments and form extensive meadows along the tropical Queensland coast. New James Cook University research shows the sea…
Francis Halzen wins Nobel Prize in physics for work on high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin
Francis Halzen won the Nobel Prize in physics on Tuesday for his contributions to the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and his discovery of high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical orig…