Science
How an ancient collision with another galaxy transformed the Milky Way
The Milky Way has a secret history of galaxy mergers that we are only now starting to uncover.
How plants selectively silence jumping genes while protecting essential ones
Histone variants help establish DNA methylation at transposons (jumping genes) while preventing this epigenetic modification from spreading to essential genes in plants, a study f…
Locust neurons detect PFAS at environmentally relevant levels, pointing to portable sensors
Researchers at Michigan State University have discovered that neurons in a locust's brain can distinguish among multiple PFAS compounds, including PFOS, one of the world's most co…
Despite appearing to recover, sunflowers retain drought damage
Sunflowers are unable to fully recover from drought, new research has found, contradicting previous findings on the plant's ability to reverse drought-induced failure of water-tra…
NASA Selects Companies to Provide Payload Processing Services
NASA has selected four companies to provide payload processing facilities under the Spacecraft Processing Operations Contract on‑ramp provision. The provision enables qualified pr…
Last common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees could have been a vertical climber, no matter its feet
New research suggests that no matter what we eventually determine the last common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees to be, we'll learn it was a primate that climbed trees.
Three photons at once beat the standard photon test
Physicists at the University of Twente have improved the standard test for the quality of individual particles of light. By letting three photons interfere at the same time instea…
China bounces back from Long March rocket explosion with back-to-back launches (video)
China's space program has returned to flight after an Aug. 10 Long March 7A rocket explosion, launching both a Long March 12 and a Long March 2C rocket on Sunday (Aug. 16).
The best Ruko drone to date is half-price at Amazon but you'll have to hurry
Looking to take to the skies? This beginner-friendly Ruko F11 PRO 2 is a mind-blowing $280 off, but you'll have to hurry because this lightning deal ends soon.
Are zoos ready for the changing climate?
When people think about climate change and animals, they might picture melting sea ice, drought-stricken landscapes or species struggling in the wild. Far less attention is given …
NASA Mission Studies Air Pollution Over Ethiopia
A NASA-funded air pollution monitoring network has provided one of the most detailed long-term views yet of the role of black carbon, or soot produced by fires, diesel vehicles, a…
Tiny feet on cells can sense defects and stall migration to heal wounds
Cells travel through the body both individually and in collective groups during development, wound healing and diseases such as cancer. New research from the McKelvey School of En…
35-year monitoring study clarifies ecological forces behind Lyme disease risk
Tick-borne diseases are on the rise in the United States. Lyme disease is the most commonly reported, with nearly half a million people diagnosed each year. Caused by the bacteriu…
'Known' TB gene reveals completed unexpected biological role under stress
The complete genome of the tuberculosis bacterium was sequenced and published in 1998. Since then, scientists have deciphered about two-thirds of TB's genes. Or have they?
Gluons may play a central role in baryon number conservation—and matter's stability
New results from the STAR detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) suggest that gluons, the glue-like particles that hold quarks together inside protons, play a cent…
Physicists predict a new form of quantum matter that holds itself together
Researchers at Monash University have predicted a new type of quantum matter that challenges decades of thinking about how ultracold particles behave. The paper, "Quantum droplets…
Scientists find dead star that predicts our sun's future: 'Broken apart and returned to the galaxy'
A composite image of data from the Hubble Space Telescope, the Kitt Peak four-meter telescope and MOTHRA reveal the Helix Nebula. We can see the bow shocks, particularly on the le…
How ancient trees are warning us about the next enormous solar storm
Our sun is capable of storms far bigger than we've ever recorded. Studying the world's oldest trees suggests we could soon be due one of these gargantuan events.
Study finds some microbes drastically change behavior outside the lab
A new study underscores the importance of studying microbes in their natural setting rather than relying solely on laboratory research. Researchers found that a set of corn root b…
Next Generation of Planetary Scientists Learn Public Engagement Skills
FORCE is a world-class laboratory that uses high-pressure experimental equipment to recreate the extreme conditions found deep within Earth and other planetary bodies, enabling re…
Graphene device measures fractional electric charges carried by some of quantum physics' strangest objects
An electron is supposed to be indivisible. It carries one fundamental unit of electric charge, and every electron is exactly the same. But under extreme conditions, large numbers …
AI exposes devastating impact of bomb fishing on coral reefs
Illegal bomb fishing is causing extensive damage to some of the world's most biodiverse coral reefs, according to a new pilot study involving Lancaster Environment Centre coral re…
It's not just flowers that help the pollinators. Grass can too.
Bees may be relying on your lawn for their next meal, according to a new study from the University of Georgia.
New X-ray imaging technique could double scanning efficiency while revealing hidden detail
Researchers at Monash University have developed a new X-ray imaging technique that can image two overlapping samples at the same time, potentially doubling scanning efficiency whi…