Science
Standard 3D printers let labs build and adapt tools for bacterial research
Studying microorganisms requires instruments with extremely high precision. Such instruments are expensive and take a long time to manufacture using traditional methods, which has…
Astronomers catch a star slowly snacking on a brown dwarf, 300 light years away
Like Earth, most planetary bodies circle their star in stable, detached orbits. These companionable systems can suddenly change when a planet comes too close to its star. In such …
Supreme Court Weighs Landmark Climate Deception Case Against Oil Companies
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments from oil companies on Monday that could help decide the fate of more than two dozen lawsuits accusing the industry of deceiving the public a…
Atomic motion could help push solar cells beyond conventional limits
The bulk photovoltaic effect (BPVE), a photoelectric effect that generates photocurrent without a p–n junction, can persist even when a material's average crystal structure remain…
Quantum systems never quite forget where they came from
Even the most chaotic quantum systems keep a permanent mark of their own past—a "quantum birthmark"—that never fades. Researchers from Tampere University, Harvard University and T…
Unmowed strips attract insects, but many abandon partially mowed dikes
Municipalities are increasingly mowing dikes and verges in stages, so that insects can make longer use of the plants growing there. Mowing is essential to keep a dike strong, expl…
A novel path to fusion ignition: Heat first, then add fuel
For more than 70 years, fusion energy researchers have used a particular equation to judge whether a plasma would stay hot and dense enough—for long enough—to reach a point where …
Florida Keys heat wave reveals nearly fourfold death risk for diseased coral
Disease and heat pose a deadly combination for coral reefs, according to a new University of Georgia study published in the journal Coral Reefs.
Local tipping points in dune landscapes: How does a dune system organize itself?
Building with nature is an important concept in our coastal defense. After all, by harnessing natural processes, we are more resilient to sea level rise. A good understanding of t…
New saber-toothed predator from Argentina suggests its lineage survived longer than believed
In 2014, members of a local museum found fragments of an ancient fossil dating to the end of the Pliocene or early Pleistocene epoch in a seaside cliff on the Argentine pampas. Th…
Nobel prize in medicine 2026: unlocking the mysteries of the brain
Kicking off the 2026 Nobel prizes in is the award for physiology or medicine. This year the prize went to three scientists for their work investigating the mysteries of the brain.…
Sharks' inner ears reveal surprising diversity that may reflect evolution more than environment
A new study of shark anatomy suggests the shape of their inner ears is far more variable than expected, and this variation could have more to do with their evolutionary history th…
NASA Astronaut Christina Koch at Eagles vs. Rams
NASA astronaut and mission specialist of the agency’s Artemis II mission, Christina Koch, leads the fans in singing the Eagles Fight Song from the field at an NFL game between the…
Why can't people regenerate limbs like salamanders?
Imagine losing an arm and simply growing a new one. This amazing ability of regeneration isn't just something from a superhero movie—it actually happens in real life for some anim…
Pollen study reveals the hidden history of grasses
Scientists used machine learning and super-resolution microscopy to overcome a challenge that has stymied research into the natural history of grasses for decades. Their method al…
Lightsaber-like plasma antenna uses laser-ionized air to transmit radio waves
Researchers have demonstrated a technique that uses a laser to produce a plasma beam antenna capable of transmitting radio waves. The article, "Laser-Induced-Plasma-Filament Anten…
Lipid signals help cells seal the damage from bacterial attacks, researchers discover
Epithelial cells form the body's frontline barriers, helping keep microbes, toxins and other harmful substances out. Yet these protective cells are constantly exposed to threats, …
Resource scarcity influences maternal brain activity and caregiving in rats
When mothers do not have the necessary resources to raise their children, this adversity causes substantial stress that can hinder caregiving and lead to postpartum depression. In…
Space radiation sparks: A biological cascade of cancer
Deep space travel comes with a huge potential downside—radiation exposure that can kill an astronaut either quickly or slowly over time if not managed correctly. But what exactly …
Tiny ancient black holes may live in a five-dimensional world
Primordial black holes (PBHs) don't exist as far as we know. But if they did, these hypothetical objects would have formed in the early universe rather than from dying stars, and …
Farmer-macaque conflict in Algeria poses a complicated conservation challenge
One of the hardest challenges in wildlife conservation arises when the habitat of a species in need of protection overlaps with land used by humans. Wolves and bears can kill live…
X-rays and AI reveal how spacecraft heat shields burn in real time
Heat shields are one of the most important parts of any spacecraft that intends to enter an atmosphere. And the material they are made of is critical. Improving them has been a ch…
Bumblebees carry bacteria-killing viruses to cherry blossoms, reducing bacterial populations in experiments
As they fly about their usual business of pollinating flowers, bumblebees could help protect fruit trees from disease by carrying a natural treatment directly to where it is neede…
Tortoises win support, hyenas face doubts in survey on adding exotic wildlife to UK parks
Zebras grazing in a UK park might sound like the stuff of a high-budget Hollywood blockbuster, but new research suggests it could one day be vital in the fight against climate cha…