Science
RAB1 proteins help recruit membrane-building vesicles to mitochondria during mitochondria-selective autophagy
The Intracellular Quality Control Project at the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science has identified a molecular mechanism that helps initiate the formation of autophag…
Crystals thinner than human hair can move or partly dissolve when exposed to chloroform
Many of the common materials we encounter in our daily lives are crystalline, including ice, salt and sugar. The crystal structures of some solids are formed from molecules arrang…
Hidden 'funnels' let complex systems slip between stable states
Many systems in nature can settle into several different stable states, with the final state depending on their starting conditions. However, the boundaries separating these state…
Trehalose analog provides a new platform for designing water-soluble glycopolymers
Sugars are attractive building blocks for functional materials because of their high water affinity and diverse biological properties. Incorporating sugars into synthetic polymers…
Python removal index identifies large females as key targets for limiting population growth
When it comes to removing Burmese pythons, one snake does not equal another. A new study by researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (U…
Ultra-precise coatings help power the next generation of gravitational wave detectors
Researchers from The Australian National University (ANU) have engineered new optical coatings for LIGO, the global collaboration hunting gravitational waves from colliding black …
Desert alga reveals how fast growth and resistance to extreme conditions can coexist
A single-celled green alga from the sand dunes of the Negev Desert has, within just a few years, become a key model organism in modern photosynthesis research. Chlorella ohadii he…
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 Launches
In this Oct. 1, 2026, photo, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft launch from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The spacecraft is…
Viral enzyme cuts bacterial sensor protein, triggering defense against invading phages
In the fight to find better treatments for bacterial infections, one rapidly evolving therapy uses a group of viruses called bacteriophages (phages). Phages can attack and kill da…
Precisely patterned molecular threads boost neuron growth and synapse formation in cell cultures
Northwestern University scientists have developed remarkably long, precisely patterned molecular threads that could open new possibilities for designing advanced materials. The sc…
Growth in milk boosts Staph bacteria's resistance to antibiotics, experiments reveal
Staphylococcus aureus is frequently found in human and veterinary infections. It is named for the golden-yellow pigment it produces, which contributes to its virulence and protect…
Sea change: WildFin aims to improve fish behavior analysis in the wild
In the first year of her doctoral research, Abigail Grassick collected hours of underwater video as she studied fish communities living on bommies—individual clumps of coral—on th…
What’s Up: October 2026 Skywatching Tips from NASA
A Meteor Shower and the Moon Near the Pleiades See Saturn at opposition, catch the Orionid meteor shower, and watch the Moon pass close to the Pleiades, also known as the Seven Si…
SpaceX launches 4 astronauts on a fast track to the International Space Station
Four astronauts rocketed into orbit Thursday on a space station mission that will stretch until spring, among them a Canadian whose wife will give birth while he's away.
Largest-ever jaguar analysis identifies how populations are connected across the Americas
An international team of researchers has produced the most comprehensive assessment to date of connectivity across the jaguar's range, identifying key habitats and movement corrid…
SpaceX launches crew to ISS successfully: ‘Thanks for an amazing ride’
Jessica Watkins, the first Black woman to lead a crew to orbit, is making her second trip to the space stationFour astronauts rocketed into orbit on Thursday on a space station mi…
Urban environments may be the ultimate training grounds for invasive species
As cities grow and urban sprawl expands, could these changing landscapes be giving invasive species a competitive edge? Scientists at the University of Florida Institute of Food a…
Sex-like DNA exchange in starving bacteria occurs over 100 times more often than spontaneous mutations
How do bacteria adapt when resources run low? ISTA researchers have found that, under starvation stress, E. coli can use bacteriophages and CRISPR-Cas immunity to transfer and inc…
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 Launches to International Space Station
Four crew members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 mission launched at 11:10 a.m. EDT Thursday from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida for a science …
The Colorado River is shrinking. What happens next?
Lake Mead is at its lowest level since it was filled nearly 90 years ago, Lake Powell also at a historic lowIt was 42C (108F) degrees as we motored across Nevada’s Lake Mead in ou…
Stable salts unlock alternative to potentially explosive reagents in carbene chemistry
Many useful reactions in chemistry come with a trade-off: the reactive reagents that make them effective can also present practical and safety challenges. Carbene chemistry is one…
Chimps plunder less pineapple from friends—and expect them to do the same
In recent years, scientists have shown that chimpanzees favor certain peers by picking whom they prefer to groom and selectively sharing food. The behavior offers a glimpse into h…
Underlying causes of recurrent bacterial vaginosis identified by Australian scientists
Melbourne researchers behind previous BV transmission breakthrough turn attention to understanding why some cases are harder to cure Australian scientists have identified two cont…
Matt Kean warns climate crisis ‘isn’t someone else’s problem’ as largest coal project in NSW history greenlit
Exclusive: Climate Change Authority chair says planning commission did not account for climate-related economic damage in NSWSign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton…