Science
Antarctic winter sea ice falls to third-lowest level on record as scientists warn of ‘now problem’
Coverage levels fall a million square kilometres short of the long-term average, with global heating likely driving lossesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet…
Engineered coating lets mitochondria retain their ability to produce energy
Researchers have coated mitochondria with innovative materials without compromising their function, according to a study by IRCCS Fondazione Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta (FINC…
Alien life? Why the possibility of exoplanet LHS 1140b emitting helium gas is so exciting
This summer, exoplanet science—the study of planets orbiting stars beyond our sun—took a big step forward. Reports of helium gas escaping from the atmosphere of LHS 1140b propelle…
Nine generations of virtual dating reveal how fish shape their ideal mates
Fish have "designed" their perfect partners in a new experiment—revealing simple male preferences and more complex female tastes.
Revisiting a Young Isaac Newton
Isaac Newton is typically portrayed as a solitary scientist with intense focus who was obsessed with power and deeply egotistical. But a new book by Caltech historians Jed Buchwal…
Why monkeys handle conflicts better than we do
Conflicts with our colleagues, loved ones or team members can quickly stifle communication, heighten tensions and undermine relationships. However, a decision or compromise is not…
Rethinking liquid hydrogen storage with metal-organic frameworks
Liquid hydrogen (LH₂) is attractive for long-distance energy transport because of its high volumetric energy density. But even well-insulated tanks cannot completely prevent heat …
How a new textile fabric could triple production in strawberry plants
A new textile used to cover strawberry plants more than tripled fruit yields in tunnel field tests without harming plant health. The technology could also significantly reduce wat…
Wild tomatoes still hold the flavor we bred away: New map shows breeders where to look
Modern tomatoes are a breeding success story. Generations of selection have made them bigger, firmer, more productive and easier to ship. But that progress came at a cost. Domesti…
Environmentalists Sue Federal Agencies Over Nation’s First Fast-Tracked Critical Minerals Mine
In the foothills of southern Arizona’s Patagonia Mountains, atop so-called critical minerals such as zinc, is South32’s Hermosa project. The first mine added to a federal program …
Light-driven nickel catalyst forms chemical bonds using less metal
Pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals, and agrochemicals are produced industrially using a wide range of chemical reactions. These processes need to become more efficient, less expensiv…
Molecular simulations reveal how an enzyme's shape guides molecular recognition
Enzymes are often described as molecular machines that recognize and process specific molecules. However, they are not rigid structures. Their shapes can change, affecting how mol…
NASA Opens 2027 Human Lander Challenge for Lunar Communications
NASA’s 2027 Human Lander Challenge is seeking ideas from college and university students to help address one of the most critical needs for sustained lunar exploration: reliable c…
Physics-grounded AI framework aims to make predictions about new materials more testable
Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to discover new materials, but conventional data-driven approaches can struggle to explain their predictions, work reliably beyo…
New index links changing ocean food webs to Bermuda's spiny lobster fishery
Spiny lobster larvae spend six to nine months drifting in the open ocean, feeding within the plankton community, before eventually settling into shallow-water habitats such as man…
The race to protect Santa Rosa Island's rare, damaged Torrey pines
In May, a fire damaged 80% of the trees one of the only two naturally-occurring groves of Torrey Pines in the world. The National Park Service is trying to help them recover.
LISA to the rescue: Using light to fix cell division
Cell division is a complex process. At the heart of this complexity is a membraneless organelle called the centrosome, which is made up of more than 200 components. It is responsi…
Genetic audit of wheat: Researchers determine the actual variability of a gene responsible for bread quality
A team at the University of Córdoba (UCO) has reviewed and updated the catalog of versions of the wheat gene GLU-B1, which is responsible for a protein that makes up gluten. The t…
NASA Awards Orbital Safety Analysis Support Services Contract
NASA has awarded a contract to Omitron Inc. for the acquisition of orbital safety analysis services, which provide for critical protection of NASA spaceflight assets and astronaut…
NASA Features Exploration, Science at International Space Conference
NASA will participate in the 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Antalya, Türkiye, from Monday, Oct. 5, to Friday, Oct. 9, highlighting America’s leadership in huma…
Protein signaling cascade helps explain how plants respond to touch
Plants cannot run away when the wind picks up, rain lashes down or a hungry herbivore begins chewing on their leaves. Instead, they must sense their surroundings and adapt. Now, r…
New device measures curved mirrors' absolute shape to within 2 nanometers without touching them
Researchers at AIST have developed a device that measures the absolute surface profile of curved optical elements with high precision without touching them.
AI structure prediction speeds discovery of 'molecular glues' to treat disease
A Baylor College of Medicine-led team has developed a strategy that combines the analysis of thousands of proteins with artificial intelligence to accelerate the discovery of smal…
New feathered, winged dinosaur from China challenges our theories on bird and dinosaur evolution
A newly described feathered dinosaur found in northeastern China adds evidence supporting the theory that flight-related features evolved differently in various bird-like dinosaur…