RNA is a central biological macromolecule, now widely harnessed in medicine and nanotechnology. Like proteins, RNA function often depends on its precise three-dimensional structure. A recent study published in Nature Communications by Marcia group, has captured, for the first
Life's instructions are written in DNA, but it is the enzyme RNA polymerase II (Pol II) that reads the script, transcribing RNA in eukaryotic cells and eventually giving rise to proteins. Scientists know that Pol II must advance down the gene in perfect sync with other
Climate change conditions turn plastics into more mobile, persistent, and hazardous pollutants. This is done by speeding up plastic breakdown into microplastics—microscopic fragments of plastic—spreading them considerable distances, and increasing exposure and impact within the
They say an elephant never forgets—and it turns out they can learn to adapt to drones. Once seen as a source of alarm, drones are now proving to be surprisingly elephant-friendly and a valuable research tool. Previously, the use of drones in elephant conservation has mostly
A satellite deployed to measure ocean surface heights was up to the challenge when a massive earthquake off the Kamchatka Peninsula triggered a Pacific-wide tsunami in late July.
A bull shark killed a woman swimming off a remote beach in Australia's eastern state of New South Wales Thursday while a man was seriously injured and may have been saved by the "heroic" efforts of a passerby.
The world's top wildlife trade body rejected new protections for eels on Thursday in a secret ballot at talks in Uzbekistan.
European Union countries are progressing toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but not at the same pace.
Scientists studying young adults with obesity discovered early indicators of brain stress that resemble patterns seen in cognitive impairment. The group showed higher inflammation, signs of liver strain and elevated neurofilament light chain, a marker of neuron injury. Low
A massive veteran study found a strong connection between untreated sleep apnea and a higher chance of Parkinson’s. CPAP users had much lower odds of developing the condition. Researchers believe that repeated dips in oxygen during sleep may strain neurons over time. The
The cherry harvest wrapped up months ago. But in northern Michigan, some growers are already anticipating the spring resurgence of a tiny raptor that could benefit next season's crop.
As climate change and the resulting extreme weather intensify, interest in weather modification is growing around the world. In Japan, under Goal 8 of the Moonshot Research and Development Program led by the Cabinet Office / JST (Japan Science and Technology Agency), a research
Around 80% of proteins involved in diseases like cancer and neurodegenerative illnesses do not have a stable structure. These proteins, known as intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) can quickly adapt to the conditions in our cells. A better understanding could aid in
Shallow seas serve as critical transition zones connecting land and the deep ocean, supplying essential resources for navigation, fisheries, energy exploration, and island reef development. Accurate bathymetric data form the foundation for marine engineering, channel safety,
A new biocultural perspective points the way The post How Did Language Evolve? appeared first on Nautilus .
If you've seen any of the "Ice Age" animated Disney movies, we have some bad news: You don't know the real ice age.
Using its Near-InfraRed Camera (NIRCam), NASA's James Webb Space Telescope captured never-before-seen details of the Red Spider Nebula, a planetary nebula, in this image released on Oct. 26, 2025. NIRCam is Webb's primary near-infrared imager, providing high-resolution imaging
Daily steroid pills are often necessary for severe cases of asthma, but they raise the risk of several serious conditions. Now, scientists have shown that a monthly antibody injection can eliminate the need for the pills
A new explanation for oddly calm lava flows is a little like stirring honey in a jar The post Why Some Volcanoes Don’t Explode appeared first on Nautilus .
A comprehensive study by the CritMET research group, led by Prof. Michael Bau, a geochemist at Constructor University in Bremen, provides evidence of widespread contamination of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea with MRI contrast agents. As modern wastewater treatment plants
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) begin to accumulate in the tissues of mammals already during the fetal stage, according to new research from the University of Oulu, Finland. The animal-model study found that environmental toxins had built up in the tissues of sheep raised
More than 300 people across academia and industry spilled into an auditorium to attend a BoltzGen seminar on Thursday, Oct. 30, hosted by the Abdul Latif Jameel Clinic for Machine Learning in Health (MIT Jameel Clinic). Headlining the event was MIT Ph.D. student and BoltzGen's
A telescope in Chile has captured a stunning new picture of a grand and graceful cosmic butterfly.
The same brain cells linked to disorientation in Alzheimer's disease have been preserved—and even slightly increased—across millions of years of evolution.
With a new study in the journal Cell, researchers at Stanford University and Stockholm University have contributed to increased knowledge about gene regulation in human cells.
Australian rat kangaroos can crack nuts that would break the jaws of most animals The post These Rabbit-Size Marsupials Have Chomping Superpowers appeared first on Nautilus .
Hybrid materials made of magnets and superconductors give rise to fascinating quantum phenomena, which are so sensitive that it is crucial to measure them with minimal interference. Researchers at the University of Hamburg and the University of Illinois Chicago have now
Inclusive representation is fundamental to equitable and effective environmental governance, particularly in addressing the interconnected crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation, the three focus areas of the well-known Rio Conventions.
An insistent buzzing at sunset followed by itchy, spotted legs. Here in Denmark, mosquitoes are mostly an annoying—but generally harmless—nuisance. That is far from the case in many parts of the world.
The presence of robots in schools is no longer surprising. How do elementary school children treat humanoid robots? Are they polite to them, and willing to attribute human-like qualities to them? Researchers from SWPS University have shown that in most cases, children treat
Exceptional points (EPs) are non-Hermitian singularities where two or more eigenstates coalesce, resulting in the eigenspace collapsing in dimensionality. Over the past decade, researchers have uncovered a wealth of exotic phenomena near EPs.
The research group FQM-215—Affordable and Sustainable Sample Preparation at the University of Córdoba has developed a method that is not only faster and easier to perform but also more environmentally sustainable. It can detect illicit drugs on surfaces and determine their
The United Nations' climate change body may unintentionally be eroding public trust in science because of the way it communicates risk, new University of Essex research shows.
The co-founder of Schmidt Sciences on curiosity, discovery, and wonder The post The Last Word with Wendy Schmidt appeared first on Nautilus .
Hidden beneath the hills of southern China, the JUNO observatory shows promise in solving neutrino mysteries
Food quality and safety are crucial. However, conventional food-monitoring methods, including ribotyping and polymerase chain reaction, tend to be destructive and lengthy. These shortcomings limit their potential for broad applications. In this regard, surface-enhanced Raman
Microplastics, tiny plastic particles pervasive in agricultural environments, interact with and disrupt the microbial ecosystem in the rumen—the first stomach chamber of cattle, reveals an international study.
New research reveals moai creation was a decentralized process The post Easter Island Statue Construction Wasn’t a Top-Down Affair appeared first on Nautilus .
Mapping of the main quarry on Easter Island where giant statues were carved has uncovered evidence that the monuments may not have been created under the direction of a single chief
Nature is brimming with color in almost every season. While the majority of colors are matte, some are shiny. Evolutionary biologist Casper van der Kooi wondered why shiny colors are so rare. He researched how bees perceive glossy colors by using artificial flowers. The
Located in the middle of the South Pacific, thousands of miles from the nearest continent, Easter Island (Rapa Nui) is one of the most remote inhabited places on Earth. To visit it and marvel at the quarries where its iconic moai statues were created is a luxury few get to
One of the most comprehensive surveys to date of shark and other large predator fish in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP) ocean finds that remote marine protected areas (MPAs)—including the Galapagos, Malpelo, Clipperton, and Revillagigedo islands—support some of the largest
A spatial analysis of crime in Chicago suggests that certain environmental and socioeconomic factors, such as building density, are linked with crime rates, but these relationships differ between neighborhoods. The study also reveals discrepancies between media coverage and
NASA has confirmed that it will contribute to Europe's Martian rover Rosalind Franklin, which is scheduled to launch in 2028 after repeated delays, the European Space Agency said on Wednesday.
South Korea launched its largest satellite yet on its nationally developed space rocket early Thursday in the fourth of six launches planned through 2027.
There is a growing body of research on the physical benefits of going for a dip in chilly water, but now researchers are starting to find that cold-water swimming may also be reshaping our brains for the better in lasting ways
New research from the University of St Andrews has discovered how Incas used Andean balance scales and ancient string knot writing known as "khipus," in association with sacred, animate landscapes.
Imagine biting into a crisp, garden-fresh salad and savoring juicy strawberries for dessert. But instead of your backyard, you're gazing out at a stark lunar landscape, Earth hanging like a precious blue marble in the inky sky.
Scientists have discovered living microbes producing methane in the fractured rocks deep inside Sweden's Siljan impact crater, offering insights into Earth's earliest life and the search for life beyond our planet.
Modern Chileans are significantly taller and have larger heads than their ancestors. That's the central finding of new research looking at how intracranial volume (ICV) has changed across thousands of years in northern Chile. ICV is the space inside the skull that houses the
