Heat waves are reshaping the behavior of Western Australia's western ringtail possum
Extreme heat is forcing Western Australia's critically endangered western ringtail possum (Ngwayir) to cut back on vital activity and feeding, new research shows.
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Physicists eye emerging technology for solar cells in outer space
Solar cells face significant challenges when deployed in outer space, where extremes in the environment decrease the efficiency and longevity they enjoy back on Earth. University of Toledo physicists are taking on these challenges at the Wright Center for Photovoltaics
AI model accelerates defect-based material design
Across the physical world, many intricate structures form via symmetry breaking. When a system with inherent symmetry transitions into an ordered state, it can form stable imperfections known as topological defects. Such defects are found everywhere, from the large-scale
New white paper on rebuilding trust at work amid AI-driven change and burnout published
University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies has published a new white paper, "Rebuilding the Social Contract," by TaMika Fuller, DBA, an affiliate of the Center for Educational and Instructional Technology Research (CEITR), and Victoria Lender, DBA; both authors are
Spider silk-making organs evolved due to a 400-million-year-old genetic oops
An ancient ancestor of spiders and relatives doubled its genome about 400 million years ago, setting the stage for the evolution of spinnerets.
Keto diet weight loss may come with a hidden cost
A long-term study found that while a ketogenic diet prevented weight gain, it also triggered major metabolic problems. Mice developed fatty liver disease, abnormal blood fats, and an impaired ability to control blood sugar—especially after reintroducing carbohydrates. Male mice
Scientists found a survival switch inside brain cells
Findings could create new opportunities to treat and study neurodegenerative diseasesScientists discovered that sugar metabolism plays a surprising role in whether injured neurons collapse or cling to life. By activating internal protective programs, certain metabolic changes
People are swayed by AI-generated videos even when they know they're fake, study shows
Generative deep learning models are artificial intelligence (AI) systems that can create texts, images, audio files, and videos for specific purposes, following instructions provided by human users. Over the past few years, the content generated by these models has become
After switch from ULA, SpaceX set for speedy national security launch
SpaceX is set to launch its latest national security mission, yet another GPS satellite that was originally to have been launched by United Launch Alliance.
Scientists say quantum tech has reached its transistor moment
Quantum technology has reached a turning point, echoing the early days of modern computing. Researchers say functional quantum systems now exist, but scaling them into truly powerful machines will require major advances in engineering and manufacturing. By comparing different
For couples, one affectionate communicator can help both partners feel relationship satisfaction
If you really like holding hands and saying "I love you" but your partner doesn't, your relationship is still probably better off than if both of you had a modest interest in expressing affection.
New tool will help manage one of Nevada's most critical freshwater sources
The Nature Conservancy in Nevada (TNC in Nevada), DRI, and the University of Wisconsin—Madison (UW-Madison) have developed the Nevada GDE Water Needs Explorer Tool. This new online resource helps land and water managers understand how groundwater supports groundwater-dependent
Menopause linked to changes in brain’s gray matter, new study shows
Brain changes during menopause could help explain why some people experience neurological symptoms such as anxiety, depression and memory problems
Strange white rocks on Mars hint at millions of years of rain
Bright white rocks spotted by NASA’s Perseverance rover are rewriting what we thought we knew about ancient Mars. These aluminum-rich clays, called kaolinite, usually form on Earth only after millions of years of heavy rainfall in warm, humid environments—conditions similar to
Global health impacts of plastics systems set to double by 2040
The adverse health impacts associated with emissions across the full life cycle of plastics could double by 2040 unless immediate action is taken, new research suggests. The study identified health harms at every stage of the life cycle of the plastics we use: from the
Scientists finally explain Earth’s strangest fossils
The Ediacara Biota are some of the strangest fossils ever found—soft-bodied organisms preserved in remarkable detail where preservation shouldn’t be possible. Scientists now think their survival in sandstone came from unusual ancient seawater chemistry that created clay
A century-old Stonehenge mystery may finally be solved
Scientists have found compelling new evidence that humans, not glaciers, brought Stonehenge’s bluestones to the site. Using advanced mineral analysis, researchers searched nearby river sediments for signs glaciers once passed through the area—and found none. That missing
We have a new way to explain why we agree on the nature of reality
An evolution-inspired framework for how quantum fuzziness gives rise to our classical world shows that even imperfect observers can eventually agree on an objective reality
These common food preservatives may be linked to cancer
A large French study tracking more than 100,000 people over a decade has found that higher consumption of certain food preservatives—commonly found in processed foods and drinks—is linked to a modestly higher cancer risk. While many preservatives showed no association, several
The type of carbs you eat may affect dementia risk
Carbohydrates don’t just fuel the body—they may also influence how the brain ages. A large long-term study found that diets high in fast-acting carbs that rapidly raise blood sugar were linked to a higher risk of dementia. People who ate more low-glycemic foods like fruit,
Footprint tracker identifies tiny mammals with up to 96% accuracy
It might be less visible than dwindling lion populations or vanishing pandas, but the quiet crisis of small mammal extinction is arguably worse for biodiversity. These species are crucial indicators of environmental health, but they can be very hard to monitor, and many species
How political leanings affect views on academic freedom: New research
Academic freedom is often described as a cornerstone of democratic society. Politicians regularly claim to defend it, universities invoke it in mission statements and most members of the public say they support it in principle.
A brief history of sugar
A few thousand years ago, sugar was unknown in the western world. Sugarcane, a tall grass first domesticated in New Guinea around 6000BC, was initially chewed for its sweet juice rather than crystallized. By around 500BC, methods to boil sugarcane juice into crystals were first
A hidden magnetic order could unlock superconductivity
Physicists have discovered that hidden magnetic order plays a key role in the pseudogap, a puzzling state of matter that appears just before certain materials become superconductors. Using an ultra-cold quantum simulator, the team found that even when magnetism seems disrupted,
Q&A: Uncovering the low-temperature oxygen storage and release mechanism of Mn–CeO₂ nanoparticles
The search for better oxygen carriers has long centered on one key question: how can we design metal oxides that can reversibly store and release lattice oxygen efficiently at lower temperatures? This reversible behavior underpins clean-energy technologies such as fuel
Obesity and high blood pressure may directly cause dementia
A new genetic study suggests that obesity and high blood pressure may play a direct role in causing dementia, not just increasing the risk. By analyzing data from large populations in Denmark and the U.K., researchers found strong evidence that higher body weight can damage
Unlocking defect-free graphene electrodes for transparent electronics
Transparent electrodes transmit light while conducting electricity and are increasingly important in bioelectronic and optoelectronic devices. Their combination of high optical transparency, low electrical resistance, and mechanical flexibility makes them well suited for
Radical transparency is required to scale carbon dioxide removal, expert says
Last week, Yale Center for Natural Carbon Capture (YCNCC) Scientific Leadership Team member and Earth & Planetary Sciences Professor Noah Planavsky co-authored a peer-reviewed comment in npj Climate Action titled "The importance of radical transparency for responsible carbon
What is the universe made of? Experts weigh in on the mysterious force that shapes our cosmic history
As the Dark Energy Survey (DES) releases its final results, we caught up with two physicists who've been involved in the project from its early days. In this Q&A, Josh Frieman, DES co-founder and associate laboratory director for fundamental physics at the Department of
Burning trees to help the planet? South Florida tries new climate tech solution
In lush South Florida, trees and bushes grow all year round. And that means yard waste and dead trees never stop piling up. But leaving them in a landfill is a climate-warming issue. Two South Florida governments think they have a new solution—light it on fire, but in a
Trump administration approves plan backed by Newsom to build largest California reservoir in 50 years
On Jan. 23, the Trump administration gave its approval for plans to build Sites Reservoir, a vast 13-mile-long off-stream lake north of Sacramento that would provide water to 500,000 acres of Central Valley farmland and 24 million people, including residents of Santa Clara
The many faces of monster galaxies
Some galaxies in the early universe were absolute powerhouses, churning out stars at rates that would dwarf the Milky Way's modest stellar production. These "monster galaxies," buried deep in dust between 10 and 12 billion years ago, are thought to be the ancestors of today's
Ignis mission timelapses: Earth and moon views from the International Space Station
ESA project astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski captured these stunning timelapse videos during his 20-day stay aboard the International Space Station as part of Axiom Mission 4, known as Ignis. Filmed from the Cupola—the Space Station's iconic seven-windowed observation
The hidden physics of watersheds: Why some are more sensitive to climate variability than others
Water is everywhere, from the snowpack in the mountains to the tap in our kitchens. But while we often think about rainfall and snow as the main drivers of our water supply, it turns out that something we rarely see has just as much influence: the underground structure of the
Did Edison Accidentally Create a Vital Superconductor?
In 1879, the inventor might have produced graphene, a crucial component of tech more than a century later The post Did Edison Accidentally Create a Vital Superconductor? appeared first on Nautilus .
Drones yield an efficient method for measuring coastal currents
Accurate measurements of surface currents are crucial for coastal monitoring, rip current detection, and predicting the path of pollutants. Several methods exist to measure surface currents, some of which are costly and time-consuming. In a recent paper, researchers from Texas
Moon-based observations capture Earth's 'radiation fingerprint'
Earth's radiation budget is a core process of the Earth-atmosphere system, closely linked to global climate and environmental changes. While current satellite observations have greatly advanced our understanding of Earth's radiation budget, low-Earth orbit and geostationary
Citizen science and the challenge of measuring urban sustainability
Cities are expected to track sustainability progress with data that are often incomplete, outdated, or available only at national level. New research led by IIASA in collaboration with UN-Habitat finds that citizen science could address these gaps and support nearly 70% of
Great power rivalry is reshaping global supply chains, new study shows
Rising tensions between the US and China are changing how companies design global supply chains in strategic industries such as semiconductors and rare earths. New research shows firms are no longer just reacting to trade rules—they are proactively redesigning supply chains to
Engineers Build “Bat Accelerator” to Crack Mystery of Stealth Navigation
Bats demonstrate yet another superpower that robots have yet to master The post Engineers Build “Bat Accelerator” to Crack Mystery of Stealth Navigation appeared first on Nautilus .
Proposed new mission will create artificial solar eclipses in space
When a solar storm strikes Earth, it can disrupt technology that's vital for our daily lives. Solar storms occur when magnetic fields and electrically charged particles collide with Earth's magnetic field. This type of event falls into the category known as "space weather."
Nanoplastics in water help bacteria form stronger, disinfectant-resistant biofilms
Human health risks from direct consumption of toxic nanoplastics are already scary, but researchers have confirmed that nanoplastics in water give rise to an additional threat: They strengthen bacteria.
Establishing a new QM/MM design principle based on electronic-state responses
A research team has proposed a new design principle for QM/MM (quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics) simulations. The approach enables objective and automatic determination of the quantum-mechanical region based on electronic-state changes, addressing a long-standing challenge
How protein network cooperatively regulates iron balance in plants
Iron (Fe) is a vital micronutrient for plants, which is required for processes such as photosynthesis and enzyme activity. Plants must carefully manage iron levels to maintain health and productivity. They activate iron uptake genes when deficient and suppress them when iron is
Mighty microscopic fibers are the key to cell division and life itself
Every second, millions of cells in your body divide in two. In the space of an hour, they duplicate their DNA and grow a web of protein fibers around it called a spindle. The spindle extends its many fibers from the chromosomes in the center to the edges of the cell. Then, with
Brewing possibilities: Using caffeine to edit gene expression
What if a cup of coffee could help treat cancer? Researchers at the Texas A&M Health Institute of Biosciences and Technology believe it's possible. By combining caffeine with the use of CRISPR—a gene-editing tool known as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic
The shape of things to come: How spheroid geometry guides multicellular orbiting and invasion
As organisms develop from embryos, groups of cells migrate and reshape themselves to form all manner of complex tissues. There are no anatomical molds shaped like lungs, livers or other tissues for cells to grow into. Rather, these structures form through the coordinated
Workplace Loneliness Is Contagious
A new meta-review captures a troubling trend in workplace loneliness The post Workplace Loneliness Is Contagious appeared first on Nautilus .
A protein 'tape recorder' enables scientists to measure and decode cellular processes at scale and over time
Unraveling the mysteries of how biological organisms function begins with understanding the molecular interactions within and across large cell populations. A revolutionary new tool, developed at the University of Michigan, acts as a sort of tape recorder produced and
Remote sensing model enables early detection of vole outbreaks in Spanish farmlands
Researchers at the Regional Service for Agri-Food Research and Development (SERIDA) have developed a new large-scale remote sensing model that will enable comprehensive, high-resolution monitoring of fossorial water vole populations in areas where they cause agricultural
