Mapping the Illegal Wildlife Trade Using Pangolin DNA
Genetic material from these improbable creatures helps pinpoint exploitation hot spots The post Mapping the Illegal Wildlife Trade Using Pangolin DNA appeared first on Nautilus .
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Researchers combine five metals to build a better nanocrystal
A nanocrystal is an extraordinarily tiny piece of material—composed of anywhere from a few to a few thousand atoms—in which atoms are arranged in a precise, ordered structure. Think of it like taking a piece of gold and shrinking it down to the size of a few hundred atoms. It's
Every dollar spent on forest fuel treatments saves $3.75 in wildfire damages, study finds
Every dollar spent on forest fuel treatments saves about $3.75 in wildfire damages, according to a new study, led by researchers at the University of California, Davis, of nearly 300 fires in the western United States. The study estimated that the treatments, such as forest
Myanmar's devastating quake could reshape how California and other fault zones gauge future risk
A devastating earthquake in Myanmar is giving scientists new insight into how major quakes start, spread, and grow. The findings could improve risk estimates for dangerous faults around the world. A new study, published in the journal Science and led by researchers at the USC
Trafficked pangolin DNA reveals hotspots of illegal wildlife trade
Small samples of DNA can reveal hotspots and trade routes in the illegal wildlife trade, according to a study published in the open-access journal PLOS Biology by Sean Heighton and Philippe Gaubert of the University of Toulouse and the Institut de Recherche pour le
Why plant extinctions may rise by 2100 even if species keep shifting ranges
No matter how fast a species under threat can move, escape can only be successful if the new destination can meet its needs. An ecological modeling study from the University of California, Davis, found that 7% to 16% of global plant species studied are expected to lose more
Slower biological aging may tied to getting the same amount of rest each day
Stable rhythms of rest and activity are associated with healthier biological age markers, a new study suggests
Thawing Arctic soil awakens only half of soil microbes, new study reveals
As the Arctic warms at an unprecedented rate, frozen soils that have remained locked in ice for most of the year are now thawing for longer periods. Yet new research led by an international team including scientists from Queen Mary University of London has found that these
Scientists unlock fungi's secret chemistry, offering a greener path to crop protection
Pesky pests can wreak havoc on plants by chewing leaves, boring into stems, and sucking sap from trees. Beyond the direct damage, they also spread harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi that can infect and ultimately kill the crops. Every year, these destructive invaders are
LED light unlocks 3D optical fingerprints inside materials without lasers
Researchers have developed, for the first time in the world, incoherent dielectric tensor tomography (iDTT), a technology that can read complex three-dimensional optical fingerprints inside materials using only everyday LED illumination.
A grapefruit-sized quantum device mapped Earth’s magnetic field from space
On the International Space Station, a cube holding a diamond-based sensor revealed the potential for quantum magnetometers.
Hantavirus outbreak will not cause a covid-style pandemic, says WHO
The World Health Organization sought to quell worldwide fears over the hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius and reassure the public that the risk of widespread transmission is low
How cells 'back up' DNA replication to survive severe damage
Every time a cell divides, it must copy its DNA with extraordinary precision. But this process is constantly challenged by DNA damage. Among the most dangerous lesions are DNA interstrand crosslinks (ICLs), which chemically bind the two strands of DNA together and block the
How evolution sculpts the facial shapes of birds and mammals
Shapes of beaks and snouts come in an extraordinary range of forms, reflecting adaptations to different lifestyles and environments. Yet beneath this diversity lies a paradox: across birds and mammals, faces are built using deeply conserved developmental programs. So how does
PCOS postpones perimenopause and allows pregnancies at older ages
Only 3 per cent of those with polycystic ovary syndrome reach perimenopause by the age of 46, which may allow them to conceive when older
Mobile qubits on a chip move us a step closer to everyday quantum computers
For years, quantum computers have lived under a huge bubble of hype, promising to revolutionize numerous fields, from medicine and battery design to materials science and cybersecurity. But realizing their potential on any serious practical level will only be possible if large
Photonics advance could enable compact, high-performance lidar sensors
Lidar systems use pulses of infrared light to measure distance and map a 3D scene with high resolution, allowing autonomous vehicles to rapidly react to obstacles that appear in their path. But traditional lidar sensors are expensive, bulky systems with many moving parts that
When faith meets a melting point: New study warns Hajj pilgrimage is breaching human survivability limits
A new study warns that climate change is creating serious and growing risks for millions of pilgrims performing Hajj, with extreme heat and humidity already pushing human physiological limits during the 2024 pilgrimage. This research, led by Atta Ullah and his team from the
Magnetic checkerboard separates microparticles by size and sends them along different paths
A team of researchers from the Universities of Tübingen, Bayreuth, and Kassel, and the Polish Academy of Sciences has developed a method for precisely controlling the movement of magnetic microparticles based on their size. These suspended particles, known as colloidal
Shake it off—NASA’s Curiosity rover gets its robotic arm stuck inside a rock on Mars
Haters gonna hate, hate, hate, but the Mars rover Curiosity just keeps on groovin’—even if its handlers had to spend several days freeing its drill from a rock
Coffee's mood-boosting effects aren't just down to caffeine
A comprehensive study exploring coffee’s physiological effects finds that some of its benefits are down to polyphenols and their influence on gut bacteria
Team steers electron spin ballistically in graphene
Researchers at The University of Manchester's National Graphene Institute have shown that electrons in ultra-clean graphene can be steered with high precision while keeping their spin information intact, a key requirement for future low-power electronics and quantum devices.
Urban trees cool the world's cities more than we thought—but we can't rely on them alone
Cities and towns are usually 1–3°C hotter than the surrounding countryside, because asphalt, concrete and brick absorb heat from the sun and radiate it slowly. Some cities can be as much as 7°C hotter. This effect is known as the urban heat island.
25 people learned to fly with virtual wings. Here’s how the brain changed
A new study shows learning to fly in virtual reality with virtual wings can reshape the brain, making it treat wings more like body parts.
Ancient sea fossils indicate millipede and centipede ancestors evolved their legs while still underwater
The myriapoda group of arthropods includes the many-legged centipedes and millipedes that most people are familiar with. Although myriapods are all terrestrial creatures, researchers are unclear about when and how they evolved their many legs.
Transcribing speech is never neutral—it shapes power and bias
Earlier this year I gave a talk about my research at Oxford's All Souls College, and worked with a chef to design an accompanying menu.
Artificial intelligence may accelerate the path to radicalization
How are ordinary people drawn into extremist circles—and what role can artificial intelligence play in that process? This question is addressed by a new study which, for the first time, combines psychological theories of radicalization with knowledge of modern AI technologies
Countries must back commitments to transition from fossil fuels with action
The first international Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels concluded on April 29 in Santa Marta, Colombia. Stemming from the failure of the last COP meeting in Belèm, Brazil, to address the necessity of reducing reliance on fossil fuels, the intergovernmental
Recreational fishing in the US catches far more fish than previously estimated
One of the United States' largest fisheries is hiding in plain sight. Recreational freshwater anglers in the lower 48 states catch—and keep—far more fish than any official body has estimated, according to new research from our team of North American fishery scientists.
Archaeologists unearth evidence of dogs being traded within Mayan societies
A University of Calgary archaeologist has found evidence that the Classic Period Maya were trading live dogs over long distances between the northern Yucatan peninsula and central Chiapas regions.
How to Build a Trustworthy Robot
A conversation with a robot researcher about a possible future where robots are like teammates in hospitals, factories, and homes The post How to Build a Trustworthy Robot appeared first on Nautilus .
Study seeks to stave off mitochondrial dysfunction believed to cause aging
Dysfunction resulting from mitochondrial DNA mutations has been implicated in multiple human pathologies, including neurodegenerative disorders, metabolic syndromes, cancer and cardiovascular disease. The stress from mtDNA mutations is thought to play a significant role in the
Streetlights trigger bizarre 'death spirals' in thousands of isopods, scientists find
A new study led by Ph.D. student Idan Sheizaf, under the guidance of Prof. Ariel Chipman from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has documented a never-before-seen behavioral phenomenon: thousands of land-dwelling isopods forming massive, synchronized circular processions.
Tree communities shape hidden energy flows under European forests
Mixing tree species can lead to better growth in the forest—at least above ground. A new study published in Nature shows that mixed forests had lower activity in the complex belowground ecosystems than previously thought. Researchers suspect this could affect the long-term
Drones match farm planning effectiveness of more expensive tech, study finds
Environmental scientists and water resource managers need precise, high-resolution maps to reveal areas that farmers should avoid when planting crops, to limit polluting waters with phosphorus from fertilizer or manure. Making those maps has depended on an expensive, sometimes
Satellite captures a sea of spinning clouds
Over the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica, winds can whip around the globe relatively unimpeded by land. Intrepid sailors termed these southern latitudes the Roaring Forties, Furious Fifties, and Screaming Sixties on account of the strong prevailing winds.
Deforestation lessens Amazon rainfall—and climate change hastens that process, study finds
Climate change makes the southern Amazon's rain increasingly sensitive to deforestation, a new study finds. Clearing large areas of forest can trigger severe and lasting reductions in rainfall regardless of climate, but as the Amazon warms and dries, that "tipping point"
Sexual arousal can lead to tunnel vision, blinding people to rejection cues
Sexual arousal can lead to "tunnel vision" that makes it more difficult to recognize when someone is just not that into you, according to new research in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.
Going to space? Always, always pack a camera
Planetary scientist Candice Hansen-Koharcheck championed the importance of space imagery. Her legacy lives on in every pixel that comes back to Earth.
Does Sexual Attraction Cloud Our Rejection Detection?
The ability to read signals may be impaired by arousal The post Does Sexual Attraction Cloud Our Rejection Detection? appeared first on Nautilus .
Brexit did not just shake Britain—it sent financial shockwaves across Europe, research indicates
Brexit sent waves of financial volatility through European markets, reshaping how risk traveled between countries and exposing how tightly connected the continent's financial systems had become, according to new research from the University of Surrey published in the
Construction sector adapts to global shocks faster than expected
Despite major global disruptions, new research published in the International Journal of Production Economics, shows Australia's construction sector has adapted faster than expected, driven by rapid adoption of digital tools and more resilient ways of working.
Protecting the future of Southeast Asia's giant clams
Southeast Asia is home to eight out of the world's 12 giant clam species and their numbers are dwindling. Addressing this issue, Dr. Neo Mei Lin, Senior Research Fellow at the NUS Tropical Marine Science Institute (TMSI), led a study on the conservation of giant clams in
Testing quantum collapse theory with the XENONnT dark matter detector
Theories of quantum mechanics predict that some particles can exist in superpositions, which essentially means that they can be in more than one state at once. When a particle's state is measured, however, this superposition appears to "collapse" into a single outcome; a
Properly crediting employees for their ideas is key to building a strong workplace culture, research finds
Making sure that employees are properly credited for their ideas can go a long way toward improving workplace culture, a University of Toronto Scarborough study has found.
Chilean wasp named in honor of Sir David Attenborough's 100th birthday
Scientists from the Natural History Museum, London have described a new genus and species of parasitic wasp found within the Museum's collections, and named it as a birthday present for Sir David Attenborough.
The best new popular science books of May 2026
A guide to walking, a look at the world’s Google searches and a deep dive into the secrets of our DNA are some of the topics tackled by the popular science books out this month
Ice Age butcher's tools are a sign of ancient humans' creativity during hard times
In central China, scientists have spent over a decade excavating and studying an archaeological site where ancient humans butchered animals. Amidst bones, archaeologists found complex stone tools that would have required a level of intelligence and creativity to make.
Poop, stomach oil and ostrich eggshells keep records of Earth’s ancient climate
Earth's ancient climate is written in... ostrich eggshells and stomach oil?
New “Trojan horse” obesity drug supercharges weight loss in early tests
Researchers have created a next-generation obesity drug that works like a “Trojan horse,” using GLP-1/GIP signals to slip a powerful metabolic enhancer directly into target cells. In mice, it outperformed existing treatments—curbing appetite, increasing weight loss, and