Smile mission set for April 9 launch to image Earth's magnetic field in X-rays
The Smile mission is set to launch on a Vega-C rocket from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana on Thursday, April 9, at 08:29 CEST/07:29 BST/03:29 local time.
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Long-term road surveys reveal widespread declines in South African birds of prey
A comprehensive study has revealed substantial declines in many of South Africa's birds of prey (raptors) over the past 16 years, raising fresh concerns about the conservation status of several iconic and threatened species. Researchers assessed population trends for 18 raptor
A new entanglement-enhanced quantum sensing scheme
Over the past decades, quantum scientists have introduced various technologies that operate leveraging quantum mechanical effects, including quantum sensors, computers and memory devices. Most of these technologies leverage entanglement, a quantum phenomenon via which two or
Math puzzle: Fresh gridflowers
Solve the math puzzle from our April 2026 issue, where we plant floras to celebrate an upcoming nuptial.
What’s the most massive star in the universe?
Just how big can a star become? The answer depends on when in cosmic history you’re asking the question
The real science (and the fun fiction) behind Project Hail Mary
The author of the novel Project Hail Mary breaks down aliens, anxiety and the process of bringing his story to the screen
Early Southwest heat is latest in parade of weather extremes as Earth warms
The dangerous heat wave shattering March records all over the U.S. Southwest is more than just another extreme weather blip. It's the latest next-level weather wildness that is occurring ever more frequently as Earth's warming builds.
NASA returns moon rocket to pad, eyeing April 1 launch
NASA on Thursday began returning its towering SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft to its Florida launch pad ahead of a planned flyby of the moon, after completing necessary repairs.
A negative attitude towards ageing is making you age faster
We know that a person’s outlook can have a huge effect on their health, and it’s no different when it comes to ageing. Columnist Graham Lawton looks at new evidence of just how powerful our attitude is – and how to use it to age better
AI shows promise for flood forecasting and water security in data scarce regions
New research reveals that "foundation models" trained on vast, general time-series data may be able to forecast river flows accurately, even in regions with little or no local hydrological records. The approach could improve flood warnings, drought planning and water-resource
Meteorite hunters scour Ohio for fragments of 7-ton space rock that crashed into Earth
Meteorite hunters fanned out across a wide swath of Ohio on Thursday, hoping to collect fragments of an estimated 7-ton (6,350 kilograms) space rock that crashed into Earth this week after a dazzling fireball that was seen from hundreds of miles away.
Astronomers discover nearby galaxy was shattered by cosmic crash
A nearby galaxy is behaving strangely—and now scientists know why. The Small Magellanic Cloud’s stars move in chaotic patterns because it slammed into its larger neighbor millions of years ago. That collision disrupted its structure and even created the illusion that its gas
Scientists turn CO2 into fuel using breakthrough single-atom catalyst
Researchers have created a cutting-edge catalyst that turns CO2 into methanol more efficiently than ever before. Instead of using clumps of metal atoms, they engineered a system where each single indium atom actively drives the reaction. This dramatically reduces energy needs
Gum disease bacterium linked to breast cancer growth and spread
A common oral bacterium tied to gum disease may help spark and fuel breast cancer, according to new research. Scientists discovered it can travel through the bloodstream to breast tissue, where it causes DNA damage and speeds tumor growth and spread. It also appears to make
What happens after Ozempic shocked researchers
Stopping popular weight-loss injections like Ozempic or Mounjaro might not trigger the dramatic rebound many fear. A large real-world study of nearly 8,000 patients found that most people who discontinue these drugs manage to keep the weight off—or even continue losing—by
Mind over metal: Staying wary of metal-related toxicities for pets
Pets encounter a variety of everyday risks, from outdoor threats like animals or parasites to physical dangers like vehicles or sharp objects and household toxins like plants or cleaners. However, many owners may underestimate the invisible dangers—such as poisonous metals—that
Death of the front yard: The quiet change sweeping Sydney suburbs
A new Macquarie University study reveals Sydney suburbs are shifting to denser streetscapes with fewer trees. A typical knock-down rebuild in Sydney's suburbs is wiping out nearly half the front garden and more than 60% of the tree canopy, according to new research published in
Scientists thought ravens followed wolves. They were wrong
Ravens have long been thought to follow wolves to find food, but new research shows they’re far more strategic. By tracking both animals in Yellowstone, scientists discovered that ravens memorize areas where wolf kills are likely and fly directly to those spots—sometimes from
A water solution for drought‑prone South Africa: We designed systems to replenish aquifers
South Africa is the 30th driest country in the world. Over 400 towns, especially in the western and central parts of the country, rely on water from aquifers that they pump out of the ground (groundwater).
Bird flu risk to Danish cattle: New tool can warn farmers before infection spreads
Sudden drop in milk production, thickened milk, and cows under movement restrictions. Since 2024, American farmers have had bitter experiences with the feared bird flu (H5N1), which in several cases has been introduced to cattle—and then spread rapidly among cattle herds. In
Ultra-processed foods linked to 67% higher risk of heart attack and stroke
Eating large amounts of ultra-processed foods like chips, frozen meals, sugary drinks, and packaged snacks may significantly raise the risk of serious heart problems. In a major U.S. study, people consuming around nine servings per day had a 67% higher risk of heart attacks,
Moral metrics: Are corporate algorithms becoming our new moral authorities?
You check your credit score before applying for an apartment. Your fitness watch tells you whether you slept well enough. A workplace dashboard measures your productivity. Parents can buy devices that track their baby's breathing and heart rate while they sleep.
Why the gender wealth gap is still so stubborn, and what it means for women's well-being
Inequality in wealth between men and women has not always received the same attention as similar disparities in employment and earnings. This is perhaps because wealth—things like property, savings and investments—is seen as a private matter. This issue has become known as the
Workplace nature breaks may cut stress, study finds
With 76% of adults now reporting stress levels that impede daily function, a new Cornell study points to a low-cost intervention hiding in plain sight: nature. The study, published in March 2026 in ScienceDirect, found that changes or improvements in workplace policy, culture
Belly fat linked to heart failure risk even in people with normal weight
Carrying extra fat around the waist may be more dangerous than the number on the scale suggests. Researchers found that belly fat was more strongly linked to heart failure risk than BMI, even in people with normal weight. Inflammation seems to play a key role, helping explain
NASA's Artemis missions promise a return to the moon—but when?
NASA's Artemis II mission plans to fly around the moon and back this April. Four astronauts will board the mammoth Space Launch System (SLS) rocket for the test flight, spending 10 days off-Earth. They won't be touching down—this mission is intended to pave the way for humans
How birds are spreading plastic pollution
Hungry gulls do not only steal our chips and sandwiches. They learn our habits, and look for reliable sources of food. That includes waste treatment centers, landfill or anywhere food waste is concentrated. Many gull populations have moved inland from the coast to exploit these
Revisiting the Environmental Ruin of the First Gulf War
Oil and war makes for a devastating combination The post Revisiting the Environmental Ruin of the First Gulf War appeared first on Nautilus .
Magnetic fields guide lab-grown blood vessels into precise patterns for drug testing
Animal studies often fail to predict human tissue responses to new drugs or newly developed therapies. Besides generating tremendous costs for clinical studies, it also raises significant ethical concerns. Therefore, novel approaches to mimicking natural human environments like
Newly identified disease of corn and sorghum may be mistaken for iron deficiency
A newly identified disease affecting corn and sorghum can closely resemble iron deficiency, potentially leading farmers to apply costly nutrient treatments that do not address the underlying problem. New research published in Plant Health Progress documents the discovery and
Clearing the nanoscale bottleneck holding back next-gen electronics
Researchers at UCLA have discovered a way to dramatically improve how electrical current enters perovskite semiconductors, an emerging class of materials with enormous potential for next-generation electronics. Their research is published in the journal Nature Materials.
If You’re Going to Drink, Make It This Kind of Alcohol
It's likely to damage your health the least The post If You’re Going to Drink, Make It This Kind of Alcohol appeared first on Nautilus .
Project Hail Mary is packed with hard science. An astrophysicist breaks it down
As an astrophysicist, my world revolves around the wonders of space and the mysteries of the universe. This means I can be a tough critic of science fiction books and films that explore these topics.
Engineered nanoparticles show enhanced intrinsic luminescence for biomedical imaging and cancer treatment
The Nanomedicine and Nanotoxicology Group (GNano) at the University of São Paulo's São Carlos Institute of Physics (IFSC-USP) in Brazil has discovered a way to transform hydroxyapatite, a bioceramic material, into a nanoparticle with enhanced intrinsic luminescence. This paves
Ultra-thin MoSe₂ grating traps infrared light in a 40-nanometer layer
Controlling light at the micro- and nanoscale opens up opportunities for a better understanding of the world and the development of technology. As modern electronics approaches the limits of its capabilities, photonics comes into play. Instead of manipulating relatively heavy
Eye-tracking reveals the brain commits to one syntax before a sentence is clear
People often seem to understand language before they have actually heard enough words to determine its structure. In everyday conversation, listeners react immediately, anticipate what others will say, and rarely wait for a sentence to finish. This raises the question of how
H5N1 in marine mammals is spreading: Research tallies over 50,000 seals and sea lions killed along South America's coast
When the H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus was discovered on a poultry farm in Asia in 1996, there was little indication that it would become so widespread and so destructive. Within 30 years, it reached every continental region except Oceania, infecting more than
Influential vaccine advisory panel ACIP may be ‘disbanded’ after lawsuit, says former vice chair
For years, ACIP has advised U.S. vaccine policy. But after changes to its membership made by health secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., were challenged in court, the Trump administration is apparently changing tack
Invasive grasses may be turning British Columbia's burn scars into the next wildfire
After a wildfire, the flames may fade, but the danger does not. A new study by UBC researchers reveals that burned landscapes remain vulnerable for years, with large areas still bare and at risk of invasion by fast-growing, fire-prone grasses. The research, one of the largest
A new strategy for talent recruitment involves hiring from the 'tip of the funnel'
Sang Won Han, an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Sungkyunkwan University (co-first author), in collaboration with Shinjae Won, an Associate Professor of Management and Strategy at Ewha Womans University, has published a study in the Strategic Management Journal. The paper,
Molecular enhancements help plants light up when they're under attack
Imagine that plants could tell us exactly when they're stressed, infected, or being eaten by insects, by lighting up. A new study led by Dr. Karen Sarkisyan, Head of the Synthetic Biology group at the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS), has borrowed molecular machinery
Durum wheat lines combine freezing tolerance with high pasta quality
Researchers from Skoltech, the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center in Mexico, the Research Center for Cereal and Industrial Crops in Italy, and other international organizations have developed new durum wheat lines capable of surviving freezing temperatures while
Audit managers' work-life balance suffered during COVID
It's been six years since the COVID pandemic swept the world, and by now we are all familiar with the pros and cons of remote working. As the protracted battle over return-to-office (RTO) mandates suggests, a number of personal and professional factors—including your standing
Light-activated medicines may cut side effects: How a switchable beta blocker works
Rendering a drug effective or ineffective in a flash at the appropriate location—this is the focus of research in photopharmacology. The goal is to develop drugs that can be switched on and off with light of a specific wavelength. Orally administered medications could then be
An AI-guided gene-editing tool for more precise and safer DNA correction
Researchers at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine) have developed a revolutionary new method to improve compact gene-editing tools known as base editors, which enable smaller, more precise DNA correction tools that may be safer
Fluorescent dye that works in superacidic conditions expands possibilities for imaging in extreme environments
Since the 1960s, boron–dipyrromethene dyes, commonly called BODIPY dyes, have been widely used for their strong fluorescence, especially in bioimaging, molecular and ion sensing, and as photosensitizers. Researchers especially like how, with simple modifications to BODIPY
Is This Where Morality Lives in the Brain?
What happens in our brain when we fail to live up to our morals The post Is This Where Morality Lives in the Brain? appeared first on Nautilus .
What animal are you? Humans and animals tend to like the same mating calls
Whether it’s a canary’s chirp or a treefrog’s croak, humans tend to prefer many of the same sounds that animals do themselves, a new study finds
Milkweed evolves 'mind-blowing' tactic to fight monarchs
Milkweed has found a new strategy in its epic evolutionary battle with monarch butterflies: upgrading its toxins to outmaneuver the monarch's resistance. In a new study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers find that adding a small
Pompeii's battle scars linked to an ancient 'machine gun'
The ancient city of Pompeii is one of those archaeological sites that keeps on giving with one discovery after another. While much of what we know about the Roman settlement comes from the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79, another significant event from nearly a century earlier is
