Ever seen a cave cricket? Australia now has three new species of these spindly, spider-like creatures
When you picture a cave, you probably think of an environment devoid of life. But for most caves on Earth, this couldn't be further from the truth.
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Infrastructure for African mines destroying forests at 34 times the rate of the mines themselves
Industrial-scale mining in Africa to support global supply chains is leading to unprecedented deforestation across the continent, with 34 hectares of forest removed for every single hectare of active mine site.
AI-generated compounds hit specific cell types and outperform conventional screening
The classical drug discovery paradigm begins with a known molecular target: a protein whose modulation is expected to reverse the course of a disease. However, in many pathologies, such a target does not always exist or is not sufficiently characterized.
Previously unknown detoxification pathway for chloromethane revealed
Chloromethane is a gas that is toxic to humans and contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer. It is produced during the combustion of coal, biomass and other raw materials. Natural sources such as algae, plants and fungi also release it. A research team led by biologist
Mount Etna eruptions reveal carbon dioxide and water can trigger separate explosive paths
The plumbing systems of volcanoes are vast and complex. But they aren't consistent, even in the same volcano. A Cornell-led collaboration found very different mechanisms behind two historic eruptions of Mount Etna in Italy. Understanding these dynamics—combined with the
Africa's climate crisis is a legal crisis too: What are states' duties under human rights law?
A landmark climate case is being heard by the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights. The request was brought by the Pan African Lawyers Union and other African civil society organizations. They've asked the court to issue advice on what responsibilities African governments
Predictive surrogates could cut quantum computing measurement overhead by more than 99.97%
Quantum computers, systems that process information leveraging quantum mechanical effects, have the potential of outperforming classical computers on some tasks. Despite their potential, the use of these systems remains very limited, due to their high cost and other challenges
NASA’s X-59 plane goes supersonic for the first time
This experimental plane, which reached supersonic speeds yesterday, is designed to travel faster than the speed of sound without creating bothersome sonic booms
Sweet basil carbon dots show potential for sustainable agriculture
What if a common herb found in the kitchen could help farmers grow healthier crops? As the global population grows and agriculture faces increasing environmental challenges, scientists are searching for innovative ways to improve crop productivity while reducing reliance on
Smart surfaces face zero gravity test in boiling heat experiments
A research team led by Davoud Jafari at the University of Twente, in collaboration with the University of Pisa, has completed a series of parabolic flight experiments to investigate advanced smart surfaces under rapidly changing gravity conditions. Conducted aboard the Air Zero
MUSE maps spiral galaxy W2246f, uncovering old core and ongoing star formation across disk
Astronomers have employed the Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) on the Very Large Telescope (VLT) to perform deep spectroscopic observations of a peculiar spiral galaxy known as W2246f. Results of the observational campaign, published May 27 on the pre-print server
NZ's new forestry rules promise consistency: Will they also increase environmental risk?
One of the most important changes to New Zealand's environmental regulations in recent years came into force this week. Yet outside policy circles, the forestry sector and a handful of councils, few people are likely to have noticed.
Hair-size microrobots combine three cancer-fighting functions in preclinical animal tests
Imagine a future where cancer treatment affects only the tumor, where eye injections are no longer required and brain surgeries don't result in large incisions or long recovery times. That's the future researchers at Michigan State University are working toward.
Canada's aerial wildfire‑fighting plan is a start—but it is not yet a strategy
The Canadian government recently announced that it will lease a fleet of 10 firefighting aircraft and other support assets to be deployed for the 2026 wildfire season. The plan will see these 10 leased aircraft being managed by the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center
Volcanic eruptions linked to rising famine risk across China's history
Large volcanic eruptions may have played a bigger role in triggering historical famines across China than previously understood, according to a new study that traced links between eruptions, climate disruption, and food shortages over more than four centuries.
Green space exposure, mental health and the nasal microbiome explored
Plenty of studies have linked exposure to nature to a wide variety of health benefits, from improved cognitive function to lower blood pressure to better mental health. Other research has found connections between the human microbiome and time spent outside. But an overlooked,
Concerns over camper wastewater chemicals in regional wastewater systems
The surge in caravan and camper usage within Australia could place extra pressure on regional wastewater treatment systems because of the chemicals commonly used in caravan and camper toilet systems, according to new research from Flinders University. When people using caravans
Ozempic and similar weight-loss drugs linked to 30% lower breast cancer risk
A large study found that women taking GLP-1 drugs, the medication class behind Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound, were about 30% less likely to develop breast cancer. Researchers say the findings are promising but not yet proof, and clinical trials are now being planned
Tiny X-ray telescope could unlock the Moon's hidden chemistry
A lightweight new X-ray telescope could finally give scientists something they’ve never had before: a complete chemical map of the Moon. Researchers used detailed mission simulations to show that a compact telescope orbiting the Moon could identify key elements across the
Scientists found a surprisingly simple way to create powerful quantum states
A team at the University of Chicago has discovered a surprisingly simple way to create powerful quantum states that are normally difficult to produce. By making small adjustments to the energy levels of atoms inside an optical cavity, researchers can generate a wide variety of
Scientists identify the origin of noise in spin qubit quantum processors
A spin qubit, in which quantum information is encoded in the spin state of an electron, is one of the most promising platforms for quantum computing. Spin qubits exhibit long coherence times and are compatible with advanced semiconductor manufacturing technologies. The leading
Saturday Citations: Greenland sharks; quantum weirdness; people are mostly pretty chill
This week, researchers reported that GLP-1 medications may influence the biology of aging. Hidden meltwater in deep Antarctic coastal waters has a strong climate impact. And a novel prostate cancer treatment reduced risk of disease progression by half in a clinical trial.
The supplements older adults actually need and the ones they don't
Supplements are often marketed as shortcuts to better health, but for many older adults, the real issue is whether they have a specific deficiency. Vitamins like B12 and D can play an important role when levels are low, while protein may be one of the most overlooked nutrients
SpaceX signs pre-IPO deal to provide AI computing to Google
SpaceX on Friday signed a blockbuster cloud computing agreement under which Google will pay the Elon Musk-founded rocket company $920 million per month for access to a massive cluster of AI chips, according to a disclosure in its initial public offering filing.
Birth rates are declining in most of the world—here's why it really matters
Birth rates have been declining worldwide since the peak of the post-Second World War baby boom. Birth rates have now reached below replacement in most of the world, including Australia. Put simply, populations on average aren't replacing themselves.
How prediction markets could forecast the future of science
Online prediction markets are taking bets on everything from climate change to quantum computing. But researchers question their accuracy
The World Cup pitches are the result of years of engineering to find just the right grass
The World Cup pitches cover so much ground they'll be hard to ignore. The crews that put them there would prefer if fans didn't notice them at all.
Scientists sound the alarm as dangerous amoebas spread globally
Scientists warn that free-living amoebae may be an underappreciated public health threat, capable of causing deadly infections and shielding other dangerous microbes from water treatment. Climate change and aging infrastructure could help these resilient organisms spread more
SpaceX denied fast track to S&P 500 after IPO
SpaceX has been denied a fast track into the S&P 500 when the rocket and satellite company goes public, in a ruling that cuts off quick access to one of the biggest pools of Wall Street money.
US reports second case of dangerous livestock pest
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said Friday it has detected a second case of a dangerous livestock pest whose flesh-eating larvae can kill cattle.
Texas governor wants to speed up work on a fly-breeding factory to fight a cattle parasite
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott expressed concern Friday that a new factory isn't expected to start breeding sterile New World screwworm flies for more than a year as a big part of the effort to stop its flesh-eating larvae from threatening the $113 U.S. billion cattle industry.
Astronauts briefly take shelter during repair to fix leak on the International Space Station
NASA on Friday temporarily ordered astronauts to take shelter during repairs to fix a fresh leak aboard the International Space Station.
Aquanauts experience awe-inspiring ‘underview effect’
Like astronauts’ “overview effect,” a dramatic feeling of awe takes hold on extended seafloor stays
A tiny atomic shift gives scientists powerful control over metals
A team at the University of Minnesota discovered that changing a metal film's thickness by just a few nanometers can dramatically alter how it behaves electronically. The finding reveals a surprising new way to control metals and could help power future advances in electronics,
NASA just proved spacecraft can switch between multiple satellite networks
NASA’s PExT terminal has shown that spacecraft can seamlessly communicate through multiple government and commercial networks, a major step beyond traditional single-network systems. The mission is now expanding to test new capabilities that could help create a more flexible,
Americans share the same struggles despite deep political divides, new bipartisan report finds
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary amid deep political division, a major new bipartisan report aims to get consensus on a fundamental question: How are we really doing as a country? The new "State of the States" report, released by the State of the Nation
Scientists map more than 200 years of nature's progress
Armed with trail cameras, artificial intelligence, and a powerful national research network, scientists are revisiting Lewis and Clark's legendary journey to see how America's wildlife has changed over the past 200 years.
A new strategy for assembling π-conjugated panels into square molecules revealed
A research group has developed a new method for selectively synthesizing three-dimensional macrocycles,⁽¹⁾ in which four panels are arranged in a square, by connecting planar π-conjugated molecules⁽²⁾ at right angles.
Starting kindergarten soon? Summer is a perfect time to support a child's early literacy learning
The first day of kindergarten is a momentous occasion for children and families. It's an exciting milestone that comes with new friends, teachers, and learning opportunities. It can also bring parental anxiety about whether their child is ready, especially when it comes to
Why do rival plants coexist? The secret is in the soil beneath the oaks
How can plants that compete for the same resources grow in the same area without one driving the other to extinction? Ecologists have been trying to answer this question for decades, and a surprising new explanation has now emerged: the soil surrounding oak trees acts as a
Transnational history explores the Japanese migration to Canada 1877–1988
"Japanese Migration to Canada, 1877–1988," a new reference essay by Masumi Izumi, was published in the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Migration Studies. The article offers a sweeping, deeply researched account of Japanese migration to Canada from the arrival of the first
Physicists discover attractive forces between molecular condensates may cause running off
Inside cells, certain functions are carried out by locally adjusting molecular composition. This condensation of material results in the formation of dense droplets that can dynamically rearrange. Because of this, interactions between such dense regions determine the shaping of
