The Mystery of the Giant Blobs at the Center of the Earth
Are they remnants of primordial Earth or extraterrestrial in origin? The post The Mystery of the Giant Blobs at the Center of the Earth appeared first on Nautilus .
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Deep-rooted grass stores significantly more carbon, says new study
Soil biologist Eric Slessarev has some advice for conservationists, landscapers, and farmers with fallow fields: Go touch deep-rooted grass. Or better yet, go plant some. Slessarev, an assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology in Yale's Faculty of Arts and
Photonic chip generates milliwatt-level UV light, 100 times brighter than before
Researchers from the University of Twente and Harvard University have developed a new way to generate ultraviolet (UV) light on a photonic chip at power levels high enough for real-world use. For the first time, the technique produces milliwatt-level UV light on a chip. It is
Mapping the hidden structure of the universe
The universe has a hidden structure, and a University of Virginia professor is mapping it in 3D, using 46 million galaxies and quasars and 19 million stars. Satya Gontcho A Gontcho, an assistant professor in the Department of Astronomy, is part of a team using the Lawrence
Astronomers precisely date rare brown dwarf companion, offering new test for how these objects cool
Astronomers at the University of Hawaiʻi have precisely measured the age of a nearby sun-like star and its unusual companion, known as a brown dwarf, an object that falls between a planet and a star. The discovery offers new clues into how brown dwarfs grow and change over time.
Half of America sits in democratic limbo—and that silent middle may decide what breaks next
If you were to ask democracy scholars what they consider the greatest threat to American democracy, you might assume it is voters who support undemocratic practices or policies. But the real answer may surprise you: These voters are not the main problem.
How changing ice conditions impact Great Lakes communities
A research collaboration, including a team of students from the University of Michigan, has published a new report that dives into an understudied aspect on changing ice cover on the Great Lakes. Namely, how do residents, business leaders and other stakeholders in the region
Your phone's next speed boost may come from a strange magnetic jump that rewrites how chips handle heat
A new technology has been proposed that could fundamentally solve the issue of smartphones overheating during high-spec gaming or extended video streaming. Researchers at KAIST have discovered the principle of processing signals using the minute vibrations of magnets (spin
Bacteria's 'two-way door' revealed: How antimicrobials cross cell membranes
Researchers at Durham have helped unlock a new understanding of how bacteria import antimicrobial peptides—the molecules that can kill or inhibit microbes. The research sheds new light on SbmA, a key transporter protein found in the membranes of bacteria such as E. coli. Their
Hydrocarbons may power next-generation batteries with lower costs and emissions
Scientists from Skoltech have presented a review on the use of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in metal-ion batteries. The work, published in Progress in Materials Science, systematizes over a decade of research and opens new directions for creating environmentally friendly,
Rome Was Built Today
Celebrating the scientific and technical contributions of Rome on the mythical birthday of the eternal city The post Rome Was Built Today appeared first on Nautilus .
New research reveals cell proteins that drive severe viral infections
Researchers at Umeå University have identified two human cell proteins, NUP98 and NUP153, that play a crucial role in how viruses such as tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), West Nile virus, and dengue virus replicate in the body. The findings challenge existing views of how
Crabs' iconic sideways walk evolved from common ancestor, study suggests
Researchers have provided new insights into the evolutionary origin of sideways walking in crabs. Their study, published today as a Reviewed Preprint in eLife, presents the largest comparative dataset on crab locomotion to help understand the origins of the animals' iconic
Milk's hidden carbon bill is bigger than advertised as damaged grass and soils drive emissions higher
Livestock farming causes a significant share of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. According to a new study, the carbon footprint of milk may be considerably larger than commonly calculated when carbon released from the soil is also considered. The work is published in The
How colonialism still shapes extinctions today, from island species losses to disappearing languages
Human activities have always shaped both biological and cultural diversity. An international team led by the University of Vienna has now investigated the link between the threat to species and that to languages. Linguists and biodiversity researchers identified a common key
AI tool predicts how new drug molecules move before costly lab tests
For every life-changing new drug that comes to market, many candidates fail along the way. An artificial intelligence-based tool developed at the University of Oregon could help scientists better predict how hypothetical new drugs might act in the body before running expensive
High school journalism leading the way in financial literacy, even if business isn't part of curriculum
Journalism classes are usually not paired with business lessons. While there have been calls for increasing business knowledge in journalism, research from the University of Kansas has found that high school journalists are learning business skills even though they are not a
Adding water sources boosted reproducing males in wild asses, raising genetic diversity
Relatively simple habitat management can influence population genetics, providing conservation managers with the opportunity to support genetic resilience not only through breeding programs or translocations, but also by changing how essential resources are distributed in the
Birds and monkeys in the Amazon share information via 'internet of the forest'
You might go for a walk in the forest to disconnect from work and calm your nerves after a busy week. The chirping and calls of birds in the canopy above might be exactly what allows you to relax.
What Bronze Age people ate and drank: South Caucasus pottery reveals a surprisingly diverse menu
What culinary practices prevailed in the South Caucasus during the Bronze Age? A new study shows that the cuisine was remarkably diverse. The evidence highlights a multi-ingredient cuisine alongside the central role of dairy products, fruit and grape-based beverages in
These three plant bacteria turn soy yogurt into a safer, creamier product while stripping out troublesome sugars
Researchers at DTU have found that a particular type of lactic acid bacteria displays considerable potential for producing plant-based yogurt alternatives. The bacteria can inhibit potentially harmful bacteria and break down sugars that cause stomach discomfort.
Mosses and thale cress share the same leaf growth principles, despite 400 million years of separate evolution
A study published in Science Advances shows that, in moss and the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, commonly known as thale cress, leaf formation relies on very similar cellular dynamics, with growth concentrated at their base. Led by scientists at Université de Montréal, the
NASA on track for future missions with initial Artemis II assessments
Following NASA's Artemis II mission successfully splashing down on Earth, engineers started diving into detailed analysis of data to assess how key systems and subsystems on the Orion spacecraft, SLS (Space Launch System) rocket, and systems at the launch pad at the agency's
Goose poop could fuel a circular agriculture strategy, research shows
The telltale V-formations of migrating Canada geese each spring are usually welcome harbingers of warmer weather. They are also a visible warning that your chances of stepping on something unpleasant in a local park, sports field or greenspace have dramatically increased. The
Plastics found in tomato and wheat crops stunt growth, study finds
A study investigating microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) in agricultural settings has found they reduced plant growth and entered plant tissues through the soil, raising new concerns about food safety and human exposure. The study, led by Griffith University, tested how
‘Beyond Inheritance’ offers a new view on mutations
In her debut book, science writer Roxanne Khamsi offers a new view of mutations that’s not limited to birth and death.
The Peace That an Eclipse Brings
The total solar eclipse in 2024 hushed the Earth by striking awe in the humans in its path The post The Peace That an Eclipse Brings appeared first on Nautilus .
Hubble reveals Crab Nebula filaments racing outward at 3.4 million mph
This observation from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, released on March 23, 2026, gives an unparalleled, detailed look at the aftermath of a supernova and how it has evolved over the telescope's long lifetime.
One tiny gene switch turns red lettuce upside down and reveals a hidden chemical tradeoff
Red-leaf lettuce is red due to anthocyanins, a class of polyphenolic pigments widely studied for their antioxidant properties. In plants, anthocyanins are synthesized through enzymatic reactions originating from the amino acid phenylalanine. Along this biosynthetic pathway,
ATLAS acts as a cosmic-ray laboratory with first measurement of proton–oxygen collisions
Tens of kilometers above Earth's surface, high-energy particles from outer space constantly strike the atmosphere, creating showers of energetic secondary particles that rain down from the sky. Approximately one of these particles passes through your head every second, but the
More effective, longer-lasting sunscreen made from natural extracts
Scientists from the Laboratory of Dermatological Photobiology of the University of Malaga, in collaboration with Cantabria Labs España, have carried out a study in which, for the first time, they have demonstrated how a natural extract—the Aspalathus linearis, the rooibos
One daily habit is quietly shaping preschool language, and it is not just screen time
Young children who spend more time on screen-based activities and less time talking with adults tend to have weaker language skills, according to a recent study from the University of Tartu. The findings highlight that daily interaction—rather than screen limits alone—plays a
US climate sees decline in both hot and cold extreme temperatures since 1899, researchers claim
A comprehensive new study extending the U.S. Historical Climatology Network (USHCN) record back to 1899 finds that both hot and cold temperature extremes across the contiguous United States have declined over the past 127 years. The research, performed by Dr. John R. Christy,
Better-fed calves are more motivated to play, pioneering study shows
New research has revealed dairy calves that are fed less complete tasks faster and remember more in pursuit of milk, but miss out on play. Calves that were given more food were more inclined to play. The study, led by the University of Bristol and published in Scientific
Mathematicians found out why waiting for the elevator takes forever
Does it ever feel like an elevator is always going in the wrong direction? Mathematics can explain why
Mars Curiosity Rover Makes a Big Find on the Red Planet
The little robotic chemist that could The post Mars Curiosity Rover Makes a Big Find on the Red Planet appeared first on Nautilus .
How Bruce the half‑beak kea weaponized his disability to become the alpha bird
Bruce the kea is missing his entire upper beak. Yet he is the alpha bird of his circus (the apt collective noun for a group of New Zealand's famously playful alpine parrots).
Missing link in evolution of ancient fish found in 150-year-old museum specimen
A new species of coelacanth has been identified from a 150-year-old fossil housed at London's Natural History Museum. Former University of Portsmouth paleontology student Jack L. Norton located the coelacanth, which provides a crucial missing piece in the evolutionary history
Water-based process could make compostable packaging practical at industrial speeds
About 30% of plastics consumed are made to last forever but are discarded after a single use. Researchers at Virginia Tech are working to change that with a new approach that could make environmentally responsible packaging more practical at scale.
New plastic film covered in thousands of tiny pillars can tear apart viruses on contact
Think of how many surfaces you touch every day, from your kitchen bench to the handrail on the bus or train, your work desk and your phone screen.
Earth Day started as a US 'teach-in' 56 years ago. Now it's a global event
Millions of people around the world will pause Wednesday, at least for a moment, to mark Earth Day. It's an annual event founded by people who hoped to stir activism to clean up and preserve a planet that is now home to some 8 billion humans and assorted trillions of other
Titan’s strange plains may be explained by unusual weather
Most of Titan’s surface is oddly flat and smooth, and it may be because it is coated by as much as a metre of fluffy organic material that snowed down from the icy moon’s thick atmosphere
Breakthrough sulfur polymer kills dangerous fungi and bacteria while sparing human and plant cells
Antimicrobial resistance is becoming a global burden in human health and food production, so affordable new materials are needed to overcome this growing problem. To answer the call, a multidisciplinary research team led by Flinders University with U.K. experts has discovered a
Our efforts to halt global forest loss aren't working: New research
The loss of our forests is one of the biggest environmental challenges of our time. Forests are key to curbing carbon emissions and protecting the plants, animals, and humans that call Earth home.
The edge of the Milky Way's star-forming disk revealed
How far the Milky Way's disk extends has long been difficult to define—it doesn't end sharply, but fades away gradually at its outer edges. Now, for the first time, an international team of astronomers has identified the edge of the Milky Way's star-forming disk by studying the
'Slopaganda': How AI-generated content becomes a political weapon
An Iranian propaganda video depicts Donald Trump, Netanyahu and Satan as Lego figurines, the White House combines real footage of airstrikes with clips from films and video games, and the American president shares AI-generated videos of himself as a fighter pilot. It sounds
The quantum arrow of time can be reversed, physicists show
Researchers have developed a way to flip time to move backward in a quantum system. This level of control could lead to bizarre real-world applications
Less food waste: Supermarkets can save money by giving surplus food away
When supermarkets choose the right strategy for surplus food, they can both reduce food waste and improve their bottom line. An analysis from the University of Copenhagen shows that it is often more profitable to donate surplus food than to throw it away. In many cases, doing
Perovskite quantum dots crack two big barriers, staying stable in polar solvents and growing with atomic precision
Perovskite quantum dots are considered promising materials for LEDs, photocatalysis, and future quantum light sources. Researchers at LMU Munich have managed to master two major hurdles in working with these quantum dots: their stability in solution and precise control of their
Put a nanodiamond under intense pressure and it becomes flexible
Diamond is among the hardest naturally occurring substances on Earth, but if you shrink it down to the nanoscale, it is surprisingly elastic. And that could be useful for a host of applications such as quantum computing. In a paper published in the journal Physical Review X,
