Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is invaluable in the medical world. But despite all the good it does, there is room for improvement. One way to enhance the sensitivity of MRI is dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP), where target molecules for imaging are modified so they form
The choreographed movements that cells perform to form complex biological shapes, like our hands, have fascinated scientists for centuries. Now, researchers at EMBL Barcelona have launched LimbNET, an open-access online platform that allows scientists to directly choreograph
A research team led by Ryo Shimano of the University of Tokyo has successfully visualized two distinct mechanisms through which up and down spins, inherent properties of electrons, switch in an antiferromagnet, a material in which spin alignments cancel each other out. One of
A recently published article in the journal BioScience has revealed a surprising opportunity for conserving threatened species: sports teams and their branding.
A study led by researchers at the University of South Florida's College of Marine Science has found that certain populations of the seaweed sargassum have experienced a significant decline over the past decade, even as increased abundance of sargassum in the tropical Atlantic
"Why are we here?" is humanity's most fundamental and persistent question. Tracing the origins of the elements is a direct attempt to answer this at its deepest level. We know many elements are created inside stars and supernovae, which then cast them out into the universe, yet
Scientists have captured a never-before-seen, high-resolution look at influenza’s stealthy invasion of human cells, revealing that the cells aren’t just helpless victims. Using a groundbreaking imaging technique, researchers discovered that our cells actually reach out and
Researchers have discovered a new way to grow graphene that deliberately adds structural defects to enhance its usefulness in electronics, sensors, catalysts, and more. Using a specially shaped molecule called azupyrene, scientists can produce graphene films rich in beneficial
Nearly three decades since the remarkable cloning of Dolly the sheep, it has all gone quiet on the human cloning front. Michael Le Page wonders what's happening behind the scenes
FROSTI is a new adaptive optics system that precisely corrects distortions in LIGO’s mirrors caused by extreme laser power. By using custom thermal patterns, it preserves mirror shape without introducing noise, allowing detectors to operate at higher sensitivities. This leap
Camera traps in an area of the Leuser rainforest patrolled by NGOs spotted 17 tigers in 2023 and 18 Sumatran tigers in 2024, while surveys elsewhere on the island averaged seven
Destroyed habitats, poaching, and prey depletion have dramatically reduced tiger habitats around the world. Today, tigers occupy just 5–10% of their historical habitats. But on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, an important population of critically endangered Sumatran tigers
A remarkable resistance to venom has been discovered in a frog that feasts on hornets despite their deadly stingers. This frog could potentially serve as a model organism for studies on mechanisms underlying venom tolerance.
The European Parliament recently backed changes to the rules around the labeling and marketing of plant-based meat alternatives. New definitions specify that words like "burger," "sausage," or "steak," refer exclusively to animal protein. To get to the meat of the matter, this
Starting school is a time of great anticipation and excitement for young children and families. The buildup can last for months as children go to orientation days, and families prepare with new uniforms, bags and lunch boxes. Significant adults in the child's life are eager to
Researchers give a whiff of why smell matters to health The post This “Cinderella Sense” May Be Tied to More Than 130 Disorders appeared first on Nautilus .
Employees leave employers when their work arrangements fail to match their preferences, according to new research that tracked 482 workers over two years across Australia and Europe.
Ancient anaconda fossils show that the snakes became giants soon after emerging in Miocene South America. Their size has stayed stable for over 12 million years, even though other huge reptiles went extinct. Surprisingly, warmer periods didn’t make anacondas bigger—just more
Stanford researchers found that gas stoves expose Americans to surprisingly high levels of nitrogen dioxide—often matching or exceeding outdoor pollution. For millions, cooking alone pushes NO2 over long-term safety thresholds. Smaller homes, renters, and rural households face
For the first time, researchers have produced a detailed, high-resolution map of peatlands in the EU, showing that these areas emit twice as much greenhouse gases than previously thought. The research, led by eco-hydrologist Quint van Giersbergen of Radboud University, has been
Scientists from Heriot-Watt and the University of South Africa have developed a method to convert hazardous acid mine drainage into a valuable resource for drinking water treatment, offering hope for communities living near polluted mining areas.
How can people with diametrically opposed views suddenly stand shoulder to shoulder in protest? Researchers from Copenhagen, Oslo and Mainz have investigated this question. The starting point is the COVID protests, which were driven by three unifying strategies.
Humans and farm animals share a common affliction: inflammation.
Downshifting from the noise of the day is easier for some than others The post Here’s Why Some Insomniacs Can’t Sleep appeared first on Nautilus .
Young people of mixed heritage are being under-recognized in educational policy and practice, despite being among the fastest-growing groups in the UK.
2024 marked the 20th anniversary of the launch of the inspection program by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), the non-profit responsible for overseeing financial audits. It was also a banner year for PCAOB's disciplinary activity, with 51 finalized
An international team led by the University of Oxford has identified one of the largest rotating structures ever reported: a "razor-thin" string of galaxies embedded in a giant spinning cosmic filament, 140 million light-years away.
A new study suggests that traditional learning activities like making notes remain critical for students' reading comprehension and retention, while also suggesting that large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot, could be a useful tool for helping
Duelling prairie chickens, a snake-mimicking moth and a once-a-year sunrise at the South Pole feature in the best images from the Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition 2025
A lack of sufficient staff is the biggest barrier for Irish organizations when it comes to implementing environmental policies, a new UCD study has shown. Local authorities are expected to do more with less as an increased focus on environmental policy targets and commitments
Recently unearthed fossilized vertebrae shows the resilience of the massive snakes The post Living Large: Giant Anacondas Blew Up 12 Million Years Ago appeared first on Nautilus .
It’s not what we thought The post What Makes a Word Beautiful? appeared first on Nautilus .
As small aquatic habitats disappear at an alarming rate, private garden ponds may help compensate for the loss of natural habitats and support biodiversity in urban areas. However, as these ponds become increasingly popular, the spread of invasive species is emerging as a
Thulium fiber lasers, operating at a wavelength of 2 micrometers, are valued for applications in medicine, materials processing, and defense. Their longer wavelength makes stray light less damaging compared to the more common ytterbium lasers at 1 micrometer.
The origin of the elusive preference of copper chalcogenides for selectively converting carbon dioxide (CO2) into formate has long puzzled researchers. Researchers at National Taiwan University have identified a charge-redistribution mechanism that resolves this long-standing
Young people with fewer financial resources, especially boys, are the most exposed to advertising about how to make easy money. So confirms a pioneering study by Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), which has for the first time analyzed how the socioeconomic level and gender of young
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are RNA transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides that do not code for proteins. Once considered mere transcriptional noise, lncRNAs are now known to play vital roles in plant growth, development, and responses to environmental stress. However, few
As nearly one in six couples experience fertility issues, in-vitro fertilization (IVF) is an increasingly common form of reproductive technology. However, there are still many unanswered scientific questions about the basic biology of embryos, including the factors determining
A recent advance in the science of hydrogen fuel production could enable higher output and more sustainable production of this renewable energy source, researchers with Stockholm's KTH Royal Institute of Technology report.
All-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) using silicon (Si) anodes are among the most promising candidates for high-energy and long-lasting power sources, particularly for electric vehicles. Si can store more lithium than conventional graphite, but its volume expands by roughly 410%
How wildfires spread is more variable and unpredictable than Canada's standard models assume, new research from UBC Okanagan data scientists shows.
What the biggest set of trackways ever discovered says about life in the Late Cretaceous The post Behold the Biggest Dinosaur Parade appeared first on Nautilus .
By blocking a molecule that pushes the immune system into overdrive, a vaccine protects mice from life-threatening anaphylaxis
Dolphins produce a range of vocalizations used for echolocation and communication. These vocalizations vary with social context, environmental conditions, external stimuli, and communication, reflecting their cognitive and behavioral complexity.
A fossil site in Bolivia preserves thousands of traces of dinosaurs who walked, ran, and swam along an ancient coastline, according to a study by Raúl Esperante of the Geoscience Research Institute, California, U.S., and colleagues.
Male infertility is a major issue worldwide and its causes remain unclear. Now, an international team of researchers led by Hiroki Shibuya at the RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR) in Japan has discovered a key structure in the germ cells of male mice, that
Bumble bees respond to physical disturbance of their nest with a sequence of defensive behaviors that lasts up to 10 minutes, according to a study by Sajedeh Sarlak at the University of Konstanz, Germany, and colleagues.
Scientists have developed a revolutionary technique for creating colors that can change on command. These are structural colors that don't rely on dyes or pigments and can be used for display signage, adaptive camouflage and smart safety labels, among other applications.
Researchers at UT San Antonio have uncovered new details about electrical signals happening within nerve cells, deepening scientists' understanding of the brain.
Jared Isaacman—the presumptive next leader of NASA—answered questions about his plans for the future of U.S. space exploration on Wednesday