Emperor penguins in focus as Antarctic talks start in Japan
Greater protections for endangered emperor penguins and how to manage growing tourism will top the agenda at talks on Antarctica opening in Japan on Tuesday.
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What if we killed all mosquitoes?
The deadliest animals are not lions, spiders or snakes, but the tiny mosquitoes that suck our blood, make us itchy and infect us with disease.
Is the U.S. in a new era of political violence? Experts say it’s complicated
Researchers who study political violence say that the U.S. is in a period of more intense political rhetoric, but there have been far darker periods in the nation’s history
Dengue outpaces virus-blocking mosquitoes in Brazil
Brazilian scientist Luciano Moreira tenderly handles a glass box of swarming mosquitoes infected with a bacterium that blocks the transmission of dengue.
Why are some people mosquito magnets? Clues are emerging
Ever felt like mosquitoes bite you while ignoring everyone else? Scientists are now making progress in deciphering the complex chemical cocktail that makes particular people more enticing to these disease-spreading bloodsuckers.
Method for measuring energy amounts less than a trillionth of a billionth of a joule could boost quantum computing
The fundamentals of quantum mechanics are minuscule. Scientists constantly home in on finer resolutions to measure, quantify, and control these fundamentals, like photons that carry light and have no mass unless they are moving. The more precise the measurement, the more
Support local people to protect world's nature, new report urges, as deadline for global conservation target looms
For better or worse, a huge number of people will be affected by efforts to achieve "30x30"—the internationally-agreed conservation goal to protect and conserve at least 30% of the world's land and seas by 2030. How many people, and who they are, will depend on which aspects of
Ancient bacterial toolkit links human gut health to ocean carbon cycling
Our gut is colonized by legions of bacteria, which supply us with essential nutrients and support our health. Among them are Akkermansia bacteria, which might be helpful in the management of conditions like obesity and diabetes.
Stunning fossil discovery challenges the origins of animal life
Scientists revisiting mysterious 540-million-year-old microfossils from Brazil have overturned a major idea about early animal life. What were once thought to be trails left behind by tiny worm-like creatures are now believed to be fossilized communities of bacteria and algae —
Scientists discover hidden chemical signature that could reveal alien life
Scientists may have found a powerful new way to hunt for alien life — not by searching for specific molecules, but by looking for hidden patterns in how those molecules are organized. Researchers discovered that living systems leave behind a kind of chemical “fingerprint” in
A new tectonic plate boundary could be forming in southern Africa
Gases collected from boiling mineral springs in Zambia contain the chemical signature of having come directly from the Earth’s mantle, a sign of a rupture in the tectonic plates and the possible beginning of a new continental boundary
NASA’s Hubble reveals a giant chaotic planet nursery unlike anything seen before
Hubble has revealed a giant planet-forming disk unlike anything astronomers have seen before. Nicknamed “Dracula’s Chivito,” the enormous structure appears turbulent and oddly lopsided, with towering filaments visible on only one side. The disk contains enough material to
James Webb telescope reveals the clearest map ever of the Universe’s cosmic web
Astronomers using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have created the clearest map yet of the universe’s “cosmic web” — the enormous hidden structure that connects galaxies across space. By analyzing more than 164,000 galaxies through the massive COSMOS-Web survey, researchers
New tectonic plate boundary could be forming in Zambia, scientists say
Isotope analysis of gas from geothermal springs in Zambia could show that a new continental rift is forming, scientists say. Unexpectedly high helium isotope ratios indicate that a weakness in Earth's crust has broken through to reach the mantle beneath. This rift could
New model finds the lower size limit for habitable exoplanets
The search for Earth 2.0 has begun in earnest. But there's a huge variety of exoplanets out there, so narrowing down the search to focus valuable telescope time on only the best candidates is critical. One variable of a planet that will have a huge impact on its habitability is
Birds of prey in South Africa are in trouble—a study analyzes data from 16 years of road counts
Birds of prey and vultures (raptors) play a vital role in ecosystems, both as top predators and key scavengers. However, compared to many other bird species, raptor populations are declining faster. This is because they need large areas to live in, have low population
Algal bloom crisis shows climate risks need evaluative governance
Identifying and analyzing climate risks is a necessary function of governments, but researchers at Adelaide University's Environment Institute argue such processes will not lead to effective action without taking additional steps to understand which risks are considered
Generative AI may significantly reduce the number of animal experiments
In early phases of drug development, new active substances are tested in animals—alongside numerous other experimental methods. Researchers face a dilemma: on the one hand, for ethical reasons, they aim to keep the number of animals used in an experiment as low as possible. On
Scurvy's skeletal fingerprint found in California's Late Holocene archaeological sites
A recent study published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology documented skeletal changes linked to scurvy in Late Holocene archaeological sites in California (500 BCE–1834 CE). The change observed shows the cascading impacts of dietary practices on skeletal
This simple strength test could predict how long you live
Staying strong may be one of the biggest secrets to living longer — especially for older women. A major study of more than 5,000 women found that simple signs of muscle strength, like a firm hand grip or the ability to quickly stand up from a chair, were strongly linked to
Chip-scale photonic approach achieves ultralow-noise microwave and millimeter-wave signal generation
Researchers led by Dr. Changmin Ahn and Prof. Jungwon Kim at KAIST, in collaboration with Prof. Hansuek Lee, have demonstrated a chip-scale photonic approach for generating ultralow-noise and highly stable microwave and millimeter-wave signals based on optical frequency combs
Why prescribed fire often fails: Scorched invasive shrubs can resprout instead of die
Invasive woody plants present a major ecological challenge in eastern U.S. forests by outcompeting native species and spreading quickly, forming dense thickets that crowd out native plants and disrupt ecosystems. Land managers have tried, with some success, to use prescribed
Pet loss is difficult for people—what about for other pets?
I recently lost one of my cocker spaniels, Bobbi. She was fit, healthy and active, but had a catastrophic diagnosis of oral melanoma two months before I had to make the decision that anyone with deeply loved pets dreads.
New research examines 'remorse bias' in legal decision-making
Two newly published studies by Colleen M. Berryessa, associate professor at the Rutgers University School of Criminal Justice, examine how expressions of remorse are interpreted in the legal system and how those interpretations can contribute to unequal outcomes.
A supervolcano nearly wiped out humanity 74,000 years ago, but humans did something incredible
The Toba supereruption 74,000 years ago was so massive it may have plunged Earth into years of darkness and cold, leading some scientists to believe humanity nearly went extinct. Yet archaeological evidence from Africa and Asia suggests early humans were far more resilient than
NASA fuel cell tests pave way for energy storage on the moon
With a small blue crane, four researchers hoist a cylindrical fuel cell, which looks like a stack of flattened silver and gold soda cans bundled together, into the air and lower it into a rectangular cart on wheels. A tangle of tubes and wires spirals away from the system,
Unexplored interactions between electrons and atomic nuclei shed light on dark matter
Dark matter particles could be mediators of the interaction between electrons and atomic nuclei, as shown by a study conducted by junior group leader, Dr. Konstantin Gaul, Dr. Lei Cong, and Professor Dr. Dmitry Budker, of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU), Helmholtz
Aquifer recharge could buffer water scarcity, yet policy blocks uptake in five countries
Climate change will increasingly stress water supply and economic and environmental systems, creating a mounting need for more ideas to reduce reliance and conserve diminishing river and groundwater resources. MAR takes surface water, such as rainwater, stormwater or treated
Brazilian microfossils interpreted as animal traces are actually algae and bacteria, research reveals
A reexamination of microfossils found in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul shows that the marks previously interpreted as traces of worms or other small oceanic animals are actually communities of fossilized microscopic bacteria and algae.
Lab-grown diamond device could change how radiation doses are measured
A team led by researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University, in collaboration with Tohoku University and Orbray Co., Ltd., using heteroepitaxial diamond materials developed by Orbray, have shown that lab-grown diamonds might realize a radiation dosimeter compatible with both
Snow and glacier ecosystems across remote Antarctic island reveal hidden microbial diversity
Research led by a University of Bristol Ph.D. student has revealed a host of thriving microscopic algae communities in snow and glaciers across one of the most remote locations on Earth. The study, which appears in ISME Communications and includes Dr. Emily Broadwell's intrepid
The Tonga Volcano Cleaned Up After Itself
The blast scrubbed some of its own methane emissions from the atmosphere The post The Tonga Volcano Cleaned Up After Itself appeared first on Nautilus .
Heat index maps uncover when city greening cools most—and when it can backfire
Tree shade is one of the fastest ways to make heat more bearable. It cuts direct sunlight, protects people walking or working outdoors, and remains essential for heat action plans. A new study by researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) adds a
Nudge theory was all about taking responsibility, but it allowed big business to look the other way
Feelings of despair at the state of the world can be overwhelming. Social and environmental problems persist, but political discourse is polarized, divisive and often ineffective.
Researchers find coherent ferrons—polarization waves with potential across quantum and telecom applications
In new research published in Nature Materials, a team of researchers led by Columbia University chemist Xiaoyang Zhu, in collaboration with fellow Columbians Xavier Roy, Milan Delor, Dmitri Basov, and James McIver, has observed coherent ferrons for the first time.
Metagenomics and AI could unlock uncultivated bacteria and archaea
Advances in DNA sequencing have expanded our view of the microbial world, but the inability to cultivate most microbes has been a major constraint. Now, a systematic, predictive framework that combines existing genomic and computational modeling approaches to accelerate the
From AI companions to climate action, we undervalue what lies ahead
Millions of people around the world now use AI companions—for friendship, emotional support, mental health counseling and romantic interactions. This includes 72% of adolescents, according to one study from the United States.
Smarter search for fuel-cell catalysts uses machine learning
A computational method combining generative AI with atomistic simulations can identify promising platinum alloy catalyst structures for hydrogen fuel cells, report researchers from Science Tokyo. Their approach addresses a longstanding challenge in catalyst design and
Hidden proton pathways emerge as ultrathin polymer film method splits interface signals
Understanding how protons move at the interface between polymers and electrode materials is essential for improving fuel cells and related energy devices. However, conventional impedance measurements under inert conditions have long masked these interfacial contributions,
What it would have been like to experience the dinosaur‑killing asteroid armageddon: A blow‑by‑blow account
A great Tyrannosaurus rex strides through the conifer trees of her territory, sniffing the air. She picks up the scent from the carcass of a dead horned dinosaur, Triceratops, that she was feeding on yesterday. She walks over and strips off some more shreds of meat, but the
These Small Ants Act Like Cleaner Fish
It’s the first documented case of the behavior in ants The post These Small Ants Act Like Cleaner Fish appeared first on Nautilus .
Climate patterns may shape where violent conflict risks are amplified
A new Rice University study is shedding light on a long-debated question: Can climate variability influence the risk of armed conflict? The answer, researchers say, is yes—but in more nuanced and region-specific ways than previously understood.
Relaxing rules on carbon markets would undermine climate action, scientists warn
Researchers have cautioned that well-intended suggested changes to carbon markets risk worsening climate impacts if core safeguards are weakened. Climate change, biodiversity loss and human rights are deeply interconnected challenges, often sharing solutions that can deliver
How carbon dioxide cools the upper atmosphere—and warms Earth below
Even as temperatures rise on Earth's surface and in the lower atmosphere, the planet's upper atmosphere has cooled dramatically. This paradoxical pattern is a well-known sign of humanity's climate impacts—but until now, the underlying physics has remained a mystery.
Inland seas may face widespread heat waves by midcentury as warming accelerates
Under the lead of the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW), climate simulations were used to investigate how 19 inland seas, including the Baltic Sea, are responding to climate change. The researchers found that they have been warming faster than the
Can plants hear? Latest research offers new insights
Researchers at MIT have suggested that rice seeds can hear the sound of rain, according to a new study. MIT calls it "the first direct evidence that plant seeds and seedlings can sense sounds in nature." Perhaps surprisingly, the effects reported in this new study are not as
Shark face study uncovers 400-million-year-old blueprint shared across jawed vertebrates
Most of what scientists know about face development comes from studies in bony vertebrates such as mice, chickens, and zebrafish. However, their evolutionary counterparts, cartilaginous fishes, have remained largely unexplored. This gap has limited our understanding of how
Looped polymers unlock stronger, faster molecular binding through entropy, model suggests
Entropy gets a bad rap. Typically associated with randomness and chaos, it can also correlate with freedom and diversity. Cornell researchers have found that, thanks to the latter qualities, entropy can help bind certain pairs of molecules faster and more robustly—an approach
How AI can lead to false arrests and wrongful convictions
In Baltimore on Oct. 20, 2025, a 17-year-old student named Taki Allen was sitting outside his high school after football practice when an artificial intelligence-enhanced surveillance camera falsely identified the Doritos bag in his pocket as a gun. Within moments, police cars
New alien-life test could help Mars and Europa missions read organic molecules
For decades, the search for life beyond Earth has revolved around a key question: What molecules should scientists be looking for on other planets or moons? A new study, published in Nature Astronomy, suggests that the more revealing clue may not be the molecules themselves,
