What happens when fire ignites in space? 'A ball of flame'
When fire breaks out in the low-gravity, high-stakes conditions inside spacecraft or space stations, it behaves very differently than back here on Earth.
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Indoor ozone reaction products can make blood thicker
Ozone that protects us from the sun's harmful UV rays, when in an indoor space, reacts with oils present on skin, wall paint, or even cooking oil to produce chemicals that negatively impact cardiovascular health.
After medical issue, SpaceX Crew-11 set to depart space station for overnight splashdown
NASA gave the go for the SpaceX Crew-11 mission to depart the International Space Station on Wednesday headed for an overnight splashdown back on Earth in the Pacific Ocean.
World-first ice archive to guard secrets of melting glaciers
Scientists on Wednesday sealed ancient chunks of glacial ice in a first-of-its-kind sanctuary in Antarctica in the hope of preserving these fast-disappearing records of Earth's past climate for centuries to come.
From bolts to blue jets, lightning comes in many strange forms
Lightning has captured people's fascination for millennia. It's embedded in mythology, religion and popular culture. Think of Thor in Norse mythology or Indra in Hinduism.
Hydrogel cilia set new standard in microrobotics
Cilia are micrometer-sized biological structures that occur frequently in nature. Their characteristic high-frequency, three-dimensional beating motions (5–40 Hz) play indispensable roles inside the body.
Physics of foam strangely resembles AI training
Foams are everywhere: soap suds, shaving cream, whipped toppings and food emulsions like mayonnaise. For decades, scientists believed that foams behave like glass, their microscopic components trapped in static, disordered configurations.
Takeaway coffee cups release thousands of microplastic particles, research reveals
It's 7:45am. You grab a takeout coffee from your local café, wrap your hands around the warm cup, take a sip, and head to the office.
Massive brain study reveals why memory loss can suddenly speed up with age
A massive international brain study has revealed that memory decline with age isn’t driven by a single brain region or gene, but by widespread structural changes across the brain that build up over time. Analyzing thousands of MRI scans and memory tests from healthy adults,
As we begin to assess the fire damage in Victoria, we must not overlook these hidden costs
Devastated by widespread fires, Victoria has declared a state of disaster. More than 500 structures have reportedly been destroyed and 1,000 agricultural properties have been affected. Tragically, there has also been one fatality.
Homo habilis: The oldest and most complete skeleton discovered to date
An international research team has unveiled a significant discovery in human paleontology: an exceptionally well-preserved Homo habilis skeleton dating back more than 2 million years.
New state of matter discovered in a quantum material
At TU Wien, researchers have discovered a state in a quantum material that had previously been considered impossible. The definition of topological states should be generalized.
“Marine darkwaves”: Hidden ocean blackouts are putting sealife at risk
Scientists have identified a newly recognized threat lurking beneath the ocean’s surface: sudden episodes of underwater darkness that can last days or even months. Caused by storms, sediment runoff, algae blooms, and murky water, these “marine darkwaves” dramatically reduce
Underestimates in global warming pose major climate and financial risks, report shows
Policymakers and financial institutions are underestimating climate risks that could undermine the global financial system, according to a new report from the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) and University of Exeter.
Why reading for pleasure matters
It's no secret New Zealand is facing a literacy crisis. Education Minister Erica Stanford has voiced serious concerns about the reading and writing abilities of our tamariki, noting many are not meeting expected benchmarks and lack the literacy skills needed to succeed at high
Can a bat catch prey on a mirror? A bat's expert foraging skills revealed using a robot
Scientists built a robot to help explain how a tropical bat spots insects perched on leaves using echolocation, a highly sophisticated behavior that requires precise, split-second decision making on the part of the hunting bat.
Type Ia supernova delayed-detonation model supported by SN 2024gy observations
A research team from the Yunnan Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), in collaboration with domestic and international partners, has carried out observational studies on SN 2024gy—a high-velocity Type Ia supernova (SN Ia)—using the Lijiang 2.4-meter telescope.
Lowering deer densities can help restore Scotland's lost Highland mountain woodlands, new research shows
Lost mountain woodlands in the Scottish Highlands will return if deer densities are reduced, according to new University of Stirling research.
Study finds that missionaries pull from same language toolkit to describe experiences
As nearly 2 million Christian missionaries worldwide step off on long- and short-term assignments annually, a new study from UConn and University of Oklahoma researchers finds that upon return, they consistently draw on the same communication strategies to talk about their
Two simple modifications cool Kenyan homes and keep mosquitoes out
Researchers in Kenya have identified two low-cost solutions that tackle the twin challenges of rising temperatures and malaria transmission.
How 'smart' nanoparticles can deliver targeted gene therapy in osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a highly prevalent joint disease that leads to cartilage breakdown, pain and disability, yet there are still no FDA-approved treatments that can slow or reverse its progression. RNA-based therapies hold great promise because they can silence the molecular
'Absolutely huge' black coral among largest ever seen
Marine researchers have been wowed by the size of a centuries-old black coral found in Fiordland.
Astronomers discover 19 new pulsars by analyzing FAST archival data
Astronomers from Nanjing University in China have analyzed the archival data from the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST), searching for new pulsars. As a result, they detected 19 such objects that were missed by previous studies. The findings were
Scotland's success in ending harmful shelters is at risk, research reveals
People facing homelessness in Scotland are once again at risk of trauma and harm as the housing emergency threatens the return of old-style communal night shelters, experts fear.
Fire on ice: The Arctic's changing fire regime
The number of wildland fires burning in the Arctic is on the rise, according to NASA researchers. Moreover, these blazes are burning larger, hotter, and longer than they did in previous decades.
Ancient Tethys Ocean shaped Central Asia's landscape, study suggests
New research from Adelaide University suggests the power of the ancient Tethys Ocean might have shaped Central Asia's topography during the Cretaceous period.
China has applied to launch 200,000 satellites, but what are they for?
A Chinese application to the International Telecommunications Union suggests plans for the largest satellite mega constellation ever built – but something else might be going on here
Computer science can help abuse and trafficking survivors regain safety
Nicola Dell, a computer scientist studying the role of technology in intimate partner violence, cofounded the Center to End Technology Abuse.
The ocean absorbed a stunning amount of heat in 2025
Earth’s oceans reached their highest heat levels on record in 2025, absorbing vast amounts of excess energy from the atmosphere. This steady buildup has accelerated since the 1990s and is now driving stronger storms, heavier rainfall, and rising sea levels. While surface
Scientists found the brain rhythm that makes your body feel like yours
A new study reveals that alpha brain waves help the brain decide what belongs to your body. Faster rhythms allow the brain to match sight and touch more precisely, strengthening the feeling that a body part is truly yours. Slower rhythms blur that timing, making it harder to
Siwarha's wake gives it away at Betelgeuse
Betelgeuse is the star that everybody can't wait to see blow up, preferably sooner rather than later. That's because it's a red supergiant on the verge of becoming a supernova and there hasn't been one explode this close in recorded human history. It's been changing its
Ground-breaking study evidences flapper skate recovery in Scotland
A ground-breaking study reinforces that flapper skates are beginning to recover in Scotland. The study—led by Rosie Ashworth, a Research Assistant at The Lyell Center for Earth and marine sciences—involved interviews with commercial fishers about their interactions with flapper
Frozen hydrogen cyanide 'cobwebs' offer clues to origin of life
A substance poisonous to humans—hydrogen cyanide—may have helped create the seeds of life on Earth. At cold temperatures, hydrogen cyanide forms crystals. And, according to computer models reported in ACS Central Science, some of the facets on these crystals are highly
T. rex took 40 years to become fully grown
An analysis of growth rings in the leg bones of 17 Tyrannosaurus rex individuals reveals that the dinosaurs matured much more slowly than previously thought, and adds to the evidence that they weren't all one species
Three ways to become calmer this New Year that you haven't tried (yet)
Easing stress is one of the healthiest pursuits you can embark on this January. Here are some evidence-backed ways to ground yourself in 2026
T. rex grew up slowly: New study reveals 'king of dinosaurs' kept growing until age 40
For decades, scientists have been counting annual growth rings—similar to tree rings—inside fossilized leg bones of Tyrannosaurus rex to estimate how old the giant carnivores were when they died and how quickly they grew to adulthood. The best estimates from previous studies
Are Seed Oils Bad for You? Debunking a Viral Social Media Myth
A food scientist debunks the vilification of seed oils on social media and explains what research says about them.
First extensive study into marsupial gut microbiomes reveals new microbial species and antimicrobial resistance
Marsupials are a group of mammals that encompass many of Australia's most iconic animals, unique because of their geographically isolated evolution. Despite their household names, their microbiomes remain under-researched.
Time warp: How marketers express time can affect what consumers buy
Which feels further back in time: the year 2016, or 10 years ago? And which feels closer: 2036, or 10 years from now?
We must completely change the way we build homes to stay below 2°C
Construction generates between 10 and 20 per cent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, but cities can slash their climate impact by designing buildings in a more efficient way
Crop droughts set to worsen—even as rainfall increases
Europe and western North America will experience more frequent and severe crop droughts as Earth warms, even in places where yearly rainfall increases.
Measuring movement creates a new way to map indoor air pollution
University of Birmingham scientists have developed a new way of measuring and analyzing indoor air pollution that—in initial trials—has established a clear link between office occupancy, physical activity, and air quality.
2025 was third hottest year on record: EU, US experts
The planet logged its third hottest year on record in 2025, extending a run of unprecedented heat, with no relief expected in 2026, US researchers and EU climate monitors said Wednesday.
Scientist wins 'Environment Nobel' for shedding light on hidden fungal networks
Beneath the surface of forests, grasslands and farms across the world, vast fungal webs form underground trading systems to exchange nutrients with plant roots, acting as critical climate regulators as they draw down 13 billion tons of carbon annually.
New method allows scientists to 3D-print structures within cells
Researchers have developed a way to 3D print custom micrometer-sized structures directly into the interior of living cells.
How news language and social networks affect the spread of immigration attitudes
A study in Economic Inquiry reveals how changes in immigration attitudes in an area spread to other localities and highlights the role of media language and social networks in shaping political attitudes.
Nature-based solutions? When more parks don't mean less heat risk
Cities around the world are planting more trees and creating new parks to combat rising temperatures. But a decade-long study of Northern Taiwan's cities reveals a troubling paradox: more green space doesn't always mean less heat risk, and the heat adaptation benefits of urban
The environmental risk of using pet flea treatment
A new paper in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry finds that common medications used for flea and tick control in dogs and cats may pose a significant environmental risk for insects in the wild.
Doctors discover the source of mysterious intoxication
Some people get drunk without drinking because their gut bacteria produce alcohol from food. Researchers have now identified the microbes and biological pathways behind this rare condition, auto-brewery syndrome. Tests showed patients’ gut samples produced far more alcohol than
EU's impending accession to rights convention resembles a 3D puzzle, says research
The detail of the European Union's long-awaited accession to the European Convention on Human Rights is like a "three-dimensional puzzle" because of the several vital and interlocking elements which need to be agreed, a new study suggests.
