How to name a Madagascar hissing cockroach for Valentine’s Day at the Bronx Zoo
The Bronx Zoo is celebrating 15 years of its extremely popular Valentine’s Day “Name a Roach” program
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NASA, SpaceX shoot for predawn Crew-12 launch with sonic boom possible
The Space Coast's first human spaceflight of the year is on tap for early Friday morning as NASA and SpaceX aim to send up a mission to the International Space Station, and also bring back the rocket's booster that could bring with it a sonic boom across Central Florida.
Three decades on from Wales' biggest oil spill: How the Sea Empress disaster changed shipping
I grew up on the beaches of Pembrokeshire in south-west Wales. Visits to Tenby were my family's summer ritual: sand between our toes, paddling in rockpools, strawberry syrup on ice cream.
Trump's EPA decides climate change doesn't endanger public health—the evidence says otherwise
The Trump administration took a major step in its efforts to unravel America's climate policies on Feb. 12, 2026, when it moved to rescind the 2009 endangerment finding—a formal determination that six greenhouse gases that drive climate change, including carbon dioxide and
The story of the first kiss—21.5 million years ago
Why the simple act of kissing—which can be traced back 21.5 million years—continues to confound evolutionary biologists
Join the Great Backyard Bird Count—for science!
Avian enthusiasts around the world will identify and count birds from February 13 through February 16 as part of a massive citizen science project
Arctic peatlands are expanding as temperatures continue to rise, new research confirms
The Arctic is warming faster than the rest of the planet, with average temperatures increasing by about 4°C in the last four decades. A new study, led by the University of Exeter, shows peatlands have expanded since 1950, with some peatland edges moving by more than a meter a
Psychosocial safety pressures across Australian universities
A landmark report from Adelaide University is providing the most comprehensive picture to date of psychosocial safety across Australia's higher education sector. The study identifies widespread well-being and psychosocial safety issues across higher education.
Scientists make microplastics glow to see what they do inside your body
Microplastics and nanoplastics are now found everywhere on Earth, from ocean depths to agricultural soils and even inside the human body. Yet scientists still struggle to understand what these particles actually do once they enter living organisms. A new study proposes an
NASA crew set for flight to ISS
NASA is set to launch four astronauts to the International Space Station on Friday, replacing a crew that was evacuated early due to a medical issue.
New study assesses potential dust control options for Great Salt Lake
A new collaborative study, led by University of Utah Professor of atmospheric sciences Kevin Perry, provides policymakers, agency leaders, and the public with the most comprehensive assessment to date of potential dust control options for the Great Salt Lake, as declining water
Europe's most powerful rocket carries 32 satellites for Amazon Leo network into space
The most powerful version of Europe's Ariane 6 rocket Thursday carried 32 satellites into space for the Amazon Leo network, which aims to rival Elon Musk's Starlink.
Thailand uses a birth control vaccine to curb its elephant population near expanding farms
Thailand has begun using a birth control vaccine on elephants in the wild to try and curb a growing problem where human and animal populations encroach on each other—an issue in areas where farms spread into forests and elephants are squeezed out of their natural habitat.
Why phage contamination is hard to kill, and how charged nanoparticles could help
Bacteriophages are viruses that can kill bacteria through highly specific interactions. While this property can be beneficial in selected applications, bacteriophages represent a serious threat to laboratories and industries that rely on bacterial cultures for production. Their
Roman mosaic in Britain reveals a 2,000 year old Trojan War secret
A remarkable Roman mosaic found in Rutland turns out to tell a forgotten version of the Trojan War. Rather than Homer’s famous epic, it reflects a lost Greek tragedy by Aeschylus, featuring vivid scenes of Achilles and Hector. Its artistic patterns echo designs from across the
Why self-expansion is the key to long-lasting love and friendship
A growing body of psychological research shows that the best relationships – romantic or otherwise – come with a feeling of personal growth. Columnist David Robson explores the evidence-backed ways to broaden our horizons and connect more deeply with our loves, our friends and
This vegan diet cut insulin use by nearly 30% in type 1 diabetes
A low-fat vegan diet—without cutting calories or carbs—may help people with type 1 diabetes significantly reduce how much insulin they need, and how much they spend on it. In a new analysis published in BMC Nutrition, participants following the plant-based plan lowered their
New calcium-ion battery design delivers high performance without lithium
Scientists at HKUST have unveiled a major leap forward in calcium-ion battery technology, potentially opening the door to safer, more sustainable energy storage for everything from renewable power grids to electric vehicles. By designing a novel quasi-solid-state electrolyte
The exact speed that makes an AI prosthetic arm feel like your own
A robotic arm that moves too quickly can feel creepy. One that moves too slowly feels awkward and unhelpful. In a VR study, researchers found that AI-powered prosthetic arms were best accepted when they moved at a natural, human-like speed—about one second per reach. That sweet
Researchers develop high-resolution daily atmospheric CO₂ dataset for China
Researchers from the Aerospace Information Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, have developed a high-resolution daily atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) dataset covering China from 2016
Scientists discover hidden trigger behind achilles pain and tennis elbow
A protein called HIF1 may be the missing link behind painful tendon injuries like jumper’s knee and tennis elbow. Researchers showed that high levels of HIF1 actually cause harmful changes that make tendons brittle and prone to pain. In experiments, turning the protein off
60,000 years ago humans were already using poisoned arrows
Sixty thousand years ago, humans in southern Africa were already mastering nature’s chemistry. Scientists have discovered chemical traces of poison from the deadly gifbol plant on ancient quartz arrowheads found in South Africa — the oldest direct evidence of arrow poison ever
The war after the war: How violence is passed down through generations
From Gaza to Ukraine and from Sudan to Myanmar, war rages across the globe, exacting its gravest toll on those least implicated in the violence: children. Today, an estimated 520 million children worldwide—or one in six—live in conflict zones. Yet even when fighting subsides
Asteroid Bennu reveals a new pathway to life’s chemistry
Dust from asteroid Bennu is revealing a surprising origin story for life’s building blocks. New research suggests some amino acids formed in frozen ice exposed to radiation, not warm liquid water as scientists long believed. Isotopic clues show Bennu’s chemistry differs sharply
Vulcan rocket launch suffers fiery booster issue but makes it to space, company says
United Launch Alliance suffered yet another fiery burn-through on one of its solid rocket boosters during a national security mission Thursday.
Swarms of AI bots can sway people's beliefs, threatening democracy
In mid-2023, around the time Elon Musk rebranded Twitter as X but before he discontinued free academic access to the platform's data, my colleagues and I looked for signs of social bot accounts posting content generated by artificial intelligence. Social bots are AI software
Researchers identify key genes controlling rice tiller angle
Rice tiller angle is an important trait affecting population structure, light utilization, planting density, and yield potential. Although several genes affecting tiller angle have been reported, the upstream regulatory networks connecting gravity sensing and hormone
Radar evidence suggests a massive lava tube beneath Venus
Scientists have uncovered evidence of a massive underground lava tube hidden beneath the surface of Venus, revealing a new layer of the planet’s volcanic history. By reexamining radar data from NASA’s Magellan spacecraft, researchers identified what appears to be a huge empty
How children's play with everyday objects can encourage skills needed for STEM success
Parents looking to support their children's learning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) will find no shortage of branded STEM sets, subscription science boxes, private coding programs or educational toys for kids.
What dating apps are really optimizing. Hint: It isn't love
In the weeks leading up to Valentine's Day, dating apps typically see a spike in new users and activity. More profiles are created, more messages sent, more swipes logged.
Rare Red Rock sunflower at high risk of extinction, petition argues
About 3 million people visit Red Rock Canyon outside of Las Vegas every year, but few have noticed the tiny yellow sunflower that has called it home for centuries. It may face extinction without federal protection, two groups say.
Protecting vertebrates from biodiversity loss: Study identifies priority threats
The most effective conservation strategies for protecting vertebrates on a global scale are those aimed at mitigating the effects of overexploitation, habitat loss and climate change, which are the most widespread threats with the greatest impact across the planet. This is one
UK space firm Skyrora explores buying assets of struggling rival Orbex
British company Skyrora, which designs and builds rockets to carry small satellites into space, announced Thursday it could acquire "select" assets from its stricken rival Orbex, including its spaceport in Scotland.
Wearable sensor can detect dangerous ammonia gas through color and electronics
Ammonia (NH3)—the second-most-produced chemical globally—has proven to be highly important in furthering human civilization over the centuries, both in terms of technological capabilities and innovation potential. It is widely utilized in fertilizers, refrigerants, biomarkers,
Basic research on Listeria bacteria leads to unique cancer therapy
After nearly 40 years of research on how Listeria bacteria manipulate our cells and battle our immune system to cause listeriosis, Daniel Portnoy and his colleagues have discovered a way to turn the bacteria into a potent booster of the immune system—and a potential weapon
'It ain't no unicorn': Meet the researchers who've interviewed 130 Bigfoot hunters
It was the image that launched a cultural icon. In 1967, in the northern Californian woods, a seven foot tall, ape-like creature covered in black fur and walking upright was captured on camera, at one point turning around to look straight down the lens. The image is endlessly
Noisy classroom? Study suggests engagement matters more than eliminating background noise
How well we pay attention while learning is influenced not only by external distractions like background noise but also by internal factors such as how interesting we find the material, according to a study recently published by researchers at Bar-Ilan University. The research
The hidden impact of polluted snow
As Canada experiences record snowfall, new research from the University of Waterloo suggests that tiny amounts of industrial pollution trapped in snow can change how sunlight reaches the ground below and significantly alter fragile environments.
Politics could threaten future of national parks as 'big tourism' interests take over
National parks are public conservation assets, created to protect biodiversity and provide affordable access to nature for all. But, new research published in npjBiodiversity highlights a growing global issue: According to the authors, political decisions are increasingly
100 beavers set to be reintroduced to the UK this year, with more to come
Centuries after they were wiped out, the reintroduction of beavers to the UK is gathering pace. Following a government announcement allowing beavers to be released in the wild, a flurry of reintroductions are planned for 2026 and beyond. Beavers could soon be coming to a river
Swipe left or right? Sharing conspiracy theories in dating profiles can damage first impressions
Researchers in the School of Psychology at the University of Kent have found that sharing conspiracy theories on their dating profiles can seriously damage first impressions and reduce romantic interest, but this reaction depends on the political views of the person viewing the
Why brands can become emotional lifelines in times of crisis
The rain hasn't stopped for hours. Wind rattles the shelter's windows as the storm outside swells, flooding the streets they used to call home. In a crowded gym, a family of four sit huddled together on makeshift beds pushed side by side each other. The parents wrap donated
Cutting down on quantum-dot crosstalk: Precise measurements expose a new challenge
Devices that can confine individual electrons are potential building blocks for quantum information systems. But the electrons must be protected from external disturbances. RIKEN researchers have now shown how quantum information encoded into a so-called quantum dot can be
Where'd you get that frog? Study traces illicit online amphibian trade
Keeping amphibians as pets offers hobbyists an opportunity to connect with the non-human world, often increasing interest in conserving animals in the wild. But there's a dark side to the amphibian trade, according to a study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign,
Physicists develop new protocol for building photonic graph states
Physicists have long recognized the value of photonic graph states in quantum information processing. However, the difficulty of making these graph states has left this value largely untapped. In a step forward for the field, researchers from The Grainger College of Engineering
Temporal evolution of GRB 240825A afterglow provides insight into origins of optically dark gamma-ray bursts
Researchers from the Yunnan Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have conducted a new study on the temporal evolution of the afterglow from gamma-ray burst GRB 240825A. The study offers new evidence to better understand the physical environment surrounding gamma-ray
AI uncovers solutions to Erdős problems, moving closer to transforming math
LLMs have recently helped find solutions to a number of minor longstanding problems. But a new plan called First Proof is really putting them to the test
Science policy education should start on campus, say researchers
Although modern science has only been around for a few centuries, we've become quite adept at training students in the scientific method. But learning how to translate research insights into practical actions often isn't part of a budding scientist's curriculum.
Korean study finds extent of drought areas shapes public response
How do people's attention and actions change when a drought affects the whole country compared to when it is concentrated in one region? A research team led by Professor Jong-Hoon Kam from the Department of Environmental Engineering at POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and
Driven electrolytes are agile and active at the nanoscale
Technologies for energy storage as well as biological systems such as the network of neurons in the brain depend on driven electrolytes that are traveling in an electric field due to their electrical charges. This concept has also recently been used to engineer synthetic motors
