Celebrate Mother’s Day with nine bold, beautiful and bizarre animal moms
Here are some of the most fascinating facts about animal moms, from naked mole rats to giraffes and octopuses
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No trees, no fans: surviving extreme heat in India's salt pans
India faces challenging heat waves each year, but few places endure conditions as searing as the country's western desert salt pans, where workers rely on simple techniques to survive almost unbearable temperatures.
Scientists discover the brain’s hidden “stop scratching” switch
Scientists have uncovered a hidden “stop-scratching” signal in the nervous system that tells your brain when enough scratching is enough. The discovery centers on a molecule called TRPV4, which acts like part of an internal braking system for itch relief. In experiments
Tiny 'metajets' could use light to steer sails for interstellar travel
Minuscule silicon wafers propelled by lasers could be used to steer light sails, helping them travel beyond the solar system
Scientists stunned as volcano cloud destroys methane in the atmosphere
A colossal underwater volcano in the South Pacific may have revealed a surprising new weapon against climate change. After the 2022 eruption of Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai, scientists detected enormous amounts of formaldehyde in the atmosphere — a telltale sign that methane, one
Scientists say a critical Atlantic ocean current is weakening and the world could feel the impact
Scientists have uncovered strong evidence that a major Atlantic Ocean current system tied to global climate is weakening. The slowdown has been detected across a vast region of the North Atlantic over nearly two decades. Since this ocean circulation helps regulate weather and
Antarctica is melting from below and scientists say it’s worse than expected
Scientists have uncovered a hidden Antarctic threat that could accelerate global sea level rise far faster than expected. Deep beneath floating ice shelves, long channels carved into the ice appear to trap warmer ocean water, dramatically speeding up melting from below. Even
Scientists reversed liver aging with young gut bacteria in stunning study
Rebooting the gut microbiome with bacteria from youth may help stop aging-related liver damage and even prevent liver cancer, according to new research in mice. Older mice that received their own preserved youthful microbiome showed less inflammation, reduced DNA damage, and no
Black licorice compound shows promise against inflammatory bowel disease
Researchers have developed a stem cell-based model of the human intestine that may transform how new IBD treatments are discovered. After testing thousands of compounds, they identified glycyrrhizin — a natural substance found in black licorice — as a promising
Researchers develop a biodegradable wash that can remove pesticides and keep fruit fresh longer
Many grocery shoppers know the routine: bring fruit and vegetables home, rinse them, dry them and hope they stay fresh long enough to be eaten. But fresh produce is delicate. Grapes shrivel, apple slices brown and berries can spoil quickly.
Scientists just sent unhackable quantum keys across 120 kilometers
Scientists have taken a major step toward ultra-secure quantum communication by demonstrating a remarkably stable quantum encryption system that worked across more than 120 kilometers of optical fiber. Using tiny semiconductor quantum dots that emit single particles of light on
Conspiracy theories meet real news: How QAnon tries to hijack the Internet
"When people think of extremists, they tend to think of neo-Nazis," said Francesco Campisi, a lecturer at Université de Montréal's School of Criminology. "But there are many other fringe groups that may not be violent yet can give rise to extremism."
The hidden atomic gap that could break next-generation computer chips
A major obstacle may be standing in the way of the next generation of ultra-tiny computer chips. Researchers discovered that many promising 2D materials lose their advantages because an invisible atomic-scale gap forms when they are combined with insulating layers. That tiny
How river DNA can track fish, frogs, fungi and human feces all at once
A single scoop of water from an Irish river has revealed evidence not only of Ireland's only frog species—as expected—but also signs of the dreaded B. dendrobatidis fungus, marking the first time this devastating amphibian disease has been spotted in the country and exposing a
Communication gaps may hinder social innovation
New research from the Durham University Management and Marketing Department shows that misunderstandings between investors and founders are a major reason why social innovation ventures fail to grow. In many cases, they collapse altogether.
'Ghost of the forest' returns to Kenya as conservationists reintroduce rare antelope into the wild
The mountain bongo has become the "ghost of the forest," hard to spot amid the dense shrubs due to its ability to camouflage.
CRISPR safeguard changes how engineered microbes can be controlled
Engineered microorganisms are widely used in industrial biotechnology and biopharmaceutical applications, including the production of biofuels, sustainable chemicals, and therapeutic compounds. However, concerns remain regarding the unintended environmental release and
Heavy Atlantic rain can block African aerosols from fertilizing Amazon, study finds
How are cold air masses advancing in the United States connected to fertilizers carried by "flying rivers" from Africa that nourish the soils of the Brazilian Amazon? An article published in Geophysical Research Letters reveals an atmospheric connection between these distant
Organic luminescent radicals enable bright circularly polarized light in the near-infrared region
Circularly polarized light has properties that make it useful in a growing range of technologies, from next-generation 3D displays to bioimaging tools that can detect signals deep within living tissues. One way to produce this kind of light is with the help of chiral
Scientists trace latest interstellar comet's home to a cold, isolated corner of the Milky Way
The comet that rambled past us from another star last year likely originated in a cold, isolated corner of the galaxy that had yet to gel into its own solar system, astronomers reported Thursday.
Bee more specific: New radar tech could improve identification and tracking of key pollinators
Scientists from Trinity and Technical University of Denmark have developed a new radar-based technique that could address a critical gap in global conservation efforts, by transforming how we identify and track the insects that are actually responsible for pollinating plants.
The ocean is fighting climate change: How people are trying to help it
We replaced the stove with plywood, turning the kitchen of the dive boat into an impromptu research lab. Plugging in wires and connecting tubing, we assembled a scientific instrument within the cramped cabin. Then we cast off into Halifax Harbor, Canada, surveying the turquoise
Ganymede's unique magnetic field may be powered by ongoing core formation—not a cooling core
Ganymede is not only Jupiter's largest moon, but also the largest in our solar system and one of the few that hosts a massive ice ocean. Adding to this planet-like moon's uniqueness is the fact that among the hundreds of moons in our solar system, Ganymede is the only one that
Non-rotating early galaxy is a surprise to astronomers
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have made a surprising discovery about a galaxy long, long ago and far, far away: It isn't rotating. That's something only seen in the most massive, mature galaxies that are closer to us in space and time, said Ben Forrest, a
Black hole jets measured in real time, revealing 10,000-sun power
For the first time, scientists have measured the instantaneous mind-blowing power of jets blasting from a black hole.
AI cuts wildlife tracking time from months to days
Artificial intelligence can dramatically speed up the painstaking work of tracking wildlife with remote cameras, cutting analysis time from months or even a year to just days while producing nearly the same scientific conclusions as humans.
A snapshot of food insecurity among immigrants
When you hear the term "food insecurity," what do you imagine? Do you equate it with poor dietary practices—in other words, eating badly? And do you believe the solution is getting people to better plan, shop for and prepare healthy meals?
Physicists discover quantum particles that break the rules of reality
Physicists may have just cracked open a hidden side of the quantum world. For decades, every known particle was thought to belong to one of two categories — bosons or fermions — but researchers have now shown that bizarre “in-between” particles called anyons could also exist in
Genetics link Angola's 'ghost elephants' to populations hundreds of miles away
For more than a decade, conservation biologist Steve Boyes searched for "ghost elephants"—nocturnal giants rumored to roam a remote, high-altitude wetland in eastern Angola. When a motion-sensor camera finally captured their image in 2024, Boyes turned to Stanford scientists
Scientists say this simple music trick can boost workout endurance by 20%
A new study shows that listening to your own favorite workout music can dramatically boost endurance. Cyclists exercising with self-selected songs lasted nearly 20% longer than when riding in silence, yet they didn’t feel more exhausted at the end. Researchers say music may
A close brush with Mars will reshape NASA's Psyche journey in a way few missions attempt
NASA's Psyche spacecraft will get a boost from Mars on Friday, May 15, passing just 2,800 miles (4,500 kilometers) from the planet's surface at some 12,333 mph (19,848 kph). The spacecraft will harness the planet's gravitational pull to speed up and adjust its trajectory toward
Saturday Citations: Psychedelic therapeutics; interoception and well-being; a hidden linguistic bias
This week, researchers reported that the human brain is capable of sophisticated language processing while in an unconscious state during general anesthesia. An informatics and computing professor found that the Climate TRACE consortium has underestimated vehicle carbon
What is the 'gray rock' method for dealing with narcissists or difficult family members?
If you're dealing with a relationship marked by conflict, criticism or manipulation—be it with a parent, co-parent or colleague—chances are you've come across the "gray rock" method on social media or advice blogs.
New chemical kills 95% of termites without harming humans
Scientists may have found a smarter, safer way to wipe out termites hiding inside homes. A chemical called bistrifluron prevents drywood termites from forming new exoskeletons during molting, killing entire colonies from within. In tests, it eliminated about 95% of termites
New catalyst unlocks carbon-free ammonia heat for steel, cement and chemicals
A single-atom platinum catalyst lights ammonia at 200 °C and keeps it burning steadily at 1,100 °C with low NOx, generating high-grade, carbon-free heat for steel, cement and chemicals.
This organoid can menstruate—and shows how tissue can repair itself
Mini models of the uterus lining give insight into mystery of how it is shed without scarring
Deep diving fur seals experience delayed heart surges after returning to land
Fur seals may look like they’re simply resting after exhausting hunting trips at sea, but their bodies are secretly working overtime. Scientists discovered that hours after returning to land, the seals’ heart rates suddenly surge — sometimes doubling — as they recover from the