On a typical school day, 11% of students are absent. How can Australia fix this?
On a typical school day in Australia this year, about 11% of students were absent. In 2014, the figure was 7%.
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Canary Islands may be 'missing link' in global sea urchin killer pandemic
Sea urchins are ecosystem engineers, the marine equivalent of mega-herbivores on land. By grazing and shredding seaweed and seagrass, they control algal growth and promote the survival of slow-growing organisms like corals and some calcifying algae. They are likewise prey for a
Scientists uncover the hidden survival trick that lets cancer bounce back
Scientists discovered that certain cancer cells use a low-level activation of a DNA-dismantling enzyme—normally seen in cell death—to survive treatment. Instead of dying, these “persister cells” leverage this sublethal signal to regrow. Because the mechanism is non-genetic, it
New report highlights positive impact of rewilding project on people and nature
A new report from researchers at the University of Derby has highlighted the positive impact that a city park's urban rewilding project is having on both people and nature.
How are humans changing the Arctic Ocean?
As part of the EU project ECOTIP, an international team of researchers, including the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, has analyzed the sea off Greenland more comprehensively than ever before. The key question: How is the area developing in the face of climate change and environmental
New research reveals how everyday cues secretly shape your habits
Researchers uncovered how shifting levels of a brain protein called KCC2 can reshape the way cues become linked with rewards, sometimes making habits form more quickly or more powerfully than expected. When this protein drops, dopamine neurons fire more intensely, strengthening
Hustle, muscle and grift: How the manosphere has grown into a money-making machine
The manosphere is big business today. Once a niche network lurking on the margins of the internet, this diverse community of male supremacist cultures has grown into a transnational profit-making enterprise.
From FIFA to the LA Clippers, carbon offset scandals are exposing the gap between promises and reality
If you go to a pro sports event today, there's a good chance the stadium or arena will be powered at least in part by renewable energy. The team likely takes steps to reduce energy and waste. Some even claim to have net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, meaning any emissions they
Top Roman Military Officers Loved Their Pet Monkeys
An animal cemetery at a once-bustling port adds to growing evidence that Romans collected and deeply cared for these primates The post Top Roman Military Officers Loved Their Pet Monkeys appeared first on Nautilus .
Media hype shapes rise and fall of the 'girlboss' entrepreneur narrative
The girlboss is a cultural phenomenon created—and then deconstructed—by media hype. A study titled "The Rise and Fall of the Girlboss: Gender, Social Expectations and Entrepreneurial Hype" reconstructs the rise and fall of women entrepreneurs in media narratives. It shows how
Climate change puts riverbed microbes under constant stress, study finds
From tiny streams to gigantic rivers like the Mississippi—microbes in sediments work tirelessly to maintain key biogeochemical cycles. However, as temperatures rise, they tend to operate frequently in stress mode. This is the conclusion of an international study led by the
How everyday repairs sustain autonomy in a Japanese squat
Everyday acts of care—tightening a loose hinge, patching up a wall, or simply moving a crate—may seem mundane. But a new study from Ritsumeikan University shows that these small repairs are key to sustaining autonomy and an inclusive social life in a squatted space in Japan.
The people building sustainability—without a clearly defined role
As sustainability demands grow, sustainability professionals—along with many other groups—are increasingly expected to help drive the transition within the construction sector. Yet their roles are often both unclear and constantly shifting, making it difficult to know what
Cracks in the Earth: Major gully erosion poses humanitarian crisis threats
Recent fieldwork by Griffith University researchers has highlighted an African country that is facing a rapidly escalating environmental crisis as severe gully erosion—locally termed "mega gullies"—advances across valuable agricultural landscapes.
How building with Lego can help teens talk about life's big questions
If you're thinking about buying Christmas presents for children, chances are a Lego set isn't too far from your mind. The endless creativity that Lego bricks present means they can be used for far more than following instructions to build the model on the front of the box. They
Can smart greenhouses bring back food production in cities?
Sydney, like many other Australian cities, has a long history of urban farming. Market gardens, oyster fisheries and wineries on urban fringe once supplied fresh food to city markets.
School feeding programs lead to modest but meaningful results, according to review
Free or subsidized school meals lead to modest gains in math and school enrollment, according to a new Cochrane review that examined the global impact of school feeding programs on disadvantaged children in both high-income countries and low- and middle-income countries.
What Laziness Has to do with Beauty
The aesthetic benefits of low mental effort The post What Laziness Has to do with Beauty appeared first on Nautilus .
Eco-friendly, photo-switchable smart adhesives use biomass-derived materials
Conventional petroleum-based adhesives rely heavily on the petrochemical industry and pose environmental risks due to harmful emissions and limited reusability. In a new study, researchers developed a novel photo-switchable smart adhesive based on materials derived from rose
NOAA's denial of endangered status for salmon sparks talk of legal challenge
On Dec. 8, Federal fisheries officials rejected a bid to designate West Coast Chinook salmon as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
Roman occupation of Britain damaged the population’s health
Urban populations in southern Britain experienced a decline in health that lasted for generations after the Romans arrived
Study: Virtual reality tours make real difference in home sales
Not only can virtual reality (VR) allow buyers to tour homes without physically stepping inside, but it also can help the homes sell faster, according to new research by a University of Texas at Dallas professor and collaborators.
Simulations reveal protein 'dynamin' constricts cell membranes by loosening its grip
Dynamin is a protein that plays a central role in endocytosis—the process where cells internalize substances by wrapping them in cell membrane vesicles. For a vesicle to detach, the neck of the membrane must be constricted and cut. Dynamin assembles into a ring shape around
Research examines dance as protest in Iran
Young women in postrevolutionary Iran used audacious acts of public dance, particularly during the past decade, to resist unjust gender-based laws and cultural norms that disenfranchise women, a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign sociology scholar says in a digital
In Palestinian and Israeli families, exposure to ethnic-political violence boosted harsh parenting
A new longitudinal study on Palestinian and Israeli families found that exposure to ethnic-political violence increased harsh parenting, which subsequently boosted aggression in children.
Rule-breaking rampant in whale shark tourism hub
A new study led by University of South Florida biologist Lucas Griffin has found that tour boats and swimmers routinely violate Mexico's whale shark tourism rules—even when the waters are far less crowded than the law allows.
Roman urbanism was bad for health, new study confirms
Analysis of skeletal remains from England before and during Roman occupation confirms theories that the population's health declined under Roman occupation, but only in the urban centers, suggesting pre-Roman traditions continued in rural parts of Roman Britain while those in
Hobbits May Have Been Victims of Climate Change
New research offers clues into the mysterious disappearance of these tiny hominins The post Hobbits May Have Been Victims of Climate Change appeared first on Nautilus .
Reddit field experiment examines what distinguishes lurkers from power users
Online discussions are often dominated by a small group of active users, while the majority remain silent. This imbalance can distort perceptions of public opinion and fuel polarization.
Mitochondrial enzyme's atomic-level structure reveals how it processes RNA
Researchers at the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet have captured the first detailed molecular snapshots of human polynucleotide phosphorylase (hPNPase) in action, revealing how this essential mitochondrial enzyme degrades RNA through an elegant
A new reference brain could make the clonal raider ant a go-to model species for neuroscience
Every clonal raider ant lives a nearly identical life. Each new generation of these blind, queenless ants is born at the same time, eats the same things, lives in the same environment, and—as an asexually reproducing species—has the exact same genes. It's hard to find a more
'Rage bait' is the Oxford Word of the Year, showing how social media is manufacturing anger
It shouldn't come as a surprise that the Oxford Dictionary has named "rage bait" its Word of the Year. The quantity of live-streamed drama in 2025 has made it clear that outrage is now fueling much online content.
Q&A: Food waste in South Africa is dumped in landfills—exploring healthier and more sustainable options
Every year, millions of tons of food end up in South Africa's landfills. This is a wasted resource that deepens environmental damage, worsens food insecurity and costs the economy billions. But there are opportunities to turn what we throw away into value for people, the planet
The JWST just identified a supernova from only 730 million years after the Big Bang
Supernovae aren't one of the JWST's main science themes, but the perceptive telescope is full of surprises. Recently, it pinpointed a single star in a galaxy when the universe was only about 730 million years old. It wasn't just any random star; this one was a supernova
Q&A: Why self-appraisals may not be best way to judge job performance
Companies often rely on annual employee reviews to determine who gets promoted, who gets a raise, and who are the best candidates for layoffs. But research has shown the process can be influenced by factors other than job performance, such as gender and race.
What an Ancient Sheep Reveals About a Bronze Age Plague
Scientists found the plague pathogen hiding in a 4,000-year-old sheep, shedding light on the earlier, more elusive pandemic before the Black Death The post What an Ancient Sheep Reveals About a Bronze Age Plague appeared first on Nautilus .
Prairie strips can rapidly improve soil health
Prairie strips can improve measures of soil health faster than expected, according to new research by Iowa State University scientists working in cooperation with the Soil Health Institute.
Spending less can deliver more climate-friendly nutrition
Eating healthily can save money and also cause less greenhouse gas emissions than most people's current food choices, according to a new global study that examined food costs, nutrition, and climate impact around the world.
Turning everyday filter paper into a miniature microfluidic platform with DLP 3D printing
Scientists used a 3D-printing approach to pattern hydrophobic barriers inside hydrophilic filter paper. These barriers, designed in different geometries, guide liquids along precise paths and shape their flow behavior, demonstrating effective use in mixing, gradient generation,
Why socially responsible investing can backfire
Socially responsible investors (SRIs) often see themselves as agents of social or environmental progress. They buy into polluting or "dirty" companies believing that their capital can nudge a business toward a cleaner path. Their intention is straightforward: to invest in the
AI pinpoints aspens and standing dead trees in forests using aerial imagery
Aspens and standing dead trees, which are important to forest biodiversity, can be reliably identified from openly available aerial imagery using methods developed by researchers from the University of Helsinki and the University of Eastern Finland.
Safe CO₂ storage in the Earth only possible with robust modeling
The geological storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) in deep geological formations is considered internationally, as well as in Germany, to be one of the key technologies for achieving ambitious climate targets. But how can potential storage sites be reliably assessed? And how
New circoviruses discovered in pilot whales and orcas from the North Atlantic
A collaborative team of researchers has identified two previously unknown circoviruses in short-finned pilot whales and orcas from the Caribbean region of the North Atlantic Ocean. The findings represent the first detection of cetacean circoviruses in this region and expand the
Theoretical results could lead to faster, more secure quantum technology
University of Iowa researchers have discovered a method to "purify" photons, an advance that could make optical quantum technologies more efficient and more secure.
Lunar soil analyses reveal how space weathering shapes the moon's ultraviolet reflectance
Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) scientists are collaborating with researchers at UT San Antonio to study how space weathering can alter the lunar surface materials to help interpret regional and global far-ultraviolet (FUV) maps of the moon.
Descriptions of mollusks in the Global South are still, for the most part, the result of 'parachute science'
Between the 16th and 19th centuries, when colonialism was the prevailing order, it is not surprising that scientific expeditions, specimen deposits in natural history museums, and descriptions of species from European colonies in Africa, Asia, and Latin America were carried out
Polarized light boosts accuracy of wearable health sensors for all skin tones
Photoplethysmography (PPG) is an optical sensing technique that measures blood volume changes and underpins devices ranging from hospital-grade pulse oximeters to consumer wearables that track heart rate, sleep, and oxygenation.
Slow changes in radio scintillation can nudge pulsar timing by billionths of a second
For 10 months, a SETI Institute-led team watched pulsar PSR J0332+5434 (also called B0329+54) to study how its radio signal "twinkles" as it passes through gas between the star and Earth. The team used the Allen Telescope Array (ATA) to take measurements between 900 and 1,956
Einstein's theory comes wrapped up with a bow: Astronomers spot star 'wobbling' around black hole
The cosmos has served up a gift for a group of scientists who have been searching for one of the most elusive phenomena in the night sky. Their study, presented in Science Advances, reports on the very first observations of a swirling vortex in spacetime caused by a rapidly
New study reveals Industrial Revolution's uneven health impacts across England
An interdisciplinary team of scientists has uncovered new evidence showing that the health impacts of the Industrial Revolution varied more widely across England than previously believed.
