The genetic code determines the correspondence between genetic instructions and amino acids—the building blocks that form proteins. How this correspondence arose is one of the major open questions in evolutionary biology. A study led by Dr. Lluís Ribas de Pouplana, ICREA
Astronomers may have solved one of the biggest mysteries uncovered by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), using sophisticated simulations to show that enigmatic objects known as "little red dots" (LRDs) are likely the birthplaces of the first supermassive black holes.
Cells share small molecules with their neighbors through tiny tunnels made of proteins arranged in a ring. Research at Nagoya University suggests that the tails of the proteins must link up to form an inner ring for the tunnel to become evenly round—a previously unknown step in
Genetic research has uncovered two previously unknown species of howler monkey living in the Amazon rainforest, confirming the world's largest tropical forest is more biodiverse than scientists thought.
The collective memory of floods and droughts influences where people settle, how they build and how they prepare for the next climatic extreme. Over decades, that memory can fade, and communities may return to places that once proved dangerous. How such memory decayed over
Two papers by Prof. Thomas A. Weber develop a rank-based method to track environmental change. They apply the idea to follow Geneva's warming climate, and generalize the approach to quantify shifts in spatial air-pollution exposure across Switzerland. The method compares
When the most massive stars in the universe die, they often detonate in fiery supernovae, dramatically blasting most of their matter into space. The remaining stellar cores collapse into neutron stars and, sometimes, black holes. However, theories suggest that some massive
Men in treatment for domestic violence have an elastic view of what constitutes consent in their partner, an UdeM study has found.
The possibility of controlling "forbidden" excitations of vibrations in molecules could form the basis of extremely accurate clocks, quantum bits and precise tests of the fundamental laws of physics. Researchers at the University of Basel have now identified and controlled such
Permafrost in many of Earth's northern regions is thawing, a process that unlocks greenhouse gases, threatens infrastructure, and could alter landscapes and ecosystems. The Arctic and subarctic are vast, and gaining a comprehensive picture of permafrost distribution is
To encourage new investments in more effective reef restoration activities, Australian scientists are recommending a new way of measuring biodiversity on coral reefs. A team of Australian environmental scientists led by James Cook University's distinguished professor Morgan
Can gender-inclusive language weaken the deeply ingrained stereotype that a political leader is a man? A recent international study, conducted in 42 countries and involving researchers from SWPS University, shows that introducing such forms into language has little impact on
Once regarded as potential safe havens for corals in a warming climate, deep reefs, which lie at depths between 90 and 150 meters (295 and 490 feet), are no longer sheltered from increasingly intense marine heat waves, according to a new study in Geophysical Research Letters.
Bacteria found in wastewater may provide clues about community health, including rates of chronic disease, health behaviors and social conditions, according to a recent study from The Ohio State University.
Almost two in three respondents surveyed in Australia's remote First Nations communities did not have working free-to-air television, a study has found.
Artificial intelligence is reshaping research, economies, and everyday life at a remarkable speed. In this interview accompanying the new AI100 report, Iyad Rahwan reflects on the rise of generative AI, the growing concentration of AI power, and the challenges facing societies
The Danish town of Svendborg was once home to a Franciscan monastery. As at other monasteries in Denmark, it was considered highly prestigious to be buried as close to the monastery church as possible, preferably inside the church itself, for instance near the chapter house or
Newton accused Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, another mathematical giant of the time, of stealing the concept of infinitesimals. Here’s the real story
And their genomes suggest they’ve adapted to the toxic conditions The post Descendants of Chornobyl’s Pets Run Wild appeared first on Nautilus .
Low Ph.D. completion rates remain a challenge in higher education, reflecting a complex interplay of individual, supervisory and institutional factors. Despite extensive research, few reviews have investigated the factors related to Ph.D. completion, with most focusing on
Scientists are always on the lookout for more efficient ways to make useful products and ingredients. Now, researchers from the University of Valladolid in Spain have successfully used a type of purple bacteria to make CoQ10 and carotenoid pigments from CO₂ and other
Even among plastics labeled "biodegradable," some break down readily while others persist for long periods. In experiments using landfill leachate, a collaborative research team led by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) demonstrated these differences
When people talk about the world's deadliest animal, many think of sharks, alligators or lions. But in reality, it is a small, unassuming—yet all the more annoying—insect: the mosquito. Worldwide, more than 700,000 people die each year from diseases transmitted by mosquito
In an international collaboration, researchers have developed a method that produces significantly higher-quality three-dimensional X-ray images than previously possible. The technique is used for 3D imaging with so-called X-ray nanotomography. The researchers' approach draws
In a study published in Agriculture, researchers from the University of Johannesburg (UJ) propose a policy roadmap for an AI-driven precision farming approach to further improve indigenous and other livestock breeds' abilities to withstand extreme conditions in farming
The southern hairy-nosed wombat, a species long persecuted by farmers in South Australia, has been found to deliver key environmental benefits, and researcher Dr. Ruth Norris believes it warrants urgent protection.
For the second time in a few weeks, we're writing about research into the temperature gap between the sun's surface and its corona. More and more data from various missions continue to feed this wave of discovery. A new paper by Katariina Nykyri of Embry-Riddle, recently
Permanent structures on the moon could start with something already there: lunar dust. New research from the University of Arkansas shows that pure regolith, the loose material that covers the moon, could be 3D-printed into LEGO-like bricks. Using it for construction could
Long before birds took to the skies, dinosaurs were already sporting feathers. But exactly how they evolved into the sophisticated structures that allow birds to fly remains something of a mystery. Now, the discovery of the longest feather ever found preserved in amber is
Years after being officially eliminated, measles is rampant in the U.S. Could it be back for good?
With water temperatures as low as -1.9°C (28.6°F), the Southern Ocean is a place of extreme living conditions. A new study led by Senckenberg researchers shows how fish have adapted to Antarctic temperatures. The researchers used the Antarctic spiny plunderfish (Harpagifer
The doctoral dissertation of Yazid Albadarin, MSc, entitled "Capturing the impact of generative AI on higher-order thinking, creativity, and cognitive dynamics during debugging" will be examined at the Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology, Joensuu campus.
Researchers at the Department of Energy's (DOE's) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and their collaborators used lasers and neutrons to observe a long-lived quantum state in a magnetic material, opening a new way to study materials systems driven far from their equilibrium.
Ocean risks are already severe and worsening, with the potential to become catastrophic without a change of course, according to a new report from the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA), the University of Exeter and The Ocean Race.
How we talk about good deeds and acts of altruism The post The Difference Between Nice and Kind appeared first on Nautilus .
An international collaboration of physicists has presented its first results in its search for hypothetical particles that could help to explain the vast disparity between the strength of gravity and the three fundamental forces described by the Standard Model. Following three
Hydrogen could play an important role in cleaner energy systems, but even small leaks can create safety risks. Reliable sensors are therefore essential wherever hydrogen is produced, stored, transported or used. A persistent problem is humidity: water molecules can cover the
Quantum chemistry can be used to calculate the probabilities of which chemical processes will occur. This involves a great deal of programming work. Dr. Michael F. Peintinger from the Mulliken Center for Theoretical Chemistry at the University of Bonn has investigated what
Following a surge of interest in deer hunting beginning in the '80s and '90s, strategies to manage deer populations evolved to increase the proportion of mature male deer. While the increase in male abundance has perhaps made for better hunting conditions, the overall mule deer
The white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) was once a rare species in Europe due to persecution and pollution. Thanks to legal protection and cleaner environments, many populations have been increasing.
Black hole jet ejections are powerful outbursts of high-energy photons and particles that provide insights into extreme astrophysical processes. However, predicting when they will occur remains difficult. In a study, researchers from Japan analyzed observations of four black
Nickel plays an important physiological role in plants, but how it is transported over long distances from stems and leaves to grains was poorly understood for more than 50 years. Now researchers have identified a key transporter gene, ZmNAET1, that controls nickel accumulation
Magnons are quasiparticles that represent quantized spin waves in magnetic materials. They can carry information without moving electric charge, making them promising for future information technologies that could use less energy than conventional electronics. The frequency,
Drug-resistant bacteria are becoming more common worldwide, posing a major public health challenge. Addressing this problem requires finding new ways to eliminate bacteria, which in turn requires analyzing essential cellular processes that could serve as targets for future
The war in Iran has put 2026 on track for a dip in annual fossil-fuel carbon emissions
Waste separation and recycling are essential to achieving a circular economy and sustainable resource management; however, the long-term success of well-established recycling systems depends on the continued participation of local residents. This study examined how social
A fresh excavation of the eastern deposit at Riparo Mochi, a rock shelter near today's French–Italian border, has pushed back the timeline for when Ice Age hunter-gatherers from Spain first entered Italy.
Imagine two people standing on a stretchy sheet. When one pulls, the other feels the fabric move and responds with a pull of their own. Each adjustment changes what the other feels. Something similar happens between living cells. They tug on the material around them, sense the
The university experience has changed drastically since artificial intelligence (AI) became widely available four years ago.
Is self-enclosure life’s greatest trick? According to the lipid-first theory, a cell membrane enabled life by giving chemistry a place to gather. The post The Case for a Bubble at Life’s Start first appeared on Quanta Magazine
