The Nautilus Winter Reading List 2025
Ten books we loved to start your new year off right. The post The Nautilus Winter Reading List 2025 appeared first on Nautilus .
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Does Your Personality Put You At a Higher Risk of Dying?
Taking stock of your foibles could extend your life The post Does Your Personality Put You At a Higher Risk of Dying? appeared first on Nautilus .
Wildfires reshape forest soils for decades, with recovery varying by climate
Wildfires may disappear from the landscape within weeks, but their hidden effects on the soil can persist for decades. An international research team led by the University of Göttingen, together with partners in Tübingen, Berlin and Chile, has shown how wildfires in humid
A molecular gatekeeper that controls protein synthesis
Researchers at ETH Zurich recently explained the role of a molecular complex that orchestrates the production of proteins in our cells. They now show that this complex also controls the processing of proteins that compact DNA. These new insights could form the basis for new
New 'cloaking device' concept shields electronics from disruptive magnetic fields
University of Leicester engineers have unveiled a concept for a device designed to magnetically "cloak" sensitive components, making them invisible to detection.
Ant societies rose by trading individual protection for collective power—the evolution of 'squishability'
Would you rather fight a horse-sized duck or 100 duck-sized horses? The famous question, though implausible, reflects a ubiquitous tradeoff between quantity and quality. Now, a study shows that this dilemma operates in biology at the evolutionary scale.
How mountain building and climate change have shaped alpine biodiversity over 30 million years
In a study published in Science Advances on December 19, researchers from Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, along with collaborators from international institutions, explored the impact of mountain building and climate cooling
How ancient viral DNA shapes early embryonic development
A new study from the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS) in London, UK reveals how ancient viral DNA once written off as "junk" plays a crucial role in the earliest moments of life. The research, published in Science Advances, begins to untangle the role of an ancient
These Fatal Gauntlets Kill Thousands of Endangered Seabirds Every Year
Study maps the deadly areas where birds cross paths with fishing vessels The post These Fatal Gauntlets Kill Thousands of Endangered Seabirds Every Year appeared first on Nautilus .
Why many Americans avoid negotiating, even when it costs them
Would you pay more for a car just to skip the negotiation process? According to new research by David Hunsaker, clinical associate professor of management at the IU Kelley School of Business Indianapolis, many Americans would—and do.
Four years after the Mariana mining disaster in Brazil, river fish remained contaminated
Four years after the Fundão dam collapse—the world's largest mining disaster, which occurred in 2015 in the city of Mariana in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil—a study found that fish in the Doce River were still highly contaminated by metals and other toxic substances.
Potentially toxic elements in bananas grown in the Mariana disaster region exceed United Nations limits
Scientists specializing in soil geochemistry, environmental engineering, and health affiliated with the University of São Paulo (USP) and the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES) in Brazil and the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain assessed the risks of
Targeting bacterial 'decision-making' could help outsmart antibiotic resistance
Antibiotic resistance is a growing global health crisis that makes common infections harder to treat and puts many medical procedures at risk. Now, Carnegie Mellon University researchers have uncovered a vulnerability in bacteria that could pave the way for an entirely new
Helping people and limiting damage: Researchers identify technology needs for disaster response
From floods and forest fires to earthquakes—the frequency and intensity of natural disasters is increasing. This also means an increase in the number of people affected and damage to infrastructure, with serious economic consequences. What are the needs of first responders, and
Expansion of invasive Chinese hwamei into alpine habitats in Japan: First record of songs
Researchers at University of Tsukuba have, for the first time, recorded the songs of the Chinese hwamei Garrulax canorus (designated as an invasive alien species) in the alpine zone of Mt. Kisokoma in the Central Alps (approximately 2,770 m above sea level). These songs,
Eifel volcanoes mapped in detail: Surprising new insights from Germany's largest seismological experiment
Several hundred volcanoes lie dormant beneath the Eifel in western Germany. They are typical examples of what is known as distributed volcanic fields. To better understand their formation and activity, researchers from the GFZ Helmholtz Center for Geosciences and partner
Pressing pause: A small genetic stop may have helped complex life evolve
Humans have it. So does Drosophila. But not yeast. That "it" is a small pause at the start of gene activity—a brief molecular halt that may have helped life evolve from simple cells to complex animals.
Engineered enzyme turns formaldehyde pollutant into key pharmaceutical building block
Formaldehyde is a common chemical used in various industries as a disinfectant, resin precursor, and synthetic intermediate. It is volatile, highly toxic, and a key environmental pollutant with genotoxic and carcinogenic effects, harming both human health and the environment.
Statistical method developed for single-molecule fluorescence analysis
An interdisciplinary team of University of Tennessee, Knoxville researchers recently published in Biophysical Journal on their development of a new statistical method that improves analysis in single-molecule fluorescence experiments, which are used to study important protein
Phage-resistant bacteria can still sink carbon to ocean floor
Marine bacteria are key to determining whether carbon is recycled near the ocean surface or transported to deeper waters, but many operate in constant threat of being infected by viruses called phages, and mutate to fend off those infections.
Electricity-driven nitrogen insertion enables sustainable heterocycle synthesis
Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have developed an electrochemical reaction manifold that promotes efficient nitrogen atom insertion into saturated carbocycles to access either functionalized quinolines or N-alkylated saturated N heterocycles, both of
Offshore Wind Farm in China Becomes a Haven for Oysters, Barnacles and More, Study Finds
A wind farm off the coast of China appeared to boost fish numbers and supported colonies of oysters and barnacles, according to new research
Webb captures dwarf stars in a glittering sky
The final ESA/Webb Picture of the Month feature for 2025 showcases a festive-looking region filled with glowing clouds of gas and thousands of sparkling stars. This star cluster, known as Westerlund 2, resides in a stellar breeding ground known as Gum 29, located 20,000
Real-time social interactions reveal how we balance cooperation and competition
When people reach for the same object, walk through a narrow doorway, forage for food, or work together on a shared task, they continuously negotiate—often without noticing—how much to cooperate or compete. Unlike classical laboratory games that force players to choose between
Merging nanopores with nanofluidic devices could transform medicine and diagnostics
When disease begins forming inside the human body, something subtle happens long before symptoms appear. Individual molecules such as DNA, RNA, peptides, or proteins begin shifting in quantity or shape. Detecting these tiny molecular changes early could dramatically change how
Uncovering how parasitic plants avoid attacking themselves to improve crop protection
Parasitic plants are notorious agricultural pests that drain nutrients from crops and cause economic losses of more than USD 1 billion due to yield losses every year. Yet these plants almost never attack themselves or closely related plants. Scientists have long suspected that
Discovery of the most intron-rich eukaryotic genome
Researchers at University of Tsukuba have decoded the nuclear genome of Amorphochlora amoebiformis, a unicellular marine alga belonging to the chlorarachniophyte group.
These Baby Stars Have Mysterious Companions
The Gaia telescope peeked through gas and dust to pick out the possible beginnings of new planets around infant stars The post These Baby Stars Have Mysterious Companions appeared first on Nautilus .
An asteroid could hit the moon in 2032, scattering debris toward Earth
Researchers are keeping an eye on the building-sized asteroid 2024 YR4, which has a 4 percent chance of hitting the moon seven years from now.
Westerly jet stream emerges as key driver of mid-latitude hydroclimatic extremes
In recent years, the global climate has become increasingly extreme, with intensifying alternations of droughts and floods—particularly in ecologically vulnerable mid-latitude regions. But what is driving this hydroclimatic variability? Scientists have long debated the
Precessing magnetic jet engine model reveals power source of rare 'heartbeat' gamma-ray burst
Prof. An Tao from the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory (SHAO) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has proposed a novel "precessing magnetic jet engine" model to explain the peculiar gamma-ray burst (GRB) 250702B, a rare cosmic explosion discovered on July 2, 2025.
Nanoparticle vaccine strategy could protect against Ebola and other deadly filoviruses
Filoviruses get their name from the Latin word "filum," meaning thread—a reference to their long, filamentous shape. This virus family contains some of the most dangerous pathogens known to science, including Ebola, Sudan, Bundibugyo and Marburg viruses.
Exploring the connection between gene expression and aging
Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered how molecular "traffic controllers" in cells influence aging and cellular senescence—a state where cells stop dividing but remain metabolically active. The study, published in Molecular Cell, sheds light on the process of
Laser-engineered nanowire networks could unlock new material manufacturing
A breakthrough development in nanofabrication could help support the development of new wireless, flexible, high-performance transparent electronic devices.
CO₂-driven method rapidly creates complex nanomaterials at room temperature
A team of researchers at UNIST, in collaboration with the University of Cologne and Purdue University, has unveiled a rapid, sustainable method to create complex nanomaterials containing up to 30 different metals in just one minute at room temperature.
Should I pour this down the sink? (Probably not, and here's why)
Ever been about to pour rancid milk down the sink and thought…"Hmm, maybe I shouldn't…"? What about the tomato passata that's gone off? Or the water you washed the paint in? Or that pungent oil from a tuna can?
The 98% mystery: Scientists just cracked the code on “junk DNA” linked to Alzheimer’s
Researchers have revealed that so-called “junk DNA” contains powerful switches that help control brain cells linked to Alzheimer’s disease. By experimentally testing nearly 1,000 DNA switches in human astrocytes, scientists identified around 150 that truly influence gene
The levers for a sustainable food system to combat global warming
A large-scale model study now shows how the global food system can contribute to the fight against global warming. It identifies 23 levers, calculates their effectiveness and concludes: a decisive transformation of this sector alone, without the indispensable energy transition,
An 11-year-old needed two new organs and doctors made history
In a rare and historic achievement, Children’s Hospital Colorado successfully completed its first dual heart and liver transplant in a pediatric patient. The life-saving surgery was performed on 11-year-old Gracie Greenlaw, whose congenital heart condition eventually led to
Long-standing puzzle of the Sadovskii vortex pair solved after nearly a half-century
A team of researchers affiliated with UNIST has made a significant breakthrough by mathematically proving that a special type of vortex pair, called the Sadovskii vortex patch, can exist within ideal fluid flows. This marks the first time such a solution has been rigorously
Measuring how materials hotter than the sun's surface conduct electricity
Warm dense matter is a state of matter that forms at extreme temperatures and pressures, like those found at the center of most stars and many planets, including Earth. It also plays a role in the generation of Earth's magnetic field and in the process of nuclear fusion.
Nature's pest controllers: Wasps keep whiteflies in check as resistance proves costly for survivors
Using insects such as wasps to control agricultural pests remains a resilient method, despite increasing resistance, a new University of Stirling study has shown.
Q&A: Environmental protection benefits the American economy and public health
The benefits of environmental protection, measured in terms of advancing public health and the economy, outweigh the costs associated with implementing and enforcing environmental regulations, according to researchers at Penn State who published a new perspective piece in the
Helping others for a few hours a week may slow brain aging
Spending a few hours a week helping others may slow the aging of the brain. Researchers found that both formal volunteering and informal acts, like helping neighbors or relatives, were linked to noticeably slower cognitive decline over time. The benefits added up year after
He made beer that’s also a vaccine. Now controversy is brewing
An NIH scientist’s maverick approach reveals legal, ethical, moral, scientific and social challenges to developing potentially life-saving vaccines.
Nodding off is dangerous. Some animals have evolved extreme ways to sleep in precarious environments
Every animal with a brain needs sleep—and even a few without a brain do, too. Humans sleep, birds sleep, whales sleep and even jellyfish sleep.
Putting data centres in space isn't going to happen any time soon
From massive solar panels to the difficulty of staying cool - not to mention high-energy radiation - there are a lot of engineering problems that need to be solved before we can build data centres in space
Football-field-sized balloon takes flight over Antarctica in quest for dark matter answers
A scientific experiment aimed at detecting dark matter in space launched from Antarctica on December 15, with significant contributions from University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
Space station research supports new FDA-approved cancer therapy
NASA opens the International Space Station for scientists and researchers, inviting them to use the benefits of microgravity for private industry research, technology demonstrations, and more. Today, half of the crew's time aboard station is devoted to these aims, including
Machine learning and microscopy solve 170-year-old mystery of premelting ice
Through a novel combination of machine learning and atomic force microscopy, researchers in China have unveiled the molecular surface structure of "premelted" ice, resolving a long-standing mystery surrounding the liquid-like layer which forms on icy surfaces.
