Microsoft’s quantum chip got an upgrade. Critics are still skeptical
Swapping materials in its Majorana 2 chip boosted the effectiveness of quantum bits that rely on the math of topology to reduce errors, Microsoft says.
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How a small amount of rare earth metal shapes the environmental impact of magnets
Magnets for electric cars and wind turbines contain only a small amount of the rare earth metal dysprosium. Yet, this metal is responsible for a large share of the environmental impact and costs, according to research by environmental scientists Stellina Samuel, Robert Istrate
Animals were sharpening their senses long before the Cambrian explosion, ancient tracks reveal
Tracks left by some of the earliest complex animals are giving new insights into how they experienced the world. New research reveals how these creatures started to understand their surroundings, paving the way for animal life to spread across the planet.
Ancient altercations between musk turtles and alligator gar recorded in Florida's fossil record
Sometime between 5.5 and 5.6 million years ago, two shell crushers squared off in the languid currents of an ancient Florida river. The fossils they left behind, discovered by paleontologists at the Florida Museum of Natural History, reveal the identity of the combatants and
French astronaut to fly to commercial space station under deal
Two French astronauts are to blast into space next year, one of whom will stay on board the world's first commercial space station, under a new deal sealed between France and the U.S. company Vast.
A new origin story for multicellular life points to physics, not genes alone
How did life make the leap from single cells to coordinated, multicellular organisms? And how do genetically identical cells still perform a version of that feat every time an embryo begins to take shape?
How megalomaniac leaders establish their grip on a group—and how they lose it
Megalomaniacal leaders are fascinating. They exude boundless confidence, harbor sometimes excessive ambitions and make decisions that are often out of touch with reality.
First-of-its-kind AI tool for translating life-saving weather warnings across the US advanced
Nearly 69 million people in the United States speak a language other than English at home, yet weather warnings have long been issued almost exclusively in English. A new study documents how the National Weather Service is using artificial intelligence to change that,
Antibiotic resistance turns up in Australian horses, raising new concerns about animal and human infections
Research into a common environmental germ that can cause severe infections in people and animals has raised concern that horses are starting to develop antibiotic resistance towards it. The University of the Sunshine Coast study examined the prevalence of the bug P. aeruginosa
Centuries‑old logbooks reveal how bowhead whales are recovering from near extinction
Bowhead whales have the greatest life span of any mammal on Earth. They can reach over 200 years in age thanks in part to their slow metabolism and cancer-suppressing genes.
Mathematicians say 'don't believe hype' on AI capabilities
Dozens of mathematicians signed a declaration Tuesday calling for the discipline to resist beating the drum for artificial intelligence developers.
Twilight hunt reveals falcon feasting on unusual prey at Greek lagoon
Falcons are lauded for their speed and agility. The Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo), skilled at snagging birds and insects out of the air, is no exception. However, during twilight on one day in October, researcher Apostolos Christopoulos observed several hobbies feeding on
Distant climate patterns determine how cold Japan's winters become
Researchers have uncovered a key mechanism behind Japan's extreme winter weather, revealing how distant climate patterns interact to intensify cold waves and heavy snowfall.
Bird masturbation appears natural across 120 species, challenging long-held veterinary advice
New research has found that masturbation among bird species, including parrots, is natural, despite prevailing assumptions that it is a harmful behavior in response to environmental factors.
'Mini-Neptune' exoplanets may have smoggy atmospheres similar to diesel exhaust
The astronauts circling Earth on the Artemis mission sent back beautiful clear photos of the continents, clouds, and oceans. But we might be the exception. Many planets in the universe may be hazed in clouds of soot, according to a new study by University of Chicago scientists.
How a Richard Feynman formula could explain your dining habits in a new city
One of the dilemmas facing anyone in a new and unfamiliar city is where to dine out. You might consult guides, speak to locals, check reviews, and ultimately, try your luck. But if you're there for a while, at some point you're going to be asking yourself whether to visit new
Hearing loss is bad for the whole body – but new treatments are coming
From dementia to heart attacks, hearing loss has been linked to a wide range of effects across the body, and the condition is on the rise. Fortunately, we're learning how best to safeguard this crucial sense and how we might be able to reverse the damage
Hidden store of manganese may have helped Earth get its oxygen
Computer simulations have uncovered a new manganese compound that could exist deep in Earth’s mantle and may be connected to the process that gave our atmosphere oxygen
Atacama Desert's extreme aridity initiated 20 million years earlier than previously thought, study finds
A collaborative study with the University of Cologne, recently published in Nature Communications, provides compelling evidence that the extreme aridity in the hyperarid core of the Atacama Desert began over 40 million years ago—significantly earlier than previously assumed.
Modeling life beneath our feet: A step towards realistic soil ecology at the landscape scale
As soil health becomes a defining goal of the EU Soil Strategy for 2030, researchers at Aarhus University are rethinking how we model what lives beneath our feet. Their new spatially explicit population model for the soil invertebrate Folsomia candida (springtails) marks a
See the Gravity Waves from a Super Typhoon
They punch above their weight The post See the Gravity Waves from a Super Typhoon appeared first on Nautilus .
The risk of relationship breakdown can be influenced by our genes
Genetics influences who of us are more likely to experience a relationship breakdown, and who are more likely to remain together. But genes are not decisive, new research shows. "Our destiny does not lie in our genes, but if a relationship were a jigsaw puzzle, our genetics
Britain's oldest cave art may have been rediscovered in Bacon Hole cave
The oldest cave art in Britain may have been discovered, or more likely rediscovered, in a cave on the Gower Peninsula in South Wales, possibly dating back around 17,000 years.
Budget-friendly, lab-grown steak with realistic texture
A team of Israeli scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has developed a novel method to significantly lower the production costs of cultivated meat. The new study demonstrates that preloading plant-derived cellulose scaffolds with growth factors supports the
From flat moss to forests and flowers: Protein discovery may explain how plants conquered land
If plants had never learned to grow in multiple directions, our world would look very different. No trees, flowers, or other complex plants—and therefore no animals or humans. New research from the University of Copenhagen now suggests that a specific protein in moss may have
UN warns world to prepare for El Nino extreme weather
There is an 80% chance of the warming El Niño phenomenon developing between June and August, increasing the risk of extreme weather events, the World Meteorological Organization said Tuesday.
Blue Origin says rocket explosion spared fuel tanks and key launch pad parts
Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin said Tuesday that last week's rocket explosion spared fuel tanks and some other critical parts of the launch pad.
Under Notre Dame cathedral, a 'dig of the century' unearths 1,700 years of history
Wilting in the summer sun, a line of tourists waits to climb Notre Dame cathedral and meet its gargoyles.
How Macau strengthened its typhoon resilience without massive seawalls
Nonstructural disaster measures, including early warnings and evacuation systems, helped improve coastal resilience and reduce storm-surge impacts in Macau, report researchers at Science Tokyo. After analyzing the city's responses to three major typhoons, which included
Flatworms reveal exploding immune cells that kill surrounding tissue
Stanford scientists have discovered a new type of immune cell that kills surrounding cells via explosion—a cellular detonation so fast and complete that the cell vanishes within minutes, leaving no trace behind. This discovery comes from an unlikely source: planarian flatworms.
Robot fish could unravel how our ancient ancestors first learned to walk
Researchers have developed a fish-like robot that shows how some species of modern fish are able to walk on land, and could help unravel how early vertebrates evolved similar abilities hundreds of millions of years ago.
Tiny membrane tethers revealed as key to plant cell survival in drought
Water deficit resistance in plants has long been a topic of interest for cultivating reliable crops. Some plants can alter their above-ground structure to lock in moisture, while others develop deep, industrious roots that find hard-to-reach water sources. While such responses
A single protein may be holding back CAR T cancer therapy
A newly identified protein may be one of the biggest obstacles holding CAR T-cell therapy back. Researchers found that NFIL3 causes these engineered immune cells to become exhausted and lose their cancer-fighting power over time. When NFIL3 was disabled, the cells remained
A plan to preserve wetlands without stopping development
Balancing economic growth and environmental protection is not easy. Consider wetlands, which provide flood protection, aid water quality, and are linchpins of larger ecosystems. How can we best preserve wetlands while enhancing economic activity?
Predicting physics without parameter tuning: A faster computational approach
Numerical simulations in physics often require estimating a multitude of parameters, making the process computationally expensive and complex. Researchers at University of Tsukuba have introduced a new method called the multiparameter eigenvalue-problem emulator, enabling
Cutting a photon in two creates an infinite swarm of particles
By definition, elementary particles can't be broken into smaller pieces. But in a new theoretical study published in Physical Review Letters, Johannes Skaar and colleagues have revealed what would happen if you tried anyway for a single photon. The answer is deeply strange:
Q&A: Are plants the key to solving energy and food crises worldwide?
Changing market conditions are increasing the need for cost-effective ways to produce biorenewable chemicals, biofuels and materials that can serve as alternatives to oil-based products. According to Costas Maranas, Robert V. and Gloria H. Waltemeyer Chair and Donald B.
Scientists discover gut bacteria that may help protect against autism and ADHD
A major study suggests that some of the groundwork for brain development may be shaped before birth through a surprising partnership between a baby’s genes and gut microbes. Researchers found that epigenetic changes present at birth can influence how the gut microbiome develops
A hidden pollutant is changing how the world's forests breathe
A massive global analysis found that nitrogen pollution can either speed up or dramatically slow the natural "breathing" of forest soils, depending on the ecosystem's condition. The results reveal hidden tipping points that could affect how forests store carbon and cope with
Vultures on the rise: Study provides evidence of population increase and delayed migration in western North America
Turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) may not be beautiful, but they are certainly adaptable. A new study published in the Journal of Raptor Research, titled "Turkey Vulture Aggregations at a Water Barrier Provide Evidence of Later Migration and Increasing Population Size Over 25
Active fault mapped for first time in New Zealand's largest city
A fault line running alongside the Hunua Ranges in South Auckland is now identified as active and has the potential to cause a major earthquake with serious consequences, University of Auckland researchers say.
For satellites as small as a briefcase, getting around in space just got a whole lot easier
MIT engineers are testing a new propulsion system that combines the power and speed of conventional chemical thrusters with the precision and fuel-efficiency of electrical thrusters. The system could enable the design of nimbler, more flexible small satellites, which could
9 Books We’re Excited About This June
Sea monsters, Niagara’s toxic legacy, and animal orgasms The post 9 Books We’re Excited About This June appeared first on Nautilus .
Why researcher independence doesn't start or end with a PhD
A Ph.D. is often treated as the point where scholars become "independent." Yet, a new study by Hiroshima University shows that achieving independence is far less simple and tidy, unfolding instead as a long, uneven, river-like journey shaped by relationships, risks and
Biohybrid microrobots repair spinal cord by combining stem cells with magnetoelectric nanoparticles
Spinal cord injuries can have devastating consequences for those affected. Nerve cells in the spinal cord rarely regenerate naturally, while scarring often prevents the regrowth of nerve fibers. Modern therapies attempt to influence implanted stem cells using electrical
The secret underground system keeping the Grand Canyon alive
Scientists are venturing into the Grand Canyon’s hidden cave networks to solve a mystery: how snowmelt travels underground to supply the park’s vital springs. Their discoveries could help protect the canyon’s water from drought, contamination, and other growing threats.
Nanoparticles boost delivery of lung cancer drugs 30-fold
Lung cancer remains one of the world's deadliest cancers, yet despite decades of effort to develop new drugs, many fail because they don't stay in the body long enough to be effective or because they damage healthy organs. Now, Adelaide University researchers have developed a
The future of agriculture
It's a mild early spring morning at the historic Cottonwood Field Station in western South Dakota, and a herd of 150 Angus steers are scheduled to move to a new pasture rotation. Moving cattle can be tricky and often requires some extra help, electrical fencing and quite a bit
Dormant black hole revives in under three years, brightening 10-fold in nearby galaxy
Astronomers monitoring a nearby active galaxy for six years have watched its supermassive black hole dramatically wake up, brightening by a factor of 10 across ultraviolet and X-ray wavelengths. The paper outlining the study was posted to the preprint server arXiv on May 18.
New Scientist recommends Togetherness, a radical new view of life
An exploration of how biological cooperation underpins all life - and why we’ve overlooked its power until now - makes thrilling reading, finds Penny Sarchet
