Why 'inefficient' AI spending may power future growth
New research finds companies investing heavily in new technologies despite low returns are often the ones driving tomorrow's economic progress.
Headlines
- All
- Africa
- Asia
- Business
- Culture
- Environment
- Europe
- Gaming
- Markets
- Middle East
- Movies & TV
- Music
- Politics
- Science
- South America
- Tech
- World News
Slowing down muon decay with short laser pulses
Muons are unstable subatomic particles that spontaneously and rapidly transform into other particles via a process known as electroweak decay. Altering the speed with which muons decay into other particles was so far deemed a challenging quest, requiring very strong
Disinfecting drinking water produces potentially toxic byproducts—new AI model is helping to identify them
Disinfecting drinking water prevents the spread of deadly waterborne diseases by killing infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses and parasites. Without disinfection, even clear-looking water can carry pathogens that can cause severe and even life-threatening illness,
Temporal anti-parity–time symmetry offers new way to steer energy through systems
The movement of waves, patterns that carry sound, light or heat, through materials has been widely studied by physicists, as it has implications for the development of numerous modern technologies. In several materials, the movement of waves depends on a physical property known
Tyrannosaurids Took Their Time Growing to 17,000 Pounds
Forty-year growth periods may have given them time to dominate their ecosystems The post Tyrannosaurids Took Their Time Growing to 17,000 Pounds appeared first on Nautilus .
How greenwashing creates 'false stability' for companies
Companies engaging in 'greenwashing' to appear more favorable to investors, don't achieve durable financial stability in the long term, according to a new Murdoch University study.
This after-meal blood sugar spike may raise Alzheimer’s risk
Spikes in blood sugar after eating may be more dangerous for the brain than previously thought. In a massive genetic study, people with higher post-meal blood sugar had a much greater risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The effect couldn’t be explained by visible brain damage,
Q&A: Why flies matter, their vital role in ecosystems, and surprising diversity
Summer is the season for flies, which belong to an insect group that scientists call Diptera. Many fly species are more active when the weather is warmer, and populations can boom thanks to the interplay of winter rains, warmer weather and abundant food sources.
Utah's other Great Salt Lake is underground, ancient, deep....and fresh
Under the Great Salt Lake playa lies a potentially vast reservoir of pressurized freshwater that has accumulated over thousands of years from mountain-derived snowmelt, according to new research from University of Utah geoscientists. This groundwater occupies the pore spaces in
All major AI models risk encouraging dangerous science experiments
Researchers risk fire, explosion or poisoning by allowing AI to design experiments, warn scientists. Some 19 different AI models were tested on hundreds of questions to assess their ability to spot and avoid hazards and none recognised all issues – with some doing little better
Reporting workplace sexual harassment 'not worth it,' say victims
Despite recent legal reforms and increased emphasis on upholding workplace conduct policies, most people who experience sexual harassment at work still do not report it.
Ocean impacts nearly double economic cost of climate change, study finds
For the first time, a study by researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego integrates climate-related damages to the ocean into the social cost of carbon—a measure of economic harm caused by greenhouse gas emissions.
Increased deciduous tree dominance reduces wildfire carbon losses in boreal forests, study shows
As climate change drives more frequent and severe wildfires across boreal forests in Alaska and northwestern Canada, scientists are asking a critical question: Will these ecosystems continue to store carbon or become a growing source of carbon emissions?
ISS astronauts splash down on Earth after first-ever medical evacuation
Four International Space Station crewmembers splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on Thursday, NASA footage showed, after the first ever medical evacuation in the orbital lab's history.
Insects are victims, not just invaders, says study
Insects are often seen as invaders due to high-profile species like the yellow-legged (Asian) hornet, the harlequin ladybird and fire ant. But new research reveals insects are also major victims of invasive alien species—exacerbating population declines and reducing their
New technology converts naturally derived monomers into degradable polymer capsules
Polymer capsules can store functional substances such as drugs and fragrances, making them widely used in functional cosmetics and daily necessities. However, conventional capsules use non-degradable polymers and are difficult to decompose in natural environments. They are
Scientists question the safety of BPA-free packaging
“BPA-free” food packaging may be hiding new risks. A McGill University study found that several BPA substitutes used in grocery price labels can seep into food and interfere with vital processes in human ovarian cells. Some triggered unusual fat buildup and disrupted genes
Forest loss is driving mosquitoes’ thirst for human blood
In the rapidly disappearing Atlantic Forest, mosquitoes are adapting to a human-dominated landscape. Scientists found that many species now prefer feeding on people rather than the forest’s diverse wildlife. This behavior dramatically raises the risk of spreading dangerous
Northwestern Medicine’s new antibody wakes the immune system against pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer uses a sugar-coated disguise to evade the immune system, helping explain why it’s so hard to treat. Northwestern scientists discovered this hidden mechanism and created an antibody that strips away the tumor’s protective signal. In animal tests, immune cells
New research challenges the cold dark matter assumption
Dark matter, one of the Universe’s greatest mysteries, may have been born blazing hot instead of cold and sluggish as scientists long believed. New research shows that dark matter particles could have been moving near the speed of light shortly after the Big Bang, only to cool
How everyday foam reveals the secret logic of artificial intelligence
Foams were once thought to behave like glass, with bubbles frozen in place at the microscopic level. But new simulations reveal that foam bubbles are always shifting, even while the foam keeps its overall shape. Remarkably, this restless motion follows the same math used to
Mosquitoes' thirst for human blood has increased as biodiversity loss worsens
Stretching along the Brazilian coastline, the Atlantic Forest is home to hundreds of species of birds, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and fishes. However, due to human expansion, only about a third of the forest's original area remains intact.
Young people risk drifting into serious online offenses through a slippery slope of high-risk digital behavior
New findings from the University of East London show that online risk-taking is widespread among young people, with behaviors such as digital piracy, accessing risky online spaces or engaging with harmful content having a high potential to lead to more serious offenses.
Scientists uncover a hidden type of diabetes in newborns
Researchers have discovered a rare new type of diabetes that affects babies early in life. The condition is caused by changes in a single gene that prevent insulin-producing cells from working properly. When these cells fail, blood sugar rises and diabetes develops, often
Handmade learning: Students weave sustainability lessons into rag rugs
Rag rugs, the kind Grandma used to make from worn-out sheets and bits of cloth, may seem like relics from a bygone era, but they hold valuable modern-day lessons.
Can a hashtag help prevent atrocities? Study shows social media can be a powerful tool
Social media is often criticized for fueling misinformation and violence, but it could actually play a role in preventing genocide and mass atrocities—if used strategically.
Rural coworking spaces thrive on community ties and mixed funding models
Coworking spaces have emerged as an alternative to traditional workplaces. Driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of remote working, these spaces are becoming increasingly common in cities, as well as in rural areas, where they hold promise for community engagement and
The Accidental Discovery of Aristotle’s Paradigm-Shifting School
The ancient institution shaped education as we know it today The post The Accidental Discovery of Aristotle’s Paradigm-Shifting School appeared first on Nautilus .
British redcoat's lost memoir reveals harsh realities of life as a disabled veteran
Archival discoveries including a 19th-century autobiography transform our understanding of Shadrach Byfield, an English veteran of the War of 1812 who buried his own amputated arm and designed a custom prosthesis.
Chemists determine structure of fuzzy coat that surrounds Tau proteins
One of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease is the clumping of proteins called Tau, which form tangled fibrils in the brain. The more severe the clumping, the more advanced the disease is.
Study shows how kidnapping of athlete's father influenced society, president across continents
Sports are often viewed as an escape from the problems of the real world. But when a Colombian soccer star's father was kidnapped, the resulting media coverage helped move the story from the field of play to front-page news that united a country, cast doubt on peace
Staying single for longer affects young people's well-being, study finds
Media increasingly portray being single as an expression of people's lifestyle, self-determination and empowerment, with expressions such as self-partnership, solo living, sologamy and singlehood dominating the discourse. At the same time, more and more young adults are opting
The Search for Where Consciousness Lives in the Brain
A new technology could help scientists answer an old question The post The Search for Where Consciousness Lives in the Brain appeared first on Nautilus .
A new form of graphene-derived material could unlock next-generation printed electronics
Graphene has long been hailed as a "wonder material." It is incredibly strong, highly conductive and almost impossibly thin—just one atom thick. These properties make it a promising candidate for next-generation technologies such as flexible electronics, wearable devices and
Tuning spin waves—using commercially available devices at room temperature
Physicist Davide Bossini from the University of Konstanz has recently demonstrated how to change the frequency of the collective magnetic oscillations of a material by up to 40%—using commercially available devices at room temperature.
LGBTQ+ Aussies face work participation inequalities, finds study
A Monash University study has found significant disparities in employment and work participation among LGBTQ+ Australians, highlighting ongoing structural inequalities in the labor market.
Skin-boosting lipids revealed within rice bran by-products
A by-product of rice bran oil production has long been recognized as a source of beneficial lipids for skin health and nutrition. Now, researchers have uncovered an entirely new class of skin-active molecules hidden within this agricultural residue.
Graphene coatings can serve as an eco-friendly alternative to biocides
Tired of hauling your boat out of the water to clean its hull? Graphene can replace the toxic chemicals usually used to do this job.
Neutral-atom arrays, a rapidly emerging quantum computing platform, get a boost from researchers
For quantum computers to outperform their classical counterparts, they need more quantum bits, or qubits. State-of-the-art quantum computers have around 1,000 qubits. Columbia physicists Sebastian Will and Nanfang Yu have their sights set much higher.
Museum design quietly determines what visitors see and what they miss
Visitors may believe they freely choose what to see in a museum, but new research shows that design decisions, often invisible to the visitor, play a decisive role in shaping attention, movement and discovery.
Eroding the Clean Air Act Will Make America Sicker, Dirtier and Poorer
The Clean Air Act has saved millions of lives, but the EPA will stop calculating those benefits for at least some proposed regulations
This dino’s fossil claw suggests it snatched eggs, not insects
A 67-million-year-old claw fossil reveals a new dinosaur species that may have used its hand spikes to snatch and pierce eggs.
C-Sections Have a Surprisingly Ancient History
And their meaning has shifted over millennia The post C-Sections Have a Surprisingly Ancient History appeared first on Nautilus .
Ultrasound-activated nanoparticles in immune cells trigger targeted inflammatory response
Piezoelectric nanoparticles deployed inside immune cells and stimulated remotely by ultrasound can trigger the body's disease-fighting response, according to an interdisciplinary team of Boston College researchers.
An innovative new tool draws on emojis to improve consumer sentiment analysis
In today's hyperconnected world, social media has become a critical channel for businesses to understand consumers. While social listening tools are widely used, they often fall short, providing only a superficial understanding of consumer sentiment. Existing methods struggle
There's an intensifying kind of threat to academic freedom: Watchful students serving as informants
Texas A&M University told philosophy professor Martin Peterson in early January 2026 that he could not teach some of Greek philosopher Plato's writings that touch on "race and gender ideology."
Black Ivory coffee: Elephant gut bacteria may contribute to its smooth, chocolaty flavor
Coffee beans that pass through the digestive tracts of animals get their unique flavors from the activity of gut microbes, report researchers from the Institute of Science Tokyo. The guts of Asian elephants that produce Black Ivory coffee (BIC) were rich in pectin-digesting
From a new flagship space telescope to lunar exploration, global cooperation will make 2026 an exciting year for space
In 2026, astronauts will travel around the moon for the first time since the Apollo era, powerful new space telescopes will prepare to survey billions of galaxies, and multiple nations will launch missions aimed at finding habitable worlds, water on the moon and clues to how
Whether or not US acquires Greenland, the island will be at the center of a massive military build-up in the Arctic
Donald Trump is clearly in a hurry to dominate the political narrative in his second term of office. He began 2026 with strikes in Syria against Islamic State groups, the kidnapping of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, threats to intervene in Iran and the declaration that
Why don't antibiotic-making bacteria self-destruct?
Early in 2025, scientists discovered a promising new antibiotic in a soil sample from a lab technician's backyard. The molecule, called lariocidin, is produced by the microbe Paenibacillus and shows broad activity against pathogenic bacteria, including several that are
