When a Walmart closes, what happens to nearby stores?
Shoppers often greet the closure of a Walmart with dismay, while competitors find cause to celebrate.
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Scientists discover new way to control magnetic waves for future quantum technologies
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Ames National Laboratory have discovered a way to control the handedness of magnons, tiny magnetic waves that can carry information through materials. By changing the material's magnetic state with an external magnetic field,
Classical–quantum light interactions could make complex quantum behavior easier to simulate
An international collaboration demonstrates that classical nonlinear dynamics can drive single- and two-photon states to thermalize, opening new avenues for simulating complex quantum many-body systems within accessible optical architectures.
AI use is now universal in higher education. Why are universities failing to adapt?
Artificial intelligence use among university students is now near-universal in many countries. Yet, as of a year ago, fewer than one in five universities in a 90-country UNESCO survey had a formal AI policy.
Earth's 'core carbon' may have come from the far reaches of the solar system
A new study suggests that most of Earth's carbon originated in the outer solar system and didn't arrive here until the late stages of planetary development. The study, led by researchers at Yale and Columbia, is based upon an analysis of magma droplets called "melt inclusions"
Poles of bacteria imaged in fine detail for the first time
The poles, or ends, of rod-shaped bacteria have been imaged at molecular resolution for the first time in a new study led by UCL (University College London) researchers. The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, used a new technique to keep live bacteria in
New approach boosts plastic-eating enzyme's activity nearly tenfold
Researchers from King's College London and Rutgers University in New Jersey created a modified enzyme (a protein that speeds up chemical reactions) that breaks down polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic 10 times quicker, using 10 times less enzyme. They accomplished this
Financial institutions tout sustainability while still funding high-carbon projects, review finds
A review published in the International Journal of Managerial and Financial Accounting on the subject of greenwashing in financial services has found that financial institutions often claim environmental responsibility while continuing to finance high-carbon projects.
Researchers Can Tell How Lonely You Are by Your Instagram Activity
Are you lonely posting? The post Researchers Can Tell How Lonely You Are by Your Instagram Activity appeared first on Nautilus .
Protein-building RNA molecules reveal possible remnants of an ancestral genetic code
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
Webb's controversial 'little red dots' may finally have an explanation
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.
Protein tails help shape mosquito cell-to-cell channels
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
Two new howler monkey species discovered in the Amazon after 85 years
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.
Archives reveal how climate memories may reset with each generation
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
A new method for tracking climate change and air pollution
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
Gravitational waves hint at black holes born from failed supernovae
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
When the definition of sexual consent gets stretched
Men in treatment for domestic violence have an elastic view of what constitutes consent in their partner, an UdeM study has found.
Repeatable laser measurements reveal 'forbidden' vibrations in single molecules without destroying them
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
Airborne imaging explores a mosaic of thawing permafrost
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
Reef biodiversity accounting to help scale up restoration
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
Leader still means man, and language does not change that, according to study
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
Deep reefs provide corals little refuge from extreme ocean heat
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.
Study finds links between bacteria in wastewater and chronic disease
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.
Free-to-air TV failures add to data costs for remote Australian First Nations households
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.
Q&A: 'AI has become a major force shaping our world,' says expert
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
Archaeological trap: Fish can make skeletons appear hundreds of years too old
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
Was Isaac Newton’s contribution to calculus stolen?
Newton accused Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, another mathematical giant of the time, of stealing the concept of infinitesimals. Here’s the real story
Descendants of Chornobyl’s Pets Run Wild
And their genomes suggest they’ve adapted to the toxic conditions The post Descendants of Chornobyl’s Pets Run Wild appeared first on Nautilus .
Ph.D. completion depends on reciprocal mix of candidate, supervision and institution, review finds
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
Purple bacteria turn CO₂ and other industrial waste products into valuable supplement ingredients
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
Landfill leachate tests reveal divergent fates of biodegradable plastics
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
A net to protect against the world's deadliest animal—the mosquito
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
Mathematical method sharpens X-ray images at the nanoscale
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
Local AI trained on gut microbe data could help African livestock withstand heat
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
Southern hairy-nosed wombat found to deliver key environmental benefits
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.
Tiny solar whirlpools may hold the secret to the sun's blistering corona
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
Simulated moon dust turned into LEGO-like blocks for settlements
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
What a 99-million-year-old feather is telling us about the evolution of flight
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
The U.S. may be on the cusp of losing its measles elimination status
Years after being officially eliminated, measles is rampant in the U.S. Could it be back for good?
Cool adaptations: How fish survive in the Antarctic Ocean
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
Q&A: Exploring generative AI's impact on student thinking during programming and debugging
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.
Laser-driven magnetic state defies equilibrium rules
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.
Severe ocean risks threaten food prices, pensions and global economic resilience
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.
The Difference Between Nice and Kind
How we talk about good deeds and acts of altruism The post The Difference Between Nice and Kind appeared first on Nautilus .
LHC collaboration presents first result in the hunt for 'quirks'
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
Crystal boundaries help hydrogen sensors work in hot, humid air
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
Researcher uses AI to predict probabilities for chemical processes
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
Why the current strategy to manage mule deer populations may not be working
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
Finland's white-tailed eagle success story: What long-term data reveal about recovery
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.
X-ray observations uncover possible jet warning signs in black hole systems
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
