Headlines

Mating strategies shape tropical plants' invasive ability

A recent study from the Center for Ecological Sciences (CES), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), has found strong evidence that a plant's ability to reproduce on its own—through self-fertilization—is one of the key traits that helps it become invasive. The findings are

Does time come from the entire universe running computations?

Explaining the passage of time has been a gnarly problem in physics basically forever, but physicist and computer scientist Stephen Wolfram has a radical proposal for where it comes from. He discussed his ideas on time – and what they mean for free will – with reporter Leah Crane

Rare color shifting discovered in iconic Australian frog

University of Newcastle researchers have documented one of the clearest examples of iridescence ever recorded in an amphibian, revealing that the endangered green and golden bell frog (Ranoidea aurea) possesses intricate color-shifting skin previously unseen in the species.

Measuring iron in motion at Earth-core conditions

It was a journey to the center of the Earth, if only for the briefest of moments. But rather than tunneling thousands of miles from Earth's surface, researchers from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and several universities used the National Ignition Facility (NIF)

Tiny carbon rings enable a new form of quantum control

Quantum states can be precisely controlled with the help of tiny carbon rings measuring only a few nanometers in size. This is made possible by a class of rarely used electromagnetic dipoles called toroidal moments. Using computer simulations, physicists at Martin Luther

Rising human-elephant conflict in Southern Africa predicted

A study predicts increasing human-elephant conflict in Southern Africa. A growing number of farmers and 290,000 African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) share space in Southern Africa, with conflicts arising from elephants raiding cropland. Crop raids by elephants can be

New ultrathin lens focuses light into an optical needle

Researchers have created a special flat lens that shapes light into an optical needle—a thin beam that stays tightly focused over a long distance. Combining this lens, which is about 7 microns thick, with optical coherence tomography (OCT) could allow imaging that reaches

Tracking your employees doesn't make them more productive

In June, TD Bank told staff that it would begin running software called WorkiQ on their work computers, tracking time spent in browsers, internal chat and meeting apps. The rollout has revived public debate about workplace surveillance. But the issue extends well beyond one bank.