Trump’s War on Science Continues
As sacked National Science Board members and lawmakers speak out, US research preeminence further dims on the international stage The post Trump’s War on Science Continues appeared first on Nautilus .
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The science behind the Adidas shoes that helped two marathoners break the two-hour mark
A sub-two-hour marathon has long been seen as a tantalizing benchmark for elite runners—and shoemakers have been in a race to design footwear that can help them get there
Why Cooperation Falls Apart Over Time
It’s a question of motivation The post Why Cooperation Falls Apart Over Time appeared first on Nautilus .
What Happens When Giants Disappear from Ecosystems?
Big animals leave big holes in the food web The post What Happens When Giants Disappear from Ecosystems? appeared first on Nautilus .
Better volcano eruption predictions on Earth—and Venus—thanks to Mauna Loa study
When Mauna Loa erupted in 2022, the largest lava flow headed on a path headed directly toward Daniel K. Inouye State Highway 200, also known as Saddle Road, a critical route that carries many residents from their homes on one side to their jobs on the other.
Common claim that most transgender youth renounce that identity is not supported by statistics, research finds
The frequently cited claim that 60% to 90% of transgender and gender-diverse children and young adults ultimately identify as cisgender—or their gender assigned at birth—is not supported by statistical analyses of published scientific research, according to a new study from
How bacteria circumvent plants' immune system
How are bacterial pathogens able to effectively overcome plants' defense mechanisms? Researchers working with Professor Şuayb Üstün at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, have found a surprising answer to this question: The pathogens seize tiny compartments in plant cells, known
The cost of toxic leadership in the workplace, and how to avoid it
You will probably recognize toxic leaders when you encounter them. They are the ones whose presence shifts the atmosphere, whose emails create unease, or whose behavior limits the thinking of others. They often interrupt, frequently overlook contributions and hamper other
Synchrotron safety monitoring sheds light on dark photons
A scientist from Tokyo Metropolitan University has proposed using safety monitoring at synchrotron facilities to study the properties of dark photons, hypothetical particles proposed to explain dark matter. Calculations show that the X-ray source at these sites and a
Potential signs of life on distant planets sound exciting, but confirmation can take years
Astronomers can use telescopes to find specific molecules in the atmospheres of neighboring planets, in nebulae—clouds of interstellar dust and gas—hundreds or thousands of light-years away, or in galaxies beyond the far reaches of the Milky Way.
Iconic Sombrero Galaxy captured in incredible detail, revealing its enormous glowing halo
This galaxy, also known as Messier 104, gets its nickname from its central bulge and outer dust trail, which give it a sombrerolike appearance from our vantage point
New self-assembling polymers proven to be effective at gene delivery
A collaboration of scientists at the University of Manchester and the University of Birmingham has explored a more effective and less toxic way of delivering genetic material into cells, a challenge central to areas such as gene therapy, biotechnology and genome editing.
Here's what we know about the climate cost of white trails aircraft leave in the sky
Contrails, short for condensation trails, are the white streaks often seen in the sky behind aircraft. The International Cloud Atlas, which classifies clouds, has a category just for them: cirrus homogenitus, an example of man-made clouds.
Coercion isn't care, and new laws that enforce treatment and confinement are dangerous
The Supreme Court of Canada has described the right to refuse unwanted medical treatment as "fundamental to a person's dignity and autonomy, [including] in the context of treatment for mental illness."
Atomic map reveals how Leptospira bacteria flip virulence switch inside hosts
During infection, pathogens must adapt quickly to the conditions to thrive inside the body. A research team at the University of Basel, Switzerland, has uncovered how a key protein switches on the machinery that enables Leptospira pathogens to survive and cause disease. The
Mopane worm and termite sales relieve poverty in rural South Africa—studies explore the impact
South Africa's Limpopo province borders Zimbabwe, Botswana and Mozambique. It is one of the poorest provinces in the country. This is due to a combination of historical underdevelopment, a high unemployment rate, heavy reliance on government grants and a rural-based economy
Two suns are better than one—planets thrive around binary stars
Planets may actually form more easily around double stars than around single stars like our sun, according to new research from astrophysicists at the University of Lancashire. Binary stars are common in our galaxy, yet for a long time astronomers believed that the
People trust vaccine scientists as much as other researchers, poll shows
Roughly seven in 10 people still trust vaccine researchers, a new poll finds. The number is in line with trust for other scientists
What to know about sex trafficking as Pittsburgh hosts the NFL draft
With the NFL draft taking place in Pittsburgh and an estimated 500,000 to 700,000 people expected to attend the events downtown and on the North Shore, conversations about sex trafficking have resurfaced—as they often do when major events draw large crowds to a city.
DNA molecular computer combines memory and computing at scales below 2 nm
Until now, molecular-level DNA circuits have mainly been used for simple tasks, such as detecting the presence of cancer-related substances. However, these systems have faced a key limitation: once a reaction occurs, the circuits cannot be reused. Overcoming this challenge, a
Blood filtering could help treat preeclampsia, pilot study suggests
Preeclampsia can be deadly in pregnancy, and aside from delivering the baby, the condition has no targeted treatment. A new study suggests blood filtering with antibodies could help
Coral reefs on a remote archipelago shrugged off a massive heatwave
Scientists were shocked to find that the Houtman Abrolhos Islands’ coral reefs survived a prolonged extreme heatwave in 2025 virtually unharmed, which may reveal how to protect corals elsewhere
The Duolingo taxi test—could being rude to the driver cost you your dream job?
Duolingo recently revealed a seemingly genius trick to assess candidates for a senior position. Hiring managers at the language-learning app read applications and cover letters, scheduled phone interviews and asked all the usual questions about skills and ambitions. But they
Brazil's farm expansion has left a vast soil carbon debt—but one fix could help meet climate goals
The conversion of Brazil's native biomes into agricultural areas has resulted in an estimated loss of 1.4 billion tons of soil carbon. This amount is equal to the emission of 5.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) equivalent, a unit of measurement used to standardize the
Why the keto diet could be a revolutionary way to treat mental illness
You may think of the high-fat, low-carb eating plan as a faddish way to lose weight. But the keto diet is now being used to tackle conditions from severe depression to bipolar disorder and anorexia, with transformative results
Mining the solar system to build a new world
I watched Armageddon again fairly recently with Bruce Willis, oil drillers in space and an asteroid the size of Texas bearing down on Earth. Buried beneath the Hollywood chaos is a genuinely interesting question: What exactly could we do with an asteroid if we got our hands on
CRISPR untangles five-gene protein that helps plants grow in early stages
For most of their lives, plants get their energy from photosynthesis. But during the seed to seedling stage, when they can't absorb light just yet, they rely on other sources, like fatty acids. To process the fatty acids, plant cells, like human cells, rely on a membrane-bound
Japan startup seeks approval of cat kidney disease treatment
A Japanese startup has filed for approval of a new drug to treat chronic kidney disease in cats, the founder said on Monday, offering hope for a common affliction that currently has no definitive cure.
Rare ribosome tweak in E. coli reveals possible antibiotic target
Storing genetic material as DNA or RNA is all well and good for life on Earth, but it would be entirely pointless if we couldn't do anything with it. To use our genetic blueprints, all organisms need to translate the message from their nucleic acid forms into protein, which
Physicists Discover the Most Complex Forms of Ice Yet
Scientists keep detecting new forms of ice. According to simulations, there could be many more left to find. The post Physicists Discover the Most Complex Forms of Ice Yet first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Scientists finally solve mystery of strange “golden orb” found 2 miles deep
A mysterious “golden orb” found more than two miles deep in the Gulf of Alaska left scientists baffled for over two years, sparking wild speculation about its origins. After an intensive investigation combining deep-sea expertise, microscopic analysis, and advanced DNA
Researchers say remote Lake Superior island's wolves are thriving as packs prey on moose
Wolves on a remote island in Lake Superior appear to be thriving, but they're making deep dents in the moose population that they rely on as a leading food source, according to a report released Monday.
More than two species? Scientists challenge taxonomy of two-toed sloths in Amazonia
A new study by scientists from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) has revealed significant cryptic diversity within two-toed sloths (Choloepus) in Amazonia, challenging the long-established taxonomy of the genus. This international effort involved
This dangerous pregnancy complication is common. A new treatment might help
Preeclampsia complicates 3 to 8 percent of pregnancies. In a recent trial, a blood filter lowered blood pressure and helped prolong some pregnancies.
This tiny mammal survived the dinosaur apocalypse and changed life on Earth
A newly discovered prehistoric mammal may hold clues to how life survived the dinosaur-killing extinction. The tiny species, Cimolodon desosai, lived 75 million years ago and had traits—like a small body and varied diet—that likely boosted survival odds. Found in Baja
This hidden kind of stress may be damaging your memory as you age
A new study reveals that internalizing stress—especially feelings of hopelessness—may significantly speed up memory decline in older Chinese Americans. Surprisingly, factors like community support didn’t show the same impact. Researchers say cultural pressures and stereotypes
Beer and cannabis could share 'sex switch,' study finds
Researchers at University College Dublin have identified a genetic "switch" that determines the sex of cannabis plants, and found the same system may exist in hops. The study, published in New Phytologist, pinpoints a specific section of the X chromosome that influences whether
Study explores why workers are leaving their jobs in the homeless services sector
A new study by a University at Buffalo social work researcher shows that 43% of frontline workers in the homeless services sector nationally reported an intention to leave their jobs. The findings published in the International Journal on Homelessness represent the first
An acoustic device helps reduce bycatch of endangered Black Sea porpoises
The endangered Black Sea harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena relicta) is facing a critical fight for survival. As Europe's smallest marine mammal, this isolated population is being pushed toward extinction by bycatch—the unintentional entanglement in fishing gear. The crisis is
Bacterial defense system builds DNA in unexpected new way to stop viruses
Scientists at Stanford University have discovered that DRT3, a unique defense system found in bacteria, creates DNA to protect against viral infections. DRT3 is made up of two different enzymes called reverse transcriptases, Drt3a and Drt3b, and a piece of noncoding RNA
Scientists discover how to freeze transplant organs without cracking them
Scientists are making a major leap toward freezing organs for future use without damaging them. A new study reveals that one of the biggest obstacles—cracking during ultra-cold preservation—can be reduced by carefully tuning the temperature at which tissues enter a glass-like
An interplanetary shortcut can speed up trips to Mars
Whether it's robotic rovers heading to Mars or, one day, a crew of astronauts, a round-trip journey is an incredibly long one. But there may be a way to find a shortcut. A new study published in the journal Acta Astronautica suggests that hundreds of days could be shaved off a
Looser mortgage lending rules, regulation may destabilize financial system
At least 10 million Americans lost their homes during the 2008–09 global financial crisis. In the aftermath, Congress passed the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act, which was intended to promote financial stability, protect consumers from predatory financial practices, and prevent
Students build a “cosmic radio” to listen for dark matter
A group of undergraduate students pulled off something remarkable: they built their own dark matter detector and used it to probe one of physics’ biggest mysteries. Working with limited resources but plenty of creativity, they designed a stripped-down experiment to hunt for
New method to raise investment funds for projects that restore coastal wetlands for climate adaptation
The Center for Coastal Climate Resilience (CCCR) at the University of California, Santa Cruz, has partnered with The Nature Conservancy to develop a new tool for funding wetland conservation and restoration projects through verifiable "Coastal Resilience Assets." The value of
Improving animal welfare in the lab: AI helps better detect pain
At first glance, the white plastic box with a bright orange floor looks like something for storing children's toys. However, the box isn't used to store Lego bricks; it contains real mice—with the aim of minimizing their suffering. "This box allows laboratory animals to be
What happened after the fast-food pay raise in California? New data explains
Fast-food workers in California may be earning more money, but their employers are cutting their hours to make up for the cost of higher pay. That's from a new study published in Applied Economic Letters in early March. Northeastern University postdoctoral research fellow
Scientists just captured a mysterious quantum “dance” inside superconductors
In a breakthrough experiment, scientists directly imaged how particles pair up in a system that mimics superconductors. Instead of behaving independently, the pairs moved in a synchronized, dance-like pattern—something never predicted before. This suggests a major gap in the
Scientists may have found the brain’s switch for chronic pain
Deep within the brain, scientists have uncovered a hidden “switch” that may decide whether pain fades away—or lingers for months or even years. Researchers found that a small, little-known region called the caudal granular insular cortex (CGIC) acts like a command center,
Giant Arctic continent launched dinosaurs to world domination
Coincident with the rise of the dinosaurs, a large landmass filled most of the Arctic circle, potentially contributing to global cooling that advantaged the famous reptiles
