Why Melbourne makes you sneeze in spring
When most Australians say 'spring is in the air,' they're speaking metaphorically, as the days become longer and warmer.
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Tracking visits to public points of interest can inform community health measures
It's not so much where people live, but where they frequently spend their time, that can provide useful information for predicting community health measures. A team led by geographers in the Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences found that adding place visitation
Sharks on the move expose the need for international conservation efforts
Understanding the migration pathways of sharks and rays is key to conserving some of the world's most endangered marine species, according to new University of Queensland research.
Survey reveals significant gap across 64 countries between commitment to the rule of law and its implementation
A new report by the International Bar Association (IBA) has found a significant gap between the importance legal professionals attach to fundamental rule of law principles and their assessment of how effectively those principles are implemented in practice.
Forest structure matters more than topography in shaping plant diversity in Southern Apennine old-growth forests
A study in Pollino National Park shows that large trees, complex canopies and deadwood diversity play a major role in shaping vascular plant communities, highlighting the ecological value of one of Italy's most remarkable old-growth forest landscapes.
Long-term oyster reef restoration shows clear success in murky waters
Large-scale oyster reef restoration in the Chesapeake Bay is successfully creating three-dimensional habitats that support larger, more diverse fish communities, according to new research from scientists at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), the Smithsonian
Device simulates natural conditions to grow biofilms and test their antibiotic susceptibility more accurately
Biofilms are complex microbial communities that adhere to a surface and encase themselves in a viscous matrix they produce. This structure protects bacteria from antibiotics and the immune system far more effectively than if they lived in a free-floating state, making biofilms
Hot electrons reveal electronic collisions may raise resistance in twisted graphene
When a material heats up, its electrical resistance often rises. The harder question is what, exactly, is getting in the way. The electrons carrying the current may be scattered by vibrations of the material's atomic lattice, known as phonons. They may also collide with one
Building big with DNA gets a software upgrade
Forty-four years ago, Nadrian Seeman published his groundbreaking ideas on using DNA as a structural material, expanding DNA's significance far beyond its role as a carrier of genetic information. Since then, the steadily growing field of DNA nanotechnology has seen numerous
ChatGPT at university: Study maps why students stick with AI for learning
What factors influence students' decisions about whether they will continue to use ChatGPT for learning in the future? This was the question addressed by a new study from ELTE's Faculty of Informatics, which used an interpretable machine learning framework to identify the
Thinking outside the binding site: Drug molecule makes a square peg fit a round hole
A square peg doesn't fit a round hole. But what if the peg could change the shape of the hole? A newly developed drug molecule can do something surprisingly similar when binding to its target protein, according to a University at Buffalo-led study published Tuesday (Sept. 15)
Henry VIII's dissolution enforcer stashed Catholic manuscript—its lost pages have just been rediscovered
Sir John Gage, a key figure in Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries, saved a dangerous Catholic book from likely destruction, a new study suggests. The identification of six lost pages of a medieval bestseller—illicitly prized by Catholics in the Reformation—as belonging
Missing pages of priceless missing Henry VIII–era manuscript finally found
The pages come from a copy of Mirror of the Blessed Life of Jesus Christ that once belonged to John Gage, an enforcer in Henry VIII’s court and a key figure in the historical dissolution of the monasteries
Volatile organic compounds may be underestimated in the carbon cycle
Rainwater connects the biogeochemical cycles of land and the atmosphere. It's effectively a chemical conveyor belt that delivers compounds to the ground during a process called wet deposition.
Insect remains reveal Indigenous burial practices in the Canary Islands
Archaeologists have analyzed insect remains preserved in the 7th to 9th centuries AD funerary cave of Cruz de la Esquina, Gran Canaria, and found that it was used by the island's Indigenous people for food storage before being adapted into a burial site. The findings have been
Global database reveals hidden diversity and potential of deep-sea microbes
The ocean's aphotic zone—the dark, high-pressure region below the surface, where sunlight cannot reach—is home to a vast wealth of microbial life. Yet scientists know relatively little about the genetic makeup, growth and function of many of these enigmatic organisms.
Brazilian sedge reproduces sexually but without DNA reshuffling, producing genetic clones
Sexual reproduction usually reshuffles genetic information, creating offspring that differ from their parents. But one small plant takes an unexpected route. In a new study published in Nature, an international team led by André Marques at the Max Planck Institute for Plant
Bird flu has claimed its first Australian sea lion and dolphin. How does the virus get into these animals?
A rare Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea) on Kangaroo Island has been confirmed to have died from highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu. The sea lion had recently been attacked by a shark, weakening it. Testing revealed that the virus caused its death. Another dead sea lion is
Mobile trap transports 92 antiprotons by road and stores them for over a month in world first
In March 2026, scientists succeeded in transporting antiprotons by road for the first time in a purpose-built trap loaded on a truck. The BASE collaboration, which realized this experiment at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva under the lead of
Tiny oyster larvae rely on gravity to feed
Eastern oyster larvae are only 100–300 micrometers long, but their dense calcium carbonate shells make them substantially heavier than the surrounding seawater. A new study led by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) shows that this excess weight allows gravity to
Simple messaging can help restore trust in US elections
Election officials can build public trust in procedures and results—even among suspicious voters who fear partisan manipulation—by creating videos that factually explain their security safeguards in simple terms. These are the findings of studies co-authored by a UC Riverside
Compact optical screen could pave the way for cheaper infrared cameras
New research led by the ARC Center of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems (TMOS) at the University of Melbourne demonstrates a new way to make invisible infrared light visible without relying on the expensive detector technology used in today's infrared cameras.
The importance of measuring stress in hedgehogs and how a new method could enhance welfare
How can we tell when a hedgehog is stressed? Ph.D. researcher Emily Harper explains how her new research has validated a non-invasive method for measuring stress by analyzing hormones in hedgehog feces. The method could help researchers understand how different stressors, or
A sharper picture of a pandemic: Uncovering the complex history of the plague after the Black Death
The Black Death is often remembered as a single catastrophic event that swept across Europe between 1347 and 1353, killing millions. Yet the disease did not disappear after that first devastating outbreak. For more than four centuries, plague continued to return in recurring
Chimps Hand Down Tools Across Generations
Social learning boosts feeding success of young’uns The post Chimps Hand Down Tools Across Generations appeared first on Nautilus .
New method reveals how virus particles can build themselves, molecule by molecule
Oxford University researchers have captured the step-by-step assembly of individual virus-like particles, revealing how simple molecular interactions can reliably build these complex biological structures. The results were published today (September 16) in Nature.
AI struggles to decipher 'animal language' because sound doesn't equal meaning, experts say
In recent years, numerous attempts have been made to use artificial intelligence to decipher the communication of bats, whales, birds and other animals. However, a new study led by a team of researchers from Tel Aviv University points to a fundamental problem with this
Time of day may be key in speech therapy for youth
For young people with childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), a disorder that affects the brain's ability to plan and coordinate the movements needed for speech, speech difficulties can persist well beyond childhood. Unlike many childhood speech disorders that improve with age,
Iron, sulfur and purple light unlock greener carbon-carbon bond formation
Much of organic chemistry, including the type used to create and alter medicinal drugs, relies on modifying carbon bonds. Rice University's Julian West has been developing a less expensive, faster and more environmentally friendly way to catalyze these reactions, with a
Bacterial invasion proteins could improve detection of live crop pathogens
Scientists, clinicians, seed companies and others may soon have a new tool in their toolkit for detecting bacterial pathogens, thanks to a new study by researchers in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. The research—published in Journal of Microbiological
AI can be more comforting than a person—our research shows why
Some of us now use generative artificial intelligence (gen AI) to talk through difficult feelings. We may ask a chatbot to write an email or plan a vacation, but we also tell it that we have had a rotten day or feel anxious about a presentation.
Ultrathin membranes unlock nano-infrared views of biomolecules in water
Very small biological samples and even individual biomolecules can now be examined under near-physiological conditions with high confidence at the BESSY II infrared beamline using a newly validated and improved technique: nanoscale infrared (IR) spectroscopy (s-SNOM) with
Roll waves emerge as uniform water flow destabilizes on steep slopes, equations show
When it rains, traveling waves appear on steep asphalt pavement, slowly making their way down the slope. Because these so-called "roll waves" propagate without deforming and are typically characterized by abrupt discontinuities, they play an important role in hydraulic
Spekboom is nutritious, water‑wise and edible—so why aren't more South Africans eating it?
Spekboom (Portulacaria afra) is an easy-to-grow succulent shrub, small tree or hedge. In the wild, it grows naturally as tall as five meters (16 feet) on steep slopes and rocky hillsides in the Karoo and Eastern Cape regions of South Africa, where it helps stabilize soil and
Cold Weather Could Predict an Increase in Heart Attacks Three Days in Advance
And the holidays are especially bad The post Cold Weather Could Predict an Increase in Heart Attacks Three Days in Advance appeared first on Nautilus .
Tendon cells can rebound from stiffness when returned to softer tissue-like surroundings
Researchers at Queen Mary University of London are closer to understanding tendinopathy, a common condition that can cause persistent pain and impaired movement in people and many animals.
How online platforms are misaligned with late-career workers
The wonders of internet technology and the advent of the gig economy have given hope to many highly skilled workers that their reputations, built up over many years, can help them transition from a traditional office-based job (with all the associated pressures) to freelance
Fungi neutralize spruce defense mechanisms with sugar
A research team at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology discovered a previously unknown strategy by which certain fungi neutralize spruce defense compounds. These fungi are introduced into trees by bark beetles, and their success makes it easier for bark beetles to
What Grok and Claude Have to Say about the AI Apocalypse
A maniacal villain and a polite librarian on the risk that AI could end humanity The post What Grok and Claude Have to Say about the AI Apocalypse appeared first on Nautilus .
Snow, monsoons and oceans shift Earth's center of mass each year, satellite tracking shows
Seasonal changes redistribute enough water around Earth to shift the planet's center of mass back and forth by fractions of an inch relative to its geometric center. NASA scientists are on the case, tracking the oscillations because Earth's center of mass is a crucial reference
Lockdown or active shooter drill? The distinction matters for children's safety and well-being
School shooting preparedness drills have been a routine, though uncomfortable, part of the back-to-school experience. Since the 1999 mass shooting at Columbine High School in Jefferson County, Colorado, various kinds of preparedness drills have been mandatory in most schools.
Light lets microswimmers switch between bacteria-like and algae-like propulsion
Physicists at Leipzig University and Charles University in Prague have developed a method for changing the swimming style of tiny artificial microswimmers in real time. They can make a single microscopic particle switch at will between modes of swimming inspired by bacteria and
Why you really shouldn't overcook your proteins
The development of cooking was a major milestone in the evolution of human civilization because it made food easier to digest and more energy-efficient. Heating food can also kill harmful pathogens and make certain foods taste better. Overcooking, on the other hand, can have
Even if you're not talking politics at work, it's coming to the office with you
Most employees aren't discussing the latest political polls during meetings or debating hot-button issues around the coffee maker. But that doesn't mean politics isn't affecting the workplace. A study from Texas A&M University found that the political information employees
Newfound 'baby' planet smashes record for youngest known world
Astronomers have confirmed a world less than a million years old as the youngest known planet, using data from archives. Called Elias 2-24 b, the baby planet is still whirling in its natal disk of dust and gas.
We Finally Know Tyrannosaurus Rex’s Body Temperature
Check it and see The post We Finally Know Tyrannosaurus Rex’s Body Temperature appeared first on Nautilus .
Muon rings enable precise calibration of telescopes at the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory
Research initiated as part of a bachelor's thesis in physics at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) has culminated in a new analytical description of the muon-based calibration of dual-mirror Cherenkov telescopes. The work solves a problem that had remained open for
New towns risk repeating past mistakes unless transport comes first, experts warn
New towns will fail to deliver thriving, sustainable communities unless high-quality public transportation is included from the outset, according to a new report from the University of Hertfordshire.
Engineers solve puzzle of Arctic sea ice movement
Arctic sea ice moves and spreads in ways that wind alone cannot explain. A new UC Riverside-led study finds that collisions between individual pieces of ice provide a surprisingly simple explanation for these movements, potentially offering scientists a better way to predict
Without bacteria or chemicals: How methanol and formaldehyde form abiotically in nature
The biopolymer lignin—one of the most important carbon reservoirs in plants and soils—not only decays through fungi or bacteria but can also be chemically attacked by iron linked to reactive oxygen species, without the involvement of microorganisms. When this happens, lignin is
