Academic freedom continues to decline worldwide. Over the last decade, it has declined in 50 countries, while only nine countries have registered improvements. The countries that have experienced a decline include several democracies, such as the United States of America
Skoltech researchers and their colleagues from KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden, have created an important building block for future 6G communication technology, which will make wireless data transfer at superior transmission rates possible. The newly developed piece
According to WHO, approximately 6% of the worldwide population who contract COVID-19—some 400 million people—go on to develop a long-lasting form of the disease. These figures demonstrate that the persistent form of the disease remains a problem and is a major public health
Accurately measuring small shifts in biological markers, like proteins and neurotransmitters, or harmful chemicals in the water supply, can identify critical problems before they have a chance to impact patients or the environment. While some existing sensors can monitor the
A study clarifies the date of an important technological milestone: the adoption of the bow and arrow in western North America. The replacement of older weapons by bows and arrows occurred independently in several prehistoric cultures. Briggs Buchanan and colleagues explore
Substances capable of mutating human genetic material—altering and permanently damaging it—are present in many everyday products. Researchers at Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU) have, for the first time, detected mutagens and concurrently cytotoxic substances in food,
American politics is increasingly characterized by high levels of polarization and divisive rhetoric, despite stated preferences among voters for civility and substantive debate. Sean J. Westwood and colleagues sought to understand what might incentivize a politician to use
A new laser range-finding technique, inspired by quantum physics, that can measure distances under strong solar background has been demonstrated by researchers at the University of Bristol. The team has proved their hypothesis by testing out their new method on some of the
How can we measure time more than 500 million years into the past? A study recently published in Nature Communications by researchers at the University of Lausanne presents a new geological "rock clock" that allows major climate events from the dawn of complex animal life to be
Scientists have debated for decades whether economies can continue to grow without increasing greenhouse gas emissions. A new study by a Penn State researcher has found that this may be possible, but only under strict conditions and mostly for the world's wealthiest nations.
New paired studies from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities show that machine learning can improve the prediction of floods. The studies, published in Water Resources Research and the Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Data Mining, demonstrate how
In December 2023, the Peruvian Andes were hit by a severe drought followed by a wave of nighttime freezing temperatures. The "cold shock" didn't just wither crops and cause widespread hunger; it reached deep into the homes of the families who live there.
Every eleven years, the sun's magnetic field flips. Sunspots—dark, cooler regions on the sun's surface that mark intense magnetic activity and often trigger solar eruptions—appear at mid-latitudes and migrate toward the star's equator in a butterfly-shape pattern before fading
Could ancient humans really have built the pyramids without extraterrestrial help? Or do such questions reveal more about modern anxieties than the past itself?
How males adjust their behavior to keep the beat The post The Secret of Fireflies’ Synchronous Flashing appeared first on Nautilus .
Networks exist in both nature—such as biological systems like food webs and gene regulatory networks—and in engineered systems as seen in power grids. Though natural and engineered systems share an overarching goal—providing a mechanism for interacting components to transmit
Energy-from-waste facilities are often positioned as a cleaner alternative to landfill, transforming rubbish into electricity and reducing the UK's waste burden. But new research suggests that there may be a hidden cost to this process: potentially hazardous chemical residues
South of Fall Creek by the edge of the woods, the moths would gather. They were, of course, drawn by light—set out by a researcher working in Cornell University's old Insectory building. In 1889, the lure came from a kerosene lantern, the pan underneath collecting the samples.
The ocean naturally absorbs CO₂ from the atmosphere, acting as a carbon sink. This capacity is determined by a natural chemical property referred to as ocean alkalinity. If the alkalinity increases, the ocean has the potential to absorb more CO₂. There are several proposed
For the first time, a quantum radiation reaction in strong electromagnetic fields has been demonstrated experimentally by allowing electrons to collide with an extremely intense and powerful laser beam. The research findings provide insights needed for new quantum-mechanical
The higher education sector is more aware of disability than it was a few years ago. Universities are more willing to provide support, and attitudes have improved. What students describe day to day, however, tells a different story.
Researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) have uncovered how the bacteria that causes tuberculosis fuels itself during infection, providing new insights into one of the world's deadliest infectious diseases. The study, published in The EMBO Journal, provides the
And ode to one of nature’s most maligned creatures The post Consider the Cockroach appeared first on Nautilus .
In one of the biggest surprises of NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission, its target asteroid, Bennu, turned out to be a jagged, rugged world covered in large boulders, with few of the smooth patches that earlier observations from Earth-based instruments had indicated.
Scientists have discovered a defensive method of cells that resembles Spiderman shooting his web to ensnare enemies. These cells defend our bodies from the early stages of viral infection by synthesizing a sticky "web" to trap viral genomes. The paper is published on the
Quantum catalysts are specialized resources that enable quantum state transformations previously thought impossible, holding promise for advancements in quantum computing and thermodynamics. A recent international study has identified the conditions under which these catalysts
A suspected meteor that fell over the Cleveland area on Tuesday shook homes and startled residents who heard a boom that some compared to an explosion.
A previously unknown species of leaf warbler has been discovered in Japan. The Ijima's Leaf Warbler has proven to be two different species, not just one. Every year, a few new bird species are identified around the world. The unusual aspect in this case is that it is not
Demand for odor detection is growing in diverse fields such as food security, medical diagnostics, and environmental monitoring, but current technologies face limitations. Living cells with olfactory receptors can serve as sensitive odor detectors; however, cell-based sensors
A new genetic study published in the journal Cell is filling in some important details about the earliest inhabitants of Palau, an island nation in the western Pacific Ocean consisting of approximately 340 islands.
Scientists from the University of Manchester have played a leading role in the discovery of a new subatomic particle at CERN's Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The particle, known as the Ξcc⁺ (Xi‑cc‑plus), is a new type of heavy proton-like particle containing two charm quarks and
For the first time, researchers have demonstrated that the properties of the perovskite family of materials can be used to create so-called quantum bits. The findings, published in the journal Nature Communications, pave the way for more affordable materials in future quantum
Where time is an illusion, reality just is, and you can see yourself as eternal The post Welcome to the Block Universe appeared first on Nautilus .
Since tools like ChatGPT burst into higher education, debate has focused on two extremes: either students are all committing underhanded academic fraud and plagiarism or Artificial Intelligence will magically revolutionize learning.
Small changes to aircraft flight paths to avoid the atmospheric conditions that create condensation trails—known as contrails—could reduce aviation's global warming impact by nearly half, a new study suggests. The study, led by researchers at the University of Cambridge,
The recent killing of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) who was commonly referred to by his alias "El Mencho," has once again brought global attention to drug-related violence in Mexico. His death at the hands of the Mexican
Which children work harder at school, and what do their efforts have to do with their social background? Until now, educational research has been unable to provide empirically based answers to this question. However, a new international study led by the Universidad Carlos III
Around 1 in 4 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Germany now uses artificial intelligence (AI)—primarily to free up staff from routine tasks. In future, SMEs will increasingly need skilled workers with AI expertise. Otherwise, they risk facing recruitment difficulties
New experimental results have cast doubt on earlier proposals suggesting that spherical, cell-like membranes could form in the methane lakes of Saturn's largest moon. Through results published in Science Advances, Tuan Vu and Robert Hodyss at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory
The Mediterranean Sea is home to some of the ocean's largest animals. Among the nine species of cetaceans commonly found along its western shores are the fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus, the world's second-largest marine animal), and the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus).
Geopolitical tensions rarely stay confined to the battlefield. They ripple through global markets—particularly energy and food. The war between the US, Israel and Iran is a reminder of how quickly conflict can affect food security far beyond the region.
During the winters of 2024 and 2025, widespread "spinning fish" events swept through the Florida Keys, impacting more than 80 marine fish species and likely killing hundreds of endangered large juvenile and adult smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata). This mysterious
Satellite data show that U.S. cities have more nighttime cloud cover than nearby countryside, and building height and density help explain why.
The UK's use of land is indefensibly inefficient. Roughly 5% is used for buildings and roads, 10% for forest and woodland, plus 20% for arable crops. But the largest share, around 50% of our country, is dedicated to livestock.
The controlled generation of single photons is an essential element of numerous quantum technology applications, such as quantum networks and quantum computing. A research team has now demonstrated the successful application of the new SUPER (Swing-UP of the quantum EmitteR
Jie Wu, an engineering graduate student, was studying a type of striking white beetle found in Southeast Asia and attempting to figure out how to mimic its brilliant color when an unexpected discovery upended the experiment.
The legal rights designed to protect Afro-Colombian communities are not lifting them out of economic precarity—and are leaving them vulnerable to the illegal drug trade and illicit mining as a result—according to new research from The University of Manchester.
Two lawsuits are being brought against giant tech firms for the dangers their apps pose to young people. Columnist Annalee Newitz says the outcome of those cases could dramatically change social media for the better
Superconducting materials could play a crucial role in the energy-efficient applications of the future. However, several technical challenges still stand in the way of their practical use. Now, researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have developed a new
Oxygen has been the most important gas in our search for life among the cosmos thus far. On Earth, we have it in abundance because it is produced by biological synthesis. But that might not be the case on other planets, so even if we do find a very clear high oxygen signal in
