Ascidians, also known as sea squirts, are the evolutionary link between vertebrates and invertebrates, making them valuable subjects of biological studies. For the first time, researchers at Ruhr University Bochum have detected pronounced autofluorescence in Halocynthia
A Brazilian study published in the journal Ecography indicates that the biodiversity of anuran amphibians (toads and frogs) on islands is determined by factors encompassed in two previously opposing theories.
What scientists are learning about immortality from a humble marine creature The post Can Cells from a Sea Cucumber Live Forever? appeared first on Nautilus .
Bats are the only mammals that can actively fly, enabling many species to perform seasonal migrations. In migratory birds, remaining airborne for many hours is supported by burning fatty acids, something most mammals are incapable of.
Researchers at VIB, Ghent University, and VUB have uncovered how two proteins essential for immune cell development work together at the molecular level. The findings provide important insights into a critical mechanism that mediates the integration of molecular signals
Academic success depends largely on social background—this has long been known. A recent international study led by researchers at Leuphana University of Lüneburg now shows that young people's attitudes toward environmental protection are also strongly influenced by their
Many medically important drugs originate from natural sources. Microorganisms produce these compounds using highly sophisticated and remarkably precise enzymatic assembly lines. Many natural microbial products belong to a class known as nonribosomal peptides—short chains of
Quantum computers have the potential to transform science, accelerating breakthroughs in drug development, cosmology, materials science, nuclear physics, and more.
Gutweed could become a future crop in the Baltic Sea. This is shown in a new study from the University of Gothenburg, where researchers have, for the first time, successfully cultivated the seaweed through its entire life cycle in brackish water.
Waves of higher, warmer water move eastward across the Pacific Ocean a few months before an El Niño emerges. Several have shown up in 2026 satellite data.
Generating and confirming the randomness of qubits could lead to breakthroughs in computer data encryption
A study covering 76 countries has found that people who are more trusting, patient, altruistic and cooperative tend to report higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction, suggesting that well-being depends on more than material prosperity alone. The work was published in
Creating perfect randomness is surprisingly difficult. Even modern random number generators never generate completely ideal random numbers: small systematic errors can result in some numbers appearing slightly more frequently than others. For many applications, this does not
Well-preserved archaeological bone samples have different microbial communities than heavily degraded bone samples, providing a new understanding of how microbes contribute to bone degradation, according to a study published in PLOS One by Damla Kaptan from the University of
From the revived corpse of Frankenstein's monster to the disembodied hand, "Thing," in the Addams Family, reanimated tissue is one of the most enduring images in science fiction. It turns out, that image has some basis in nature, according to the recent discovery of a
This NASA Hubble Space Telescope image features the dwarf irregular galaxy ESO 490-017, roughly 12,000 light-years in diameter and some 23 million light-years away in the constellation Canis Major. The galaxy's low surface brightness makes it appear as a faint, starry swarm
It may reduce suicidal intent for up to a month or more The post Can a New Drug Combo Prevent Death by Suicide? appeared first on Nautilus .
Researchers have developed a novel virtual model for simulating how astronauts in future moon base operations might interact with each other and with their environment, with preliminary simulations revealing potential opportunities to boost the chances of a successful mission.
Birds have all kinds of fancy decorations for attracting mates—male peacocks have a fan of feathers accented with shimmering blue eye-spots, birds of paradise do courtship dances that highlight their fluffy plumes, and female mallard ducks pick males with shiny green heads and
During animal cell division, a highly synchronized and tightly regulated dance of chromosomes takes place, ensuring the chromosomes split correctly into the two cells. Spindle fibers—complex machinery responsible for choreographing this dance—form from each end of the cell and
The discarded fragments of this creature apparently refuse to die, leading researchers to claim immortality
A core challenge in biology is understanding how processes in the body, such as cellular development and regeneration, unfold over long stretches of time, making them notoriously difficult to view at the molecular level. Now, a team led by researchers at Caltech has shown that
A good manager can be just as important to a company's performance as the combined productive capacity of its employees. This is shown in a new international study, published in The Quarterly Journal of Economics. The study also shows that those who are most eager to become
Solar flares are powerful bursts of radiation from the sun's surface, which can wreak havoc on Earth's power grids, damage orbiting satellites, and pose serious radiation risks to astronauts. Yet despite decades of study, the processes that trigger these eruptions remain poorly
A team of Georgia State University researchers is calling for digital platforms to implement stronger safety measures in response to a new study that highlights widespread online child sexual abuse.
Municipalities and federal agencies monitor U.S. waters for microcystins, a toxin produced by harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie, but a University of Michigan study shows that the blooms produce a greater range of potentially toxic compounds than previously known.
Fermentation is one of the oldest methods of preserving food. Long before refrigerators existed, people relied on microorganisms to keep food—including meat—safe to eat. Ph.D. research by VUB researcher Ana Sosa Fajardo (VUB Research Group of Industrial Microbiology and Food
Go vegan, ditch the car, avoid air travel. Or forget all that—because it's corporations and governments that are really to blame. This argument can feel quite paralyzing, but what if this is the wrong debate to have?
The South Pacific blast may have consumed its own methane — but using this idea against the greenhouse gas is controversial.
In some parts of the world, autumn brings welcome relief from mosquitoes, such as the Northern house mosquito (Culex pipiens). As the days grow shorter, the waning light is a signal for them to enter a winter state of dormancy called diapause.
Researchers at Toho University have uncovered a previously unrecognized mechanism controlling how dying cells release the inflammatory cytokine IL-33, a key driver of allergy, asthma, tissue inflammation, and cancer progression. The findings reveal that cells do not release
Every season, Georgia families spend thousands of dollars on youth sports in fees, travel, uniforms and other expenses. University of Georgia senior Gabriella Etienne experienced that life, competing for a club soccer team in Cherokee County.
A new study could help identify promising treatments to extend the human lifespan, researchers say
At an event at NASA Headquarters, space agency officials unveiled the first rovers and landers headed to the future site of its planned lunar south pole outpost
Ultra-fast data transfer and superconductivity: Quantum materials offer significant technological prospects—if we can understand them at the atomic scale. A team from the University of Geneva (UNIGE), in collaboration with the University of Salerno, the Institute of Materials
The UN climate chief said Wednesday that a record-breaking early heat wave scorching a swathe of western Europe was "a brutal reminder of the spiraling impacts of the climate crisis."
Earth was mostly devoid of oxygen for much of its 4.5 billion year lifetime. That is, until certain processes started to allow for the eventual buildup of oxygen up to the levels we have now (around 21% of the atmosphere). While scientists have found evidence of the approximate
Embryo organoids made from stem cells are enabling scientists to recreate early pregnancy in the lab, unlocking treatments for infertility, miscarriage and pre-eclampsia
Smaller plastic particles have more effects on neurons, the key information processing cells of the brain, new research from the University of Eastern Finland shows. In the study, neuronal cells were exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics at low doses to study subtle changes.
Why are women considered the "fairer sex" in humans, when in most animal species it is males that display the more elaborate and visually striking traits? This question has intrigued researchers since Darwin. A new large-scale study led by the Max Planck Institute for Empirical
The invertebrates definitely come out to play The post When a Century-Long Rodent Invasion Ends appeared first on Nautilus .
Researchers from Sciensano, partner of the DARWIN project, have published a new paper in npj Science of Food addressing one of the key scientific and regulatory challenges linked to genome-edited (GE) organisms, their reliable detection and identification in complex food
Global climate change is reshaping agricultural ecosystems. As warmer winters become more prevalent, snow droughts caused by insufficient snowfall are becoming more frequent. This leaves winter wheat, which relies on snow cover for insulation and water supply, vulnerable to
A study by researchers at The University of Manchester, carried out alongside the Universities of Melbourne and Copenhagen, could hold the key to understanding the causes of long-term health problems, such as infertility and ovarian cancer.
A study by researchers at Duke University School of Medicine identifies a new way that G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs)—targets of roughly one-third of FDA-approved drugs—control signaling in cells. The paper is published in the journal Nature.
A University of Texas at Austin-led team has reconstructed the most detailed map to date of the molecular machines that carried out the functions of life in an ancient ancestor that gave rise to all complex life on Earth, including us, shedding new light on genetic causes of
It’s the first time the activity has been caught on video The post Watch Immune System Cells Gobble Up Cancer Cells appeared first on Nautilus .
A global model suggests that climate change could make hailstones larger and more damaging in many regions, especially at mid-to-high latitudes.
Debate still swirls around the nature of “little red dots,” black holes glimpsed in the early universe by the James Webb Space Telescope. A controversial new weigh-in may settle the matter
Postural control is a fundamental behavior for most animals, and head stability in particular plays a crucial role in achieving stable sensory input, accurate spatial perception, and efficient motor output. Tetrapods, including humans, possess a "neck"—a structure that
