Space junk falls back to Earth faster as sunspot numbers climb
A new study links the sun's 11-year cycle to accelerated orbital loss, with debris falling faster once sunspot numbers near their cycle peak.
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This common sleep habit could double your risk of heart attack
A chaotic sleep schedule in your 40s might be quietly setting the stage for heart trouble later. Researchers tracking thousands of people for over a decade found that those with highly inconsistent bedtimes—especially when they slept less than eight hours—faced about double the
Oak trees are delaying spring to starve caterpillars
Oak trees have a surprising trick to fight back against hungry caterpillars: they simply wait. When trees are heavily attacked one year, they delay leaf growth by just three days the next spring—long enough to leave newly hatched caterpillars with nothing to eat. This small
Webb space telescope reveals a scorching “super-Earth” that looks like Mercury
A scorching, airless world just 48 light-years away is offering scientists a rare glimpse into the geology of distant planets. Using the James Webb Space Telescope, researchers studied LHS 3844 b—a tidally locked “super-Earth” with a permanent dayside hot enough to melt
Reducing social inequality: Why the scope of measures is crucial
In modern social research, sociological questions are increasingly being answered with the help of experiments; for example, whether employers discriminate in personnel selection, whether immigrants are treated less well in social situations, or whether counseling programs help
AI lets chemists design molecules by simply describing them
Creating complex molecules usually requires years of experience and countless decisions, but a new AI system is changing that. Synthegy lets chemists guide synthesis and reaction planning using simple language, while powerful algorithms generate and evaluate possible solutions.
New algorithm spreads volunteers more fairly across nonprofits, with 8% broader reach
To ensure more food reaches communities in need, a team of researchers collaborated with VolunteerMatch and Feeding America to enhance their algorithms, making volunteer distribution more efficient and equitable.
Extinct relative of koalas discovered in Western Australia
Fossils reveal that there were at least two kinds of koala when humans first arrived in Australia, but one died out about 30,000 years ago when the west of the continent dried out
Safeguarding children in childcare: Teacher confidence key to addressing trauma
To better understand how young children experiencing trauma are supported in early learning settings, Adelaide University researchers examined the role of teacher self-efficacy—the confidence teachers have in their knowledge and abilities—in creating safe, responsive learning
Male coyote swam 2 miles to Alcatraz Island, twice as far as biologists had expected
A lone coyote stunned biologists and others when it paddled its way to remote Alcatraz Island earlier this year, a former federal prison in the San Francisco Bay surrounded by swift, choppy waters notorious for thwarting prisoners' escapes.
CPR simulator for space use tracks the differences of blood flow in reduced gravity
The new focus on manned missions to the moon and Mars presents countless pressing challenges, including keeping humans alive in hostile environments. What happens when an astronaut or space tourist has a cardiac emergency millions of miles from the nearest hospital?
Polymer 'bristles' could help repel proteins—and germs—from surfaces in medical settings
A non-toxic coating developed by researchers at University of Toronto Engineering prevents proteins from sticking to surfaces—potentially offering a new tool in the fight against hospital-acquired infections.
Colonialism and the role of science in the history of Lake Malawi's fisheries
Many scholars have studied the effects of colonial management on terrestrial resources, but what about the effect of colonialism on bodies of water? A new article in Isis: A Journal of the History of Science Society examines the ways in which fisheries science and colonial
Carnivorous plants and wasps blur the line between friend and food
Acid-filled pitchers complete with fangs. Labyrinthine chambers decorated with bristles. Leaves that snap shut in less than a second. Employing strategies like these, carnivorous plants have a reputation as fearsome predators, but a new study published in the journal Ecology
A skull full of surprises: Discovering the evolutionary secrets of fish brains
A new study in Proceedings of the Royal Society B reveals the surprising neurological landscape of fish brains. Harvard researchers map the internal structures of ray-finned fishes' brains in 3D detail, discovering brain size and shape, as well as the endocasts, vary far more
Climate scientist finds large errors in a global climate pollution database
New research from Northern Arizona University found that a global greenhouse gas emissions database produced by the Climate TRACE consortium, co-founded by former Vice President Al Gore, is underestimating vehicle carbon dioxide emissions in cities by an average of 70%.
Singing mice puff up air sacs to make their sweet songs
To serenade with their high-pitched songs, singing mice inflate a throat sac — a use for air sacs seemingly unknown in any other animal.
The moon's formation still remains a mystery in many ways
A half century after NASA's Apollo 17 lunar module lifted off the moon's northeastern near side quadrant, planetary scientists still don't completely understand when or how our moon first formed. They do agree that it involved a major impactor—an object dubbed Theia by lunar
Subglacial CH₄ export from the Greenland Ice Sheet linked to a mid-Holocene warm period
In a new paper, an international team led by scientists from Charles University, Czechia, has brought evidence linking widespread release of methane (CH₄)—a strong greenhouse gas—from the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) to a warmer period 9–4 thousand years ago. CH₄ has been
Small talk shapes big trends: Physics predicts how language patterns spread
A new model to predict how language changes over time has been developed by a statistical physicist at the University of Portsmouth. The model is a step towards understanding the "statistical physics of language," a scientific theory which borrows ideas from the physics of
Red tape and regulations: A powerful weapon in a new economic reality
The global financial order has entered a new, shifting and disruptive era of nationalism and these changes lay bare the difference between the haves and have nots, according to a new study by Charles Darwin University (CDU).
Cryo-EM imaging reveals how the body stops bleeding
For the first time, scientists at University of Leeds reveal a complex mechanism behind blood clotting. The findings, published in Science Advances, visualize a key component of blood clotting—platelet myosin—and how it is activated.
Scientists boost strawberry flavor and nutrition without changing growth
A surprising genetic twist shows that boosting a seemingly ordinary “housekeeping” gene can dramatically improve fruit quality without any trade-offs. By increasing the activity of a tRNA-related gene in strawberries, researchers unlocked richer color, stronger aroma, and
Where was Baltica 616 million years ago? Paleomagnetic data offer revised answer
About 600 million years ago, the continents wandered Earth, yet to settle into their current positions. Their locations during the Ediacaran (as this time is called) have been tough for scientists to pin down. Earth's magnetic field appears to have behaved in erratic ways, and
Giant squid among rare and elusive marine life detected off Western Australia's coast
A Curtin University-led study has revealed the extraordinary biodiversity hidden in deep underwater canyons off Western Australia's Nyinggulu (Ningaloo) coast, ranging from species previously undetected in the area, such as the elusive giant squid, to others thought to be new
Scientists map genetic switches on mosquito reproductive genes, advancing tools to fight disease
Scientists at Keele University have created the first detailed map of the genetic "switches" that control reproduction in disease-carrying insects such as Anopheles gambiae, the mosquito species most responsible for malaria transmission, paving the way for more effective
Planet 9 volunteers double known population of brown dwarfs
A new paper from NASA's Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 project announces that volunteers have essentially doubled the number of known brown dwarfs, with over 3,000 new discoveries made over the past 10 years since the project began. Brown dwarfs are balls of gas the size of Jupiter,
Close Juno flyby unlocks sharp new image of Jupiter moon Thebe
NASA's Juno spacecraft captured this view of Thebe, the second largest of Jupiter's inner moons, during a close pass on May 1, 2026. The spacecraft's Stellar Reference Unit (SRU) captured this image from a distance of approximately 3,100 miles (5,000 kilometers) at a resolution
The Best of NASA’s Newly Released Photos From the Artemis II Mission
These are the highest-resolution images of the moon ever captured by human beings The post The Best of NASA’s Newly Released Photos From the Artemis II Mission appeared first on Nautilus .
Watch as NASA's Curiosity Rover frees its drill from a rock
This series of images shows NASA's Curiosity Mars rover as it got a rock stuck to the drill on the end of its robotic arm, and—after waving the arm and running the drill a few times—finally detached the rock. The imagery showing the entire process was captured by the
Almost all plant-based meat alternatives contain mycotoxins, new research finds
New research into plant-based food and drinks has found a prevalence of mycotoxins—naturally occurring poisonous compounds produced by fungi—in hundreds of vegetarian and vegan products. A total of 212 plant-based meat alternatives (PMBAs) and plant-based beverages (PBBs) from
Biological invasions can cause severe animal suffering
Biological invasions occur when organisms such as animals and plants are introduced by people to regions of the world where they do not naturally occur. In these new locations, these organisms are referred to as "alien species."
Digitizing microscope slides can uncover billions of fossils for natural history
Approximately 145 million: That's the number of specimens—including plants, animals, minerals, and human artifacts—curators estimate are held in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. However, these estimates do not reflect the billions of tiny individual specimens
Polar vortex forecasts gain months of lead time with new climate-based method
Florida State University researchers have discovered how to accurately predict winter weather forecasts months in advance, affording sectors such as agriculture, water management, energy use and public health a longer lead time to prepare for inclement conditions. The research,
Rain barrels and other household stormwater strategies are working—for now
In the last two decades, coastal urban areas have taken steps to better minimize flooding and runoff by creating more permeable surfaces and encouraging residents to participate in water retention and use-reduction programs. These efforts, ranging from adding rain barrels and
AI Music vs. My Parents
My folks were taken in by the latest algorithmic “artist,” and it scares me The post AI Music vs. My Parents appeared first on Nautilus .
How to equip girls for an increasingly AI-driven world
Schools must do more to help girls master AI. That's the conclusion of a new study, which found that boys, more confident at working with AI, performed better in some classes compared to their female counterparts.
Watermelon super-pangenome paves the way for precision breeding
Watermelon is a quintessential summertime fruit, evoking images of warm, sunny afternoons and cookouts with friends and family. You can easily picture its striped, green rind and pink flesh, imagine the delicate crunch as you bite into a slice, and almost taste the sweet juice
Microplastics pass through earthworms without accumulating in body tissues, study shows
As much as 40 million metric tons of microplastics are released into the environment globally every year. These tiny pieces of plastic come from larger plastic items that break down or are shed by products such as clothing, paints, and cosmetics.
Scientists connect “time crystal” to real device in quantum breakthrough
A strange kind of matter that “ticks” forever without energy input has just taken a major leap toward real-world use. Known as a time crystal, this quantum system repeats its motion endlessly—like a clock that never winds down—and scientists have now managed to connect it to an
Three billion years ago, Earth's life relied on a rare metal
A collaborative team of scientists has discovered that life on Earth over three billion years ago relied on the metal molybdenum, which was incredibly scarce in the environment at the time. The study, published in Nature Communications, is the first to show that molybdenum was
'Solar-blind' 2D heterostructure delivers 422-fold responsivity gain for UV sensing
Photodetectors remain a critical component in the development of advanced electronics and photonics, particularly in the role of signal readout through the conversion of photons into electrons. These digital imaging components are ubiquitous in sensors, cameras, adaptive
Q&A: How are teachers reckoning with AI in schools?
Artificial intelligence has swept into American schools, and more is sure to come. This year, both Google and Microsoft—the two biggest companies at the forefront of the AI boom—announced major investments in AI training for teachers.
Greener process recovers over 96% of rare earths from permanent magnets
Researchers from the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, have developed a solid-phase extraction process that enables the eco-friendly recovery of critical raw materials from NdFeB magnets. The developed method utilizes organic methanesulfonic acid, which is a greener option for
Stanford’s new chip boosts light 100x with surprisingly low energy
Researchers at Stanford have developed a compact optical amplifier that dramatically boosts light signals using very little power. By recycling energy inside a looping resonator, the device achieves strong amplification with minimal noise and wide bandwidth. Its efficiency and
Timor green pigeon 'likely to go extinct' without urgent action, according to scientists
The Timor green pigeon, which is under pressure from hunting and habitat loss, is at serious risk of extinction and should be uplisted to Critically Endangered, according to a new study from researchers at Charles Darwin University and BirdLife International.
Less water, same taste: New approach helps growers produce sweet corn more efficiently
University of Missouri researchers are exploring ways to grow sweet corn more efficiently to help American farmers cut costs. In a recent study, scientists from Mizzou's College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources and College of Engineering found sweet corn can be grown
Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere just hit a ‘depressing’ record high
These data come from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Mauna Loa Observatory, which may soon be shut down because of proposed government budget cuts
Chemistry-aware AI can generate millions of plausible new molecules
Finding and developing new molecules is one of the great research endeavors of modern chemistry. From the development of new drugs to the creation of more sustainable materials, everything depends on finding new combinations of atoms with useful properties. Now, a research team
The ocean system that shapes Europe's climate
For generations, the mild and temperate climate of northwestern Europe has been credited to one legendary force: the Gulf Stream. This idea is so deeply entrenched in our cultural identity that in James Joyce's Ulysses, the protagonist, Stephen Dedalus, refuses to take a bath,
