Why These Monkeys Are Eating Fistfuls of Dirt
How about an ice cream cone with a dirt chaser? The post Why These Monkeys Are Eating Fistfuls of Dirt appeared first on Nautilus .
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Hidden virus in your gut may be linked to colon cancer
A newly discovered virus hiding inside a common gut bacterium could help explain one of medicine’s long-standing mysteries: why a microbe found in both healthy people and cancer patients is linked to colorectal cancer. The research suggests that the interaction between bacteria
A simple blood test could reveal Alzheimer’s risk years early
A routine blood marker tied to inflammation may reveal Alzheimer’s risk years in advance. Scientists found that higher neutrophil levels—part of the body’s first immune response—were linked to a greater chance of developing dementia. The discovery suggests this common lab value
Fermat's Last Theorem: still a must-read about a 350-year maths secret
Simon Singh's exploration of mathematical proof – in particular Pierre de Fermat's last theorem – remains an absolute treasure, almost three decades after it was first published
Why do some people act on climate change while others stay silent?
While millions of people care deeply about the environment, only a fraction take action on climate change. New research published in the journal Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology has uncovered the psychological reasons why some people get involved while
Comparable vitamin B6 levels found between nonalcoholic and conventional beers
Beer is one of the oldest and most consumed beverages on Earth, typically associated with social and celebratory settings. But researchers are curious about what vitamins and minerals are present in the beverage. A study of 65 brews published in the Journal of Agricultural and
Ancient DNA reveals a lost population near Paris replaced by strangers
Ancient DNA from a tomb near Paris reveals a shocking prehistoric reset: one population vanished and was replaced by newcomers from the south. The two groups show no genetic connection, signaling a major upheaval around 3000 BC. Disease, including early plague, likely played a
Cities and countries warming fast, new climate stripes show
New climate stripes for cities and countries all over the world have been launched to mark Earth Day (April 22). The updated graphics, which now include an additional stripe to represent temperatures from 2025, show the rapid impact that global warming is having on individual
Do decoherence, gravity, dark matter and dark energy all originate from quantum corrections?
Only about 5% of the universe is composed of normal matter that we can directly observe, while the remaining 95% is widely believed to consist of dark matter and dark energy. Paradoxically, however, the nature of these dark components remains unknown. Is this due to limitations
A humanoid robot beat the human half-marathon record at a Beijing race. But what did it actually prove?
A premapped course, a crew of handlers and a world-beating time: here’s what this Beijing half marathon reveals about how far humanoid robots have come—and how far they haven’t
White paper translates 'sandwich generation' research into employer strategies to improve retention, workforce stability
University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies has released a new white paper, "How Organizations Can Help Sandwich Moms Achieve Work-Life Balance," authored by TaMika Fuller, DBA, and Victoria Lender, DBA, both affiliated with the University's Center for Educational and
Researchers develop dynamic framework to monitor tillage practices from space
Conservation tillage practices, such as no-till and reduced till, are critical for sustainable agriculture, and they are gradually becoming popular with farmers across the Midwest. Monitoring tillage usage can provide insights into soil health, water levels, and nutrient loss,
NASA’s ‘Earthrise’ image changed how we see our planet. Can the Artemis moon missions do the same?
Fresh takes on Apollo’s famous “Earthrise” and “Blue Marble” images showed off our planet’s beauty just weeks before Earth Day
Whatever happened to the ozone hole, acid rain and DDT?
The environmental crises of the past often seem to disappear—have problems like acid rain and smog been solved?
This Earth Day, three experts share tips on how to feel hopeful about the environment
This Earth Day three environmental experts share stories about times when environmental action succeeded in saving the planet—and explain why this can be done again
Scientists stunned as JWST finds ice clouds on a giant alien planet
Scientists have discovered unexpected water-ice clouds on a distant, Jupiter-like exoplanet, challenging current atmospheric models. By directly imaging Epsilon Indi Ab with the James Webb Space Telescope, they found less ammonia than expected—likely hidden by thick, patchy
DNA reveals a hidden pitviper species in China
A vivid green pitviper hiding in Sichuan’s misty mountains has been revealed as a completely new species. Scientists had overlooked it for decades, assuming it was a common snake—until DNA analysis proved otherwise. Named after Laozi, it features striking differences between
Seeing is believing: Smart probes reveal proteins inside living cells with unprecedented clarity
Fluorescent probes have transformed modern biology by allowing researchers to tag and visualize individual molecules in living cells, tissues, and animals. Using these tools, researchers can watch viruses infect cells in real time, observe cellular trash collection, and track
Sun simulations reveal how cool prominences survive in million-degree corona
At more than one million degrees, the sun's atmosphere—the corona—is incredibly hot; but not everywhere. Time and again, huge structures of significantly cooler solar plasma—about 10,000 degrees—appear within the corona. These structures are known as prominences. They span up
Plants can sense the sound of rain, new study finds
The next time you find yourself lulled by the patter of rain outside your window, think how that same sprinkle might sound if you were a tiny seed planted directly below a free-falling droplet. Would you still be similarly soothed? In fact, MIT engineers have found the opposite
Monkeys in Gibraltar self-medicate with soil to help them digest tourists' junk food
Monkeys in a tourism hotspot have learned that swallowing dirt can quell the upset stomachs caused by overconsumption of sweet and salty snacks fed to them by holidaymakers, a new University of Cambridge-led study suggests. Troops of macaques living on Gibraltar—the only
Gibraltar macaques are self-medicating with dirt to help them digest human. junk food
Gibraltar’s macaques have been observed engaging in geophagy, the consumption of soil and clay, in an apparent attempt to quell their nausea from eating fatty and salty foods offered by tourists
SpaceX partners with AI startup Cursor, may buy it for $60 bn
SpaceX on Tuesday announced a partnership with AI coding company Cursor and said the alliance comes with an option to buy the startup for $60 billion later this year.
AI just revealed ocean currents we’ve never been able to see
A new AI-driven method called GOFLOW is turning weather satellite images into highly detailed maps of ocean currents. By tracking how temperature patterns shift over time, it can reveal fast-moving, small-scale currents that were previously impossible to observe directly. These
This “quantum” material fooled scientists and revealed something new
A mysterious magnetic material once thought to host an exotic “quantum spin liquid” has turned out to be something entirely different—and possibly just as intriguing. Scientists studying cerium magnesium hexalluminate found it showed the hallmark signs of this elusive quantum
This donut-shaped discovery just shattered a 150-year math rule
A 150-year-old rule in geometry has been proven wrong. Mathematicians found two different doughnut-shaped surfaces that look identical when measured locally but are actually different overall. For decades, researchers suspected this might be possible but couldn’t prove it—until
Two common drugs may reverse fatty liver disease, study finds
Scientists have discovered that combining two existing drugs can dramatically reduce liver fat linked to a common and often silent disease. The treatment not only improved liver health in animal models but also showed potential to lower heart-related risks. Interestingly, using
Ancient DNA reveals a hidden Neanderthal group frozen in time
A remarkable genetic breakthrough has uncovered what may be one of the clearest snapshots yet of a Neanderthal “community” living together 100,000 years ago in what is now Poland. The findings reveal that these individuals shared genetic ties with Neanderthals spread across
“Baffling” new snake species in Myanmar looks like multiple species at once
Scientists have uncovered a fascinating new species of pit viper in Myanmar that seems to blur the very definition of what a species is. This snake, now named the Ayeyarwady pit viper, puzzled researchers because it looks like a mix between two known species—sometimes
Which 'money type' are you? New research maps financial habits of young Australians
Under 35, navigating the cost-of-living and trying to get ahead? New research from Southern Cross University, QUT and Griffith University challenges the idea that financial literacy alone addresses this problem. Instead, three distinct "money behavior types" among young
When a spouse starts a business, the other partner pays a hidden price
When an entrepreneur leaves a salaried job to pursue a venture, the conversation nearly always centers on them: the risk they're taking, the opportunity they're pursuing and the funding they need.
Improving scientific accuracy in journalism
Journalists bring scientific findings to the public, and to policymakers, who often rely on media reports rather than primary literature to provide context for policymaking. However, media reports can and often do distort scientific findings. Reporters with little scientific
As the world faces yet another crisis, why are leaders still resisting remote work?
At 9 p.m., shops, restaurants and cafes go dark across the city of Cairo, where a stringent curfew has been imposed to mitigate the energy shock triggered by the conflict in the Gulf. The measure may prove difficult to enforce among people accustomed to long, convivial
Rethinking energy transition participation: Why citizens are more than a box to tick
Citizen participation is widely seen as key to a successful energy transition. In practice, however, it often remains more of an ideal than a reality. In her Ph.D. research at TU/e, Nikki Kluskens shows just how wide the gap is between that ideal and everyday practice—and why
Q&A: IceCube Observatory upgrades improve search for elusive cosmic messenger
Buried within the Antarctic ice are more than 5,000 light sensors that work together to detect some of the highest energy particles in the universe. These tiny particles, called neutrinos, provide insight into the extreme cosmic events that created them as well as phenomena
Research at Chernobyl and Fukushima shows how radioactive materials move in the environment
When nuclear accidents happen, many people imagine radiation spreading everywhere and lasting forever. The reality is more complex. Radioactive materials move, change and sometimes disappear faster than people expect.
Screen-driven schooling is rewiring how students think, read, write and learn
In the 2022/2023 academic year, according to figures from the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports, 92% of public secondary schools in Spain had virtual learning environments that students could access with devices such as computers and tablets. Digitalization
Getting the jump on evolution: Cane toads adapt at speed
A new study comparing invasive cane toads in Japan and Australia has found substantial changes in body size and shape have developed much more rapidly than suggested by long-held ideas of the pace of evolution. Researchers measured and weighed wild-caught cane toads (Rhinella
If a bird flu pandemic starts, we may have an mRNA vaccine ready
A final-stage trial has started of an mRNA vaccine against the bird flu strain infecting many animals – and occasionally people – worldwide
Parents may be the missing key to keeping kids safe online, research suggests
As online child exploitation (OCE) continues to rise in Australia, new research from Griffith University suggests parents and caregivers may be the most important, and overlooked, factor in preventing harm. The study, involving parents and caregivers of children aged 11 to 17,
The way primates parent their young shows how strict labels like parenting styles miss the mark
Whether you've sought them out or not, you've probably encountered parenting content creators on social media at some point in the last two decades.
Malaria rebound spurs AI-driven hunt for parasite genes linked to deadly cases
Despite decades of efforts to combat it, malaria remains a major global health threat. According to the World Health Organization's (WHO) 2025 World Malaria Report, about 282 million cases and approximately 610,000 deaths were recorded worldwide in 2024. Recently, there has
Self‑replicating circular RNA persists in extreme environments: Insights from hot spring microbiomes
Although the genetic material of most living organisms is DNA, various self-replicating agents rely instead on RNA, including RNA viruses and viroids, which are infectious RNA molecules that are smaller and structurally simpler than RNA viruses. These RNA-based replicators are
Toxins from Great Salt Lake dust are absorbed by plants, soils and human bodies
Shrinking water levels at the Great Salt Lake are not just about Utah's water supply—they may pose a serious risk to public health. New research from a team at Utah State University and the University of Utah documents the ways metal-laden dust from the drying lakebed may find
A few extra minutes of daily play can strengthen your bond with your dog in four weeks
Playing a little extra with your dog improves the emotional bond between owner and dog, according to a new study from Linköping University. However, training did not give the same results. The study is relevant for all dog owners, whether they have young or adult dogs.
Humidity makes these bees turn green
North American sweat bees change color depending on the surrounding humidity. It might be a more widespread phenomenon among insects.
Breathing new life into an ancient mystery: Unlocking the trilobite's respiratory secrets
For more than 270 million years, trilobites were among the most successful and diverse creatures on Earth, with over 22,000 known species spanning the Paleozoic Era. Yet, despite their abundance in the fossil record and their presence on every continent, one of the most
Hurricanes devastated Florida's East Coast. Then seagrass made an unexpected comeback
Florida's Indian River Lagoon has been an ecosystem in decline going back to 2011, when harmful algal blooms led to a severe decline in seagrass, the foundational component of shallow coastal ecosystems.
Before the melt begins, sea stars show hidden immune collapse and tissue failure driving a coastal die-off
Scientists are homing in on a mysterious wasting disease that has killed billions of sea stars along the Pacific coast of North America since 2013. Sea star wasting disease can rapidly wipe out entire populations, leaving gooey puddles of tissue in its wake. A new study by
Penguin muscle map reveals how waddles and underwater 'flight' both work
Penguins may look charmingly awkward on land, but new research shows their bodies are finely tuned for powerful, efficient movement both on land and underwater. A team of anatomists from Midwestern University, in collaboration with SeaWorld San Diego and Scarlet Imaging, has
