Fossil fuels release pollutants into the air when extracted and burned, but there's more to their production than massive oil rigs diving deep into Earth and smoky power plants. Those processes are examples of only the first and last—and generally most visible—moments in a
Generative artificial intelligence could result in a renewed emphasis on conversational approaches to teaching, researchers say, as chatbots make it easier to bypass recall-based learning and test the limits of traditional exams.
Hawaiian short-finned pilot whales are surprisingly voracious hunters, diving hundreds of meters beneath the Pacific to snatch squid in the dark. By tagging and tracking eight whales, researchers uncovered just how much energy these deep-sea forays require—and how many squid
A new study led by the University of St Andrews has found that critically endangered African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) are significantly more likely to forage in the same areas as commercial fishing vessels during years of low fish abundance, increasing competition for
A Princeton team built a new tantalum-silicon qubit that survives for over a millisecond, far surpassing today’s best devices. The design tackles surface defects and substrate losses that have limited transmon qubits for years. Easy to integrate into existing quantum chips, the
Electrons can freeze into strange geometric crystals and then melt back into liquid-like motion under the right quantum conditions. Researchers identified how to tune these transitions and even discovered a bizarre “pinball” state where some electrons stay locked in place while
Astronomers have, for the first time, recorded the moment a star’s explosion broke through its surface. The nearby supernova, SN 2024ggi, revealed a surprisingly olive-shaped blast when studied with ESO’s Very Large Telescope. The discovery helps scientists better understand
The “Seven Sisters” have far more relatives than anyone imagined. Using NASA and ESA space telescopes, astronomers found thousands of hidden stars linked to the Pleiades, forming a colossal stellar complex. The discovery expands the cluster’s size by a factor of 20 and offers a
GLP-1 drugs like tirzepatide and semaglutide offer powerful weight-loss effects but come with unanswered questions about long-term safety, side effects, and global accessibility. Researchers stress the need for independent studies before these treatments can be fully embraced
For decades, Ukraine was known as the breadbasket of the world. Before the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, it ranked among the top global producers and exporters of sunflower oil, maize and wheat. These helped feed more than 400 million people worldwide.
In a new study published in Horticulture Research, a team of researchers from the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has demonstrated that designed synthetic microbial communities (SynComs) can significantly boost crop growth and curb
It sounds like a gardener's holy grail: beautiful and practical plantings that can turn cities into green spaces with benefits for people and biodiversity.
In southeast Queensland, roughly 250 kilometers from Brisbane, lies the tiny town of Murgon. Located on Wakka Wakka Country, it's home to about 2,000 people—and one of the most important fossil sites in the world.
Penn State scientists identified a striking rise in melanoma across several Pennsylvania counties dominated by cropland and herbicide use. The elevated risk persisted even after factoring in sunlight, suggesting an environmental influence beyond the usual expectations.
Researchers combined deep learning with high-resolution physics to create the first Milky Way model that tracks over 100 billion stars individually. Their AI learned how gas behaves after supernovae, removing one of the biggest computational bottlenecks in galactic modeling.
LHAASO has uncovered that micro-quasars, black holes feeding on companion stars, are powerful PeV particle accelerators. Their jets produce ultra-high-energy gamma rays and protons that exceed long-held expectations. Precise cosmic-ray measurements reveal a new high-energy
Researchers at KRISS observed water’s rapid freeze–melt cycles under ultrahigh pressure and discovered Ice XXI, the first new ice phase found in decades. Using advanced high-pressure tech and microsecond XFEL imaging, they uncovered complex crystallization pathways never seen
Researchers found that ancient hominids—including early humans—were exposed to lead throughout childhood, leaving chemical traces in fossil teeth. Experiments suggest this exposure may have driven genetic changes that strengthened language-related brain functions in modern
A newly recognized set of T helper cells seems to guard against aging by eliminating harmful senescent cells. Their presence in supercentenarians suggests they may be a key to maintaining a healthier, age-balanced immune system.