Sunday is the longest day of the year for half the planet. A guide to the summer solstice
This is the sun's time to shine: Sunday is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
Headlines
- All
- Africa
- Asia
- Business
- Culture
- Environment
- Europe
- Gaming
- Markets
- Middle East
- Movies & TV
- Music
- Politics
- Science
- South America
- Tech
- World News
Jumping gene caught moving between species in first direct observation
Genes are not passed on exclusively from parents to their offspring. Some are mobile and can also jump to other species, as researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen have now shown. The direct observation of a jumping gene provides the first
Ancient enamel just exposed a hidden human family entanglement that may still echo in your DNA
An analysis of ancient teeth is giving scientists a rare peek into interactions between human relatives hundreds of thousands of years ago that have left a lasting imprint on our species.
Radio scans find no alien tech from the latest interstellar comet
The group leading the charge in the search for extraterrestrial life has given the all clear: An interstellar comet looks to be completely natural and free of any alien tech.
Quantum gravity research links continuous parameters to local operators within the theory itself
A researcher at Kyushu University and his collaborators have shown that continuous parameters in quantum gravity may not be freely adjustable "dials" from outside the theory, but rather arise from operators within the theory itself, supporting the century-old claim by Albert
Eight ways to sleep well in hot weather
When temperatures rise, sleep often suffers. Hot nights can make it harder to fall asleep, increase waking during the night and leave people feeling less rested the next day.
New nanotube membranes reveal unusually fast lithium-ion transport
Researchers have developed a novel class of nanotube membranes that enable ultrafast ion transport. The findings open new pathways for high-efficiency clean energy generation, lithium recovery and molecular separation.
Herring weight and seal hunting markedly affecting the future of Baltic gray seals
The carrying capacity of the Baltic Sea could withstand a seal population twice its current size, but hunting quotas and Baltic herring mean weight greatly affect the future of the seals. A recent study provides a new estimate for the carrying capacity of the Baltic gray seal
Ancient Mongolian cemetery reveals power and status mattered more than blood ties
On the edge of the Mongolian steppe, overlooking where two rivers meet, lies an ancient cemetery. Buried within are two families, traced through ancient DNA across six generations, surrounded by dozens of "strangers." The obvious assumption is that this was a family cemetery.
This simple twist could bring quantum computers closer to reality
Researchers found that twisting layered sheets of hexagonal boron nitride can dramatically change the light produced by quantum emitters embedded within the material. The technique offers an unexpected new level of control over components that could power future quantum
How much clothing is too much? The math behind having a sustainable wardrobe
Most people suspect they own too many clothes, but they aren't sure exactly what the "right amount" is. Recent wardrobe studies, in which researchers literally peek inside people's closets, show the scale of the problem is far greater than most of us imagine.
Faster aptamer screening finds synthetic alternatives to antibodies in days instead of months
Aptamers are short DNA or RNA strands that can recognize and bind to a specific target molecule with high precision. Similar to antibodies, they can be used to detect these molecules or modulate their activity. Unlike antibodies, they are much more stable, can be produced
Scientists found a cannabis compound that relieves pain without the high
Compounds responsible for the aroma of cannabis and many other plants may offer a surprising new way to relieve chronic pain. Researchers found that several cannabis-derived terpenes significantly reduced pain in mouse models of fibromyalgia and post-surgical pain, with one
Pumice rafts encroach on Admiralty Islands
On May 8, 2026, satellites detected signs of an unexpected submarine volcanic eruption in the Bismarck Sea near the islands of Papua New Guinea. Over the next several weeks, plumes of steam and ash streamed over the sea, and areas of discolored water surrounded the eruption
Antarctica is offering 30 to 50 years' worth of warning on sea level rise, models suggest
Scientists predict that the next three to five decades provide a critical window to anticipate and plan for Antarctic ice loss and its contribution to sea level rise. Research published in Nature, led by Monash University researcher Dr. Felicity McCormack from Securing
Australian farmers are desperate to escape the latest mouse plague—and may soon get relief
For months, a flood of mice has engulfed Western Australia's agricultural regions. For people living through it, this latest mouse plague is all-consuming. Houses, sheds, paddocks and roads are blanketed with mice. And the smell of mice, both dead and alive, is impossible to
A single cobalt shock could trigger global EV battery supply chaos
The global cobalt supply chain is more interconnected—and more vulnerable—than previously thought, with disruptions capable of triggering far-reaching cascades across multiple countries and industries. Researchers warn that protecting battery supply chains will require
Novel generative AI model enables atomic-scale prediction of protein-protein interactions
Proteins are the molecular workhorses of the human body. They perform a vast range of essential functions, from building tissues and transporting molecules to regulating cellular communication and defending against infection. Many medicines, including antibody therapies for
Landback returns of Indigenous lands happening across country, can lead public planning
Land acknowledgments, or statements in which planners, residents or organizations recognize that the land they exist and operate on originally belonged to Indigenous nations, have become increasingly common in recent years. New research from the University of Kansas has found
The first primates may have evolved in the cold, not the tropics
A surprising new study suggests the earliest primates didn't originate in tropical forests but in cold, dry parts of North America. Some may have even survived seasonal Arctic conditions by slowing their metabolism or hibernating. Researchers found that dramatic climate shifts,
AI-designed protein unlocks virus-like shells that could reshape vaccine and drug delivery
An international research team led by a Korean scientist has succeeded in designing large-scale protein structures that faithfully replicate the self-assembly principles found in naturally occurring viruses, using artificial intelligence (AI).
Training class increases time fathers spend with children and on housework, improving mothers' access to work
A one-off training session increased how much time fathers spent with their children and on chores by about two hours a week, reports a new study from the University of Tokyo. A team in Japan provided male employees and their managers with either information on positive office
This DNA repair gene went rogue and exposed a cancer weakness
Scientists have discovered that a gene normally considered a DNA-protecting "good guy" can become dangerous when cells make too much of it. The gene, EXO1, acts like molecular scissors that help repair DNA, but when overproduced it starts cutting DNA it shouldn't, creating
Saturday Citations: Intermittent fasting and chronic stress; macroscopic entanglement; gamma-ray bursts
Researchers reported this week a deadly outbreak of plague in Siberia 5,500 years ago, revealing that Yersinia pestis evolved lethal genetic traits far earlier than suspected. A drug developed for heart tissue repair may also help kidney tissue repair and regeneration. And
Infrared navigation lets magnetic nanorobots deliver drugs with real-time precision tracking
Nanorobots have shown great promise in precision medicine over the past few decades. Yet one key challenge remains: how to track and guide these tiny devices in real time as they move through complex physiological environments. Existing imaging approaches often require long
Silicon Valley's longevity biohackers are engaged in a dangerous experiment
Influencers and ultra-rich people looking to extend their lifespan are trading tips and tricks on how to eke out extra years
Ozempic changed obesity treatment, but experts say the real revolution is next
The obesity treatment landscape is changing fast, with GLP-1 drugs opening the door to more effective care than ever before. Experts now envision a future where medications, minimally invasive procedures, surgery, and precision medicine work together to deliver better long-term
Is NASA falling out of love with Mars?
Editor in chief Nancy Shute discusses NASA's rocky relationship with Mars exploration.
Attachment style may influence how many kids people have
People with “fearful” or “preoccupied” insecure attachment styles had more children, whereas securely attached people had fewer, according to a recent study
Hidden geological process offsets carbon emissions from thawing permafrost
Scientists found that thawing permafrost can trigger increased rock weathering, a natural process that absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere. In some regions, this carbon uptake was strong enough to fully offset — or even surpass — river greenhouse gas emissions.
Belgian Nobel laureate Francois Englert dies aged 93
Belgian scientist Francois Englert, a particle physics specialist who won the Nobel Prize in 2013 for his work on the Higgs boson, has died at 93.
Australia detects first case of contagious H5 bird flu
Scientists have detected the H5 strain of bird flu in Australia for the first time, the country's agriculture minister said Saturday, meaning the highly contagious variant has now spread to every continent.
The secret language behind animal cooperation
Animals from different species often rely on surprisingly sophisticated communication to work together, whether finding food, cleaning parasites, or gaining protection. New research suggests these interspecies “conversations” are flexible, evolved, and far more important to
Nanobubbles for algae cleanup: Q&A with researcher Wen Zhang
One of the most powerful environmental cleaning technologies in recent years is too small to see with the naked eye. Nanobubbles—tiny gaseous bubbles with diameters of around 100 nanometers—can clean up a range of harmful pollutants in water, from oil spills to algae.
Heatwave hits more than one in two people in France
More than half of France's population was dealing with scorching temperatures on Friday, according to AFP's calculations, with hundreds of schools adapting their timetables to keep students out of broiling classrooms.
Burning forest 'waste' to make cement damages the climate. Let's pursue cleaner options
The Australian government has agreed to invest almost $53 million in a north Tasmanian company that will upgrade its coal-fired kiln to burn wood "waste" and used tires for cement manufacturing.
A water treatment expert on what could actually fix the Reflecting Pool
The Trump administration wanted the surface of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to be “American flag blue.” A water-treatment expert explains why the pool is still algal green and why the bloom could keep coming back
From birds to fish, how extreme heat causes wildlife to suffer
Like humans, wildlife is increasingly vulnerable as climate change fuels longer and more intense heat waves, disrupting feeding and breeding and, in extreme cases, proving fatal.
Europe swelters as more heat records set to tumble
Much of Western Europe was sweltering in a grueling heat wave on Friday, with the mercury expected to continue rising in the coming days, likely shattering yet more temperature records.
