What's stopping kids from learning useful skills? Short answer: Exams
Across Africa and beyond, education systems are shifting to curricula designed to build critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
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For Every Patient Their Own Drug
Patients with exceedingly rare genetic diseases fall through the cracks of the medical system. This doctor is designing drugs for them, one at a time. The post For Every Patient Their Own Drug appeared first on Nautilus .
We might have massively underestimated Io's thermal output
Io is a world of extremes. It is by far the most volcanically active world in our solar system. Being continually squeezed in the never-ending tug-of-war between Jupiter and its larger satellites will do that to a moon. As a result, Io has over 400 "paterae"—volcanic
Politicians are not ignoring you, statistical analysis suggests
If you're registered to vote in the United States and you're not among the richest of the rich, political scientist Peter K. Enns has a message for you: Your voice still matters. So does data analysis methodology.
Want to predict wildfire severity? Research says look to the state of vegetation
Urbanization, climate change, and fire suppression practices are contributing to increased wildfire risk at the densely populated wildland-urban interface. These factors make fires more unpredictable and harder to manage. In January 2025, this was made devastatingly clear in
AI-powered lab discovers brighter lead-free nanomaterials in 12 hours
A new autonomous laboratory recently navigated through billions of potential material synthesis recipes to identify brighter, lead-free light-emitting nanomaterials in just 12 hours. The work could accelerate development of safer light-emitting nanoplatelets for use in
Giving voice to older homeless women navigating streets and shelters
For women in their 50s experiencing homelessness, daily life means far more than finding a place to sleep. It means navigating dangerous shelter environments, managing serious health conditions without adequate support, and fighting to maintain dignity in a system that was
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria turn up in six lakes, with urban waters hit hardest
A team of scientists from Berlin analyzed water and sediment samples from six water bodies in Berlin and the adjacent federal states of Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, as well as the inflow and outflow of a wastewater treatment plant in Berlin. The scientists
Climate change increases spillover risk of rodent-borne arenaviruses, study warns
Climate change is likely to drive rodent-borne arenaviruses into parts of South America that have never faced these diseases, putting new communities of people at risk, finds a study from the University of California, Davis. For the study, published in the journal npj Viruses,
Hidden risk pushes 459 Northwest communities higher on wildfire danger scale
A new wildfire risk assessment tool that takes social vulnerability into account indicates that more than 400 communities in the Pacific Northwest are at greater risk than previously thought. However, researchers at Oregon State University and The Nature Conservancy say their
Is it wrong to pay incarcerated people in jail? This Pennsylvania county says no
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, is experimenting with a policy that has drawn national attention and local skepticism: providing cash compensation to people confined in the Allegheny County Jail in the city of Pittsburgh. The funds include monthly disbursements to all those
New insight could change how we break down 'forever chemicals'
PFAS, often called "forever chemicals," are notoriously difficult to remove from the environment. Their extreme chemical stability means they can persist in water and the human body for decades, creating a major global pollution challenge. Now, researchers have made an
Invisible at the curb: New 3D model maps reveal hidden ultrafine traffic particle hotspots
A National Taiwan University study shows that traffic particles can create sharply localized exposure hotspots near busy roads, intersections and elevated corridors. The findings suggest that targeted street-level planning may better protect children and other vulnerable groups
Synchrotron X-rays uncover hidden protein binding sites, enabling two new functions
Using bright X-rays from the Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), researchers pioneered an innovative approach to designing proteins with targeted functions. Their method generated new insights
A Tiny Rock in the Outer Solar System Has an Atmosphere—But It Shouldn’t
Astronomers aren’t sure why The post A Tiny Rock in the Outer Solar System Has an Atmosphere—But It Shouldn’t appeared first on Nautilus .
Research finds under-24s illegally targeted by Dutch gambling ads
The Netherlands prohibits gambling advertising from targeting young people under age 24. Using Meta's ad library, we found a minority of ads published by both online (7.3%) and offline (29.8%) Dutch gambling licensees that broke this rule, including the state-owned Holland
Plaster-making technique previously attributed to the Romans appears 8,000 years earlier in Motza
Excavations from 2015 to 2021 on the ancient site of Motza, just west of Jerusalem, revealed a sprawling settlement with some surprisingly advanced technology. The site dates back to 7100–6700 BCE during the Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (PPNB) period. A new study, published in the
DNA-reading AI reconstructs ancestry in minutes, matching top statistical methods
Researchers at the University of Oregon have developed an artificial intelligence tool that can read genetic code the way large language models like ChatGPT read text. Scanning the genome for biological mutation patterns, the computer model traces pairs of genes back in time to
Open-source, 3D-printed platform enables low-cost, standardized electrocatalytic research
A problem for researchers has been a lack of an agreed-upon standard gas diffusion electrode reactor to enable robust comparison of catalytic reactions. Instead, the common practice is to compare the performance of a new catalyst for a particular reaction against that of a
NASA just dropped more than 12,000 Artemis II photos—here’s how to see them
Want to go to the moon? Travel vicariously through the more than 12,000 photos NASA just posted from the Artemis II mission
Buried electrical pathways across the US reveal new clues about Earth's interior and power grid risks
A solar storm like the one that caused a nine-hour blackout across Quebec in 1989 could have even more dramatic effects if it struck the eastern United States today. Now, scientists have developed new tools to detect these storms before they strike by mapping the hidden
Lockable phone pouches in schools can improve student well-being over time, not test scores or bullying
A popular device for restricting cell phone use in middle and high schools is effective at achieving that aim, leading to short-term disruption but ultimately positive effects on student well-being, new research finds. The U.S. study conducted by a University of Michigan
Nature’s Overlooked Role in National Security
A conversation with an ecologist and a national security expert about the underappreciated risks posed by ecological disruption The post Nature’s Overlooked Role in National Security appeared first on Nautilus .
Chemists capture light-matter hybrid particles traveling long distances
To capture a crisp image of a hummingbird in flight, which can flap its wings up to 200 times per second, a photographer needs a camera with an extremely fast shutter speed. But what if your target is smaller than a single chromosome and can travel at velocities approaching
Study finds benefits in being older college student while working
The number of students in higher education who don't come straight from high school is rapidly increasing across the country. Yet little research has addressed how the characteristics of post-traditional students affect key academic outcomes. New findings from the University of
'Re-meandered' rivers can slow flows while widening wildlife habitat
A major river restoration project in Cumbria has shown that reconnecting rivers to their floodplains can slow the movement of water and improve habitats. Research led by Newcastle University and the National Trust found that restoring a straightened, engineered channel to a
Eucalyptus bark points the way to cleaner water and air
Eucalyptus bark, usually stripped from logs and treated as waste, could be repurposed to help clean polluted water, filter dirty air and capture carbon dioxide, according to new research from RMIT University. Researchers at RMIT have shown the bark can be converted into a
Our Human Ancestors Dined on Takeout
Why early hominins opted for the to-go option The post Our Human Ancestors Dined on Takeout appeared first on Nautilus .
Plant genes shape bacterial evolution in legume bond
Legumes like soybeans, alfalfa, peas, beans, peanuts and many more have a remarkable ability: They can partner with soil bacteria called rhizobia to capture nitrogen from the air in a biological process called nitrogen fixation. It is a mutualistic relationship—both the plant
A quiet Alaska fault is missing the fluids scientists expected, and it's changing what we know about earthquake zones
Not all earthquake faults behave the same. Some stick and snap, causing earthquakes. Others move slowly over time.
How a Greenland shark’s heart can beat for centuries
Greenland sharks have hearts that can function normally for more than a century
Optically dark gamma-ray burst reveals an unusually wide jet
Using various telescopes, an international team of astronomers has performed multi-wavelength observations of a recently identified gamma-ray burst source designated GRB 250416C. Results of the observational campaign, published April 23 on the v pre-print server, could help us
Bullying is common in elementary school, and it's more likely to happen in classrooms that are chaotic
About 1 in 4 elementary students in the United States reports being bullied at least once during a given school year. Children who are frequently bullied are more likely to struggle in school, experience poorer physical health and face higher risks of depression, anxiety and
Electric double layer unlocks molecular switch behind battery and hydrogen reactions
From smartphone charging to hydrogen production, the fundamental principles of energy technology have been revealed. Korean researchers have, for the first time, identified how molecular structures change within the ultra-small space called the "electric double layer." The
Denmark's 'hands‑off' approach to parenting could offer a blueprint for raising more resilient, self‑reliant kids
Much has been written about Denmark's consistently high scores in global happiness rankings, so it might not come as a surprise that Denmark is also rated the best place to raise children, according to U.S. News and World Report. The small Scandinavian nation also scores near
No more guesswork in drug design—atomic-resolution method exposes what trial and error keep missing
Drug discovery still too often relies on expensive trial and error. Researchers from ICTER show there is another way—building molecules step by step and observing their behavior at atomic resolution. This approach could significantly speed up the development of new therapies
The COVID‑19 pandemic exposed the load mothers carry—a burden that's still being ignored today
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated and brought into focus the ongoing disproportionate burden on mothers when it comes to household logistics, child care and financial inequity. It also revealed just how deeply embedded and structurally reinforced that burden is.
Supreme Court reinstates access to abortion drug mifepristone by mail
On Monday the Supreme Court paused a ruling by a federal appeals court that prevented health care providers from prescribing mifepristone by telemedicine, setting the stage for further action from the nation’s highest court
Why keeping collaborative remote work environment options open is key for business innovation
At a time when remote work is increasingly up for debate among companies, it remains an often underestimated lever for fostering open innovation. This article examines how initiatives designed to encourage collaborative work outside the workplace can contribute to the
Scientists unlock new way to engineer next-generation glass
Scientists have adapted a centuries-old principle of chemistry to fine-tune a new type of glass made from metal–organic frameworks (MOFs)—metal atoms connected by organic molecules—that efficiently trap gases like CO₂ and hydrogen and even capture water.
Symmetry says these crystal vibrations can never mix, but an exotic quantum phase rewrites the rules
Symmetry is one of the most fundamental principles in nature. It describes the rules that make an object look unchanged after a rotation, reflection, or other transformations. In materials, symmetry governs how atoms and electrons are arranged, and how they move together.
Wars destroy lives and the climate. Why aren't we counting military emissions?
When delegates gathered for COP30 in Belém, Brazil in November 2025, they scrutinized various sectors of the global economy for their contributions to rising greenhouse gases. Agriculture, aviation, steel, cement—all were on the table. One topic not discussed was war.
How 'digital twins' could help predict the fate of a forest
In his office at Michigan State University, forestry professor David Carter shows off an image of a virtual forest on his laptop. It's not just any forest. It's a computerized replica, or "digital twin," of a loblolly pine stand, created using lidar, the laser scanning
Magnon lifetime extended 100x paves the way for mini quantum computers
Magnons are tiny waves in magnetization that travel through solid magnetic materials, much like the ripples that spread across a pond when a stone is thrown into it. Unlike photons, which travel through empty space or optical fibers, magnons propagate within a magnetic solid.
School cell phone bans may boost student well-being—but not test scores, new study suggests
Banning cell phones in schools has been touted as a silver bullet for poor test scores and low student well-being and attendance, but new research suggests the results are more mixed
Mathematical framework solves asteroid route planning exactly for first time
A new publication from Bielefeld University sets a benchmark in optimization research. Together with an international team, Professor Michael Römer from the Faculty of Business Administration and Economics has developed a mathematical framework that solves a complex problem
How should schools teach AI? Three models to consider
Students across Canada are exposed to artificial intelligence (AI) whether through search engines, writing assistants, automated recommendation systems, or social media. That everyday exposure raises a first, fundamental question: What should students learn about AI? This goal
Airborne microplastics could be making climate change worse
Tiny plastic particles drifting in Earth’s atmosphere could have a significant warming effect, a new study finds
Time-varying magnetic fields can engineer exotic quantum matter
Quantum technology has promising potential to revolutionize how large and complex amounts of information are processed. While already in use primarily in laboratory and research settings globally, quantum technologies are in a transition phase for broader industry applications
How to make public spaces accessible, safe and attractive for an aging population
To be truly inclusive, public outdoor spaces must meet the needs of the entire population, regardless of age, physical ability or mobility.
