What Makes a Word Beautiful?
It’s not what we thought The post What Makes a Word Beautiful? appeared first on Nautilus .
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Garden ponds often serve as potential sources of plant invasions
As small aquatic habitats disappear at an alarming rate, private garden ponds may help compensate for the loss of natural habitats and support biodiversity in urban areas. However, as these ponds become increasingly popular, the spread of invasive species is emerging as a
Self-adapting fiber component tackles heat challenges in high-power fiber lasers
Thulium fiber lasers, operating at a wavelength of 2 micrometers, are valued for applications in medicine, materials processing, and defense. Their longer wavelength makes stray light less damaging compared to the more common ytterbium lasers at 1 micrometer.
Unraveling the hidden dynamics behind copper chalcogenides' exceptional carbon dioxide-to-formate conversion
The origin of the elusive preference of copper chalcogenides for selectively converting carbon dioxide (CO2) into formate has long puzzled researchers. Researchers at National Taiwan University have identified a charge-redistribution mechanism that resolves this long-standing
Social media algorithms target lower-income youth with risky 'easy money' ads, study shows
Young people with fewer financial resources, especially boys, are the most exposed to advertising about how to make easy money. So confirms a pioneering study by Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), which has for the first time analyzed how the socioeconomic level and gender of young
Open-access platform explores epigenetic regulation of plant long non-coding RNAs
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are RNA transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides that do not code for proteins. Once considered mere transcriptional noise, lncRNAs are now known to play vital roles in plant growth, development, and responses to environmental stress. However, few
Embryos show specialized asymmetry at the earliest stage
As nearly one in six couples experience fertility issues, in-vitro fertilization (IVF) is an increasingly common form of reproductive technology. However, there are still many unanswered scientific questions about the basic biology of embryos, including the factors determining
Precise catalyst design boosts hydrogen gas production efficiency and affordability
A recent advance in the science of hydrogen fuel production could enable higher output and more sustainable production of this renewable energy source, researchers with Stockholm's KTH Royal Institute of Technology report.
X-ray imaging reveals how silicon anodes maintain contact in all-solid-state batteries
All-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) using silicon (Si) anodes are among the most promising candidates for high-energy and long-lasting power sources, particularly for electric vehicles. Si can store more lithium than conventional graphite, but its volume expands by roughly 410%
AI-powered vision gives meaning to wildfire chaos
How wildfires spread is more variable and unpredictable than Canada's standard models assume, new research from UBC Okanagan data scientists shows.
Behold the Biggest Dinosaur Parade
What the biggest set of trackways ever discovered says about life in the Late Cretaceous The post Behold the Biggest Dinosaur Parade appeared first on Nautilus .
Captive bottlenose dolphins vary vocalizations during enrichment activities
Dolphins produce a range of vocalizations used for echolocation and communication. These vocalizations vary with social context, environmental conditions, external stimuli, and communication, reflecting their cognitive and behavioral complexity.
Over 16,000 dinosaur footprints identified along a Bolivian shoreline
A fossil site in Bolivia preserves thousands of traces of dinosaurs who walked, ran, and swam along an ancient coastline, according to a study by Raúl Esperante of the Geoscience Research Institute, California, U.S., and colleagues.
Sperm tails and male infertility: Critical protein revealed via ultrastructure expansion microscopy
Male infertility is a major issue worldwide and its causes remain unclear. Now, an international team of researchers led by Hiroki Shibuya at the RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR) in Japan has discovered a key structure in the germ cells of male mice, that
Bumble bees launch a three-stage defensive response when their nest is disturbed
Bumble bees respond to physical disturbance of their nest with a sequence of defensive behaviors that lasts up to 10 minutes, according to a study by Sajedeh Sarlak at the University of Konstanz, Germany, and colleagues.
Smart material instantly changes colors on demand for use in textiles and consumer products
Scientists have developed a revolutionary technique for creating colors that can change on command. These are structural colors that don't rely on dyes or pigments and can be used for display signage, adaptive camouflage and smart safety labels, among other applications.
Electrical oscillations in microtubules link cytoskeleton to neuronal signaling
Researchers at UT San Antonio have uncovered new details about electrical signals happening within nerve cells, deepening scientists' understanding of the brain.
NASA’s Next Chief, Jared Isaacman, Gives Answers in Senate Grilling
Jared Isaacman—the presumptive next leader of NASA—answered questions about his plans for the future of U.S. space exploration on Wednesday
The ship-timber beetle's fungal partner: More than just a food source
The ship-timber beetle (Elateroides dermestoides) is a species of ambrosia beetle. Unlike many of its relatives, which are social insects that live in colonies, it is solitary and does not live with other members of its species.
Decoding how the human proteasome recognizes branched ubiquitin chains
Researchers at National Taiwan University have uncovered, for the first time at atomic resolution, how the human proteasome recognizes branched ubiquitin chains. Their finding reveals a multivalent decoding mechanism that enhances protein degradation accuracy and speed.
How to catch a comet that hasn't been discovered yet
There's been a lot of speculation recently about interstellar visitor 3I/ATLAS—much of which is probably caused by low-quality data given that we have to observe it from either Earth, or in some cases, Mars. In either case, it's much further away than what would be the ideal.
By hiding their faces, metal bands maximize the emotional punch of their music
In 2024, along with 20,000 others, I attended a sold-out metal show in Manchester. Unlike most concerts at the Co-op Live Arena, however, none of us in the packed-out venue knew who we were actually seeing. The band was Sleep Token—a masked and anonymous collective formed in
Rich cities, broke neighbors: Study exposes metro-level wealth divide
Local governments in the United States are responsible for many of the services people rely on daily—schools, parks, public safety, and more. But the resources available to fund these services depend heavily on the amount of taxable property wealth within each city or town's
Deciphering the heavyweights of the tetraquark world
The CMS collaboration reports the first measurement of the quantum properties of a family of tetraquarks that was recently discovered at the LHC.
Lemon shark caught preying on invasive freshwater fish in Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
Researchers recorded lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirostris) preying on an invasive species, the jaguar cichlid (Parachromis managuensis), for the first time. This observation was made in Sueste Bay in March 2024. Sueste Bay is a well-known shark feeding ground in the Brazilian
Hubble seeks clusters in 'Lost Galaxy'
This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image features the spiral galaxy NGC 4535, which is situated about 50 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo (the Maiden). Through a small telescope, this galaxy appears extremely faint, giving it the nickname "Lost Galaxy."
Animals maintain stability by monitoring their body position and correcting errors with every step
With every step we take, our brains are already thinking about the next one. If a bump in the terrain or a minor misstep has thrown us off balance, our stride may need to be altered to prevent a fall. Our two-legged posture makes maintaining stability particularly complex,
Scientists rule out fourth neutrino in particle physics mystery
Scientists have taken a major step toward solving a long-standing mystery in particle physics, by finding no sign of the particle many hoped would explain it.
Ancient DNA reveals China’s first ‘pet’ cat wasn’t the house cat
The modern house cat reached China in the 8th century. Before that, another cat — the leopard cat — hunted the rodents in ancient Chinese settlements.
Federal funding cuts are only one problem facing America's colleges and universities
Higher education is under stress. The highest-profile threat has been the Trump administration's efforts to cut funding to several universities, including Harvard, Columbia and Northwestern.
Visual thinking: The strategy that could help you spot misinformation and manipulated images
A fake photo of an explosion near the Pentagon once rattled the stock market. A tearful video of a frightened young "Ukrainian conscript" went viral: until exposed as staged. We may be approaching a "synthetic media tipping point", where AI-generated images and videos are
Astronomers warn satellite growth may contaminate nearly all space telescope data
Light from the half a million satellites that humanity is planning to launch into Earth's orbit in the coming years could contaminate almost all the images taken by space telescopes, NASA astronomers warned Wednesday.
Why we remember the source of an opinion better than the source of a fact: New research
In public discourse, we spend a great deal of collective energy debating the accuracy of facts. We fact-check politicians, monitor social media for misinformation, and prioritize data-driven decision-making in our workplaces. This focus is vital; the distinction between truth
Zero waste in schools? Why factoring in labor is essential
Over the last decade, I've worked closely with Montréal educators and students to better understand how climate change education occurs in schools—and how climate change curricula and policies shape everyday experiences there.
Coastal regions and climate change: How better risk assessment can help protect infrastructure and livelihoods
Coastal regions, where dense clusters of critical infrastructure are found, are facing the sharpest edge of climate change. The threats include paralyzed transport networks and disrupted supply chains. To stay ahead, we need a clearer picture of these vulnerabilities that lets
Chemists pioneer light-driven macrolactone synthesis for fast route to complex natural compound
Macrolactones—large ring lactones—are core components of many natural products and pharmaceutical agents. Traditional synthetic routes rely on seco acids activated with condensing reagents, often requiring harsh conditions or multi-step procedures. An alternative approach using
Video-call glitches can have serious consequences
A technical glitch during a Zoom call shouldn't be that big a deal, or lead someone to make a judgment about the person on the other end. But in actuality, glitches during face-to-face video calls—even when the glitch does not affect the transmission of information—can shatter
These two galaxies are tying the knot and producing stars
Galaxies like our Milky Way grew through cascading mergers of smaller galaxies that began billions of years ago. The ancient progenitors of galaxies like ours were small galaxies similar to modern-day dwarf galaxies like the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. Research shows
Extracellular vesicles: Key to halting aging?
Researchers at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) are a step closer to finding the fountain of youth.
Data modeling drives war on cattle ticks
Texas A&M AgriLife scientists have uncovered new insights into how cattle fever ticks survive and spread across South Texas, revealing hidden refuges that could explain why the pest remains one of the U.S. cattle industry's greatest threats.
Oldest mule in western Europe found in early Iron Age burial site
Researchers from the Prehistoric Studies and Research Seminar and the Institute of Archaeology of the University of Barcelona have identified the oldest mule documented in the western Mediterranean and continental Europe, in the Penedès region.
Heat can cut insect survival but boost reproduction, study shows
Rising global temperatures are changing the rules for survival—and reproduction—for many species. A new study from Saint Louis University reveals that predicting which species will persist under climate change is more complex than focusing solely on survival.
Political alignment, not just supply options, drives US-China decoupling
Efforts to "decouple" U.S. supply chains from China are only taking hold in industries where American firms can shift production to allied or politically aligned countries, according to new research by scholars at the University of Michigan, Princeton University and the
How can municipalities help reduce community financial hardships due to court fees?
Every person suspected of a crime has a right to an attorney, yet the cost for that attorney—even a public defender—can differ from state to state.
Pinning down spinless glueballs: New look at hidden structure inside subatomic particles
SUNY Poly Professor of Physics Dr. Amir Fariborz recently published a paper in Physical Review D titled "Spinless glueballs in generalized linear sigma model." The work takes on a central challenge in modern physics: understanding how the strongest force in nature shapes the
Case reporting practices in forensic anthropology are largely not standardized
Forensic anthropological (the study of skeletonized remains in medico-legal settings) analyses and reports include diverse information that may help in establishing identifications, cause or manner of death determinations, taphonomic (post-death decay, destruction, or burial)
Climate-sensitive tropical pollinators require region-responsive conservation planning, study argues
Pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and beetles, shape global food production and support vast natural ecosystems. For years, efforts to protect these critical species have leaned on broad global targets and uniform conservation recommendations. However, a new study led
Autonomous Deep-Sea Robots to Lead New Search for Missing Flight MH370
Texas-based firm Ocean Infinity will send swarms of autonomous underwater vehicles into the southern Indian Ocean in a high-risk attempt to locate this missing jet
A Rare “Fairy Lantern” Finally Comes to Light
Researchers discovered this tiny, mysterious plant species in Malaysia—now, they want to make sure it survives The post A Rare “Fairy Lantern” Finally Comes to Light appeared first on Nautilus .
Simulations reveal how black holes generate intense light from infalling matter
Surprisingly, some of the universe's brightest objects are black holes. As scorching gas and dust flow around and into a black hole, they glow with fierce intensity across the light spectrum. Now, a team of computational astrophysicists has developed the most comprehensive
