Two hot zones near Earth's core may fuel volcanoes beneath oceans
The ocean covers around 70% of the Earth's surface, but large parts of the seafloor remain largely unexplored.
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Scientists uncover how limestone-eating shipworms breed in turbulent water
Researchers from Northeastern University's Ocean Genome Legacy Center (OGL) have taken the next step toward deciphering the life cycle and unusual reproductive strategies of a limestone-eating species of shipworm. The results could ultimately usher in new developments in
Same fertilizer, different timing: Nutrient pulses give two invasive plants an edge
Fluctuating resource supplies can help some highly invasive plants outcompete native species. But research on how nutrient fluctuations affect plant invasion has largely relied on greenhouse or simplified experiments, leaving it unclear whether the same mechanisms operate under
Secret to selling small plates at restaurants: Nonrounded pricing
Oh, what a difference a penny can make in the likelihood that restaurant customers will order a small plate.
Talking or just meowing? Food test suggests cats call for human attention
As any cat owner knows, their feline companion is the boss of the home, and their meows are one way to get attention. But are those noises actually an attempt to communicate with us, or simply an expression of how the cat feels?
Imperfections reveal unexpected links between light and atomic vibrations in ultrathin boron nitride
First, one person stands up, followed by their neighbors, one after another, until a wave sweeps through the stadium. Atoms within a material move in a similar way: rather than remaining completely still in their positions, they vibrate together around their respective
Zn doping reveals robust two-gap superconductivity in FeSe
Researchers using the Steady High Magnetic Field Facility have found that zinc doping unexpectedly alters the superconducting properties of iron selenide (FeSe) while preserving its two-gap superconducting state.
Sensors on buses and trams could make air quality measurements fairer
As cities invest increasingly in quality of life and tackling air pollution, accurate environmental monitoring is high on the agenda. To identify health risks posed by, for example, particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide, Dutch cities have traditionally relied on fixed
Digital twins for plants: How ordinary cameras are helping preserve living collections
Researchers at the University of Tartu have shown that everyday cameras can create detailed, explorable 3D models of plants, giving botanical gardens and museums an affordable way to document and preserve living collections. The study, by Toivo Aukusti Ylinampa and Urmas
Was Einstein Seduced by a Russian Honeypot Operation?
The physicist had a steamy romance with Margarita Konenkova The post Was Einstein Seduced by a Russian Honeypot Operation? appeared first on Nautilus .
Nitrate pollution in rivers linked to dry climates, not just human activity
Nitrate, a chemical compound of oxygen and nitrogen often used in farm fertilizers, can rise to toxic levels in surrounding water under very dry conditions. This relationship has traditionally been attributed to agricultural runoff or human waste in the environment, but new
Seaweeds can switch to asexual reproduction when there are no mates nearby
Kelp switch between sexual and asexual reproduction depending on whether there are potential mates nearby, according to a study by Daniel Liesner at the Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, Germany, and colleagues, published Nov. 12 in the open-access journal PLOS Biology.
Chemical traces hint at poisoned hunting weapons in Arabia 125,000 years ago
A new study has found people living in Arabia 125,000 years ago used complex technologies, including composite hunting weapons, plant-fiber processing and possibly poison-assisted hunting, while making use of a freshwater lake rich in resources.
Elephants found to be increasingly isolated, leading to fractured social networks
Humans and many other social animals thrive in well-established community networks. Asian elephants are one example of a species that flourishes in groups that work together to access food and care for their young, among other social bonds.
A new twist on 'magic-angle' graphene: Tuning resistance with strain
In materials science labs around the world, researchers regularly reproduce a peculiar experiment. Under a microscope, they use tiny robotic manipulators to lay two sheets of carbon, each a single atom thick, against one another. They then rotate the top sheet against the
The diamond paradox: Scientists describe the path to the most stable structure
Researchers from Skoltech (part of the VEB.RF Group) and MISIS University have figured out why graphite turns into an unexpected form of diamond under high pressure. Instead of the familiar cubic diamond, the first structure to form is metastable lonsdaleite—a hexagonal form of
Large mutation analysis challenges claim that evolution shields important genes from changes
The idea that important genes mutate less frequently than others was first proposed in 1972 as a challenge to the traditional view of evolution. But the claim has remained contentious. Now, new research from the University of Bath finds the evidence behind that theory to be
High water, high rents: Poorest residents pay the most for climate adaptation
As cities worldwide adapt to extreme weather, climate adaptation must prevent people from wading through flooded streets in the future. But the costs are not equally shared. A study from the University of Copenhagen shows that climate adaptation policies may even make social
How human ideas evolve: Technical progress may not require weeding out weaker designs
Human culture evolves similarly to living organisms, but unlike biology, human creativity can accumulate improvements at an incredible speed. But how exactly does the process of transmitting and modifying ideas between people work?
Space dust particles point to ancient heavy-oxygen water reservoir in the Kuiper belt
Way out past the asteroid belt, another belt encircles the planets in our solar system. The Kuiper belt, beyond Neptune, preserves icy bodies that escaped much of the processing experienced by objects closer to the sun. Unlike the rocky and metallic asteroid belt, Kuiper belt
Transparency in earnings calls does not guarantee equal access to information
The specialized language used by analysts and management in listed companies' Q&A sessions can be challenging for individual investors to follow. However, Kaisa Penttinen's doctoral dissertation in accounting at the University of Vaasa, Finland, shows these sessions still
A rare star system emits radio signals every 8 minutes
Scientists at the Curtin University node at the International Center for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) have linked mysterious radio pulses to an unusual pairing of stars—a dead star that spins every eight minutes and a star similar to our own sun.
How the discovery of a Roman fort rekindled interest in an emperor immortalized in Welsh mythology
The recent discovery of a Roman timber fort in the Preseli hills of Pembrokeshire, southwest Wales, has brought a medieval Welsh legend into fresh focus.
A living shield: Skin microbes may help sawfish survive oxygen-poor pools
This large freshwater sawfish might look scary, but its greatest survival assets are tiny microbes that may give its young an invisible force field when environmental conditions get tough. New research led by Flinders University describes how microscopic communities living on
Lemon waste yields bioplastic more flexible than commercial counterpart, study finds
A new research article published in Polymers explores an innovative way to turn lemon processing residues into biopolymers. Authored by ANIPH's coordinator, CETEC, together with partners from companion projects Viss and PHAntastic, the study investigated the use of lemon
Liquid-phase growth strategy densifies ceramic films at low temperature
Ceramic films are widely used in solid-state batteries, energy conversion devices and electronic systems. Their fabrication, however, often requires high-temperature sintering, which can cause elemental volatilization, compositional segregation and undesirable interfacial
A new view of the gamma-ray gap: 14 years of Fermi data reveal around 450 sources in a largely unexplored energy range
The universe is filled with light at many different energies. Some of it is invisible to our eyes, including extremely energetic gamma rays, which can only be produced in the most extreme environments in our universe, for example supermassive black holes, exploding stars or
A suspected black hole turns out to be a rapidly spinning star
Sometimes massive stars can mimic the behavior of a black hole and trick astronomers into misinterpreting their nature. Such is the case with a strange pair of stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) cluster NGC 1850. The system was initially thought to contain a star about
Pumpkin seed protein puts a twist on nondairy coffee creamer
Pumpkin season is about more than cute décor. The squash contains lots of seeds with a high protein content, but they're usually discarded. Researchers reporting in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found another way to use the seeds, extracting that protein to
Simulated collisions reveal how Phobos could preserve rocks blasted off Mars
Mars has two small moons, Phobos and Deimos, but their origins remain uncertain. Were they asteroids captured by Mars' gravity, or did they form from debris following a giant impact on the planet?
Sequential peaks in arthropod availability across snow and vegetation help sustain alpine birds
The alpine zone is located above the tree line in mountainous regions and is characterized by long winters and short growing seasons. Birds and other animals inhabiting these environments breed during a limited period extending from spring to summer. Arthropods, including
Finding romance with AI: Study explores benefits, limits of chatbot intimacy
An AI companion can be available for a late-night conversation, respond to personal disclosures and discuss a favorite topic for hours. For people who develop intimate relationships with chatbots, those exchanges can offer a meaningful sense of connection.
Can a microdose of Ozempic help you live longer?
Tiny doses of GLP-1s are being marketed as antiaging drugs, but what evidence is there?
Lipids from banana peels help cherry tomatoes stay fresh longer
Fruits and vegetables keep "breathing" even after they're picked. Respiration consumes sugars and organic acids that contribute to flavor, while moisture loss and continued ripening soften the fruit. These changes shorten shelf life and contribute to food waste. Thin edible
New analytical method offers potential for faster risk assessment of avian influenza viruses
Highly pathogenic avian influenza causes significant damage to the poultry industry worldwide. As the virus evolves, new variants regularly emerge that may differ in how easily they spread and how severely they affect infected birds. Researchers at Wageningen Bioveterinary
Tiny cracks and a 9-volt battery could help fight deadly superbugs
As superbugs become harder to treat and antibiotic resistance continues to rise worldwide, Flinders University scientists have uncovered an unlikely ally in the fight to prevent infections before they take hold. They have found that carefully controlled microscopic cracks can
Feeling pressured to be grateful? Don't force it
It's that time of year when gratitude seems to be everywhere: at work, around the dinner table and at holiday gatherings. But with so much pressure to feel thankful, gratitude can start to feel like one more thing on the holiday to-do list.
A New Era for the Dawn of Life
Creative, interdisciplinary, and bold, the study of the origins of life has entered a new age. Welcome to Quanta Magazine’s special series on the origins of life. The post A New Era for the Dawn of Life first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Rain may increase ocean carbon uptake more than we thought
Global carbon budgets, which track carbon's movement among the atmosphere, ocean and land, may underestimate how much carbon the ocean absorbs by roughly 5% to 15% because current estimates do not fully account for rain's effects on the ocean surface.
Sensors track stress in plants in real time—without hurting them in the process
Even plants, from towering palm trees to vegetables such as onions and eggplants, can get stressed. Now, a team of engineers has designed a new kind of sensor that attaches directly to plants and peers inside them to track how they respond to stressors such as drought and fires
Unified framework establishes rules for classifying unconventional magnets
Researchers from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science (HFIPS) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have developed a unified framework for establishing symmetry criteria and classifying unconventional magnets.
Study finds midlife women face unique need for workplace flexibility
New research from the Working for Women Research Partnership (WFWRP) shows overlapping life demands make women ages 40–55 more likely than other groups to both want and need workplace flexibility.
The brain’s fear center moonlights as the save button for memories
What determines which moments are remembered? The amygdala, typically associated with regulating fear and aggression, may play a major role
AI is disrupting math. Is science next?
Mathematicians will remember 2026 as the year AI changed everything about their field. Scientists may be next in line for disruption
The Evolving Story of How Chemistry Became Biology
After decades of bickering about which molecules came first, a new generation of scientists is rethinking what life was, is, and could be. The post The Evolving Story of How Chemistry Became Biology first appeared on Quanta Magazine
From bush food to biodegradable materials: Unlocking the potential of pigface
An Australian native plant traditionally used by Indigenous communities for food and medicine could help scientists develop stronger, more flexible biodegradable film. UNSW researchers have discovered that adding extracts from pigface, Carpobrotus glaucescens, a hardy coastal
Electron beam tests advance safer sterilization method for flies that threaten livestock
Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists have achieved early success using electron beam, or eBeam, technology for the sterile insect technique, or SIT, against New World screwworm flies.
Why teaching 'ethical' classroom use of AI to learn writing must include the right to refuse
What would it mean to teach students who are learning academic writing to use AI in "ethical" ways—for example, large language model (LLM) chatbots like ChatGPT, a specific form of GenAI?
Euclid offers best-ever 3D map of the universe to date
The Euclid Consortium and the European Space Agency (ESA) have released the first major batch of data from the Euclid space telescope. This release, which captures light from more than a billion objects and covers an area of sky equivalent to 9,500 full moons, lays the
Sea pigs from the abyss host unusual bacteria
In the deep ocean, translucent sea pigs trundle across the seafloor. Researchers at the University of Tokyo have discovered an unusual bacterium beneath the sea pig's "skin." Through fluorescent imaging, they determined the location of the bacterium, which they named Candidatus
