Since 1945, three-quarters of all global economic growth has been driven by technological advances. Since 1990, 90% of that advance has been rooted in fundamental science, according to Michael M. Crow, president of Arizona State University.
The explosion of animal life in Earth's oceans half a billion years ago during and after the Cambrian Period is commonly attributed to a substantial and sustained rise of free oxygen (O2) in seawater. Some researchers even argue for near-modern levels of ocean oxygenation at
Until now, most microbial cultivation efforts focused on fast-growing organisms that grow in nutrient-rich media. This has left many of the most abundant aquatic microbes, slow-growing oligotrophs that are adapted to low nutrient conditions, largely unstudied.
Scientists have discovered a giant black hole that they believe may have been formed in the first few microseconds after the Big Bang. The black hole is so huge that it may change our understanding of how these cosmic giants form. If the findings are confirmed, this will be the
Abiotic organic synthesis during geological processes has long drawn scientific interest, as it is believed to have laid both the material and energetic groundwork for the emergence of early life on Earth.
Since the 1940s, companies have been using PFAS—perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances—to make products easier to use, from Teflon nonstick pots to waterproof rain gear, stain-resistant carpet and firefighting foam.
El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is the strongest interannual variability signal in Earth's climate system. The shifts between its warm and cold phases profoundly impact global extreme weather, ecosystems, and economic development. However, current climate models show large
Worker ants perform important tasks like gathering food, taking care of eggs and larvae and nest building. However, some species of ants cannot produce workers through reproductive means with their own species. Eggs fertilized by male ants of the same species result only in
The wildflowers of Britain include all manner of treasures—yet many people are only aware of a few, such as bluebells and foxgloves. A lot of its other flora are rare because of Britain's location at the northern, western or even southern edges of their natural geographic—and
Losing weight is hard. Anyone who has tried to lose weight and keep it off will describe how difficult it can be. If your pet is a little more rotund than is healthy, then helping them regain and retain their waistline can be even trickier.
National anthems are more than music for ceremonies—they reflect the unique cultural and geographical characteristics of nations. A new study published in Scientific Reports has analyzed the emotional characteristics of 176 national anthems using machine learning and music
Methane (CH₄), the colorless and odorless gas that makes up most natural gas on Earth, has so far been converted into useful fuels and chemicals via energy-intensive processes that need to be carried out at high temperatures. Some energy researchers, however, have been
As climate change and human activity threaten freshwater ecosystems like lakes and rivers, it's more important than ever to know how the species who inhabit them are being impacted. But traditional methods of monitoring species, such as catching animals, are challenging to
One of the most difficult parts of astronomy is understanding how time affects it. The farther away you look in the universe, the farther back you look in time. One way this complicates things is how objects might change over time. For example, a supermassive black hole at the
In an increasingly globalized world, English is no longer just a beneficial skill to have but a crucial tool for professionals in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Researchers, engineers, and scientists alike must be able to communicate internationally,
Tracking human behavioral patterns in cities can be used to determine urban delineations and urban land use, which has the potential to improve urban planning.
Researchers from the University of Jyväskylä and the Natural Resources Institute Finland have discovered that ash appears to be an excellent additive in the anaerobic digestion process in terms of methane production and the fertilizing properties of the remaining digestate. The
Scientists are uncovering the secrets of a fast-acting molecular messaging network that strongly influences how people and all organisms adjust and react to the world around them.
Researchers from the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Entomology and Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics have developed a technique that uses infrared light and machine learning to reveal the sex of blow fly larvae found on human remains.
There are a record number of conflicts raging around the world—from Ukraine and Gaza to Sudan and Myanmar. Alongside their devastating human toll, these conflicts are all wreaking havoc on the environment.
Every weekend, thousands of New Zealand children pull on team jerseys, play on well-kept fields, and benefit from the quiet dedication of volunteers. Few stop to think about where the money comes from for uniforms, buses or tournament fees.
A new systematic study of the atmospheric conditions at the Muztagh Station in western China has revealed the site's unique suitability for optical observations. Researchers from the Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences reported that the location
As Earth moves through space, it wobbles slightly. A team of researchers from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the University of Bonn has now succeeded in measuring these fluctuations in Earth's axis using a completely new method—until now, possible only through
In the next 75 years, surface sea temperatures may rise by up to 4°C, with increasingly frequent short-term marine heat waves also predicted. This could cause significant damage to our essential marine ecosystems, for example, with corals widely known to be vulnerable to
Researchers spotted a colossal cloud of gas and dust in the Milky Way, filled with turbulent motion, newborn star seeds, and even a natural microwave laser. This newly found Midpoint cloud appears to funnel material toward the galactic center, offering key insights into star
Researchers from the University of California San Diego Sanford Stem Cell Institute have discovered that spaceflight accelerates the aging of human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), which are vital for blood and immune system health.
Home-based working in the UK has been declining since the peak of the COVID pandemic—from 49% of the working population at its height to around 14% now.
Was the Franco dictatorship a cause or consequence of the Spanish Civil War? Was Einstein a medieval scientist? Confusions like these are quite common among secondary school students, who tend to learn history as a rote series of names and dates in varying degrees of detail.
As another school year returns, large language models (LLMs) present difficult questions around learning, thinking, plagiarism and authorship for educators.
The second of the Meteosat Third Generation Imagers, MTG-I2, has passed some important milestones in the cleanroom facilities at Thales Alenia Space in Cannes, southern France.
The Federal Aviation Administration declared Wednesday that a plan for SpaceX to expand its Falcon 9 launch and landing capacity at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station does not require an Environmental Impact Statement.
Using the upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (uGMRT), astronomers have performed radio observations of the Ophiuchus galaxy cluster. Results of the observations, published August 26 in The Astrophysical Journal, deliver important insights into the nature of a fossil radio
Researchers at The University of Osaka have developed a computer graphics (CG) model, NeuraLeaf, capable of representing a wide variety of plant species and their deformations using a single, unified model. This innovative approach leverages deep learning to overcome the
First-year undergraduates who grew up with overly cautious or controlling parents tend to experience increased anxiety when faced with stresses associated with the transition to university, researchers from McGill University and the University of California (Los Angeles) have
A new study shows that traditional masculine norms are a significant barrier preventing men from reducing their meat and dairy consumption, and recommends how to better appeal to men to change their dietary ways to mitigate damage to the environment from animal agriculture.
The composition of sweat makes it a valuable diagnostic fluid. While it is mostly water, the small fraction containing electrolytes, metabolic byproducts, and chemical traces can reveal important information about a person's health. Today, commercial sweat-based sensors can
Strawberries are delicate and hard to harvest—easily bruised and often hidden under a canopy of leaves. This creates headaches for scientists trying to design robotic harvesters. Now a Washington State University-led team has designed one that combines an
A scene straight out of a horror movie greeted researchers when they shined lights on a dark Georgia swamp and saw hundreds of red eyes staring back, photos show.
What do we know about the last hunter-gatherers who lived in West Africa? While these prehistoric populations have been extensively studied in Europe and Asia, their presence in this vast region—covering 6 million square kilometers, more than ten times the size of
Cranfield University experts have developed a new method to precisely identify soil erosion hotspots along waterways, allowing for preemptive mitigation measures to be put in place that protect land and water systems.
A protein particle hidden within the SARS-CoV-2 virus could lead to longer-lasting, more protective vaccines for COVID-19.
Because of its potent greenhouse properties, methane gas is a significant contributor to climate change. It also feeds microbes known as methanotrophs that convert the gas into carbon dioxide and biomass, but scientists have been unsure how these microbes get all the nutrients
Materials scientists from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have invented the world's first pollen-based sunscreen derived from Camellia flowers.
Just one year after NREL materials science researchers Matthew Hautzinger and Sage Bauers met to exchange notes on underexplored materials in nanotechnology, their synthesis of promising Zintl-phase quantum dots is attracting attention with its bright photoluminescent glow,
When orangutans were shown two photos side by side, one of a dominant flanged male (having large pads on the sides of their faces) and one of an unflanged male, they spent more time looking at the flanged male.
With rising risk to the environment and human health, the race for biodegradable plastics is gaining pace—with several projects under way at Flinders University in South Australia.
Four new species of aquatic birds related to modern penguins have been described from fossils found in New Zealand, showing how these creatures flourished around 60 million years ago
A new study found evidence that commercial broccoli seeds can harbor a fungal seedborne pathogen, Alternaria brassicicola, with cross resistance to two commonly used fungicides.
Researchers found that fruit fly sperm push against one another and align in orderly bundles, preventing knots that could block reproduction.
A complete plano-convex ingot has been found in Sweden for the first time. The results of the isotopic and chemical analyses carried out by archaeologists at the University of Gothenburg are published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.
