Scientists capture the crackling sounds of what they believe is lightning on Mars
Scientists have detected what they believe to be lightning on Mars by eavesdropping on the whirling wind recorded by NASA's Perseverance rover.
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Forget Scarecrows and Sprays. This Tiny Falcon Keeps Cherry Crops Safe
Some Michigan farmers turn to kestrels to chase off smaller birds that eat and defile their crops The post Forget Scarecrows and Sprays. This Tiny Falcon Keeps Cherry Crops Safe appeared first on Nautilus .
Mystery foot belongs to ancient human relative: Scientists
Newly discovered fossils prove that a mysterious foot found in Ethiopia belongs to a little-known, recently named ancient human relative who lived alongside the species of the famous Lucy, scientists said Wednesday.
Meteorite samples are time capsules from the early solar system
When a meteor streaks across the sky, it's not just beautiful. It's nature's way of delivering a time capsule to Earth. Contained within are hints about the very beginning of the solar system and how planets, including our own, formed.
Instagram users overestimate their social media addiction, study suggests
Instagram users may overestimate the extent to which they are addicted to the platform, according to research conducted on 1,204 U.S. adults published in Scientific Reports. The findings suggest that for most social media users, excessive use is driven by habit rather than
Major droughts linked to ancient Indus Valley Civilization's collapse
Successive major droughts, each lasting longer than 85 years, were likely a key factor in the eventual fall of the Indus Valley Civilization, according to a paper published in Communications Earth & Environment. The findings may help explain why this major ancient
Thousands of genomes reveal the wild wolf genes in most dogs' DNA
Dogs were the first of any species that people domesticated, and they have been a constant part of human life for millennia. Domesticated species are the plants and animals that have evolved to live alongside humans, providing nearly all of our food and numerous other benefits.
Entanglement-enhanced optical lattice clock achieves unprecedented precision
Optical lattice clocks are devices that measure the passing of time via the frequency of light that is absorbed or emitted by laser-cooled atoms trapped in a repeating pattern of light interference known as optical lattice.
Scientists warn half the world’s beaches could disappear
Human development and climate-driven sea level rise are accelerating global beach erosion and undermining the natural processes that sustain coastal ecosystems. Studies reveal that urban activity on the sand harms biodiversity in every connected zone, magnifying worldwide
Deadly fungus makes sick frogs jump far, possibly to find mates
Chytrid fungus is a scourge to global amphibian populations, but before it kills some frogs, it can produce symptoms that may help the infected animals find mates and spread the fungus further
Stunning new 3D images reveal yellow fever’s hidden structure
University of Queensland researchers visualized yellow fever virus particles at near-atomic detail, uncovering major structural differences between vaccine and virulent strains. The insights could lead to better vaccines and treatments for yellow fever and related
Unprecedented levels of forever chemicals found in dolphins and whales
New research has revealed that marine mammals who live far below the ocean's surface are not immune from the burden of toxic forever chemicals, with whales and dolphins showing unprecedented levels of PFAS contamination.
A surprising new method finally makes teflon recyclable
Researchers have discovered a low-energy way to recycle Teflon® by using mechanical motion and sodium metal. The process turns the notoriously durable plastic into sodium fluoride that can be reused directly in chemical manufacturing. This creates a potential circular economy
This tiny microbe may be the key to fighting forever chemicals
A photosynthetic bacterium shows a surprising ability to absorb persistent PFAS chemicals, offering a glimpse into biological tools that might one day tackle toxic contamination. Researchers are now exploring genetic and synthetic biology approaches to enhance these early signs
Astronomers capture an exceptional gamma-ray flare from a blazar
Astronomers have performed very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations of a gamma-ray loud blazar known as TXS 2013+370. The observations, posted November 19 on the arXiv preprint server, resulted in the detection of an exceptional gamma-ray flare from this object.
Physicist delineates limits on the precision of quantum thermal machines
Quantum thermal machines are devices that leverage quantum mechanical effects to convert energy into useful work or cooling, similarly to traditional heat engines or refrigerators. Thermodynamics theory suggests that increasing the reliability with which all thermal machines
Half of heart attacks strike people told they’re low risk
The study reveals that widely used heart-attack risk calculators fail to flag nearly half of those who will soon experience a cardiac event. Even the newer PREVENT model misclassifies many patients as low-risk. Since most people develop symptoms only within 48 hours of their
Secret behind Temple of Venus's resilient construction uncovered
The material used to build the Temple of Venus in Naples has remarkably endured even as Earth's surface around it sank from volcanic activity, and researchers were curious to know how.
Your body may already have a molecule that helps fight Alzheimer’s
Spermine, a small but powerful molecule in the body, helps neutralize harmful protein accumulations linked to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. It encourages these misfolded proteins to gather into manageable clumps that cells can more efficiently dispose of through autophagy.
Nanoflowers supercharge stem cells to recharge aging cells
Texas A&M researchers found a way to make stem cells produce double the normal number of mitochondria using nanoflower particles. These energized stem cells then transfer their surplus “power packs” to weakened cells, reviving their energy production and resilience. The method
Sharks Show How Animals Scale Like Geometric Objects
Despite their wild variety of sizes, niches, and shapes, sharks scale geometrically, pointing to possible fundamental constraints on evolution The post Sharks Show How Animals Scale Like Geometric Objects appeared first on Nautilus .
Twenty-year study shows cleaner water slashes cancer and heart disease deaths
A 20-year project in Bangladesh reveals that lowering arsenic levels in drinking water can slash death rates from major chronic diseases. Participants who switched to safer wells had the same risk levels as people who were never heavily exposed. The researchers tracked
RNA in action: Filming ribozyme self-assembly
RNA is a central biological macromolecule, now widely harnessed in medicine and nanotechnology. Like proteins, RNA function often depends on its precise three-dimensional structure. A recent study published in Nature Communications by Marcia group, has captured, for the first
DNA transcription is a tightly choreographed event: How RNA polymerase II regulates the dance
Life's instructions are written in DNA, but it is the enzyme RNA polymerase II (Pol II) that reads the script, transcribing RNA in eukaryotic cells and eventually giving rise to proteins. Scientists know that Pol II must advance down the gene in perfect sync with other
Plastic pollution is worsened by warming climate and must be stemmed, researchers warn
Climate change conditions turn plastics into more mobile, persistent, and hazardous pollutants. This is done by speeding up plastic breakdown into microplastics—microscopic fragments of plastic—spreading them considerable distances, and increasing exposure and impact within the
Drones: An ally in the sky to help save elephants
They say an elephant never forgets—and it turns out they can learn to adapt to drones. Once seen as a source of alarm, drones are now proving to be surprisingly elephant-friendly and a valuable research tool. Previously, the use of drones in elephant conservation has mostly
Satellites spot surprising tsunami patterns: Massive Kamchatka quake challenges old models
A satellite deployed to measure ocean surface heights was up to the challenge when a massive earthquake off the Kamchatka Peninsula triggered a Pacific-wide tsunami in late July.
Bull shark attack kills woman, injures man at remote Australian beach
A bull shark killed a woman swimming off a remote beach in Australia's eastern state of New South Wales Thursday while a man was seriously injured and may have been saved by the "heroic" efforts of a passerby.
Wildlife trade body rejects new eel protections
The world's top wildlife trade body rejected new protections for eels on Thursday in a secret ballot at talks in Uzbekistan.
A tale of two Europes: Model shows uneven progress toward sustainable development goals
European Union countries are progressing toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but not at the same pace.
A common nutrient deficiency may be silently harming young brains
Scientists studying young adults with obesity discovered early indicators of brain stress that resemble patterns seen in cognitive impairment. The group showed higher inflammation, signs of liver strain and elevated neurofilament light chain, a marker of neuron injury. Low
Study finds untreated sleep apnea doubles Parkinson’s risk
A massive veteran study found a strong connection between untreated sleep apnea and a higher chance of Parkinson’s. CPAP users had much lower odds of developing the condition. Researchers believe that repeated dips in oxygen during sleep may strain neurons over time. The
Michigan cherry farmers find a surprising food safety ally: Falcons
The cherry harvest wrapped up months ago. But in northern Michigan, some growers are already anticipating the spring resurgence of a tiny raptor that could benefit next season's crop.
'Weather Commons' as collaborative weather management
As climate change and the resulting extreme weather intensify, interest in weather modification is growing around the world. In Japan, under Goal 8 of the Moonshot Research and Development Program led by the Cabinet Office / JST (Japan Science and Technology Agency), a research
Unstable protein linked to cancer reveals dynamic behavior
Around 80% of proteins involved in diseases like cancer and neurodegenerative illnesses do not have a stable structure. These proteins, known as intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) can quickly adapt to the conditions in our cells. A better understanding could aid in
Researchers develop novel bathymetric framework for high-accuracy shallow-water mapping
Shallow seas serve as critical transition zones connecting land and the deep ocean, supplying essential resources for navigation, fisheries, energy exploration, and island reef development. Accurate bathymetric data form the foundation for marine engineering, channel safety,
How Did Language Evolve?
A new biocultural perspective points the way The post How Did Language Evolve? appeared first on Nautilus .
A foot-tall elephant? 'Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age' on Apple TV reveals surprising creatures
If you've seen any of the "Ice Age" animated Disney movies, we have some bad news: You don't know the real ice age.
Red spider nebula photo taken by Webb
Using its Near-InfraRed Camera (NIRCam), NASA's James Webb Space Telescope captured never-before-seen details of the Red Spider Nebula, a planetary nebula, in this image released on Oct. 26, 2025. NIRCam is Webb's primary near-infrared imager, providing high-resolution imaging
Monthly injection could replace daily steroid pills for severe asthma
Daily steroid pills are often necessary for severe cases of asthma, but they raise the risk of several serious conditions. Now, scientists have shown that a monthly antibody injection can eliminate the need for the pills
Why Some Volcanoes Don’t Explode
A new explanation for oddly calm lava flows is a little like stirring honey in a jar The post Why Some Volcanoes Don’t Explode appeared first on Nautilus .
North and Baltic seas show widespread contamination by MRI contrasting agents
A comprehensive study by the CritMET research group, led by Prof. Michael Bau, a geochemist at Constructor University in Bremen, provides evidence of widespread contamination of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea with MRI contrast agents. As modern wastewater treatment plants
Persistent environmental toxins already accumulate in animal tissues during the fetal stage, research finds
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) begin to accumulate in the tissues of mammals already during the fetal stage, according to new research from the University of Oulu, Finland. The animal-model study found that environmental toxins had built up in the tissues of sheep raised
Scientists debut a generative AI model that could create molecules addressing hard-to-treat diseases
More than 300 people across academia and industry spilled into an auditorium to attend a BoltzGen seminar on Thursday, Oct. 30, hosted by the Abdul Latif Jameel Clinic for Machine Learning in Health (MIT Jameel Clinic). Headlining the event was MIT Ph.D. student and BoltzGen's
Telescope in Chile captures stunning new picture of a cosmic butterfly
A telescope in Chile has captured a stunning new picture of a grand and graceful cosmic butterfly.
Brain's GPS hasn't changed in millions of years: Specialized neurons may be vital to evolutionary survival
The same brain cells linked to disorientation in Alzheimer's disease have been preserved—and even slightly increased—across millions of years of evolution.
New study shows how DNA is recognized by proteins that control gene expression
With a new study in the journal Cell, researchers at Stanford University and Stockholm University have contributed to increased knowledge about gene regulation in human cells.
These Rabbit-Size Marsupials Have Chomping Superpowers
Australian rat kangaroos can crack nuts that would break the jaws of most animals The post These Rabbit-Size Marsupials Have Chomping Superpowers appeared first on Nautilus .
Corral technique measures fragile quantum states in magnet-superconductor hybrids from afar
Hybrid materials made of magnets and superconductors give rise to fascinating quantum phenomena, which are so sensitive that it is crucial to measure them with minimal interference. Researchers at the University of Hamburg and the University of Illinois Chicago have now
Gender imbalance hinders equitable environmental governance, say UN scientists
Inclusive representation is fundamental to equitable and effective environmental governance, particularly in addressing the interconnected crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation, the three focus areas of the well-known Rio Conventions.
