SpaceX’s Starlink dodged 300,000 satellite collisions in 2025
The company’s mega-constellation is having to perform a huge number of manoeuvres to prevent a collision in Earth orbit
Headlines
- All
- Africa
- Asia
- Business
- Culture
- Environment
- Europe
- Gaming
- Markets
- Middle East
- Movies & TV
- Music
- Politics
- Science
- South America
- Tech
- World News
Why biological clocks get our 'true age' wrong – and how AI could help
Your chronological age can’t always tell you the state of your health, which is why biological clocks have been developed to show our risk of developing diseases or dying – but they’re not all they are cracked up to be, says columnist Graham Lawton
40 years of tree-tracking records reveal how global change is impacting Amazon and Andean Forest diversity
New research published in Nature Ecology and Evolution reveals significant recent shifts in tree diversity among the tropical forests of the Andes and Amazon, driven by global change.
When big snow and ice blow in, most people reach for salt. There are ways to reduce its harms
Winter has its fans, but even those who enjoy playing in the snow probably dislike the chore of clearing up after a big storm that dumps several inches or even feet of snow and ice.
Discovery of PITTs shows platelets can switch from clotting to driving vessel inflammation
A team from Würzburg has fundamentally changed our understanding of platelet biology. The researchers demonstrate that the surface protein integrin αIIbβ3 is not only a key molecule in blood clotting, but can also act as a pro-inflammatory effector during severe disease
Arctic blast to wallop N. America—is climate change to blame?
An unusually brutal winter storm is set to pummel more than 160 million Americans from Friday, as a stretched "polar vortex" sends a devastating blast of Arctic air, bringing heavy snows and freezing rains.
Scientists just overturned a 100-year-old rule of chemistry, and the results are “impossible”
Chemists at UCLA are showing that some of organic chemistry’s most famous “rules” aren’t as unbreakable as once thought. By creating bizarre, cage-shaped molecules with warped double bonds—structures long considered impossible—the team is opening the door to entirely new kinds
Why did magic mushrooms evolve? We may finally have the answer
Many species of fungus across the world produce psilocybin, a chemical with psychedelic effects in humans, but its evolutionary purpose may be to deter mushroom-munching insects
Whales may divide resources to co-exist under pressures from climate change
The North Atlantic Ocean is warming up. Higher temperatures and increased human activity in the region can trigger abrupt changes in marine ecosystems, for example, how species are distributed and what they eat.
Scientists ranked monogamy across mammals and humans stand out
A new study suggests humans belong in an elite “league of monogamy,” ranking closer to beavers and meerkats than to chimpanzees. By comparing full and half siblings across species and human cultures, researchers found that long-term pair bonding is unusually common in our
This new antibody may stop one of the deadliest breast cancers
Researchers have identified a promising new weapon against triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. An experimental antibody targets a protein that fuels tumor growth and shuts down immune defenses, effectively turning the immune system
Q&A: Is liverwort humanity's savior? Possibilities in food and medicine
Research on using Marchantia polymorpha, commonly known as liverwort, a plant closely related to moss, for food and as an ingredient in medicine and supplements is being conducted at Kobe University.
Drones and satellites can measure methane emissions from ruminants
A new study combines drone data, satellite observations, and ground-based flux measurements to examine methane emissions from ruminants in Kenya. The research represents a pioneering effort to quantify methane (CH₄) emissions from livestock using drones in sub-Saharan Africa.
Colorado confirms it won't release more wolves this winter after feds stopped deal with Canada
Colorado will not release more wolves this winter to supplement its reintroduction program after federal officials stopped the planned relocation of wolves from Canada.
Mobile lab pinpoints wood stoves and old power plants as Sarajevo's smog sources
Worldwide, it ranks among the cities with the highest levels of air pollution—and it's located in the heart of Europe: Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Previously, the spatial distribution of air pollutants here was largely unknown, as were their sources. Now
NASA head Isaacman tempers Artemis praise with ideas on the program's future
Even as NASA celebrated the rollout of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft for Artemis II over the weekend, NASA's new administrator, Jared Isaacman, made sure to put an asterisk on the program's future.
Tiny Evidence Upends a Controversial Stonehenge Theory
Researchers curious about the monument’s origins stuck their heads in the sand—for good reason The post Tiny Evidence Upends a Controversial Stonehenge Theory appeared first on Nautilus .
Space Dust Could Contain Building Blocks of Life
Protein precursors can form in cosmic dust clouds The post Space Dust Could Contain Building Blocks of Life appeared first on Nautilus .
Cells that are not our own may unlock secrets about our health
During pregnancy, maternal and fetal cells migrate back and forth across the placenta, with fetal cells entering the mother's bloodstream and tissues. They can settle in maternal organs such as the thyroid, liver, lungs, brain and heart—and can persist there for decades.
Paying attention to birdsong while walking in nature can boost well-being, my research shows
There's no question that being in nature is good for well-being. Research shows that experiencing nature and listening to natural sounds can relax us.
Sharktober: Scientists confirm spike in tiger shark bites in October
New University of Hawaiʻi research confirms that "Sharktober" is real, revealing a statistically significant spike in shark bite incidents in Hawaiian waters every October. The study, which analyzed 30 years of data (1995–2024), found that about 20% of all recorded bites
New analysis disputes historic earthquake, tsunami and death toll on Greek island
For decades, researchers thought that an October 1843 earthquake on the small Greek island of Chalke caused a powerful tsunami and led to the deaths of as many as 600 people. But a new analysis of primary accounts of the event by Ioanna Triantafyllou at Hellenic Mediterranean
Tungsten carbide phase control: Engineering a low-cost alternative catalyst for producing sustainable petrochemicals
Important everyday products—from plastics to detergents—are made through chemical reactions that mostly use precious metals such as platinum as catalysts. Scientists have been searching for more sustainable, low-cost substitutes for years, and tungsten carbide—an Earth-abundant
Meadows reveal unexpected monotony in insect biodiversity study
According to a new study by the University of Würzburg, Bavarian meadows are the most monotonous insect habitats. Surprisingly, fields and settlements often offer more diversity than grassland.
Biofilm streamers harden under flow, making bacterial infections harder to treat
Whether in the human body or on surfaces, bacteria protect themselves from outside attackers using biofilms. Physicist Eleonora Secchi is researching how these slime-like protective films are formed, with the aim of making it easier to remove pathogenic bacteria.
Climate adaptation may ease migration pressures in Africa
Africa confronts escalating internal migration and displacement crises fueled by intensifying climate hazards—particularly prolonged droughts—and persistent armed conflicts, which compound vulnerabilities across the continent.
Cellulose-based composite sheet exhibits simultaneous adsorption and shielding of radioactive elements
Researchers at University of Tsukuba have developed a cellulose-based composite sheet that integrates paper pulp with starch, polyaniline (a conductive polymer), Prussian blue (a coordination compound), and alginic acid (a natural polysaccharide). These components were
Hubble uncovers the secret of blue straggler stars that defy aging
Some stars appear to defy time itself. Nestled within ancient star clusters, they shine bluer and brighter than their neighbors, looking far younger than their true age. Known as blue straggler stars, these stellar oddities have puzzled astronomers for more than 70 years. Now,
Colon cancer is killing more young people in the U.S. than any other cancer
Fewer people under age 50 are dying from cancer in the U.S., but colorectal cancer mortality rates continue to surge
Domestication has changed the chemicals that squash flowers use to attract bees
Flowers emit scented chemicals to attract pollinators, but this perfume—and how pollinators interact with the plant—can go through profound changes as a crop becomes domesticated.
New code connects microscopic insights to the macroscopic world
In inertial confinement fusion, a capsule of fuel begins at temperatures near zero and pressures close to vacuum. When lasers compress that fuel to trigger fusion, the material heats up to millions of degrees and reaches pressures similar to the core of the sun. That process
Molecular surgery: 'Deleting' a single atom from a molecule
Inserting, removing or swapping individual atoms from the core of a molecule is a long-standing challenge in chemistry. This process, called skeletal editing, can dramatically speed up drug discovery or be applied for upcycling of plastics. Consequently, the field is witnessing
A new optical centrifuge is helping physicists probe the mysteries of superfluids
Physicists have used a new optical centrifuge to control the rotation of molecules suspended in liquid helium nano-droplets, bringing them a step closer to demystifying the behavior of exotic, frictionless superfluids.
A desperate race is on to resurrect newly-named 'zombie' tree
A recently identified tree species in Queensland has been given the name "zombie" by scientists who say ambitious assistance is needed to reverse its "living dead" status.
Growth chambers could enable reproducible plant-microbe data across continents
Harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to study plant microbiomes—communities of microbes living in and around plants—could help improve soil health, boost crop yields, and restore degraded lands. But there's a catch: AI needs massive amounts of reliable data to learn
Amplifying feedbacks could drive Greenland ice sheet to near-complete disappearance
Greenland, which has been prominently in the news in recent days, hosts a vast ice sheet. If it melts, it will become one of the largest contributors to global sea-level rise. Under a high-emissions scenario, the Greenland Ice Sheet is expected to largely disappear over time,
The First Person to Get Hit by Space Junk
Decades later, extraterrestrial rubbish is quickly piling up The post The First Person to Get Hit by Space Junk appeared first on Nautilus .
Study reveals why light-driven chemical reactions often lose energy before bond-breaking
Florida State University researchers have discovered a pathway within a certain type of molecule that limits chemical reactions by redirecting light energy. The study could enable development of more efficient reactions for pharmaceuticals and other products.
NASA and families of fallen astronauts mark 40th anniversary of space shuttle Challenger accident
Families of the astronauts lost in the space shuttle Challenger accident gathered back at the launch site Thursday to mark that tragic day 40 years ago.
Stingrays inspire smarter ocean robots: The physics of fin motion
Using robotic fins, researchers at the University of California, Riverside have learned how stingrays are able to swim with impressive control. These insights could help underwater vehicles avoid disastrous ground collisions.
Accessing water on Mars: Examining the best technologies for future missions
A new study has examined how future human missions to Mars could access one of the planet's most vital resources—water. The "Martian aqua: occurrence of water and appraisal of acquisition technologies" paper, published in the Advances in Space Research journal, presents a
New tools measure 'woke' attitudes on both left and right political spectrums
Oskari Lahtinen, Senior Researcher at the INVEST Research Flagship Center at the University of Turku in Finland, has developed validated tools for studying "woke" attitudes on both the political left and the political right.
Copper-carrying compound targets and kills MRSA bacteria by mimicking iron
A research team at the University of Arizona College of Medicine–Tucson is developing a drug that works in combination with copper to kill bacteria, including those that cause MRSA, a type of staph infection that is resistant to usual treatments. The team's research is
How China can meet its rapidly growing cooling demand without heating the planet
China's rising demand for cooling doesn't have to drive rising temperatures. A recent study shows how rapid shifts to cleaner refrigerants and high-efficiency technologies could cut cooling-related climate impacts to near zero by mid-century. The work is published in the
Researchers seek worldwide solutions to conserve coral reefs
Coral reefs, the "rainforests of the sea," provide habitats for 25% of all marine life. Critical to global biodiversity, they are essential for food supply, culture and recreation and coastal protection from hurricanes for communities around the world and even contain a vast
ATLAS confirms collective nature of quark soup's radial expansion
Scientists analyzing data from heavy ion collisions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC)—the world's most powerful particle collider, located at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research—have new evidence that a pattern of "flow" observed in particles streaming from
How a potential antibiotics ban could affect apple growers
Antibiotic resistance in human and animal health is at the forefront of public debate, but it's a less well-known issue in plant agriculture. However, antibiotics are important tools in fruit production, and their efficacy hinges on avoiding resistance to disease-causing
Eating less meat puts billions in European farm investments at risk
If Europeans eat less meat and dairy, this will have major consequences for farmers. New research shows that many barns and machines could lose their value. With the right policies, these losses can be limited. This is shown by research from Leiden, Oxford and Vienna.
Encouraging students to socialize at an early stage can prevent loneliness
Loneliness is a common problem among students. However, encouraging students to socialize at an early stage can improve the well-being of this group. This is evident from an experiment with a new preventive intervention developed by researchers at Radboud University. Their
Nash equilibria: The hidden math behind predator–prey behaviors
Animal survival depends on effective attack and defense strategies, yet how these behaviors arise remains unclear. Addressing this question, a recent study shows that predator and prey behaviors emerge naturally as stable patterns shaped by simple sensory abilities and motor
