Hank Green AI controversy raises questions for science communicators
The backlash raises a bigger question for science communicators: where should AI fit into their work?
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Swarms of tiny robots remove microplastics from soil and water
Microplastics, which are plastic particles under 5 millimeters, are a major and growing threat in both soil and water. They damage soil fertility, disrupt nutrient cycling, harm aquatic and terrestrial life, and can move through the food chain. That makes cleaning them up an
Gut cells may measure hunger by how watery their insides become
Researchers led by Sa Kan Yoo at the RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR) in Japan have discovered that the natural turnover of gut cells in fruit flies depends on how much food the flies get, rather than on any specific nutrient. They found that gut cells were
Monkeys keep pets and maintain friendships with other animals
This behaviour may shed light on one of the defining features of our own species: our extraordinary relationships with other animals
Inside the Not-So-Dumb Head of the Dodo Bird
Cranial scans reveal a brain with clever sensory adaptations The post Inside the Not-So-Dumb Head of the Dodo Bird appeared first on Nautilus .
Mega-study analyzes the impact of gratitude interventions
Are some interventions designed to induce gratitude more effectively than others? In which countries and cultures do they work best to improve mood, strengthen bonds between people and promote social reciprocity? A study aimed at answering these questions—conducted in 34
Canada tries to adapt to a future of wildfires
Faced with another summer when wildfires have scorched millions of hectares of land and blankets of smoke have disrupted daily life nationwide, Canada is trying to limit the annual devastation.
Loneliness may damage health in ways isolation does not: New study
You can spend every day surrounded by other people and still feel lonely. You can also spend long periods alone without finding the experience distressing.
Nocturnal 'coffee frog' discovered in Costa Rica
A tiny greenish, nocturnal frog that thrives in coffee plantations has been discovered in Costa Rica's central Pacific region, where it also faces risks from agrochemicals used in farming.
Why loneliness and not social isolation may be making you sick
One in six people are thought to experience loneliness, and that can have a serious knock-on effect on their mental and physical health
Silver nanocatalysts switch reaction sites between power generation and hydrogen production
For the first time, researchers have discovered that the same silver (Ag) nanocatalyst operates at different reaction sites depending on whether a solid oxide cell is generating electricity or producing hydrogen. This finding introduces a new design principle for improving the
Sunlight creates quantum entanglement once thought to require lasers
Scientists have generated quantum entanglement directly from sunlight, potentially offering a lower-energy alternative to the lasers normally used in quantum technology. Their outdoor experiment produced entangled photons with about 94% similarity to an ideal state. The result
Teen cannabis use linked to slower memory and thinking growth
Teens who start using cannabis may experience slower growth in memory, attention, language, and processing speed. Their abilities often developed normally at first, then began leveling off while nonusers continued improving. THC appeared to be the most likely driver, especially
One million years without sex fails to erase stick insects' unused biological system
Scientists have made a surprising finding about how an asexually reproducing stick insect has evolved. Research led by Dr. Darren Parker, lecturer in evolutionary biology at Bangor University, studied the genes of several species of Timema (a type of stick insect), which have
New AI model reveals the volume of the world's glaciers
How much ice is stored in the world's glaciers? And where exactly is it located? A new study led by Ca' Foscari University of Venice, in collaboration with the Institute of Polar Sciences of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR-ISP), provides an updated global map of
Creating cleaner chemical reactions that run on oxygen and produce only water as waste
Oxygen provides the driving force for many vital chemical reactions. Two well-known examples include respiration, the process that allows living things to break down food to release its energy, and combustion, reactions that produce heat and light. But oxygen has an unusual
Researchers unlock high-res view of 2D materials by doing a microscopic twist
By rapidly twisting a microscopically small tip back and forth, researchers at the University of Maryland (UMD) have unlocked a new way to detect subtle changes on the surface of a material flexing in response to infrared light.
Hidden anatomy of clouds reveals how rain may begin without ice crystals
The initiation of rain in clouds without ice remains one of the largest unsolved mysteries in atmospheric science.
Laser spectroscopy helps reveal hidden nuclear properties in fermium
For the first time, researchers have determined the shape of the actinide nucleus of fermium-255 and measured its structure with high precision and resolution.
New 'shape-shifting' architecture brings versatility to photonic quantum computing
Using light to process quantum information is one of the most promising approaches to building future quantum computers. Light particles, known as photons, are excellent carriers of quantum information, but their lack of natural interactions has created a major challenge for
Viagra May Slow the Spread of Cancer
And statins can help The post Viagra May Slow the Spread of Cancer appeared first on Nautilus .
Crossing into a mirror world: Particles turn to wisps of fog, and the magnetic monopole paradox dissolves
In Goethe's ballad "Erlkönig," immortalized in Schubert's fevered 1815 setting, a dying boy riding through the night sees a spectral king beckoning from the darkness. His father calms him: "Mein Sohn, es ist ein Nebelstreif"—my son, it is only a wisp of fog. In the poem, the
Tiny floating magnet detects ultrafaint magnetic fields at room temperature
Measuring faint magnetic fields is useful in a number of areas, including mapping brain activity, monitoring hearts and probing fundamental physics. Typically, picking up such weak signals requires expensive or bulky equipment, such as liquid-helium cooling tanks or specially
Latest Pentagon UFO files release includes video of mysterious ‘cold orbs’
This new cache of material includes footage of a U.S. military plane’s infrared display recorded during an exercise over the Gulf of Oman in 2021
Antenna-like cell appendage may help turtle embryos sense sex-deciding nest temperatures
When most baby turtles hatch, their sex depends on the temperature of the sand or soil where their mother laid her eggs. Warm incubation produces females, while cool nests produce males.
This Paradoxical Desert Landscape Is Filled with Fresh Water
Dunes and lakes as far as the eye can see The post This Paradoxical Desert Landscape Is Filled with Fresh Water appeared first on Nautilus .
Hydraulic traits reveal why some mountain trees move uphill while others shift downhill
As global temperatures rise, scientists have largely assumed that mountain tree species will move uphill in search of cooler conditions. A new study published in Nature Climate Change reveals a more complex reality: Some tree species are moving uphill, while others are shifting
Boron layers could set a superconductivity record, theoretical study predicts
Scientists in China predict that stacking two microscopic layers of boron could set a new record for superconductivity. Superconductors are materials that conduct electricity with zero resistance. Traditional types need temperatures close to absolute zero to work, requiring
New platform speeds bacterial gene mapping for better biotech design
Scientists at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have created a platform that pinpoints genetic triggers that turn microbes into efficient factories for new chemicals and materials. The method enables rapid, precise reprogramming of bacteria as
Mobile fungal 'Starship' carries protein that triggers crop leaf loss
An international research team led by plant scientist Professor Dr. Bart Thomma of the Institute of Plant Sciences at the University of Cologne, the MiBiNet Collaborative Research Center and the CEPLAS Cluster of Excellence for Plant Sciences has identified the region of the
First full zoysia grass genetic blueprint opens doors for drought-tolerant turf
A new genomic resource from the Texas A&M AgriLife Research plant genomics team is providing a powerful new foundation for faster, more precise turfgrass genetics and breeding. The team discovered a breakthrough genome that finally reveals the full genetic blueprint of zoysia
The creatures born from code: Generative AI threatens to upend citizen science records
You need to tread carefully among the leaf litter of the Indonesian scrubland and its tropical rainforests. The dead leaves might seem caught in a gentle breeze, but there's more here than meets the eye. Try plucking one from the ground and you'll find an insect caught in the
Hidden hormone–habitat relationship revealed in reef fish
In the animal kingdom, only those that adapt to their environment survive. This adaptation takes a wide range of forms, from invisible internal shifts in gene expression to dramatic anatomical changes, such as tadpoles growing legs and transitioning to life on land as frogs.
Birdsong and whale song show patterns similar to human language
An international team of researchers has uncovered a previously undetected structure in the birdsong of Bengalese finches that has the same statistical patterns found in human languages.
Want to see the 2026 total solar eclipse? An eclipse chaser reveals her tricks and tips
All the tips and tricks you need to watch and photograph this incredible celestial phenomenon
Depression Linked to Shrinking Brain Region in Older Adults
The memory center of the brain show signs of decreasing volume The post Depression Linked to Shrinking Brain Region in Older Adults appeared first on Nautilus .
Birdsong follows a fundamental law of human language
A fundamental law of human language has now been found in both songbirds and whales
Phages unlock essential vitamin B12 by bursting open gut bacteria
All living organisms need vitamin B12 to form red blood cells and DNA, as well as to build and support brain and nerve cells. But it's hard to come by: Humans don't make it. Animals don't make it. Plants don't make it. In fact, this essential nutrient is made exclusively by
Photocatalytic method cleaves strong C–H bonds while preserving weaker C–Si bonds
α-Silyl alcohols are unique organosilicon compounds bearing a silyl group and a hydroxy group on the same carbon atom. Because these compounds serve as precursors to reactive species, such as carbanions and carbon radicals, they are pivotal building blocks for synthesizing
Oil dispersants reshape Arctic sea-ice microbes but do not markedly accelerate oil breakdown
By making the Arctic less ice-covered, climate warming has increased both shipping traffic and the risk of oil spills in the region. Changing ice conditions may, however, affect the effectiveness of currently available oil spill response measures, according to a recent study by
Don't believe the GenAI hype—learn from it instead, say researchers
When is a hype bubble more than just a bubble? When it becomes a mass, real-time learning event. New research published in the Academy of Management Journal by Anna Brattstrom, a professor at the University of St Andrews Business School, and Hassan Hamadi, a PhD student at Lund
Galactic spins carry fingerprints of the primordial universe
The origin of spin in spiral and elliptical galaxies has posed a long-standing puzzle for astronomers. One idea, known as tidal torque theory, proposes that galaxies' spins are an imprinted record of the early universe, imparted by gravity long before galaxies first formed and
Natural insecticide made from compound found in garlic and spearmint kills bean beetles effectively
In an effort to develop more environmentally friendly alternatives to synthetic insecticides, researchers from Kyushu University have developed and tested a new insecticide made from compounds derived from garlic and spearmint.
AI method reveals hidden patterns in microbial communities in the Warnow Estuary
Microbial communities are highly sensitive to environmental changes, yet their enormous diversity makes it difficult to identify ecological patterns. A research team from the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW) has shown that an AI method originally
Just 50°C decides whether an ultrathin magnetic film stays flat or falls apart
Magnetic storage technologies, which store information in the direction of magnetization, play an essential role in modern data storage. Hard disk drives (HDDs) are widely used for long-term storage, while nonvolatile magnetic random-access memory (MRAM) is emerging as a
Food fraud costs UK economy up to £2 billion a year, new study finds
Food fraud is costing the UK economy up to £2 billion every year, according to the first study to calculate its full economic impact. The research, from the University of Portsmouth, estimates that food fraud costs between £400 million and £2 billion annually, making it one of
Some US adults are using AI for financial guidance but few trust it, Gallup poll finds
Some U.S. adults are using artificial intelligence for financial guidance, but it's far from the most trusted source of advice, according to a new Gallup survey conducted in partnership with Edward Jones, a financial services firm.
Uranus's unusual rotation makes its bow shock expand and contract each day
Within our solar system, Uranus is a geometric oddball. Its spin axis tilts more than 90° from its orbit, so it essentially rolls on its side through space. In contrast, Earth and other planets tilt only moderately or not at all. What's more, the ice giant's magnetic field is
What was best for Flaco the owl? Wild Inside documentary asks tough questions
This sweet film uncovers bitter disagreements among urban ecology and conversation experts that go way beyond just one owl
Protein-enriched ketchup gets boost from algae extracts
Added protein is showing up in foods from breakfast cereal to pasta, but not many condiments … yet. Researchers have now developed an enriched tomato ketchup by incorporating protein extracted from algae. A panel of taste testers preferred recipes containing up to 3% added
