Reporting world updates to you
Quantum phenomena are usually associated with extremely small objects such as individual atoms, molecules, or photons that must be carefully isolated from their surroundings. But can those same strange quantum effects also exist in objects large enough to see and hold? Researchers at TU Wien have now provided compelling evidence…
In most materials, the way heat is absorbed and the way it is emitted are inseparable. If a surface absorbs heat efficiently from a particular direction or wavelength, it also emits heat the same way. This long established principle, known as reciprocity, has made it difficult for scientists to independently…
Bumblebees can accumulate dramatically higher levels of toxic heavy metals than honeybees, even when both species forage in the same area, according to new research from the University of Cambridge. Scientists found that bumblebees collected up to seven times more heavy metals in their pollen, raising concerns about how hidden…
New research suggests that many of the UK’s most popular takeout meals contain more salt than diners are led to believe. In some cases, a single meal provided well over the recommended daily limit, even though menu labels suggested otherwise. Researchers found that 47% of the takeout foods they tested…
Within a few hours, a statistical analysis had been whipped up into a tale of desire. The “sex lives” of our ancestors were suddenly within clicking distance. This shift is not trivial. It turns an asymmetry in genetic transmission into a narrative based on feelings, attraction, and prehistoric romance. A…
Machine learning is giving scientists a powerful new way to search for superconductors, materials that conduct electricity with zero resistance. An international team has demonstrated that AI can rapidly narrow an almost limitless number of possible material combinations to identify the most promising candidates. According to Aalto University Professor Päivi…
Nearly 30 years ago, researchers discovered two unusual molecules in rye pollen that appeared to slow tumor growth in animal studies. Despite the promising findings, the research reached a dead end because scientists could not determine the molecules’ exact three dimensional structures. Now, chemists at Northwestern University have solved that…
Running a facility deep beneath Earth’s surface requires constant control of two essential elements: air and water. Workers in underground tunnels and shafts depend on reliable ventilation to survive and work safely. At the same time, groundwater and rainwater that seep underground must be collected and pumped back to the…
A new policy paper argues that a future NASA base on the moon should include a specialized biocontainment facility designed to keep Earth safe from any potentially hazardous biological material brought back from space. The proposal comes as scientists and space agencies prepare for more ambitious missions that could return…
Millions of Americans have a blood test every year to measure LDL, often called “bad” cholesterol. But new research from Northwestern Medicine suggests that another test may do a better job of identifying who needs more aggressive treatment to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. The study, published…
Researchers have uncovered a surprising side effect of artificial lighting: ordinary streetlights can lure thousands of tiny land dwelling isopods into giant synchronized “death spirals.” The newly documented behavior, observed in Israel, is the first of its kind and suggests that human made lighting can dramatically disrupt the instincts of…
Astronomers have, for the first time, observed the birth of a magnetar, an extremely magnetic, rapidly spinning type of neutron star. The breakthrough confirms that these exotic objects can power some of the brightest stellar explosions ever seen. The discovery also validates a theory first proposed 16 years ago by…
Scientists have identified evidence of a previously unknown process that may explain how brain cells die in Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The discovery, centered on a mechanism known as karyoptosis, could point researchers toward new ways to slow the progression of these devastating conditions. Many neurodegenerative diseases, including…
A surprising discovery on a small island in the Baltic Sea is changing how scientists think about the relationship between ancient humans and wolves. Researchers have identified wolf remains dating back roughly 3,000 to 5,000 years on the Swedish island of Stora Karlsö. The finding is remarkable because the island…
Researchers have uncovered a hidden feature beneath the Pacific Ocean that helps explain why Japan’s devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami became so destructive. The discovery also offers new clues that could improve forecasts of future megaquakes and tsunamis. A new study found that a thin layer of soft, clay-rich sediment…
Around 20,000 years ago, a cave was home to generations of owls that regularly coughed up pellets containing the bones of their prey. Those discarded bones later became an unexpected resource for another group of animals. According to a new study published in Royal Society Open Science, ancient bees used…
For much of the early 20th century, quantum mechanics was one of the most puzzling ideas in science. The theory challenged conventional thinking and left even leading physicists struggling to make sense of its implications. A century later, it has become the foundation of technologies that influence daily life, including…
A good night’s sleep does far more than leave you feeling refreshed. It also triggers the release of growth hormone, a key hormone that helps build muscle and bone, burn fat, and support healthy growth. That’s why athletes value quality sleep for recovery, and why teenagers need enough sleep to…
A brilliant field of red, white, and blue stars sparkles across a new image from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, resembling a sparkler glowing against the night sky. NASA released the image to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States, celebrating the nation’s long history of exploration while showcasing one…
A spectacular new image from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope offers a front row view of one of the universe’s busiest stellar nurseries. Brilliant blue and white stars sparkle against glowing crimson clouds of hydrogen gas, creating a breathtaking scene that resembles fireworks shining through drifting smoke. The image showcases LH…
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has released a dazzling new image featuring more than 500,000 stars glowing in shades of red, white, and blue. The breathtaking view, shared in celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary, highlights Messier 3 (M3), one of the largest and most impressive globular clusters in the…
For decades, physicists have wrestled with one of the deepest puzzles in modern science: the “black hole information paradox.” Now, a new theoretical study suggests a possible solution, one that could also shed light on another major mystery in physics, the origin of the mass of fundamental particles. The paradox…
People who live to age 100 and beyond often owe their exceptional longevity to a mix of protective genes and healthy habits. Researchers estimate that genetics account for as much as 50% of the ability to reach extreme old age, while lifestyle factors such as eating a plant forward diet,…
Researchers at UCLA have identified a hidden weakness in some of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat cancers, raising hopes for a new way to attack tumors that have resisted treatment for decades. Small cell neuroendocrine cancers can develop in the lung, prostate, and ovary. These fast-growing tumors tend to spread…
To mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, NASA has released four spectacular images of deep space from its Chandra X-ray Observatory, each presented in patriotic shades of red, white, and blue. Alongside the images, the agency also unveiled three new sonifications, which transform astronomical observations into sound, offering…
Physicists have developed a new way to control the rotation of molecules inside tiny droplets of liquid helium, marking an important advance in the study of superfluids. By using a specially designed optical centrifuge, the team was able to precisely spin molecules suspended in liquid helium nano-droplets, giving scientists a…
Fireworks may dazzle crowds with brilliant colors and loud explosions, but new research suggests their effects continue long after the show ends. Three recent studies published in American Chemical Society (ACS) journals examined what fireworks leave behind, from discarded debris and airborne particles to chemical compounds released into the atmosphere.…
Recent research from the University of Massachusetts Amherst suggests that using alcohol to cope with stress in early adulthood may have lasting effects on the brain that do not disappear with years of sobriety. The study found that these changes can begin to surface by middle age, reducing mental flexibility,…
Some people remain mentally sharp even though their brains contain the biological changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease. A new study from the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience suggests that the answer may lie in how a rare group of brain cells, called immature neurons, responds to damage. The findings offer new…
As carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions continue to climb, interest in geoengineering is growing as governments, researchers, and environmental advocates search for ways to limit the worst effects of climate change. These large scale climate interventions could influence rainfall, agriculture, and ecosystems around the world, making their potential benefits and risks…
