Science on younesonsol.xyz

Cellular transporter protein essential for nutrient absorption in pathogenic fungi may offer new treatment approaches

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 16:40:04 +0000

UapA-Apo-DDM. Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2026). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2513585123

They are the cell's "gatekeepers": specialized proteins, known as transporters, selectively control which substances enter a cell and which do not. Researchers at the University of Münster and the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens have investigated these transporters in a specific case: the UapA transporter of the model fungus Aspergillus nidulans. The findings are not only relevant to cell biology but could also offer new approaches to treating fungal infections.

Scientists invent new board games to reveal how we tackle the unknown

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 16:30:03 +0000

Our novel game dataset and suite of game tasks. Credit: Nature (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-026-10722-1

Playing board games can be fun, challenging, infuriating and a great way to pass the time. They can also help scientists understand how we solve new problems.

Scientists create stable 'boron graphene' and uncover quantum liquid crystal state

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 16:20:10 +0000

3D view of the crystal structure of LaRh3B2 (left) and the top view of the LaB honeycomb layer exposed at the surface (right). Credit: T. Kato et al

Graphene has long been regarded as one of the most promising materials for future electronics, but its relatively weak electron interactions have limited its potential for applications such as high-temperature superconductivity. Now, researchers from Tohoku University have overcome a major obstacle by creating a stable version of the long-sought "boron graphene" on the surface of a three-dimensional crystal, revealing a new quantum state that could lead to more energy-efficient electronic devices. The findings were published in Science Advances on July 2, 2026.

Devastating Asian beetle detected in EU for first time

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 16:20:01 +0000

A piece of a dead tree cut down in Chicago shows the tunnels dug by the Emerald Ash Borer that has killed tens of thousands of trees in North America.

A tiny Asian-origin beetle that has devastated ash forests in North America has been detected in the European Union for the first time, in Hungary and Slovakia, authorities said.

Bacteria form 'herds' to survive predators, offering fresh insight into Earth's carbon cycle

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 20:20:04 +0000

Graphical Abstract. Credit: The ISME Journal (2026). DOI: 10.1093/ismejo/wrag169

Researchers at Queen Mary University of London have discovered that tiny photosynthetic bacteria band together into protective "herds" when attacked by predators—a survival strategy that could also influence how carbon is stored in the world's waters.

After traveling a billion kilometers, China's asteroid hunter finally arrives

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 20:20:01 +0000

Kamoʻoalewa, also known as 2016 HO3, a small near-Earth asteroid and quasi-satellite of Earth, now the target of China's Tianwen-2 sample return mission. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

What does it take to catch up with a small, tumbling rock hundreds of thousands of kilometers from Earth? For China's Tianwen-2 mission, the answer was a 400-day chase covering roughly 1 billion kilometers (621 million miles) of deep space—one that has just ended in success. The China National Space Administration has confirmed that the probe has rendezvoused with the near-Earth asteroid Kamoʻoalewa, also known as 2016 HO3, closing to within about 20 kilometers (12 miles) and officially beginning its scientific exploration phase.

Tiny water droplets convert stubborn plastic waste into valuable acids, study finds

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 20:00:05 +0000

Identification of the microdroplet interface for spontaneous hydroxyl radical generation. Credit: Nature (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-026-10746-7

A new way of converting stubborn plastic waste into high-value chemicals using only water and oxygen has been developed by an international team of scientists.

Scientists explain how nucleolus sub-compartments drive ribosome assembly

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 19:40:01 +0000

Credit: Molecular Cell (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2026.06.035

The nucleolus is a liquid-like cellular organelle where protein factories called ribosomes are assembled. Researchers knew of three distinct compartments within the nucleolus, but how these compartments function to drive ribosome assembly was unclear. A study from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, published today in Molecular Cell, reveals that smaller subcompartments containing ribosome building blocks and assembly proteins spontaneously form to finish the final steps of ribosome assembly. This reveals unprecedented levels of organization behind the process and may offer insight into diseases associated with increased ribosome production, such as cancer.

GRS 0917+75 is a giant radio galaxy, observations find

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 14:00:05 +0000

Zoomed region of a wide-field Isaac Newton Telescope (INT) R-band image with overlaid small circles marking galaxies with spectroscopic redshifts. Red circles and labels indicate members of the GRS 0917+75 group, while brown circles indicate non-members based on redshift and/or position. Credit: Giovannini et al., 2026.

European astronomers have conducted optical and radio observations of an enigmatic radio source designated GRS 0917+75. As a result, they found that GRS 0917+75 is a giant radio galaxy and determined its properties. The new findings were published July 3 on the preprint server arXiv.

New evidence of the transition from the last hunter-gatherers to early farming communities

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 14:00:04 +0000

Credit: Autonomous University of Barcelona

Archaeological work conducted at the Coves del Fem (Ulldemolins, Priorat)—located within the Serra de Montsant Natural Park—between May 30 and June 28, 2026, has yielded important new evidence for understanding the prehistory of the northeastern Iberian Peninsula. The campaign was conducted by a team of researchers from the Department of Prehistory at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and the Milà i Fontanals Institution for Research in the Humanities of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC-IMF).

Uncovering the hidden impacts of a hurricane on food supply

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 13:40:09 +0000

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

When Hurricanes Helene and Milton struck in 2024, the storms not only left behind a trail of destruction but also exposed an often-overlooked challenge for local emergency responders: how hurricanes can disrupt the food system and make it harder for residents to access it when they need it most.

Diacylglycerols for cleaner oil processing, functional foods and medical nutrition

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 13:20:01 +0000

Physiological function of diacylglycerol. Credit: Journal of Future Foods (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.jfutfo.2025.12.004

Fats and oils are essential to life. They provide energy, support the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, contribute to the structure of cell membranes, and give foods their flavor, texture and mouthfeel. Yet the way fats are produced, processed and consumed is changing. Food manufacturers are under pressure to develop ingredients that are not only safe and stable, but also better aligned with health, sustainability and clean-label expectations.

Ultraviolet light uncovers the first known juveniles of a mysterious Jurassic fish family

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 13:00:01 +0000

A) Normal light photo of a Mesturus verrucosus (LF 1980) from Eichstätt, Solnhofen Archipelago, Bavaria, Germany; B) Photo of a large specimen (MB.f.19903). Credit: M. Ebert (A), F. Witzmann (B) in Ebert 2026

For more than 150 years, fossils of Jurassic fish scattered across Europe's museums were studied and drawn by generations of scientists. However, when a paleontologist decided to shine an ultraviolet light on them, a hidden world lit up.

AI explored as tool for unraveling radicalization's complex drivers

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 03:40:02 +0000

Credit: Utrecht University

Radicalization is a complex process, influenced by many variables that interact to varying degrees. AI scientist Mijke van den Hurk investigated whether artificial intelligence could help unravel this intricate interplay. She defended her Ph.D. thesis cum laude on June 29.

Nitrate in drinking water may be linked to preterm births in New Zealand

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 03:00:01 +0000

Spatial distribution of nitrate concentrations in meshblocks associated with registered supplies (left panel) and domestic self-supplies (right panel). Credit: Environmental Research (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2026.125169

A new Aotearoa New Zealand study has found that nitrate concentrations in drinking water are associated with an increased risk of preterm birth, even at levels well below the current drinking water standard. The study, published in Environmental Research, analyzed 735,831 singleton births between 2008 and 2021, linking gestational age with estimated nitrate concentrations in drinking water at the mother's usual residence.

Low carbon dioxide levels improve microbial production of biodegradable plastic

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 01:40:04 +0000

Credit: ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering (2026). DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.6c00126

In an innovative gas fermentation process, reducing the concentration of carbon dioxide was found to significantly improve microbial production of the biodegradable plastic poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate]. Researchers found that hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria grown under safe, nonflammable gas conditions enable more efficient production of biodegradable plastic at lower CO2 levels. The study provides a promising strategy for sustainable carbon recycling and efficient CO2 utilization.

Why we may still be choosing our friends like it's the Stone Age

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 16:30:02 +0000

Credit: Yusron El Jihan from Pexels

Choosing friends may involve more than clicking with others who share our interests or outlooks. According to new research, people may select friends based on traits that made them valuable survival partners in our evolutionary past.

World-first neutron lens brings sharp focus to structures inside materials and objects

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 16:20:06 +0000

A sharper view from meters away: This magnified neutron image of a 3 millimeter PSI logo was acquired using the new achromatic neutron lens, with the logo placed six meters from the detector. Without the lens, comparable resolution would require the object to be placed within centimeters—or even millimeters—of the detector. Credit: Paul Scherrer Institute/Mano Raj Dhanalakshmi Veeraraj

Researchers at Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) have developed the world's first achromatic lens for neutron imaging. The lens overcomes a longstanding obstacle in the field: focusing neutrons of different wavelengths well enough to form a sharp, magnified image. With the lens, researchers can now image thick samples and follow processes inside bulky equipment such as furnaces, cryostats or pressure cells.

Onion-like chemical halos may surround phytoplankton that power half of global photosynthesis

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 16:00:06 +0000

Each phytoplankton cell in the ocean is surrounded by chemical layers of varying sizes that bacteria can detect to track down the phytoplankton. Credit: Image edited using AI: Riccardo Foffi / ETH Zurich

The interactions between microscopic algal cells and bacteria in the oceans play a pivotal role in the global carbon cycle. Researchers at ETH Zurich have now taken an important step toward deciphering the chemical language that brokers these interactions.

How the SKA will use fast radio bursts to decode the universe

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 16:00:01 +0000

Image of some of the SKA-low antennas. Credit: SKAO

There are parts of the universe that are extremely hard to see, even for our most advanced telescopes. Gas and dust don't emit light and are visible only by the light they block from stars and galaxies. Magnetic fields are even harder to detect because ordinary light typically passes right through them. However, according to a new paper available on the arXiv preprint server by Manisha Caleb of the University of Sydney and their co-authors, a potentially game-changing new tool being commissioned could use a particularly violent astronomical phenomenon to provide new insight into these hard-to-see places.

Data-driven tool can find mineral biosignatures on other worlds

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 15:50:01 +0000

Overview of Raman spectroscopy dataset of apatite. Credit: PNAS Nexus (2026). DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgag215

A technique for judging whether a common mineral formed through biological activity could aid the search for ancient life on Earth and Mars. Apatite is a ubiquitous phosphate mineral found in terrestrial and extraterrestrial environments. It is a major component of teeth and bones, but it also occurs in igneous rocks and sedimentary phosphorites.

Direct observation of spontaneous magnon coherence at room temperature

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 15:40:11 +0000

In a magnon Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC), magnons cease to behave as independent, disordered excitations and instead form a single coherent quantum state characterized by a well-defined phase and frequency. Credit: Malte Koster

Researchers at RPTU University Kaiserslautern-Landau have achieved a key experimental breakthrough: For the first time, the spontaneous macroscopic coherence of magnons—the quantized excitations of magnetic materials—has been directly observed. These experiments confirm a central prediction of the theory of magnon Bose-Einstein condensates. Eventually, these findings could open new avenues for signal processing, sensing technologies and information processing. The study has been published in Nature Physics.

Study suggests increased biotoxicity due to anaerobic decolorization of diazo dye by wetland-derived Clostridium

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 10:20:01 +0000

A new study shows that a constructed wetland-derived Clostridium sp. strain T4 efficiently decolorizes the azo dye Reactive Black 5 under anaerobic conditions by reductively cleaving its azo bonds. However, this process generates aromatic amine intermediates, including 1,7-diamino-8-hydroxynaphthalene and 4-(ethylsulfonyl)aniline. As these metabolites accumulate, acute toxicity to Daphnia magna increases, showing that visible dye removal alone is not a reliable indicator of wastewater treatment safety. Credit: Professor Satoshi Soda, Ritsumeikan University, Japan

Untreated synthetic dye effluents severely threaten aquatic ecosystems by blocking sunlight, depleting dissolved oxygen and releasing compounds with potential ecological toxicity. Among the various treatment strategies, biological treatment is considered a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to chemical methods.

Banned chemicals continue to endanger environmental health in the Middle East and North Africa

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 09:56:52 +0000

Credit: CC0 Public Domain

In a study recently published in the journal Environmental Research, scientists from the University of Sharjah have drawn renewed attention to contamination by polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), a class of man-made chemicals formerly used as flame retardants in a wide range of products, including electronics, household appliances, vehicles, furniture and upholstery.

Scientists finally solved the mystery of Earth's greatest mass extinction

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 04:02:00 +0000

A new Stanford led study has provided the strongest evidence yet for why some marine animals survived Earth's largest mass extinction while many others disappeared forever. The findings not only explain how modern ocean ecosystems came to be, but also offer a cautionary glimpse of how today's warming oceans could affect marine life.

Almost a quarter of Dutch bee colonies did not survive last winter

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 02:40:01 +0000

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

During the winter of 2025–2026, 24% of Dutch honeybee colonies were lost. The upward trend observed in recent years therefore continues. This is the fourth consecutive year in which winter mortality has exceeded 20%. The figures are based on the annual survey of Dutch beekeepers. The results show substantial regional differences. Groningen recorded the highest winter losses, at 41.5%, while Overijssel had the lowest figure, at 16.9%.

This electric field trick boosted heat flow by nearly 300%

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:18:02 +0000

Researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), working with The Ohio State University and Amphenol Corporation, have uncovered a surprising new way to control how heat moves through solid materials. Their findings challenge long held assumptions about heat transport and could lead to more efficient cooling systems, energy devices, and electronic technologies.

Intricate molecular mechanisms help bacteria evade immune detection

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:00:10 +0000

Pictures of the colonies grown with and without IPTG, with white arrows showing the appearance of P− blebs. Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2026). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2602688123

Northwestern Medicine scientists have identified a novel mechanism used by the bacteria responsible for gonorrhea to evade immune detection and achieve widespread infection, according to a recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Neisseria gonorrhoeae causes gonorrhea, which is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. If not treated promptly with antibiotics, the disease can cause infertility, sepsis and pregnancy complications.

Physicists finally build a quantum material predicted more than a decade ago

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 07:03:53 +0000

Physicists from the University of Jyväskylä and Aalto University in Finland have successfully created a two dimensional topological crystalline insulator, marking the first experimental realization of a quantum material that scientists had predicted for more than a decade. Until now, attempts to produce it had been held back by difficulties in developing the right materials.

Tiny bubbles could revolutionize inkjet printing

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 06:32:37 +0000

Researchers at Tokyo Metropolitan University have developed a new way to control how ink dries by adding ultra fine bubbles to ink droplets instead of chemical additives. By simply changing the number of bubbles in each droplet, the team found they could dramatically alter the pattern left behind as the liquid evaporated. The approach could be especially valuable for manufacturing tiny electronic devices, where leftover additives can interfere with the performance of printed materials.

Rare fossil goose rewrites the story of New Zealand's giant birds

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 01:57:14 +0000

A rare fossil goose discovered in the remains of an ancient lake in Central Otago is changing scientists' understanding of how New Zealand's unique bird life evolved. According to researchers from the University of Otago -- Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka, the find adds to growing evidence that the origins of Aotearoa's birds were far more dynamic than previously believed.

Europe just unveiled a new rival to SpaceX’s Starship

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 01:14:33 +0000

When SpaceX's Starship lifted off from the Texas coast in the summer of 2023, it marked a milestone that aerospace engineers had discussed for decades but few expected to witness so soon. The towering stainless steel rocket, standing taller than a 30 story building, ignited all 33 of its engines and climbed into the sky. The mission did not unfold perfectly, but it proved the concept could fly.

NASA satellites are watching Earth's newest island rise from the sea

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 22:57:49 +0000

Oceanographers often point out that scientists have mapped the surfaces of the Moon and Mars in greater detail than much of Earth's deep ocean. That contrast is especially striking in the Bismarck Sea north of Papua New Guinea, where the seafloor remains poorly understood despite its remarkable geological complexity. The region contains faults, volcanic structures, rifts, scarps, and active subduction and spreading zones, many located at depths that make detailed sonar mapping extremely difficult.

Dark energy flips its sign, but the Hubble tension refuses to budge

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 21:40:01 +0000

by Sehjal Khandelwal, Abraão J. S. Capistrano and Suresh Kumar

Visualization of cosmic expansion: From the Big Bang through the sign-switching point to modern accelerated growth. Credit: Gemini

For nearly a century, astronomers have known that the universe is expanding. In the late 1990s, two independent teams, the Supernova Cosmology Project, led by Saul Perlmutter, and the High-Z Supernova Search Team, led by Brian Schmidt and Adam Riess, discovered something strange: The expansion is speeding up. The finding earned them the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physics. The leading explanation for this acceleration is "dark energy," a mysterious force usually modeled as a constant called Lambda, pushing space apart. Combined with cold dark matter, this gives us the LCDM model, the standard picture of the cosmos for the past 25 years.

Landslides kill 15 in Philippines as biggest typhoon in decades nears Taiwan

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 18:00:01 +0000

Bavi's strong-wind radius of 380 kilometers (240 miles) will make it the largest typhoon to hit Taiwan in more than 30 years.

Fifteen people were killed in landslides in the Philippines, and thousands in Taiwan were evacuated from their homes as the biggest typhoon in decades neared the region Friday.

Physical laws explain why most flies evolved similar flight, with mosquitoes as outliers

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 17:40:09 +0000

High-resolution stacked image of the blowfly wing and thorax. The translucent wing attaches via an intricate hinge system to the muscular thorax that powers rapid wingbeats. Credit: Carlos Faulquier

A new study in PLOS Biology of 133 species of flies, mosquitoes and their relatives shows that most species fly in surprisingly similar ways. Physical and aerodynamic laws shape the evolution of their flight behavior more strongly than previously thought. Mosquitoes prove to be a striking exception.

Does multitasking ability really differ by sex? Not in the way you'd think

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 17:40:08 +0000

Experimental design. (B) Location of the tables and camera in the testing room. Credit: Psychological Research (2026). DOI: 10.1007/s00426-026-02279-5

Research simulates real-life multitasking performance to assess potential differences between men and women. When coordinating five different tasks, men ignored the conversational task more than twice as often as women, while showing similar performance to women in all other tasks.

Brazil deforestation hits new low in Amazon

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 17:40:02 +0000

Illegal mining has been a driver of deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest.

Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon fell to its lowest level in a decade in the first half of the year, according to official figures released Friday.

Research identifies farming practices that improve irrigation efficiency

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 17:00:03 +0000

Mississippi State University Assistant Professor Dave Spencer, left, and Lane Galloway, research associate I and doctoral student, examine soybeans at the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station's Black Belt Branch in Brooksville. MSU scientists are building on two decades of irrigation research to identify production practices that help growers save water while improving crop yields. Credit: Dominique Belcher, Mississippi State University

Mississippi State scientists are building on two decades of irrigation research to identify production practices that help growers save water while improving crop yields.

New test certifies quantum measurements that simpler methods cannot mimic

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 17:00:01 +0000

Ion-Trap processors are among the most advanced and successful platforms of quantum technologies. Part of it is this setup at the University of Innsbruck. Credit: University of Innsbruck

Proving that one quantum measurement is more powerful than another has long been difficult. Physicists from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Lund University and the University of Innsbruck have now developed and demonstrated a simple technique to certify that a certain class of measurements has properties that cannot be mimicked by simpler means. Their paper is published in the journal PRX Quantum.

Could exoplanets locked in eternal day and endless night support life?

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 15:00:05 +0000

The exoplanet LHS 3844b (left) is 1.3 times the mass of Earth and orbits the star LHS 3844 (right). Discovered in 2018 by NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Satellite Survey, LHS 3844b is located 48.6 light-years from Earth and makes one full revolution around its parent star in just 11 hours. Because it has such a tight orbit, LHS 3844b is most likely tidally locked, meaning one side of the planet always faces the star while another side always faces away. Credit: NASA

Ever so slightly bigger than Earth, the exoplanet LHS 3844b orbits its parent star, LHS 3844, a red dwarf 48.5 light-years from our solar system. Its rotational speed mirrors its orbital speed. The result? One side of LHS 3844b is perpetually bathed in scorching sunlight, locked into a never-ending, blistering hot day, while the other is forever shrouded in darkness so cold that particles are incapable of movement, a state known as absolute zero (zero Kelvin).

We Know Simple Fluids Can Flow. Turns Out, Some Can Fracture. | Quanta Magazine

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 14:51:48 +0000

Thamires Lima, a research professor in chemical engineering at Drexel University, studies the properties of thick, viscous liquids — think honey or molasses, though in a lab you’re more likely to find polypropylene or crude oil. Using a method called extensional rheology, Lima stretches liquids between metal plates to find the force that makes them flow.

What happened to Australia's snow season? A climate expert explains

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 14:40:01 +0000

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

There's nothing like gliding down a snow-covered slope. That is, if you ask the thousands of people who make an annual pilgrimage to our alpine resorts during the Australian winter. But this year, the start to the snow season has been far from spectacular.

US pushes for weaker truck pollution rules

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 08:20:02 +0000

President Donald Trump's administration moved to loosen truck pollution regulations put in place by his predecessor Joe Biden, in its latest environmental rollback.

President Donald Trump's administration on Thursday moved to loosen truck pollution regulations put in place by his predecessor, Joe Biden, in its latest environmental rollback benefiting makers of fossil fuel-burning vehicles.

Capturing the cosmic 'drift' before a star is born

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 08:00:02 +0000

The blue lines represent the magnetic field lines, which are bent due to the gravitational contraction of the core. The red and green dots depict the ion and neutral molecular species, respectively, and the arrows trace their inflow motion towards the core center (the faster they travel the longer the arrows). Credit: Yurika Nakamura and Doris Arzoumanian/Kyushu University

Stars like our sun are formed from the collapse of stellar objects called prestellar cores, cold and dense concentrations of gas and dust held together by gravity. While many questions remain about the exact mechanisms of star formation, advanced radio telescopes have given researchers new insights into the inner workings of infant stars.

Wally Funk, aviation pioneer who was the oldest woman to travel into space, dies at 87

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 07:57:28 +0000

Wally Funk, right, describes her flight experience as Mark Bezos, left, and Jeff Bezos, left, center, applaud in the spaceport near Van Horn, Texas, July 20, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File

Wally Funk, an aviation pioneer who was the oldest woman to launch into space, has died. She was 87.

Carbon–bismuth bonds reveal that relativity blurs the textbook line between sigma and pi bonds

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 22:20:07 +0000

Photoelectron imaging of CBi- at 2.6212 eV. Photoelectron image and corresponding spectrum of cryogenically cooled CBi- at 2.6212 eV photon energy. Credit: Science (2026). DOI: 10.1126/science.aei1285

Brown University chemists have provided direct evidence that upends the textbook explanation of how triple chemical bonds work in heavy elements. In a study published in Science, the researchers show evidence that when atomic nuclei are sufficiently heavy, the principles described in Einstein's theory of relativity change the structure of triple bonds—blurring the lines between the two separate types of bonds involved in textbook triple bonding.

Why employee AI adoption isn't one-size-fits-all

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 22:00:07 +0000

Credit: LinkedIn Sales Navigator from Pexels

As artificial intelligence becomes more deeply embedded in everyday life and work, organizations are investing heavily in tools and employee training. But new research from Texas A&M University suggests a one-size-fits-all approach may miss a fundamental truth: People don't all respond to AI the same way.

New catalyst could make mixed plastic waste recyclable in one chemical step

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 22:00:06 +0000

Japanese researchers have developed a catalyst that selectively degrades polyurethane in mixed plastic waste, opening a practical route to recycling materials long considered too complex to separate. Credit: Takanori Iwasaki / Kyushu University

Ever wondered where your plastics end up? A PET bottle can be washed, shredded, melted and given a second life. But most everyday items—toys, mattresses, car seats—are made from different plastics that refuse to mix when melted, producing unusable, contaminated material. Sorting is difficult and expensive, so most mixed plastic waste ends up burned or buried, and the materials are lost for good.

Krill buildup could slow fin whale filter-feeding unless baleen stays 15% clear

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 22:00:01 +0000

Two fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) with a rainbow where one has exhaled. Credit: Hannah Clayton under NMFS permit # 21678

Usually there's safety in numbers, but it doesn't always work that way. Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) filter-feed on immense shoals of krill, engulfing colossal mouthfuls of water containing up to 144 kg of the crustaceans. But then the mighty creatures expel the water by squeezing it out through the racks of baleen lining their mouths.

Programmable light simulates quantum matter across 300 processes without bigger circuits

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 21:40:06 +0000

Credit: Dr. Alessio D’Errico

A team of researchers at the University of Ottawa and its Nexus for Quantum Technologies Institute, in collaboration with researchers from Federico II University in Italy, has developed a programmable quantum simulator that shapes a beam of light to replicate how particles move through complex materials, avoiding the need for ever-larger electronic hardware.

Pre-cooked seafood-based meals can absorb chemical contaminants during packaging and processing

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 21:40:04 +0000

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Ready meals containing fish and seafood can expose consumers to chemical contaminants that are present in the environment or introduced during processing and packaging. A study by the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) has, for the first time, analyzed the presence of a wide range of high-volume chemical substances in ready-made fish and seafood dishes sold in Tarragona, Spain.

Quantum optics may turn this rare visual phenomenon into an eye test

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 21:40:03 +0000

An illustration of the researcher's optical setup. Similiar to a traditional eye exam, participants viewed the structured light and answered questions about what they saw. Credit: Dusan Sarenac / University at Buffalo

Modern life depends on quantum physics. It makes technologies such as GPS navigation, MRI scanners and computer chips possible. Now, the same science may also lead to a new way to test the health of our eyes. A University at Buffalo-led team has used a technique from quantum optics to make a little-known visual pattern produced inside the eye easier to see—potentially opening the door to a new way to test retinal health.

Novel marine monitoring network could help improve environmental protections, shipping regulations

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 20:00:08 +0000

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

A single monitoring network developed by McGill, Natural Resources Canada, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) and Dalhousie University researchers can simultaneously track earthquakes, water behavior, human activity and whales, providing a comprehensive picture of what's happening in, under and far from the water. The research is published in the journal Seismica.

New neutron method reveals inner architecture of drug delivery particles

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 20:00:04 +0000

This schematic shows how SAXS and SANS revealed complementary details about different drug delivery nanoparticles. SAXS helped determine the overall particle shape and dimensions, while SANS provided additional contrast to probe the internal structure. The numbers indicate dimensions in nanometers. The different structures reflect differences in nanoparticle composition: Tween and TPGS are surfactants used to stabilise the particles, and the study showed that changing these surfactants can alter particle shape, size distribution, and internal organization. Credit: Small Methods (2026)

Modern medicine increasingly relies on targeted drug delivery—a process during which tiny particles (nanoparticles) transport drugs to specific parts of the body. To ensure these treatments are safe and effective, scientists need to understand exactly how these nanoparticles are built—including their size, shape, and internal structure.

The color of penguin poo: Satellites reveal global warming's impact on an iconic polar species

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 15:00:02 +0000

Nesting Adélie penguins on Antarctica's King George Island Credit: Michael Polito, UC Santa Cruz

Scientists from a handful of universities across the country have made innovative use of satellite images from NASA to determine the diet of Antarctic Adélie penguins across the continent by studying their icy feces with a fidelity and frequency that could be captured only by space technology.

El Nino powers up as forecasters predict historic strength and a rainier winter for the US South

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 14:40:01 +0000

People cover up from falling rain Dec. 24, 2024, in Dallas. Credit: AP Photo/LM Otero, File

An intensifying El Niño, nature's heat-releasing thermostat that spikes global temperatures, is heading to historically strong levels, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Thursday.

Catching hydrogen in the act: Tracking the absorption process over time

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 23:40:01 +0000

Time-resolved hydrogen incorporation mechanisms in thin layers by combination of in situ neutron and x-ray scattering methods. Credit: MPI FKF

If you're looking for hydrogen on the elemental chart, it won't take you long to find it. It is right there at the beginning, the lightest possible material. One electron, one proton—that's it. Simple, minimalistic, the Marie Kondo of the elemental chart, but with enormous potential in terms of possible technological applications.

Planting the future: Researchers put AI to work on the farm

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 23:20:03 +0000

The study site and experimental design for variable seeding rates (1000 seeds ha−1) in 2020 for corn and soybeans in Field 1 and Field 2 in Miami County, OH. Credit: Agronomy Journal (2026). DOI: 10.1002/agj2.70373

Farmers are getting more tools in their toolbox, thanks to new research from the University of Missouri that shows how they can tweak planting practices to make the most of every acre.

Our fertility window could be extended by making ovaries softer | New Scientist

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 17:00:42 +0000

Light micrograph of a section through follicles, which house immature eggs, in an ovary. The immature eggs (orange) are surrounded by fluid-filled cavities (light pink) and granulosa cells (dark pink), which provide them with nutrients and hormones

Traveling protein waves reveal how dividing cells set chromosome-splitting spindle size

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 17:00:05 +0000

Schematic of the dynamic shuttling model for scaling of mitotic wave period and spindle size. Credit: Science Advances (2026). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aec7705

When a human cell prepares to split into two daughter cells, it must first construct a tiny internal machine called the mitotic spindle—a structure of protein fibers that physically pulls chromosomes apart and deposits one set into each new cell. Get the spindle the right size and the chromosomes segregate cleanly. Getting it wrong could result in the chromosomal errors that fuel cancer.

From the lab to the moon: Lunar cement alternative survives 6 months on ISS and returned stronger in some tests

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 17:00:03 +0000

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Building material samples from the University of Delaware spent six months mounted outside the International Space Station, where the harsh conditions of low Earth orbit tested their limits.

Tiny 60,000-neuron ant brains reveal how parental care evolved from feeding circuits

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 16:10:01 +0000

Ants, like these clonal raider ants tending to their larvae, are highly attuned to their young. A new study shows that two neuropeptides in the ant brain modulate how ants respond to larvae, thereby determining the behavioral roles ants assume in the colony. Credit: Bart Zijlstra, UNIL

Long before the dawn of modern parenting, animals laid eggs and moved on, leaving their progeny to fend for themselves. Now, a study published in Nature uncovers one of the elegant ways evolution transformed neglect into nurture. Working with clonal raider ants, a surprisingly parental insect, researchers found that rather than evolving entirely new brain circuits for caregiving, evolution repurposed ancient neural systems for regulating hunger into triggers for social behaviors.

It's been 30 years since Dolly the sheep was born—where is cloning technology now?

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 13:20:01 +0000

Elizabeth Ann, the first cloned black-footed ferret in the US. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

When Dolly the sheep—the first cloned mammal—was born 30 years ago, she became one of the most famous animals in science history. Her arrival sparked predictions of a sci-fi future filled with cloned pets, cloned humans and even resurrected extinct animals like the wooly mammoth. But the reality of cloning has turned out to be much more complicated.

Where rivers face collapse: New tool shows where conservation dollars can do most good

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 23:00:01 +0000

Credit: Kyle Brumm | ChatGPT (GPT-5.5 OpenAI)

Freshwater ecosystems are under growing pressure worldwide, but conservation resources are limited. A framework developed by IIASA researchers and partners can help identify where conservation could prevent biodiversity loss and where restoration efforts are likely to have the greatest ecological impact across the United States and Europe.

Unique fossil record of marine mollusks helps scientists predict extinction risk—before it's too late

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 22:40:01 +0000

Credit: James Crampton, CC BY-SA

Scientists are increasingly worried we may be witnessing the start of the "sixth mass extinction"—the first to be caused by human activities.

Cultural safety isn't a buzzword—it's a vital part of First Nations health care and healing

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 15:40:06 +0000

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

First Nations people in Australia have worse health and a lower life expectancy than other Australians.

This health gap is closely linked to the ongoing impacts of colonization and genocide. These continue to create inequities in what are called social determinants of health—the nonmedical factors that influence health and well-being, such as housing, education and income. They also increase exposure to health risks, such as cigarette smoking and reduced physical activity.

Red cards have more than tripled since the last World Cup, data show

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 15:20:07 +0000

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

In a reversal Sunday, FIFA announced that it was suspending U.S. striker Florian Balogun's one-game red-card ban, allowing the star player to compete in the U.S.'s World Cup Round of 16 match against Belgium on Monday.

Evidence of elusive high-energy chiral graviton excitations in quantum Hall systems

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 14:00:08 +0000

Probing emergent partons in quantum Hall liquids through inelastic light scattering. Credit: Prof. Lingjie Du's research group at Nanjing University.

Electrons, negatively charged particles, sometimes coordinate their movements in ways that produce certain collective excitations referred to as quasiparticles. One case in which this occurs is the quantum Hall effect, a phenomenon that emerges when electrons are confined to a very thin layer, cooled to temperatures around 0 kelvin and exposed to a very strong magnetic field.

University team proposed retractable, pressurized tunnels for missions to Mars

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 14:00:05 +0000

System concept of operations for the HATCH concept. Credit: BLiSS team/NTRS

NASA and China's national space agency plan to send crewed missions to Mars in the coming decades. Per NASA's Moon to Mars mission architecture, this will involve using infrastructure established through the Artemis Program to send crews to the red planet sometime in the 2030s or 2040s. Similar to Artemis, these missions will culminate in the creation of habitats that will facilitate long-duration exploration and research. Naturally, this presents many challenges, including lengthy deep-space transits and the hazards of extended periods in microgravity.

Researchers install 3D-printed seawall tiles to support coastal protection and marine life

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 13:40:01 +0000

Credit: Florida International University

At Morningside Park in Miami, a new installation is testing a simple but urgent idea: What if a seawall could help heal the bay? Researchers at the Institute of Environment recently installed a series of 3D-printed seawall tiles designed and developed at FIU's Robotics and Digital Fabrication Lab.

Hawaiʻi island spinner dolphins are producing fewer calves

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 13:20:05 +0000

Drone view of a large group of approximately 110 individual spinner dolphins, from which body measurements were collected to help estimate age classes and characterize the overall group structure. Credit: Fabien Vivier

Unexpectedly low calf numbers within the spinner dolphin population off Hawaiʻi Island were revealed in a study led by scientists with the Marine Mammal Research Program (MMRP) at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, along with national and international collaborators. Their research, published in Endangered Species Research, determined that calves make up only about 9% of the population, a stark contrast to the 17% expected in a healthy, stable population, raising urgent concerns about the long-term survival of this isolated population.

Astronomers find biggest super-puff planets yet that are lighter than cotton candy

Sun, 05 Jul 2026 08:40:01 +0000

This illustration provided by NASA depicts the Sun-like star TOI-791, background left, and two giant planets that NASA's TESS space telescope discovered in its orbit. Credit: Daniel Rutter/NASA via AP

Astronomers have uncovered a pair of giant planets that are lighter than cotton candy—super-puffs the size of Jupiter.

NASA's Hubble spots a stellar sparkler for the Fourth of July

Sun, 05 Jul 2026 04:10:58 +0000

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 of the oldest collections of stars in our galaxy.

NASA's Hubble captures a crimson stellar nursery sparkling with blue and white stars

Sun, 05 Jul 2026 04:03:07 +0000

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.

NASA's Hubble captures a star-spangled sea of 500,000 stars

Sun, 05 Jul 2026 03:39:18 +0000

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 Milky Way.

Scientists may have finally solved the black hole information paradox

Sun, 05 Jul 2026 03:12:55 +0000

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.

Planned 1.7 million satellites 'devastating' for astronomy: Study

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 22:20:01 +0000

Extremely bright satellites pose an 'existential threat' to our ability to observe the universe, astronomers warn.

The 1.7 million satellites that companies are aiming to launch into Earth's orbit in the coming years will have "devastating consequences for astronomy," new research warned Wednesday.

Climate scientist who “proved” humanity is warming Earth says government report got it wrong

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 07:33:03 +0000

A leading climate scientist is pushing back against what he describes as "demonstrably incorrect" claims in a major US government climate report, arguing that it misrepresented his research and understated the role of human activity in global warming.

Tiny magnetic waves could unlock quantum computers the size of a penny

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 06:48:14 +0000

A team of physicists has overcome a major obstacle in quantum computing by dramatically increasing the lifetime of magnons, tiny magnetic waves that can carry quantum information. The researchers extended their lifespan from just a few hundred nanoseconds to as long as 18 microseconds, nearly 100 times longer than previously achieved. The advance could eventually help make ultra-compact quantum computers, potentially as small as a 1-cent coin.

How asteroids may have sparked life on Earth

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 06:23:06 +0000

Scientists at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) have taken a new look at Earth's violent beginnings and found that ancient asteroid impacts may have played a key role in making the planet habitable. Their computer models suggest that repeated collisions did far more than reshape the young Earth's surface. They also created extensive hydrothermal systems, hot water environments that may have provided the right conditions for life to emerge.

390 gravitational wave detections reveal hidden population of black holes

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 03:52:02 +0000

Scientists at the University of Glasgow are celebrating the release of a massive new catalog of gravitational wave detections that marks another major step forward for gravitational wave astronomy.

The newly published Gravitational Wave Transient Catalogue-5.0 (GWTC-5) has been released online, with companion research papers submitted to Astrophysical Journal and Astrophysical Journal Letters.

Scientists create quantum sound device that could transform communications

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 02:11:12 +0000

Researchers at McGill University have developed a new quantum device that generates tiny sound-like particles called phonons at temperatures just above absolute zero. The advance could help pave the way for phonon lasers, a technology with potential uses in communications, medical diagnostics, and advanced sensing.

Great ape laughter reveals a hidden origin of human speech

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 00:36:29 +0000

A new study from the University of Warwick suggests that the rhythm of human laughter has remained surprisingly consistent for at least 15 million years. By comparing the laughter of humans and other great apes, researchers uncovered evidence that this ancient vocal pattern may offer valuable clues about how human speech gradually evolved.

Childbirth for many primate species is even harder than for humans | New Scientist

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 16:00:51 +0000

Golden lion tamarins dislocate the bones of the pelvis during childbirth

Edwin Giesbers / naturepl.com

Childbirth can be extremely challenging for humans – but some other primates may have it even worse. A comprehensive analysis of primate anatomy concludes that many species must squeeze large-headed infants through too-narrow pelvises. The problem may have begun with the very first primates, which lived more than 50 million years ago.

Humans sleep the least of all apes – is it the secret to our success? | New Scientist

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 16:00:45 +0000

Humans have evolved to sleep less than other primates

Michael Kirkham

I am napping in a chimpanzee nest, 12 metres above the ground in Uganda’s Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve. Sleep comes easier than you might expect. The nest is surprisingly well-engineered: springy, cupped and stable in a way that feels less like a pile of branches than a purpose-built piece of furniture.

Your menstrual cycle may affect how well vaccines work | New Scientist

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 14:42:50 +0000

Vaccines can be life-saving, but a woman’s immune response may be affected by her menstrual cycle

Marcos del Mazo/LightRocket via Getty Images

The degree of protection that women get from vaccines may vary depending on when in their menstrual cycle they receive them. The concept of #cyclesynching suggests that women of reproductive age should vary their diet and lifestyle around where they are in their cycle, which isn’t supported by robust research. But evidence is mounting that the fluctuation of hormones that occurs during the menstrual cycle impacts a woman’s immune response, with the latest research suggesting it could affect how soon after being vaccinated against covid-19 they catch the infection.

What Breaks a Cell’s Ribs Can Make It Stronger | Quanta Magazine

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 14:00:09 +0000

The mechanical process of cell division exerts powerful, if microscopic, forces. How do the molecular machines that power it manage the strain?

As the mitotic spindle tightens to separate chromosomes during cell division, it produces and absorbs forces.

These tiny holes could change how the world cleans water

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 13:13:19 +0000

A team of researchers from the CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI), the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN), Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, and the S N Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences has developed a new type of highly precise filtration membrane. The study, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, describes a technology that could help industries cut energy use and dramatically increase water reuse.

Giant underground neutrino detector brings scientists closer to cracking the neutrino puzzle

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 11:57:50 +0000

The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) has achieved its first major scientific milestone. On June 10, Nature published the experiment's debut physics result as a cover article.

Using 59 days of validated data collected between August 26 and November 2, 2025, the international JUNO Collaboration, led by the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, made highly precise measurements of two fundamental neutrino oscillation parameters. The analysis reduced the uncertainties in those measurements by a factor of 1.6 compared with the combined results from previous experiments conducted over several decades.

First working nuclear clock heralds a new era in timekeeping | New Scientist

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 09:00:09 +0000

Conceptual illustration of a clock based on atomic nuclei

Oliver Diekmann, TU Wien

Scientists discover a strange property in rice and turn it into a smart material

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 12:29:52 +0000

Rice is best known as one of the world's most important food crops, but scientists have now shown it could also help inspire a new generation of smart materials.

Researchers discovered that packed rice grains behave in an unusual way under pressure. When compressed slowly, the grains remain relatively strong. But when squeezed quickly, they actually become weaker. This surprising behavior has allowed scientists to create a new material that could one day be used in soft robots that automatically adjust their stiffness and protective equipment that responds differently depending on the force of an impact.

The one film to watch before seeing Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day | New Scientist

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 10:30:56 +0000

In Close Encounters, humanity makes contact with alien life

Columbia/Kobal/Shutterstock

“If you believe, it’s science fact; if you don’t believe, it’s science fiction. I’m an agnostic between the two beliefs, so for me it’s science speculation.”

Planet nine mystery deepens as new discovery challenges hidden planet theory

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 01:52:02 +0000

Is there a massive undiscovered planet on the outer reaches of the Solar System? The idea has been around since before the discovery of Pluto in the 1930s. Labelled as planet X, prominent astronomers had put it forward as an explanation for Uranus’s orbit, which drifts from the path of orbital motion that physics would expect it to follow. The gravitational pull of an undiscovered planet, several times larger than Earth, was seen as a possible reason for the discrepancy.

What is space-time? A mystery at the heart of reality

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 11:28:01 +0000

Few ideas in modern science have reshaped our understanding of reality more profoundly than space-time — the interwoven fabric of space and time at the heart of Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity.

Heat breaks the rules at the nanoscale and scientists used it to their advantage

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 11:17:50 +0000

Heat is something we encounter every day. A steaming cup of coffee gradually cools, a laptop warms up during use, and sunlight heats the Earth's surface. Yet when heat is examined at distances far smaller than the width of a human hair, it can behave in unexpected ways.

Tiny X-ray telescope could unlock the Moon's hidden chemistry

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 13:24:27 +0000

Researchers at Tokyo Metropolitan University have used simulations to show that a small, newly developed X-ray telescope could help create a chemical map of the entire lunar surface. Such a map would be a major step toward understanding how the Moon formed, changed, and evolved over time.