Johns Hopkins University geneticists and a small army of researchers across the country, including students, are working to catalog the vast and largely unknown soil microbiome of the United States. [...]
In 2013, two local Iraqis handed over two inscribed clay cylinders to the State Board of Antiquities and Heritage. Subsequent analysis and translation of the inscriptions published in Iraq revealed them to belong to King Nebuchadnezzar II (604—562 BC), with their text relating to the restoration of the remains of the ziggurat in the ancient city of Kish. These cylinders represent the first foundation text documenting the construction works of King Nebuchadnezzar II to restore the ziggurat, thus confirming what had previously only been inferred from stamped bricks found in archaeological excavations. [...]
Artificial intelligence programs are not only helping us tackle complex challenges like diagnosing diseases and predicting weather patterns, but also assisting with more mundane matters such as correcting grammar and planning meals. However, when it comes to financial decisions, people are more likely to trust their romantic partner than AI, according to a new study published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior. [...]
Chemists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have developed a single-atom photocatalytic strategy that enables oxidant-free cross-dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) reactions between ring-shaped aromatic molecules ((hetero)arenes) and nucleophiles. [...]
One of the great successes of 20th-century physics was the quantum mechanical description of solids. This allowed scientists to understand for the first time how and why certain materials conduct electric current and how these properties could be purposefully modified. For instance, semiconductors such as silicon could be used to produce transistors, which revolutionized electronics and made modern computers possible. [...]
For centuries, scientists have known that plants "breathe" through microscopic pores on their leaves called stomata. These tiny valves are the gatekeepers that balance the intake of carbon dioxide into the leaf for photosynthesis against the loss of water vapor from the leaf to the atmosphere. [...]
Market microstructure refers to the organization and design of markets for trading, how these markets are regulated, and how investors approach trading. In a new article, researchers provide an overview of the regulation of market microstructure, particularly in equity and option markets. [...]
Older adults tend to do well at identifying falsehoods in experiments, but they're also likelier than younger adults to like and share misinformation online. [...]
In 1181 AD, a bright "guest star" was observed to linger in the sky for around six months. Nearly 850 years later, the likely remnants of this event were rediscovered and tentatively linked to the 1181 supernova and dubbed supernova remnant (SNR) Pa 30. Yet, this supernova remnant was unique in appearance and researchers have struggled to understand why. [...]
Shifting from numerical to narrative-based performance reviews can significantly impact employees' perceptions of fairness and their likelihood of improving performance based on the feedback, according to Cornell University-led research. [...]
The giant planet Jupiter has nearly 100 known moons, yet none have captured the interest and imagination of astronomers and space scientists quite like Europa, an ice-shrouded world that is thought to possess a vast ocean of liquid salt water. For decades, scientists have wondered whether that ocean could harbor the right conditions for life, placing Europa near the top of the list of solar system bodies to explore. [...]
Researchers at the University of Basel have developed a tool that measures when people engage in dialog across political divides. The results show that personal factors play a greater role in people's willingness to engage in dialog than the controversial nature of a topic. [...]
Researchers are proposing a new strategy for local governments to make municipalities more resilient against climate change. The "compounded resilience" strategy lays out how local governments can take advantage of opportunities to both limit adverse impacts of climate change on their communities and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change. [...]
Yeast left over from brewing beer can be transformed into edible "scaffolds" for cultivated meat—sometimes known as lab-grown meat—which could offer a more sustainable, cost-effective alternative to current methods, according to a new study from UCL (University College London) researchers. [...]
In future high-tech industries, such as high-speed optical computing for massive AI, quantum cryptographic communication, and ultra-high-resolution augmented reality (AR) displays, nanolasers—which process information using light—are gaining significant attention as core components for next-generation semiconductors. [...]
A pigment that makes feathers and hair orange helps prevent cellular damage by removing excess cysteine from cells. Pheomelanin is an orange-to-red pigment that is built with the amino acid cysteine and found in human red hair and fair skin, as well as in bird feathers. Previous research has shown that pheomelanin is associated with increased melanoma risk, raising questions about why evolution has maintained genetic variants that promote pheomelanin production. [...]
A team of researchers at the University of Waterloo have made a breakthrough in quantum computing that elegantly bypasses the fundamental "no cloning" problem. The research, "Encrypted Qubits can be Cloned," appears in Physical Review Letters. [...]
Indonesia's conservation park on Tuesday released a video showing the progress of a giant panda cub, 40 days after his birth in the country. [...]
Researchers are trying to understand why some wild species do better than others over time, as the environment changes. [...]
Australia's forests are losing trees more rapidly as the climate warms, a new study examining decades of data said Tuesday, warning the trend was likely a "widespread phenomenon." [...]
A black hole has shredded a massive star like it was "preparing a snack for lunch," according to a team of scientists at the American Astronomical Society's annual meeting (5–8 January). [...]
Detecting cancer in the earliest stages could dramatically reduce cancer deaths because cancers are usually easier to treat when caught early. To help achieve that goal, MIT and Microsoft researchers are using artificial intelligence to design molecular sensors for early detection. [...]
Summer means sunshine, beach days, and afternoons by the pool … which means wearing swimwear and looking after it. But while we enjoy those carefree summer days, pool chemicals, UV rays from sunlight, sweat and salt water are quietly damaging the delicate fibers of our swimwear. [...]
When we think of an Australian farmer, we often still conjure up an image of a bloke in a hat, perhaps leaning on a fence post. If women make an appearance at all in this picture, it's usually as a support to the male farmer. [...]
Ripples spreading across a calm lake after raindrops fall—and the way ripples from different drops overlap and travel outward—is one image that helps us picture how a quantum computer handles information. [...]
Two new studies into lizard colors reveal how one species maintains its colorful diversity while others are losing their ancient colors. And the changes are being driven by the biological equivalent of rock-paper-scissors. [...]
Many Australian parents of school-age children will be looking forward to a break from the routine of packing school lunch boxes over the summer holidays. But in some other countries, lunch boxes are increasingly being replaced by school lunch programs. [...]
Have you ever found something unexpected in your hamburger? Astronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) were surprised to discover the very earliest phases of giant planet formation between the dense layers of gas and dust in the "Gomez's Hamburger" system, referred to as GoHam. This research, currently in preparation for publication, was presented at a press conference at the American Astronomical Society's annual meeting (AAS 2026), held January 4–8 in Phoenix. [...]
One of the main questions in exoplanet science concerns M dwarfs (red dwarfs) and the habitability of exoplanets that orbit them. These stars are known for their prolific and energetic flaring, and that's a problem. M dwarfs are so small that their habitable zones are in tight proximity to them, putting any potentially habitable planets in the direct line of fire of all this dangerous flaring. [...]
You may think that the goal of movie studios is to churn out as many sequels as quickly as possible, but there's so much more strategy that goes into sequel production than what meets the eye. [...]
17°C
17°C