It might date back to the ancient Greeks, but the concept of "everything in moderation" still holds true for today's users of goal-setting apps. In a paper in the Journal of Marketing Research, a team from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Business School, Deakin University and Technical University of Munich analyzed behavioral data from an Australian investment app to determine what keeps users motivated and engaged. [...]
An interdisciplinary research team from two working groups at the Center for Synthetic Biology at TU Darmstadt has developed the first RNA-based genetic switch that precisely replicates the logical behavior of a NAND gate, one of the most important building blocks of digital circuits. The results are published in the journal Nucleic Acids Research. [...]
A new study estimates that the Israel–Gaza war has generated around 33 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), highlighting the often-overlooked environmental impact of armed conflict. [...]
It is not uncommon for a body to be moved after a murder, usually to hide or eliminate evidence. And while the Arizona desert may seem like the perfect place to commit such a crime, a new study shows that a cadaver can still leave critical clues behind in that harsh environment. The study is published in the Journal of Forensic Sciences. [...]
Thirteen million years ago, a group of medium-sized monkeys known for guarding their territory among the treetops with fearsome "howls" started doing something new. These monkeys, among the oldest known ancestors of the modern howler monkey, started eating leaves, causing them to evolve a larger body size and differentiate themselves from other primates, says a team of researchers led by a scientist at Johns Hopkins Medicine. [...]
With wildfires growing more destructive both in the United States and around the world, University at Buffalo researchers have conducted one of the most extensive evaluations to date of artificial intelligence-based deep learning models for predicting wildfire spread. Their findings show how AI can complement but not yet fully replace established physics-based fire modeling tools. [...]
In a paper published today in Nature Synthesis, a team from the lab of University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (UChicago PME) and Chemistry Department Prof. Paul Alivisatos explores the role of cation exchange in one of chemistry and material science's central challenges: How covalent materials undergo structural change at the nanoscale. [...]
Ultrashort mid-infrared (mid-IR) laser pulses are essential for applications such as molecular spectroscopy, nonlinear microscopy, and biomedical imaging, but their generation often relies on complex and power-intensive systems that are difficult to implement outside of specialized laboratories. These systems usually require high pump powers, elaborate optical setups, and precise alignment, which can limit their widespread adoption and practical use in everyday research and clinical settings. [...]
A study led by William & Mary's Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences & VIMS and published in FEMS Microbiology Ecology reveals that microbial communities growing on microplastics in the Chesapeake Bay carry the genetic potential to remove nitrogen from the water and break down petroleum-related compounds. The manuscript was selected as the journal's best paper of 2025, which recognizes researchers who have pushed the boundaries of knowledge in the field of microbiology. [...]
A new study reveals that behavioral isolation between populations of Bahamas mosquitofish is driven primarily by the actions of females—not just through mating choice behaviors, but also through sometimes violent resistance. The work demonstrates the impact of the ecological environment on behavior and subsequently on speciation. The findings are published in the journal BMC Ecology and Evolution. [...]
Finding bats in the attic or under roof tiles is no homeowner's idea of fun. But Florida's endangered bonneted bats have few natural options left. With a dwindling number of large, old trees with cavities—their preferred habitat—and exotic species competing for what's left, many bonneted bats have moved into homes, leading to panicked humans and calls to professionals who can oust the squatters. [...]
Scientists have created a genomic blueprint for Aeromonas bacteria, which can cause antibiotic-resistant diarrheal disease—with symptoms often misidentified as cholera—in humans and animals. [...]
For decades, ecologists have known that how a species looks or eats affects its environment. But a new study by researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, shows that social behavior related to mating can be an equally powerful ecological force. The research is published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. [...]
Generative AI (GenAI) has significant potential to boost girls' confidence, agency, and participation in STEM subjects—but new research shows that realizing such potential depends on how teachers use GenAI in the classroom. The findings are published in the journal Education and Information Technologies. [...]
Spintronics—a technology that harnesses the electron's magnetic quantum states to carry information—could pave the way for a new generation of ultra-energy-efficient electronics. Yet a major challenge has been the ability to control these delicate quantum properties with sufficient precision for practical applications. By combining different quantum materials, researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have now taken a decisive step forward, achieving unprecedented control over spin phenomena. The advance opens the door to next-generation low-power data processing and memory technologies. [...]
A new study revisits a century-old question about how turbulence starts. The findings could potentially influence not only aircraft engineering but even the design of mechanical heart valves, and treatment of heart disease. The study is published in Scientific Reports. [...]
What governs the speed at which raindrops fall, sediment settles in river estuaries, and matter is ejected during a supernova? These questions circle around one, deceitfully simple factor: the rate at which a fluid filled with particles mixes with a particle-free one. Raindrops travel from one layer of air to another; sediment falls from river to seawater, and ejecta travels from the exploding star through the surrounding dust cloud. The same principle dictates sediment mixing in rising smoke, dust storms, nuclear explosions, hydrocarbon refining, metal smelting, wastewater treatment, and more. [...]
For sexual reproduction to yield healthy offspring, newly generated oocytes—immature egg cells—must receive the correct amount of DNA after cell division. This process of segregating chromosomes becomes more prone to failure as we age. Now, RIKEN researchers have identified a strategy that could help to prevent such errors and restore healthy production of oocytes. [...]
A research team led by scientists at the Butantan Institute in São Paulo, Brazil, has completed the most extensive genetic sequencing of a jararaca viper to date. The focus of the study was the genome of the golden lancehead (Bothrops insularis), particularly its venom genes. Since the species shares most of its genes with the other 48 species in the genus, the data serve as a reference for broader studies on the evolution of jararaca vipers and their toxins. The study is published in the journal Genome Biology and Evolution. [...]
Researchers at The University of Texas at Dallas have developed a new electrolyte system that significantly boosts the energy-harvesting performance of twistrons, which are carbon nanotube yarns that generate electricity when repeatedly stretched. The findings could aid in the manufacturing of intelligent textiles, such as fabrics used to make spacesuits, that would power wearable electronic devices or sensors by harvesting energy from human motion. [...]
Researchers at the University of Jyväskylä (Finland) have developed a new class of synthetic molecules that can capture sulfate, a widespread industrial and environmental contaminant, with unprecedented efficiency in water. The study demonstrates that entangled molecular structures, long considered mainly chemical curiosities, can be deliberately engineered for real-world applications, including water purification, chemical sensing, and environmental monitoring. The study is published in the journal Chem. [...]
Two new studies conclude that stabilizing long-term climate risks will require sustained net-negative carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions for centuries. Approaching the problem from distinct perspectives—legal and technological feasibility on the one hand, and economic optimization under uncertainty on the other—the research converges on a consistent message: reaching net zero is not enough. [...]
Multi-titanium hydrides can selectively snip the strong structural bonds of stable organic molecules called pyridines, RIKEN researchers have shown. This discovery could guide designing catalysts for applications in multiple branches of industrial chemistry, from oil refining to the synthesis of functional organic molecules. The findings are published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. [...]
Why do people often stick with familiar brands and choices, even when better options might exist? A new study co-authored by an Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) researcher explores the decision-making strategies behind when people choose to stay with what they know and when they decide to try something new. The research sheds light on how individuals balance short-term rewards with the potential benefits of exploring unfamiliar options, with implications for understanding consumer behavior, technology adoption, and innovation more broadly. [...]
The larvae of the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) are considered a promising source of sustainable protein, as they contain high-quality protein comparable to soy protein. They can produce this protein from a wide variety of biomass sources, including by-products and residues from agriculture and food processing. However, while their potential is the subject of intense debate, little is known about the emission of greenhouse gases during their rearing. [...]
Physicists at the University of Colorado Boulder have demonstrated a new kind of vacuum ultraviolet laser that is 100 to 1,000 times more efficient than existing technologies of its kind. The researchers say the device could one day allow scientists to observe phenomena currently out of reach for even the most powerful microscopes—such as following fuel molecules in real time as they undergo combustion, spotting incredibly small defects in nanoelectronics and more. [...]
Two new studies have measured the expansion of the universe in our immediate cosmic neighborhood using a novel method that analyzes the motion of two nearby galaxy groups within their surrounding cosmic flow. The results indicate that the local universe is expanding more slowly than previously estimated, bringing measurements of nearby galaxies into close agreement with observations of the early universe. The findings also suggest that less dark matter is required to explain the dynamics of galaxies within these groups than previously assumed. [...]
Anastasios (Andy) Tzanidakis was combing through old telescope data from 2020 when he found an otherwise boring star acting very strangely. The star, named Gaia20ehk, was about 11,000 light-years from Earth near the constellation Puppis. It was a stable "main sequence" star, much like our sun, which meant that it should emit steady, predictable light. Yet this star began to flicker wildly. [...]
Plants are constantly on guard. Their roots are equipped with molecular alarm systems that detect invading microbes and trigger immune responses. Yet beneficial soil fungi routinely enter living root cells and establish close partnerships essential for plant nutrition. Scientists have now discovered that these fungi send small RNAs into the plant that may quietly switch off selected defense systems from within. [...]
The warming world has disrupted the timing for plant and animal reproduction, and it's usually bad news for species that depend on each other—like flowers blooming too early and pollinating bees arriving too late. But researchers have found the rare critter that's getting a boost from the change: King penguins. [...]