Science
Water-stable catalyst could bring carbon-bond chemistry closer to use in living cells
Olefin metathesis is one of the most important reactions in organic chemistry for forming carbon–carbon bonds—for example, in the production of pharmaceuticals, plastics and compl…
Hibernating bacteria can invade hospitals and survive outer space—but their energy budget reveals a weakness
A spore is a bacterium's survival capsule: dried almost solid and wrapped in protein armor, with its chemical processes shut down. Bacteria enter this state of hibernation when en…
Invasive marine species set to take advantage of rising seas
More than two-thirds of newly flooded coastlines worldwide could become suitable habitat for 122 non-native marine species—including Chinese mitten crabs, Pacific oysters and Asia…
To find a host cricket, this parasitic fly listens to more than the beat
A pregnant female Ormia ochracea fly has a challenging problem to solve. She must listen for the song of a male cricket, locate him in the dark and use him as a host for her devel…
New tool directly links carbon emissions to amount of environmental and economic damage caused
Carbon Impacts Tracer can be used to estimate climate impact from emissions across eight different factors, including lost food productionThe biggest coal project before authoriti…
Coast redwoods slow their 'breathing' and 'eating' when temperatures spike
California's iconic coast redwoods are used to growing in cool, coastal areas where the average temperature is around 59 degrees F (15 degrees Celsius). But as average yearly temp…
New tool tracks a hidden protein involved in viral infection and cell cleanup
Viruses such as influenza A and dengue can hijack a cellular system that helps manage protein aggregates. Previous work by FMI emeritus group leader Patrick Matthias and his team …
The Andes were supposed to stop this cacao killer. They didn't.
Black pod disease destroys up to a quarter of the world's cacao every year, roughly 700,000 metric tons worth more than $2 billion. The water mold responsible across the Americas …
NASA, Boeing Share Update on Commercial Starliner Development Plans
On Monday, NASA and Boeing provided an update on the company’s Starliner spacecraft, including adding additional crew missions and certifying a new rocket for crew transportation …
How to balance quantum batteries' high power with stable energy delivery
Quantum batteries are an emerging area of research, with progress coming from theoretical studies and proof-of-principle experiments in small quantum systems. Unlike conventional …
Without water, forests lose their ability to absorb CO₂
To survive periods of drought, trees halt photosynthesis, a highly water-intensive process. For every molecule of CO₂ absorbed by a tree leaf, an average of around 400 water molec…
NASA Armstrong Celebrates 80 Years of Flight Innovation
On Sept. 30, 1946, five National Advisory Committee of Aeronautics (NACA) engineers arrived at Muroc Army Airfield in California’s high desert to achieve supersonic flight for the…
Shared DNA switch turns on genes in both bacteria and yeast
Microbial cell factories that produce pharmaceutical ingredients and other useful compounds include both the bacterium Escherichia coli and yeast, the organism used to leaven brea…
Quantum computer boldly goes where no quantum computer has gone before: Space
There's big news from the quantum world. A quantum computer has been used in space for the first time. The device was aboard a spacecraft in low Earth orbit and demonstrated techn…
Dengue fever outbreak prompts Florida counties to declare state of emergency
CDC says 392 cases of Dengue were reported for the year so far in the state, along with different county-level dataSeveral Florida counties recently declared a state of local emer…
Testing tiny telescope robots reveals design changes that could improve galaxy maps
Astronomers have cataloged billions of stars and hundreds of billions of galaxies. We have found thousands of planets orbiting stars. We can also map where galaxies sit and trace …
Blue-light tools let researchers track, redirect and sever cells' transport routes
Light is fundamental to human life—without it, we'd be hungry, cold and blind. But what if the same light that sustains us could also be used to control and observe parts of cells…
New model explains why glass becomes less transparent to terahertz light
Electromagnetic waves in the gigahertz (GHz) range, such as those used in mobile communications, can readily pass through many types of glass. However, transmission decreases sign…
NASA Highlights Lessons Learned From Swift Boost Mission
A commercial mission to boost NASA’s Swift observatory concluded without raising the spacecraft’s orbit, but the agency and industry vendor gained valuable experience that will be…
Scientists find lunar 'magnetic fossil' in Chang'e-6 samples
The moon no longer has a global magnetic field, but lunar rocks and soils still contain records of ancient magnetism. Studying the magnetic minerals in these samples can help scie…
Neuroproteins are potential diagnostic tool for sick foals
Researchers from North Carolina State University have found that blood serum concentrations of neuroproteins and neurosteroids are associated with neonatal maladjustment syndrome …
Laser temporarily reprograms ultrathin optical device without electrodes
A tiny device that can be reprogrammed using a laser could lead to adaptable devices for computing, imaging and telecommunications. Most devices are built to perform a particular …
SpaceX's Spaceship reaches orbit for first time despite engine failure – video
SpaceX's spaceship blasted off from its Starbase launch facility in Texas on 28 September morning, marking its 14th test flight and first attempt to circle the planet before falli…
DarkSide detector puts 'nuclear' dark matter to the test
Researchers at the DarkSide collaboration have unveiled results from a seven-year experiment that tested whether dark matter particles could exist as composites of smaller, elemen…