Science
Spacecraft returns to Earth after rescue mission for ageing Nasa telescope fails
Series of in-flight problems meant Link, a ‘commercial space robot’, could not salvage the Nasa observatoryA spacecraft that was launched in July on a mission to rescue a decaying…
Private spacecraft falls back to Earth after failing to rescue aging NASA telescope
The robotic spacecraft that failed to rescue an aging NASA telescope plunged back to Earth on Friday less than three months after launching on the bold mission.
Molecular switch-up: Bacteria remodel a peptide to take on new role
Remodeling may bring to mind construction crews and scaffolding, but the process is far from unique to buildings. Even molecules can be remodeled. Pandorachelins, newly discovered…
Hubble Spots Chaotic Secret in Galaxy
A chaotic secret hides within this seemingly serene image of spiral galaxy NGC 4698 taken by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope and released on Sept. 18, 2026. As a spiral galaxy like …
Researchers track emerging pathogens at Arctic bird gathering
Every year, birds migrate north and gather in a single location in the Arctic, and a team of University of Kentucky researchers is collaborating with Alaska Native communities to …
African elephants and medicinal plants: Possible self-medication documented through local ecological knowledge
Wild African elephants living in the Mount Elgon region of Kenya appear to seek out specific plants when unwell. Local experts also reported mothers administering plant-based "med…
‘Robust little’ vessel begins treacherous 22,000km journey around Antarctica in the name of climate science
Powered by sun and wind, the uncrewed vehicle will collect data to help Australian scientists better understand how oceans absorb emissionsA small uncrewed vessel has embarked on …
3D images reveal how bacterial cells coordinate protein production and transport across the membrane
Scientists have often thought of cells as small, bustling cities with parts that resemble factories, power grids and shipping systems. While past research has illuminated the indi…
TB 26-07 Aluminum Alloy 2219 Material Guidance
For more information, contact Donald S. Parker, Kennedy Space Center, donald.s.parker@nasa.gov Download the PDF version Improper casting and forging processes in the manufacture o…
Age, not feed additives, affects antimicrobial resistance genes in chickens
For many years, antibiotics have been added to animal feed to help control harmful bacteria and improve growth. But amid concerns about antibiotic resistance—when bacteria adapt t…
What we evaluate, not just what we see, shapes pupil responses
Our pupils become smaller under brighter conditions and larger under darker conditions. In addition to responding to changes in light, pupil size is influenced by attention, emoti…
New type of human 'jumping gene' found in a poxvirus
Scientists at Cornell University have found a human genetic element in a poxvirus and discovered that it is both an important gene for brain function and a jumping gene capable of…
New form of flexible boron is 10 million times more electrically conductive
The atoms of the 5th element of the periodic table often find themselves in the company of each other, forming allotropes with a rich variety of structural motifs, each carrying a…
Rare quantum state reveals particles with quarter-electron charge
An electron's charge is normally fixed, like a coin you can't break into pieces. But if electrons are cooled close to absolute zero and trapped in a two-dimensional layer under a …
Random access quantum memory lets one processor select among seven storage cells
Classical computers can temporarily store the information required to perform specific tasks in a short-term memory component known as RAM (random access memory). This component a…
Curious kids: Does music affect how plants grow?
"How does the type of music affect plant growth?"—Thomas, 14, Auckland, New Zealand
Are girls more social from birth? - video
Madeleine Finlay sits down with her co-host and Guardian science editor, Ian Sample, to discuss three science stories from the week, including a study that offers a clue in the ag…
High-tech canopy maps reveal how tropical birds use Amazon forests
Tropical forests may look like a uniform sea of green from above, but new research shows that carefully measured differences in forest structure and function can help explain how …
New tool closes gap in harnessing untapped potential of phages
A new tool to mutate bacteriophages—viruses that infect bacteria—provides a "big leap" forward in our understanding of how they function and our ability to harness their full pote…
Indian Point Energy Center’s Uncertain Future
NY-17: Second in a series on the environmental stakes of one of the nation’s most fiercely contested congressional races. Nancy Vann’s resolve has become the subject of a local ji…
Years after storms, clean-up crews meticulously separate the sentimental from the wreckage
Across the country, lost-and-found networks seek to reunite objects with disaster survivors. The work can take years. In some cases, it's impossible to pick up all the pieces.
Why Germany Is Building an Ark for U.S. Climate Data
This story was originally published by Yale Environment 360. In a modern five-story building in the center of Hamburg, Germany, technicians are preparing to install several new “r…
Bacteria suspected in deaths of hundreds of baby whales off Argentina
A bacterial infection is suspected of killing hundreds of baby whales in the southern Argentine region of Patagonia, a marine mammal expert told AFP on Thursday.
Would you bet on the future of our planet?
Prediction markets are focusing on extreme weather and the climate crisis. But it’s led to questions about what exactly people are betting on• Don’t get Down to Earth delivered to…