Science
Astronomers deliver the sharpest and deepest view yet of the low-frequency radio sky
Using the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR), an international team led by Leiden University has produced the sharpest and most sensitive radio image of the sky ever made at low radio fr…
After Democrats’ National Sweep, Republicans Maintain a Weaker Grip on Florida
Republicans in Florida narrowly held off a nationwide repudiation Tuesday of their party and President Donald Trump, eking out slim victories in statewide races. But the GOP faile…
Climate shapes microbial nitrogen pump in forests, not in farmlands
Microbes build a long-lived nitrogen reservoir in soil from the remains of dead bacteria and fungi, which cling to minerals and resist decay. The microbial nitrogen pump turns nit…
Laser-plasma accelerator could generate bright X-rays for biological imaging, simulations show
X-rays with wavelengths between approximately 2.3 and 4.4 nanometers, i.e., in the so-called water window, are particularly well suited to examining biological samples in their na…
Land plants' closest algal relatives evolved multicellular growth repeatedly, genetic analysis suggests
What did the algae that gave rise to the first land plants look like? A research team led by the University of Göttingen and including the universities of Maastricht and Innsbruck…
Paired DNA strands recognize shape, not just sequence, in new small-molecule sensing method
You have probably performed a sandwich assay before, even if you didn't know it. Sandwich assays are the molecular sensing technology behind lateral flow tests like the at-home CO…
Underwater cameras can estimate fish weight in real time without generating full depth maps
Accurate fish-weight estimates can help aquaculture operators manage feeding, monitor growth and plan harvests. However, conventional underwater imaging methods often require subs…
New placenta-on-a-chip model allows engineers to study effects of environmental toxins
Exposure to toxic metals like cadmium has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes such as miscarriage, preterm birth and low birth weight. Because these effects are diffic…
Antibiotic pollution may be key factor in honeybee colony collapses
High losses of honeybee colonies, which play a crucial role in global food production, have caused concern around the world. Many potential factors for the population declines hav…
Pinning down the structure of quark-gluon plasma, the universe's first fluid
In the first fraction of a second following the Big Bang, matter existed as a trillion-degree plasma of quarks and gluons—subatomic particles that zinged around at close to the sp…
Powerhouse Parramatta opens this weekend – and it’s dazzling inside and out
Coups de théâtre abound in the $915m addition to western Sydney’s skyline, which opens on Saturday with five new exhibitions – and a 23-day festivalGet our weekend culture and lif…
Leaf nutrient balance helps explain earlier fall color in US forests
For devout leaf peepers, timing is everything. A new study led by researchers from Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment shows that leaf nutrient levels affect the …
Plastic bags and bottles become industrial-strength adhesives through new upcycling method
Around 450 million metric tons of plastics are produced worldwide each year. The major share of this sheer volume is used only once and then winds up in an incinerator or in landf…
'We got it done!' Spacewalking astronauts finish installing next-gen ISS solar arrays
Spacewalkers Anil Menon and Joshua Kutryk installed the final ISS Roll-Out Solar Array on Thursday (Nov. 5), wrapping up a multiyear effort to boost the station's power generation…
Connecting artificial intelligence with the tools of astrophysical research
Investigating a scientific question is often a complex process. As an astrophysicist studying some of the most energetic phenomena in the universe, I know that finding answers req…
Andy Weir says his sci-fi audio drama 'Exoplanet' is a way to 'revive the old art of radio plays' (interview)
"Earlier on in my life, even before 'The Martian,' I wanted to bring back audio-only entertainment."
Electrical control of an unconventional quantum transport state demonstrated in a magnet for the first time
Researchers at Tohoku University and the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) have successfully controlled a unique quantum phenomenon—the quantum-geometric nonlinear Hall (QgNLH) st…
How palm orientation shapes spin characteristics in volleyball jump serves
A new biomechanical study has uncovered how elite volleyball players control ball spin during jump serves, offering fresh scientific insight into one of the sport's most decisive …
Physicist develops detector capable of counting photons for quantum computing
Detecting a single photon is a challenge in itself. But what if you also want to know exactly how many photons arrive at a particular point at the same time? Physicist Erik Baalbe…
Citizen science program helps find exotic ticks
Climate change is affecting not only our weather but also the distribution of parasites and the diseases they can carry. One example is the growing presence of Hyalomma ticks in p…
As Antarctic blue whales advance along the road to recovery, continued oversight is key
Antarctic blue whales appear to be creeping back from the brink of extinction after 50 years of protection. A new study estimates the total population at 4,018, up from 418 after …
How octopuses squeeze through too-small gaps
Octopuses are extraordinarily versatile. From walking across the seabed on their eight arms to jetting through the water, manipulating tools and squeezing through unimaginably tig…
Blue Origin announces 3rd stage for its powerful New Glenn rocket —and a new engine
Blue Origin has developed a third stage for its New Glenn rocket, which it says will make the launcher even more flexible and capable. The company has also built a new engine, cal…
Born to be queen: A look inside fire ant hierarchy
A group of genes may give some fire ants an advantage, increasing their chances of growing larger and potentially becoming queens, according to a new study from the University of …