Science
Dead tree branches rise and fall with changing humidity, laser scans reveal
Dead tree branches are by no means static but move throughout the day. Geoinformatics researchers at Heidelberg University tracked these movements in a study conducted in cooperat…
Machine learning simulations reveal how plastic transforms into hard carbon
In a new study published in Chemical Science, researchers from the University of Oxford's Department of Chemistry have used machine learning simulations to trace how a common poly…
Comets probably didn't seed life on Earth after all, new study suggests
The theory that comets delivered the molecular building blocks for life on Earth is a long-standing one, since comets are known to carry many of these molecules. However, a new st…
Antarctic Sea Ice Decline Is Triggering Global Ocean Changes
The rapid decline of Antarctic sea ice since 2016 has triggered a dramatic shift in a crucial part of Earth’s climate system, scientists say. In a paper published Wednesday, rese…
Black holes can split in two — but only if they spin at extreme speeds
Scientists have long known that when two black holes collide, they merge to create a more massive black hole. New research suggests that the opposite may happen too: single black …
DNA analysis identifies root-dwelling fungi as potential keystone species in forest microbial communities
Beneath the forest floor extends a vast ecosystem where a diverse array of microorganisms inhabit soil and root systems. Here, fungi and bacteria play pivotal roles in processes s…
How Texas Could End Up Paying an Israeli Company Billions for Water
Plans are advancing on the Gulf Coast of Texas for an enormous seawater desalination plant which, if built, would be part of one of the largest water infrastructure developments i…
Climate Is on the Ballot, Even if It’s Not in Candidates’ Campaign Messages
In the final stretch of their midterm drive to gain control of Congress, Democratic candidates are talking mostly about the pain of high energy costs, not the risks of climate cha…
In Maine’s Senate Race, it’s Heating Oil vs. Electricity
Over the course of two weeks in October, Maine’s incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins and her Democrat challenger, former state Senate President Troy Jackson, met for four deba…
The climate crisis will destroy our economies – we learned this 20 years ago. When will we act? | Fiona Harvey
The radical Stern report showed that a low-carbon future is also good economics. But it seems that capitalism needs a reminderSaving the only planet we have makes good economic se…
Curiosity Blog, Sols 5043-5049: Preparing to Drill at ‘Nazca’
Written by Lucy Lim, Planetary Scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Earth planning date: Friday, Oct. 16, 2026 Following the Basque Lakes drill campaign, Curiosity has …
APOD: 2026 October 28 – The Mutual Occultation of Ganymede and Io
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 October 28 – The… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the …
The Land of the Standing-Up Rocks
A national monument since the 1920s, Chiricahua is America’s newest national park.
Brambles are a problem weed in South Africa, but researchers are closer to finding a natural enemy to manage them
Invasive alien brambles have been spreading across South Africa since the early 1900s, having come from North America and Europe. All brambles fall within the genus Rubus. Their c…
Trump says government to ‘terminate’ Biden-era methane emissions rules
Critics warn of climate danger as president in Texas claims change will save companies and consumers billionsDonald Trump announced his administration is “terminating” Biden-era r…
Researchers produce urea in the field using system powered by biobatteries and solar energy
The CONFETI project, coordinated by the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), has concluded three years of research with the commissioning of a pilot system capable of producin…
Researchers discover why some frogs have escaped the current amphibian mass extinction
Amphibians are the most threatened vertebrates on Earth, with 41% of species facing extinction. In the highlands of Central and South America, a killer fungus has wiped out much o…
The Cost of Lagging Global Climate Action Is Lost Lives and Poor Health
A decade after world leaders signed the legally binding Paris Agreement to combat climate change, the crisis’ health harms are getting worse and progress is lagging, according to …
Decoding the loopy physics of hula hooping with high-tech earthquake sensors
Hula hooping may be literal child's play, but as it turns out, the physics behind the gym-class staple is so complicated that scientists have spent decades trying to understand ho…
Biodiversity hotspots in southwestern Germany are losing their species richness
Climate change and shifts in land use are affecting habitats and, consequently, plant diversity. To better understand the consequences of these developments, long-term and compreh…
Identical vesicles, different behaviors: Model reveals how spontaneous asymmetry gives rise to lifelike behavior
In nonreciprocal active matter, agents act differently on each other, seemingly in violation of Newton's third law. This principle can result in various active matter traits, such…
A 'simple recipe' takes some of the guesswork out of mass spectrometry imaging
A small sample of human tissue can hold a remarkable amount of information. Researchers can use it to search for molecular clues associated with cancer, investigate the chemical l…
Rubin Observatory reveals its first dwarf planet candidate in our solar system
Scientists may add a new dwarf planet to the official roster of our solar system. The distant, icy body, provisionally dubbed 2026 ED138, orbits our system beyond Pluto. It was sp…
Can planting trees on riverbanks save salmon rivers from global warming?
Every summer, Québec rivers increasingly reach water temperature levels that threaten Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Just a few extra degrees can make the difference between a fav…