Science
A new way to detect stabilizing properties of optical devices
In optical fibers, chips and other light-guiding devices, minor defects can scatter photons and disrupt their path. A new study demonstrates a way to reveal properties which, in c…
Physicists prove a long-suspected quantum speed limit for thermalization
Whether we are waiting for a car windshield to defrost in winter or a warm drink to cool down, how long it takes for an object to settle into a stable, even temperature within its…
Genome detectives: Researchers sequence the genome of a harmful plant pathogen
Graduate students in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences contributed to the first complete genome sequence of a harmful plant pathogen from an ornamental Prunus host thr…
Scientists discover a way to reverse coral bleaching at record speed
For the first time, scientists have observed bleached corals on the brink of death fully recover through brief contact with healthy clones. Ghostly white corals returned to full h…
Computer scientist Margaret Hamilton was a problem-solver for the ages (op-ed)
The world will miss Margaret Hamilton, the pioneering programmer who helped NASA land Apollo astronauts on the moon. But we will always have her example to inspire us.
Close social bonds help wild jackdaws hold feeding spots but come with waiting costs
Close social relationships are known to contribute to the survival of many animals, including humans. Maintaining social bonds over time, however, can also require effort and sacr…
Japan's MMX mission aims to swipe soil samples from Mars's moon Phobos
A Japanese space mission is about to launch towards Mars. But it will not land on the planet itself. Instead, the Martian Moons Exploration (MMX) mission will focus on Phobos, the…
On this day in space! Oct. 18, 1963: France's Félicette Becomes the 1st Cat in Space! >^..^<
On Oct. 18, 1963, a cat went to space! Félicette was a French "catstronaut" who became the first and only feline to fly to space. Here's why it mattered.
Hybrid diamond chip strengthens interactions between light and quantum bits
Researchers have developed and demonstrated a new hybrid photonic platform that integrates quantum emitters with photonic devices, providing a way to reliably control the interact…
US workers facing deadly heat borrow from tomato pickers to win key protections
As efforts to protect people from extreme heat stall, organizers are embracing an approach that targets major brands’ reputations“It’s the kind of heat that makes you feel like yo…
Lion droppings yield previously unknown microbial species, exposing hidden diversity inside Africa's big cats
Scientists know a great deal about how lions hunt, breed and survive, but the microscopic communities living inside them have remained largely unexplored. Now, a study of wild lio…
Astronomers want your help finding 'missing' black holes in the Milky Way
A citizen science project is seeking volunteers to comb through NASA telescope data for telltale signs of the galaxy's hidden black holes.
One million migrating raptors dodge illegal hunters above Georgia's Black Sea coast
Standing on a verdant hill above Georgia's Black Sea coast, ornithologist Bart Hoekstra looked out over one of the world's greatest wildlife spectacles unfolding before him—then g…
Japan to launch spacecraft on a mission to get samples from a Martian moon
Japan is set to launch a spacecraft on the world's first mission to bring back samples from Phobos, one of the two small, potato-shaped moons orbiting Mars.
A California town’s beaches are washing away. Can its residents turn the tide?
Rapid coastal erosion threatens coastal homes and economies, and as Super El Niño rounds the corner, a town is reckoning with the reality of climate crisisSan Clemente is one of s…
The problem with telling people the world is ending
In the face of terrible crises, it can feel right to shock people into action. But what if that has the opposite effect?These days, it’s easy to succumb to hopelessness. Whether y…
Margaret Hamilton obituary
Pioneering software engineer whose work was critical to the Apollo moon landingsApollo was a bold, innovative project. It tested the boundaries of technology and human achievement…
10 best places to see the 2027 total solar eclipse in Spain
From the Costa del Sol to whitewashed mountain villages, here are 10 of the best places in southern Spain to experience the Aug. 2, 2027 total solar eclipse.
'Let's all choose to make tomorrow better', Artemis II astronauts honored with Stephen Hawking Medal at Starmus
The Artemis II crew have joined an impressive list of honourees, including Buzz Aldrin, Jane Goodall and David Attenborough.
The Most Annoying Neighbor in This San Antonio Subdivision Is a Leaking Oil Well
SAN ANTONIO, Texas—In Texas, suburbs have sprung up where oil pump jacks once bobbed. At the Preserve at Medina, a subdivision of brick-and-siding starter homes in southwest San A…
A Rising Tide Lifted Floating Wind Turbines. Now Comes the Real Test.
This reporting was supported by a Transatlantic Media Fellowship from the Heinrich Boll Foundation. Picture a buoyant triangular steel or concrete platform roughly the dimensions …
Japan to launch world-first mission to collect samples from Martian moon
Japanese space agency leading five-year mission to Phobos, one of ‘most important unclimbed mountains in the solar system’Japan is to launch a spacecraft on the world’s first miss…
APOD: 2026 October 18 – Sonified: Eagle Nebula Pillars
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 October 18 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosm…
What a worm's brain can teach us about sex differences in the nervous system
Ever wonder what goes on inside the brain of a worm—how it processes information, responds to stimuli and perceives the world around it? Northeastern University researchers have o…