Science
Solving the mystery behind a flightless beetle's transatlantic journey
They can't fly or swim, so why do their closest relatives appear on different continents? Grey Gustafson, an associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, discover…
Neanderthal remains may be earliest human ancestor find killed by a spear
Adult excavated in an Iraqi Kurdistan cave died more than 70,000 years ago and bears ‘kill shot’ shoulder woundA smooth round hole in the shoulder blade of a Neanderthal who died …
Rigorous Analysis Confirms NASA’s Artemis II Heat Shield Performance
NASA’s Artemis II mission sent four astronauts around the Moon and brought them safely back to Earth, laying a foundation for crewed flights to the Moon’s surface. Additional engi…
Fossil footprints reveal how dinosaur ancestors gradually shifted from sprawling to upright walking
A research team led by Dr. Lorenzo Marchetti of the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin described the earliest archosauriform footprints (Pachychirotherium gardenaensis) from the GEOPARC…
Chandra Finds Possible Origin of ‘Treble Clef’ Waves
A formation of radio waves looks remarkably like a treble clef in this Oct. 14, 2026, image from NASA’s Chandra X-Ray Observatory. Researchers used Chandra to find that the Treble…
Drowned 5,000-year-old forests reborn as thriving peat reefs and biodiversity hotspots off Mozambique
Researchers from the Bazaruto Center for Scientific Studies (BCSS) Ocean Observatory have documented ancient forests that grew on the Mozambican coast thousands of years ago and h…
Windblown yardangs on Mars | Space photo of the day for Oct. 15, 2026
Martian sands blown by strong winds left rippled ridges on the surface of the Red Planet, as seen in this new image from the Mars Express spacecraft.
Research finds vegan honey could be made with similar antimicrobial properties to mānuka honey
Vegan honey alternatives could be engineered to have antimicrobial properties similar to those of prized mānuka honey from New Zealand, according to research at Aston University.
Cortisol is a reproduction friend, not enemy
A major international study of the role cortisol plays in reproduction has found it may not be the villain it has been depicted as, and it may actually promote healthy reproductio…
Finding new ways to catch a thief—via intruders' airborne eDNA
Environmental DNA (eDNA) is increasingly being investigated by forensic scientists as a tool to help solve criminal cases that lack biological traces—and attention is also turning…
Beat light pollution with these six portable telescopes
Sick of skyglow spoiling your stargazing? These six telescopes are portable enough that you can easily pack them away and seek out darker skies.
Severe drought declared in six areas of England as public water supplies under threat
Some reservoirs in south-east and south-west at critically low levels as water companies call for non-essential user bans on businessesA severe drought has been declared in six ar…
Turning up the heat on chickpea yield
A University of Queensland study has outlined a practical pathway for accelerating the development of heat-adapted chickpeas using data from new 'omic' technologies. Ph.D. candida…
Scientists discover 'chemical starter kit' for life in planetary birthplaces
The discovery of surprising molecules of methanol and associated maser activity has expanded the inventory of the chemical starter kit that builds planets in young star systems.
Early growth differences help explain which beech trees survive forest competition
The fight for survival in the forest is fierce: light, water and nutrients are all limited. This is particularly true in "mast years"—times when trees and shrubs produce an unusua…
Cyril Hilsum obituary
Government physicist whose radar research paved the way for flat-panel TV and computer screens based on liquid crystalsCyril Hilsum’s research into stable liquid crystals and the …
Quantum sensor could measure how Earth drags spacetime
Einstein's theory of general relativity describes gravity as the bending of spacetime, a mathematical model that combines three-dimensional space and time into a single, four-dime…
SpaceX wants to launch Starship more than 450 times per year from South Texas
SpaceX has proposed increasing the number of allowed Starship launches from its Starbase site in South Texas from 25 per year to 456. The FAA is currently reviewing the request.
As Wildfires Intensify, Communities Have a Bigger Role to Play
On July 22, Aurélie Filleau and her husband were given 10 minutes to get their children and a few possessions into the car before evacuating their house in Le Porge, a town near B…
Texas Land Commissioner Treads Carefully as Trump Border Wall Advances on State Property
Border wall construction in the Big Bend region puts Republican Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham in a bind: back President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda or respond to g…
Regenerative Growers in Florida Aim to Improve Soil for Health of Food, Environment, Consumers and Workers
Blueberries, green beans, yellow squash, red onions, purple cabbage, oranges. At markets across Florida, colorful produce signals freshness and nutrition and attracts consumers. …
Group that plants fruit trees in vacant lots grows to cities nationwide
A Kansas City group set up to help volunteers plant fruit trees in vacant city lots has quickly branched out across the country with almost 850 orchards in 17 cities with more to …
Ascension Island: How a planting project created a lush cloud forest
In the middle of nowhere, a small island emerges in the Atlantic Ocean. This unique territory completely changed in the 19th century thanks to the efforts of two British scientist…
APOD: 2026 October 15 – The Milky Way over Manhattan
APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 October 15 – The… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the …