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NASA cameras to capture interaction between Blue Ghost lander, moon's surface
Say cheese again, moon. We're coming in for another close-up.
'You can't hear a smile': How video visits help dads in prison stay connected with their kids
Many Australians know December 21 as "Gravy Day." This is a reference to Paul Kelly's song and new film How to Make Gravy, where a prisoner named Joe writes a letter to his family four …
The moon might be older than scientists previously thought; a new study shines light on its history
A physicist, a chemist and a mathematician walk into a bar. It sounds like the start of a bad joke, but in my case, it was the start of an idea that could reshape how scientists think about the histor …
Two stars may be orbiting each other near a supermassive black hole in our Milky Way galaxy
Scientists have spotted what appear to be two stars whipping around each other near the supermassive black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy.
How can I keep my cat happy? Five tips from a vet to help your feline friend live their best life
Around one third of Australian households live with at least one cat, yet surveys tell us the cats' needs are not being met.
Bottlenose dolphins smile at each other when they play—new study reveals how and why
Dolphins have an irresistible charm for people. They are extremely playful at all ages and often play alone, surfing the waves, leaping into the air, performing flips and striking the water with their …
The genomic journey of modern and archaic humans may be older than we thought
Research conducted at the Department of Biology, University of Padova, has identified critical genomic milestones in the evolution of Homo sapiens, including key chromosomal rearrangements and specifi …
Introducing perceptein, a protein-based artificial neural network in living cells
Westlake University in China and the California Institute of Technology have designed a protein-based system inside living cells that can process multiple signals and make decisions based on them.
Saturday Citations: Chicxulub meteorite found guilty; Good news and bad news for LLMs
It's the last week before Christmas and not a creature is stirring, not even a mouse model bred to exhibit characteristics of ADHD for in vivo studies of central nervous system stimulants. This w …
Archaeological study documents rare Christian tattoo in medieval Nubia
Recently, a team of researchers published their study on a medieval Nubian tattoo in Antiquity. The researchers conducted a post-excavation analysis on individuals who had been interred at the Ghazali …
Scientists observe 'negative time' in quantum experiments
Scientists have long known that light can sometimes appear to exit a material before entering it—an effect dismissed as an illusion caused by how waves are distorted by matter.
Lab work digs into gullies seen on giant asteroid Vesta by NASA's Dawn
Pocked with craters, the surfaces of many celestial bodies in our solar system provide clear evidence of a 4.6-billion-year battering by meteoroids and other space debris. But on some worlds, includin …
Researchers take 'significant leap forward' with quantum simulation of molecular electron transfer
Researchers at Rice University have made a meaningful advance in the simulation of molecular electron transfer—a fundamental process underpinning countless physical, chemical and biological processes. …
'Living' ceramics utilize bacteria for gas sensing and carbon capture
A team of materials scientists and chemists at ETH Zürich has developed a way to make "living" ceramics that can detect small amounts of formaldehyde and capture carbon dioxide from the air. …
Neutrality has played a pivotal, but under-examined, role in international relations, new research shows
Researchers have developed a new way of understanding international relations by analyzing almost 200 years of alliances, hostilities and neutrality between countries.
Inequality weakens local governance and public satisfaction, study finds
Local governments in developing countries are crucial for providing public services that promote human development and address challenges like extreme weather, unemployment and crumbling infrastructur …
Discovery of enzyme pathway may lead to lifesaving leishmaniasis treatments
A breakthrough in understanding how a single-cell parasite makes ergosterol (its version of cholesterol) could lead to more effective drugs for human leishmaniasis, a parasitic disease that afflicts a …
Advanced algorithm reduces errors in land cover classification for landslide analysis
Land use and land cover (LULC) analysis has become increasingly significant in environmental studies due to its direct impact on the environment. Changes in LULC affect the ecological and climatic bal …
Structural analysis reveals how human eyelashes promote water drainage
Throughout human evolution, body and facial hair have notably diminished, yet eyelashes have remained a distinguishing feature. The physiological or functional purpose of eyelashes—traditionally thoug …
Study reveals right whales live 130 years—or more
New research published in Science Advances reveals that right whales can survive for more than 130 years—almost twice as long as previously understood.
Wireless antennas harness light to decode cellular communication signals
Monitoring electrical signals in biological systems helps scientists understand how cells communicate, which can aid in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions like arrhythmia and Alzheimer's.
Heterogeneous host populations drive evolution of more virulent pathogens, modeling study shows
The evolution of pathogens has received attention in a wide range of scientific fields, such as epidemiology, demography, and evolutionary ecology. Understanding pathogen evolution is particularly urg …
Advancing light control: New opportunities for metasurfaces in optoelectronics
A global review of advancements in integrating metasurfaces—thin planar arrays of nanostructures—into optoelectronic devices highlights their potential to transform technologies such as light emitting …
New electron microscopy technique reveals complex spin structures at femtosecond timescales
Plasmons are collective oscillations of electrons in a solid and are important for a wide range of applications, such as sensing, catalysis, and light harvesting. Plasmonic waves that travel along the …
Report analyzes long history of NASA support for commercial space
NASA published a new report on Thursday highlighting 17 agency mechanisms that have directly and indirectly supported the development and growth of the U.S. commercial space sector for the benefit of …
Cyanobacteria research unlocks potential for renewable plastics from carbon dioxide
Scientists at The University of Manchester have achieved a significant breakthrough in using cyanobacteria—commonly known as "blue-green algae"—to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into valuable …
Systemic solutions needed to counter spread of science misinformation, says new report
Misinformation about science harms personal decisions, democracy and public policy, says Northeastern University professor David Lazer, who contributed to a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering …
Avalanches, icy explosions and dunes: NASA is tracking New Year on Mars
Instead of a winter wonderland, the Red Planet's northern hemisphere goes through an active—even explosive—spring thaw. While New Year's Eve is around the corner here on Earth, Mars scientis …
Professor challenges tokenizing women of color in academia
The unspoken rule for women of color in academia is to be everything to everyone—mentor, diversity champion, tireless scholar, and silent workhorse, says York University equity studies Assistant Profe …
Digital labels can help grocers waste less food
In 2022, U.S. grocers wasted 5 million tons of food, with 35% of it going to landfills, according to the food waste nonprofit ReFed. More than half of that waste—2.7 million tons—was past the labels …