Research, space, environment.
146 articles
An organelle discovered inside a microbe inside a cow’s gut helps explain how livestock burps contribute to warming our planet. The post A New Way That a Cow’s Inner World Shapes Earth’s Atmosphere first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Astronomers have caught a supermassive black hole straying far from the centre of its galaxy using light from a star being ripped apart
The fossilized spines of saber-toothed cats in the La Brea Tar Pits reveal evidence of an unexpectedly high prevalence of rare spinal nerve tumors, suggesting that the species became inbred just before extinction. These tumors, which cause significant pain and reduced limb…
Shayan Oveis Gharan has won the Abacus Medal for using tools from across mathematics to boost the power of algorithms. The post A Master of the Traveling Salesperson Problem Finds His Own Path first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Spain's PM warns of "complex hours" ahead as authorities in France say they are far from bringing blazes burning near Bordeaux under control.
One of the most contested issues in astrophysics is our understanding of the Universe’s expansion. Adam Riess discusses why there is disagreement and what might resolve it. The post How Fast Is the Universe Really Expanding? first appeared on Quanta Magazine
The Deep Space Network is our best way to communicate with spacecraft beyond Earth’s orbit, and one of its three stations around the world is in the middle of a wildfire
The fire has raged in the region for several days with officials now ordering the evacuation of the entire Cap Ferret peninsula.
The super El Niño now developing in the tropical Pacific has a 90 per cent chance of becoming the strongest in 150 years, breaking global temperature records and unleashing extreme weather
Ben Rich looks at what is and isn't allowed during a hosepipe ban.
Orcas are known to be smart and ruthless hunters. They've been observed hunting a variety of prey, with some species, such as whales, larger than themselves. They use a wide range of strategies to hunt and kill prey, but now, in the Gulf of California, researchers have observed…
Researchers discovered a proton-assisted mechanism that greatly improves how triplet energy moves between quantum dots and nearby molecules. The proton briefly shifts position, helps coordinate electron movement, and then returns to where it started. This quantum-driven shuttle…
Extremophiles that thrive in the most unforgiving environments aren’t just biological curiosities. Understanding their resilience has many implications for us. The post The Organisms That Make Earth’s Harshest Places Home first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Earth contains more than enough heat to power humanity many times over, but so far only a few lucky places have been able to exploit it. Now we may have a way to tap this vast clean energy source almost anywhere
Intermittingly inhaling a high dose of carbon dioxide seems to remove the proteins amyloid and tau, which are implicated in Alzheimer's disease, from the brain by boosting its glymphatic system
The Artemis II astronauts reminded us that they considered it the honor of a lifetime to go to the moon for us - and as us - while transmitting daily that they couldn’t wait to come home to us.
"I'm looking for a book where …" has become a defining phrase of BookTok, TikTok's massive community of readers and book influencers.
A supplement comprised of dead bacteria seems to remove microplastics, and prevent their absorption into cells, by attracting them to the bacteria's rough surfaces
The biologist’s bold “energetic view of life” looks to the body’s strangest organelles as the link between cells, health, and mind and the foundation of our experience of being alive. The post Martin Picard’s Mitochondrial Theory of Mind first appeared on Quanta Magazine
A 12-week intermittent fasting program produced weight-loss benefits that were still visible a year later. Participants who ate within an eight-hour window maintained more weight loss than those who followed their usual longer eating schedule. Both early and late eating windows…
An experiment showed AI users had the most creative ideas when they used it in moderation – not too much and not too little. Columnist David Robson puts the finding to the test, and explores what we lose when we over-rely on AI
Long before dinosaurs ruled the continents and modern crocodiles first appeared, their ancestors were already going through a decisive phase in their evolutionary history. It was in this ancient world, shortly after the greatest mass extinction in Earth's history, that a new…
New monkey species hailed as 'amazing discovery' by conservationist.
Temperatures are set to fall by several degrees in some areas, including parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England.
Today’s computers need safeguards against random energy fluctuations. Thermodynamic computers would put those fluctuations to use. The post Thermodynamic Computers Go With the (Energy) Flow first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Marine bristle worms have jaws made from a mix of proteins and metal ions that may constitute a whole new kind of material, with possible applications in engineering
Cutting back on our use of energy and materials so that we live within Earth’s means can seem like an insurmountable challenge. But after a decade grappling with these problems, a historic Portuguese city is beginning to walk this tightrope
Researchers have long suspected early life may have been helped by sugars brought to Earth by asteroids – now a sugar found in raspberries has been spotted in a cosmic cloud nearly 27 light years away
"Space is big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is."
Dads are often overlooked when it comes to parenting science. Darby Saxbe's fascinating new book Dad Brain is out to change that, says Olivia Goldhill
A new dog collar with GPS tracking enabled by SpaceX's Starlink direct-to-mobile network promises connectivity from almost anywhere.
Shielding astronauts from the deadly radiation they face is a central challenge for any designer of a deep-space crewed mission. Even relatively low levels of exposure over long periods can lead to everything from central nervous system damage to cancer. But current solutions…
Researchers solved the mystery of how soft lithium dendrites crack the hard ceramic inside solid-state batteries, triggering short circuits. The breakthrough could help engineers build safer, longer-lasting batteries for smartphones, electric vehicles, and other electronics.
Heading for Taiwan and south-eastern China, the 1,000 km-wide Bavi is forecast to be one of the strongest storms in decades.
An experiment with a charged molecule of bismuth and carbon reveals how effects from Albert Einstein’s special relativity reshape the standard understanding of chemical bonds
ESA's Rosalind Franklin rover will investigate possible signs of life in Martian clay.
This year's third heatwave is one of the longest lasting heatwaves since the infamous year of 1976.
To celebrate the fourth birthday of the James Webb Space Telescope, NASA has released a stunning image of the strangely shaped galaxy Centaurus A, the site of a cosmic collision 2 billion years ago.
Celebrating the United States' 250th anniversary, NASA released a stunning Hubble portrait of Messier 3, an ancient globular cluster with more than 500,000 stars. The remarkable cluster is helping scientists unravel the Milky Way's past thanks to its rare stars and possible…
Hubble has captured a spectacular view of LH 95, where about 2,500 young stars are still on their journey to becoming full-fledged stars. Scientists discovered these growing stars can keep pulling in gas and dust for millions of years, extending an important stage of stellar…
East Antarctica hosts the largest ice sheet on Earth, containing enough water to raise global sea levels by 52 meters (171 feet) were it to fully melt. Yet scientists have been puzzled for decades about how and why this ice sheet formed.
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has captured a spectacular red, white, and blue view of one of the Milky Way's oldest star clusters to celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary. Hidden within the ancient cluster are clues to how exploding stars helped transform the young universe…
Another heatwave is on its way and set to last significantly longer as Stav Danaos explains.
As Australia marks 50 years of NAIDOC Week, honoring the world's oldest living culture, humanity's newest technology has yet to reckon with a simple principle: "nothing about us, without us." The concern is that artificial intelligence (AI), like so many technologies before it…
A Nasa-funded robot has blasted off to catch a falling telescope in mid-orbit and blast it back to safety before it burns up.
Walk into any college library and you will likely see students wearing headphones and listening to music.
Astronomers discovered a planet 25 light-years away that orbits within the habitable zone of its star that could potentially support liquid water and possibly life.
NASA will send a soccer ball to the moon if the United States wins the FIFA World Cup, agency chief Jared Isaacman said on Tuesday (June 30).
North America will bake in extreme temperatures amid celebrations for the United States' 250th birthday.
A common brain protein may be giving Alzheimer’s disease an unexpected way to spread, carrying toxic Tau proteins from damaged neurons into healthy ones. By blocking these harmful protein packages before they reach new cells, researchers believe it may one day be possible to…
Astronomers may have witnessed one of the rarest and most dramatic cosmic events ever seen: a long-sought intermediate-mass black hole ripping apart a dense white dwarf star and devouring it. The Einstein Probe space telescope caught the explosion in its earliest moments…
Researchers have discovered that beneficial soil bacteria give plants an unexpected survival advantage in salty soils. Instead of helping plants keep salt out, the microbes stimulate the production of lignin, a natural compound that strengthens roots and makes plants more…
Two newly confirmed "super-puff" planets are so diffuse that they are less dense than cotton candy, despite being about the size of Jupiter. Their rare orbital relationship and enormous, lightweight atmospheres could provide valuable clues about how some of the strangest planets…
Brandon Routh's only outing in the cape is more than just a love letter to Richard Donner's classic original movie.
Check your life-clock crystal and make sure it’s not blinking red!
Lauren Williams tells 'The Joy of Why' how studying a fundamental object in algebraic combinatorics led to a career full of surprises. The post What Is the Positive Grassmannian and Why Does It Show Up Everywhere? first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Decades ago, Paul Erdős used randomness to illuminate the vast and weird world of networks. Now mathematicians are making his technique even more powerful. The post After 80 Years, Mathematicians Give Famed ‘Erdős Method’ an Upgrade first appeared on Quanta Magazine
A rare red weather warning is in place as extreme temperatures continue across much of the UK.
In remote Australia, First Nations communities battle extreme heat each summer. In January 2026 alone, the town of Alice Springs (Mparntwe) endured 20 days of temperatures above 40°C (104°F). This prolonged heat wave—defined as a period of unusually hot weather—can have…
Plants convert light into energy efficiently through photosynthesis—an ability that scientists and engineers still struggle to match with electronic devices. Recently, researchers have looked beyond traditional semiconductor materials to create devices using a promising class of…
Scientists have shown that the stride length of the front legs (but not the hind legs) of senior and geriatric dogs decreases as their cognitive performance worsens. In contrast, chronological age itself was a poor predictor of stride length. A similar reduction in step length…
A cave in New Zealand has yielded fossils from a lost ecosystem that existed about 1 million years ago, including a possible flying ancestor of the kākāpō. The discovery reveals that volcanoes and climate upheaval were reshaping the country’s wildlife and driving extinctions…
Recent observations suggest that dark energy is changing over time. Theorists wonder if dark matter is, too. The post A Dark Dimension Could Link Two of the Universe’s Great Unknowns first appeared on Quanta Magazine
A minimally invasive treatment called GAE is helping people with chronic knee pain get back to gardening, cycling, and other activities without undergoing knee replacement surgery. Early studies suggest the procedure can provide years of relief by reducing inflammation inside…
A clinical trial is exploring whether high doses of vitamin B3 could give patients with glioblastoma a better chance against the aggressive brain cancer. Scientists found that niacin may help revive immune cells that tumors shut down, allowing them to attack cancer more…
In the first episode of the new season of ‘The Joy of Why,’ Nobel Laureate Jennifer Doudna discusses how she discovered CRISPR’s genome-editing power, the breakthroughs and hurdles during its explosive growth, and what lies ahead for this groundbreaking technology. The post…
Swampy mangrove forests are staging a surprise comeback - which is good news for coastal communities and the climate.
A volunteer diver has described shaking as he filmed his encounter with an endangered Great White shark between Tunisia and Sicily.
Aptamers are short DNA or RNA strands that can recognize and bind to a specific target molecule with high precision. Similar to antibodies, they can be used to detect these molecules or modulate their activity. Unlike antibodies, they are much more stable, can be produced…
Our genetic heritage is not a blueprint or an algorithm, as many biologists have imagined, but something else entirely. The post Why the Human Genome’s Tangled Physicality May Confound AI first appeared on Quanta Magazine
"If confirmed, Shadow Blaster would be the first-ever individual dusty star-forming galaxy directly linked to a high-energy neutrino event."
The structure consisted of two posts that lined up with the solstices 5,000 years ago.
Tourism businesses across Aotearoa New Zealand are working to become more sustainable, but a new study shows the process is complex and rarely straightforward. The research, based on in-depth interviews, data analysis and site visits with established tourism operators across the…
A decades-old proof showed that seven shuffles are enough to mix up a deck of cards. But it requires you to cut the deck with the precision of a professional magician. A new proof gets around that obstacle. The post Seven Perfect Shuffles Randomize a Deck of Cards. But How Many…
Plausible answers range from 17 to — in all seriousness — 995.5. The post How Many Elementary Particles Are There, Really? first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Evidence is mounting that there are distinct subtypes of autism, and now, scientists have found that the condition can vary according to the strength of people's brain connections
The EU must reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040 relative to 1990—of which 5 percentage points can be achieved through climate action elsewhere, according to the 2025 law. A study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) now proposes a novel…
Artemis III will help test crucial systems needed for the planned Artemis IV Moon landing in 2028.
At first, scientists thought Earth’s water came from comets. Then, asteroids. Now, they wonder if Earth’s water is homegrown. The post Where Did Earth Get Its Oceans? Maybe It Made Them Itself. first appeared on Quanta Magazine
In a first, a large, international team led by multiple labs at Harvard Medical School and Princeton University has published a complete wiring diagram of all the connections between neurons in the central nervous system of an adult fruit fly.
Six simple things you can do to help keep your house cool when temperatures rise.
A new study challenges a long-standing assumption about how cyanobacteria survive environmental stress. The study, led by researchers at the Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research (IOLR)—the Kinneret Limnological Institute (KLI), shows that survival under prolonged heat…
We know that members of Gen Z are less likely to be in a steady relationship than millennials were at their age, but previous research missed out an important factor that actually widens the relationship recession
Sensational performances and stunning cinematography just about cover for a predictable plot with nothing much to say.
Global temperatures are expected to rise in the coming months as El Niño begins.
A senior figure in the Ukrainian defence industry told New Scientist that a test took place two years ago involving fully autonomous drones set to destroy anything in a given area, with confirmed casualties
Nasa names its next Artemis crew, though they will not be walking on the Moon or even going anywhere near it.
Astronomers have spent years searching for a possible hidden giant planet far beyond Neptune. Unusual orbits among distant Kuiper Belt objects have fueled the Planet Nine theory, but recent discoveries are challenging the idea by showing more stable motion than expected. If…
The June 2026 National Trends in Disability Employment (nTIDE) report reveals a large increase in job-seeking among people with disabilities, signaling that more individuals are entering the labor force as economic pressure intensifies. This finding aligns with last month's…
Hiroshima University researchers say a newly proposed three-step "detour" pathway for making dolichol, a molecule cells need to properly process proteins, may be more universal than scientists realized. Experiments in yeast suggest eukaryotes may rely on overlapping biochemical…
The podcast returns with 12 all-new episodes that explore the biggest questions in basic science and mathematics. The post More Conversations, Complex Questions, and Bold Ideas in Season Five of ‘The Joy of Why’ first appeared on Quanta Magazine
The Magellanic Clouds are a pair of dwarf galaxies passing the Milky Way probably for the first time, but as they move they have been interacting with each other for billions of years.
Russian attempt to repair tunnel area sparks safe-haven procedure for five other astronauts onboard.
In the 1960s, worm-training experiments and their strange implications captivated the nation. Columnist Claire L. Evans follows the neuroscientists who attempted to recapture the magic. The post Are Memories Transferable — or Edible? first appeared on Quanta Magazine
A newly discovered photographic postcard showing women who kept Portsmouth's railways running during the First World War has been revealed by a researcher at the University of Portsmouth—and he is appealing to local people to help identify those in the image.
Scientists examining amber from Goethe’s personal collection discovered three hidden fossil insects, including an extinct ant preserved in extraordinary detail. Advanced 3D imaging allowed researchers to see not only the ant’s outer features but also structures inside its body…
A large study of older adults in Brazil found that adding extra salt at the table is still a common habit, especially among men. While too much salt is linked to serious health problems and faster cognitive decline, researchers discovered that women’s salt-shaking habits were…
A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket exploded on a launch pad at Cape Canaveral in Florida on Thursday night.
Farmers at the Bath and West Show say there are strong parallels between energy and food security.
Explosion of Blue Origin rocket is a setback for the company and for Nasa's Moon plans.
Lifelike biochemistry continued to unfold in sterilized soil for six years, pointing to a metabolic theory for how biology began. The post The Dirt That Refused To Die first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Plastics, medicines, cosmetics—there are very few everyday products that do not rely on using fossil resources. A European research team led by Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin is now aiming to revolutionize this cornerstone of the chemical industry: as part of the CarboNcare…
A newly discovered species raises hope that some native British habitats could be restored.
'If you can't tend to your own planet, none of you deserve to live here.'
A new race to the moon is emerging between the United States and China. Unlike fifty years ago, the goal is no longer just about landing and leaving, but establishing a base that allows for a sustainable presence and extended stays on the surface of our natural satellite. The…
As traditional chip miniaturization slows, researchers have found a way to pack more computing power into the same space by stacking silicon circuits in multiple layers. The new process uses ultra-thin silicon membranes and low-temperature manufacturing techniques to overcome a…
Do we need quantum computers to fully understand complex chemical reactions? A new result, decades in the making, shows the surprising power of ordinary “classical” machines. The post Key Chemistry Question Answered, No Quantum Computer Required first appeared on Quanta Magazine
After an AI from OpenAI found a trick to solve an 80-year-old conjecture from Paul Erdős, mathematicians have borrowed the same technique to solve another important problem
Smaller plastic particles have more effects on neurons, the key information processing cells of the brain, new research from the University of Eastern Finland shows. In the study, neuronal cells were exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics at low doses to study subtle changes.
The charity says more than half of attacks happened on or near land managed for game shooting.
Grothendieck is revered in the world of math; outside of it, he’s known for his unusual life, if he’s known at all. But what were his actual mathematical contributions? The post How Alexander Grothendieck Revolutionized 20th-Century Mathematics first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Don't miss Spica greet the waxing moon in the southern sky on May 26
Researchers found that adding bananas to berry smoothies can dramatically reduce the body’s ability to absorb healthy flavanols. The surprising discovery shows that even simple food combinations can change how much nutrition your body actually gets.
A surprising study suggests vitamin D2 supplements may reduce the body’s levels of vitamin D3 — the more effective form of vitamin D. Researchers found D3 not only boosts vitamin D status more efficiently, but may also play a unique role in helping the immune system fight off…
Being able to see light and detect radiation is of utmost importance at any frequency. While this challenge has been solved in the visible range, radiation detectors in the far-infrared and terahertz regimes are either not sensitive, slow, or require bulky and expensive, often…
Scientists are attempting to build exercise equipment to be used on future space flights.
Vaccine misinformation, nurse and doctor shortages and crowded living arrangements may be behind soaring rates of diphtheria in remote Indigenous communities in Australia
These powerful tropical storms are generally becoming more intense as the world warms.
Evolutionary biologists are uncovering genomic mechanisms that allow populations to adapt quickly to different, hyperlocal habitats without splitting into new species. The post How Ecotypes Harbor the Genetic Memory of a Species’ Past first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Evapotranspiration is a critical link between water, energy, and carbon. Scientists need to understand it well to accurately predict weather, droughts, streamflows, and even carbon emissions.
By replacing the most fundamental concept in topology, Peter Scholze and Dustin Clausen are taking the first step in a far bigger program to understand why numbers behave the way they do. The post Two Researchers Are Rebuilding Mathematics From the Ground Up first appeared on…
The American academic research engine has long been the envy of the world. Generally well-funded, labs in the United States have been able to attract the best minds who generate breakthroughs and train the next generation workforce that powers the U.S. economy. But since the…
It was the hardest field trip they had ever been on, but the result was both surprising and exciting. After hiking 9 kilometers with a 400-meter elevation gain and carrying heavy backpacks through very rocky terrain, the researchers spent more than 24 hours in the field and…
The floating ice shelf of world’s widest glacier – Thwaites glacier in Antarctica – is detaching, with worrying implications for global sea-level rise
Too much bacteria linked to faeces found at almost all England's designated river bathing sites
We’ve long tried to control the weather by engineering rainfall. Now such cloud-seeding efforts are escalating, creating conflict between countries and stoking conspiracy theories. But do they work?
Astronomers have revealed the sharpest image ever captured of a filament in the cosmic web — the enormous hidden structure connecting galaxies across the Universe. The glowing strand stretches 3 million light-years and links two galaxies from nearly 12 billion years ago. By…
The textile industry produces a substantial portion of the world's waste, with only about 12% of fiber materials ending up in recycling. Textiles also account for much of the microplastics in oceans. During every wash cycle, synthetic fibers shed microplastics that are flushed…
Researchers at the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw (IIMCB), led by Prof. Gracjan Michlewski, have shown that a subtle difference at the very beginning of an RNA molecule can influence how strongly a cell activates innate immune antiviral responses.
Surrounded by streetlights and terraced houses, I never expected to capture detailed deep-space images from my backyard until I tried the Vaonis Vespera Pro telescope.
The bird retina is one of the most energetically expensive tissues in the animal kingdom, yet it doesn’t use the energy advantage of oxygen. New research finally explains how this is possible. The post How the Bird Eye Was Pushed to an Evolutionary Extreme first appeared on…
Scientists at UBC Okanagan have uncovered how plants produce mitraphylline, a rare natural compound with promising anti cancer potential. The team identified two enzymes that work together to build the molecule’s unusual twisted structure, solving a mystery that had puzzled…
Scientists in Japan have developed a new way to instantly detect elusive quantum “W states,” a major milestone for quantum technology. The breakthrough could help unlock faster quantum communication, teleportation, and powerful new computing systems.
The concept of a field plays a key role in particle physics, but what exactly is it? From its origins in the study of magnetism to the quantum fields of today, columnist Chanda Prescod-Weinstein goes exploring
SpaceX will launch its Dragon cargo capsule toward the International Space Station this evening (May 12), and you can watch the action live.
A computer science team believes they have discovered a previously unknown sketch of King Henry VIII's second wife - but not everyone is convinced.
It should be possible, but getting there will require a greater understanding of subsurface physics. The post Will We Ever Be Able To Forecast Volcanic Eruptions Like Weather? first appeared on Quanta Magazine
'Designing something new as a creator is incredibly exciting, but at the same time, it’s an extremely challenging endeavor.'
Creating quantum entanglement inside a solid material is tricky in the lab – but crystals buried in the earth could be growing it naturally. Now one scientist says he has proof he’s found them
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have made a surprising discovery about a galaxy long, long ago and far, far away: It isn't rotating. That's something only seen in the most massive, mature galaxies that are closer to us in space and time, said Ben Forrest, a…
Imagine being tasked with counting every blade of grass in a field, noting every single species as you go. This is not far from the challenge many scientists face when analyzing microscopic samples packed with thousands of tiny particles.
New research suggests glacier melt driven by climate change is increasing the risk of giant waves.
Armed with a slew of new instruments, physicists are closing in on one of nature’s oldest mysteries — and finding that storm clouds are seething with violent and unexpected phenomena. The post What Causes Lightning? The Answer Keeps Getting More Interesting. first appeared on…
A comprehensive study exploring coffee’s physiological effects finds that some of its benefits are down to polyphenols and their influence on gut bacteria
Generative AI has become a part of everyday student life in Canada. While institutions focus on misconduct and detection, a deeper shift is happening, one that concerns identity.
The human gut harbors a complex ecosystem of trillions of microorganisms (the microbiome), which influences digestion, the immune system and metabolism. A research team led by the University of Vienna has used the "reverse ecology" analytical approach to demonstrate that many…
