Enceladus’ hidden oceans: Why finding alien life may be harder than we thought
Scientists searching for life beyond Earth often look to ocean worlds like Enceladus, one of Saturn’s icy moons.
Enceladus has a vast ocean beneath its...
Scientists discover “zombie fungus” that controls cave spiders in Ireland
A newly discovered fungus that turns spiders into “zombies” has been found in caves across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
The discovery was...
Astronauts are going to check if there are microbes on the outside of the...
On Thursday January 30th, astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are doing a 6.5-hour spacewalk outside the International Space Station.
Among other goals, they’ll be...
How tiny algae help giant clams grow big and shape coral reefs
Giant clams, among the largest mollusks in the ocean, are a fascinating part of tropical coral reefs.
These enormous creatures can grow up to 4.5...
Do bacteria have “sex lives”? New study reveals how they keep their species together
For a long time, scientists thought bacteria didn’t form species like plants and animals do.
This was because bacteria reproduce asexually, by splitting into two,...
Sniffing out treasure: dogs help discover new truffle species
Michigan State University researchers, alongside colleagues at the University of Florida, citizen scientists, and their highly trained “truffle dogs,” have discovered two new types...
Nearly 1 in 4 freshwater species face extinction, study warns
Freshwater ecosystems are among the most vital on Earth, but they’re also some of the most endangered.
Covering less than 1% of the planet’s surface,...
The secret lives of Phillip Island’s divorcing penguins
Life isn't always a beach for Phillip Island's beloved penguins, who have been found to divorce their partners and find a new mate if...
Dormancy could be one of the keys to life on Earth (and beyond)
It’s easy to forget that, despite life having existed on Earth for billions of years and despite our relatively carefree existence from total destruction,...
Unlocking life’s secrets: new advances in bioinformatics
Bioinformatics might sound like a complicated scientific term, but at its heart, it’s about using computers and technology to understand biology.
Imagine trying to read...