Scientists grow chickpeas in “moon dirt,” opening the door to farming on the Moon

As NASA prepares for future missions that could send astronauts back to the Moon, scientists are trying to answer an important question: what will...

Elephants steer clear of humans much more than other wildlife, study finds

Wild animals do not all react to human activity in the same way. A new study from Botswana shows that some species are much more...

Scientists design ice-controlling proteins to help the U.S. operate in extreme arctic cold

As the Arctic becomes a region of growing strategic competition, operating in its harsh environment remains a major challenge. Extremely low temperatures, ice buildup, and...

How long do civilizations last

It is one of the most famous questions in science, and it was asked, as legend has it, over lunch. Enrico Fermi, the physicist who...

Why your dog tries to help and your cat just watches

If you’ve ever lost something at home, you may have noticed a funny difference between your pets. Your dog might rush over, sniff around, and...

Scientists discover how a key protein opens tiny holes in our cells

Inside the human body, countless microscopic processes keep us alive and functioning. Fluids move, gases are exchanged, and charged particles flow in and out of...

Jupiter’s icy moons may have been born with the ingredients for life

Scientists have found new evidence that Jupiter’s largest moons may have received the chemical building blocks of life at the moment they formed. The discovery...

Could the world’s smallest possum be living on the Yorke Peninsula

A tiny, threatened marsupial not known to have inhabited South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula may exist as a relict population and still be clinging to...

What bonobos’ intimate rhythm can teach us about the origins of music and speech

Scientists studying bonobos, one of humanity’s closest living relatives, have uncovered surprising clues about how rhythm and communication may have evolved. By analyzing the timing...

Dogs’ gut bacteria may hold clues to surviving cancer

A dog’s chances of surviving cancer may depend partly on the tiny organisms living inside its digestive system, according to a new study from...