Earth & Environment
How early Earth’s unlikely chemical hero appeared
In early Earth's chemical soup, toxic hydrogen cyanide (HCN) was the unlikely hero ingredient.
Though a killer to all but a few lifeforms, HCN is...
How a new 30-inch pressure chamber is advancing deep-ocean exploration
Engineers at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) have unveiled a powerful new testing chamber that can recreate the extreme pressures found in the deepest parts...
Ancient seafloor creatures may hold the secret to the rise of complex life
Scientists have discovered that some of Earth's earliest complex life forms lived on the seafloor and depended on oxygen, challenging long-standing ideas about how...
These tiny California wildflowers may hold the key to saving plants from climate change
A small wildflower growing across California may help scientists understand how plants can survive a changing climate—and even offer clues for protecting other species...
Book publishing’s AI panic is here. And nobody knows what to do about it
The disruptive force of artificial intelligence is engulfing the world of book publishing.
In March, publisher Hachette Book Group pulled a forthcoming horror novel after...
Scientists develop cleaner, cheaper way to get lithium from hard rock
Lithium is one of the world's most important minerals because it is used in rechargeable batteries that power electric vehicles, smartphones, laptops, and energy...
The Sun is changing and we don’t know why
Put your ear to the ground in the right place and you can hear a train coming from miles away.
Long before it appears on...
Prenatal Pesticide Exposure May Affect the Brain for Years After Birth
A new study has raised serious concerns about a pesticide that has been widely used around the world for decades.
Researchers found that children exposed...
Scientists Turn Pomegranate Waste Into Powerful Water Purifier
Pomegranate peels that are normally thrown away by food vendors could soon help clean polluted water, thanks to a new study by researchers at...
Strange Two-Legged “Crocodile Cousin” Shows How Weird Life Was Before Dinosaurs Ruled Earth
Long before dinosaurs became the dominant animals on Earth, the planet was filled with strange creatures that looked unlike anything alive today.
One newly described...
Hidden Chemicals May Be Secretly Driving the Global Obesity Crisis
Obesity has become one of the biggest health problems in the modern world. Over the past few decades, the number of overweight and obese...
Nearly Half the Material in Your T-Shirt Is Wasted Before You Even Buy It
When people think about clothing waste, they usually picture old clothes being thrown away or dumped in landfills.
But according to new research, a huge...
FEATURED
Injured dinosaur in Spain left some unusual footprints behind
A set of dinosaur footprints in Spain has unusual features because the dinosaur that made the tracks had an injured foot.
The study was published...
What will happen if there is a black hole inside the sun?
In a striking blend of astronomy and theoretical physics, scientists have explored a mind-bending scenario: what if black holes existed inside stars?
This concept, stemming...
Anti-trans Texas order could spark violence, additional laws
The Texas order to investigate gender-affirming care as a form of child abuse goes against guidance from all relevant medical organizations and will cause...
Why you should think twice before trusting crypto influencers
With the rise of cryptocurrency, crypto influencers have gained popularity on social media, offering advice on how to invest in digital currencies.
But is their...
Russia’s timeline in Ukraine has accelerated. Here’s what you need to know
After peace talks fell through several weeks ago, Russia’s war in Ukraine has been ramping up in the eastern part of the country.
As the...
Exposure to this stuff may raise your risk of type 2 diabetes
In a recent study published in Molecular Metabolism, researchers found the biological mechanism linking long-term arsenic exposure to diseases such as cancer and Type 2...
Mantis shrimp inspires new breed of light sensors
Inspired by the eyes of mantis shrimp, researchers have developed a new kind of optical sensor that is small enough to fit on a...
New way to turn saltwater into drinking water—No electricity required!
A team of engineers from Rice University has developed an innovative desalination system that could change the way fresh water is produced in off-grid...