Earth & Environment
Scientists turn plastic bottles into clean hydrogen using only sunlight
Plastic waste is one of the world's biggest environmental problems. Millions of tons of plastic end up in landfills, rivers, and oceans every year,...
New printable cooling technology could replace harmful refrigerants
Air conditioners, refrigerators, and heat pumps help keep our homes, workplaces, and food cool. However, the refrigerants they use can create environmental and safety...
Europe’s last Neanderthals were more diverse than scientists ever imagined
A new study has revealed that the last Neanderthals living in Western Europe were far more connected and genetically diverse than scientists once believed.
The...
3-billion-year-old asteroid crater offers rare window into Earth’s violent past
Scientists have confirmed the age of the oldest known asteroid impact crater on Earth, revealing that a huge space rock struck our planet about...
New material could pull carbon dioxide directly from the air
Scientists in Spain have developed a new material that can capture carbon dioxide (CO₂) directly from the air more efficiently than many current technologies.
The...
Scientists find 1,000s-year-old human DNA hidden in cave walls
Scientists have made an exciting discovery that could change the way we study human history.
For the first time, researchers have shown that ancient human...
Earth’s oldest crater really is more than 3 billion years old
In the Pilbara of Western Australia, some of Earth's oldest rocks lie beneath the sky, as they have for billions of years.
They are dark,...
Australia’s under-16 social media ban has had little immediate impact, study finds
Australia became the first country in the world to introduce a nationwide law aimed at preventing children under the age of 16 from having...
Australia’s under-16 social media ban has had little immediate impact, study finds
Australia became the first country in the world to introduce a nationwide law aimed at preventing children under the age of 16 from having...
AI could deliver relevant online ads without tracking your every move, study finds
For years, online advertising has been built on a simple idea: if companies want to show people relevant ads, they need to collect large...
Did gravitational tides cause Earth’s extinctions?
Life on Earth took a long evolutionary journey that eventually created us, the purportedly intelligent species that dominates the planet.
But there was no grand...
Heat barcodes could make plastic recycling smarter and cleaner
Recycling plastic is much harder than many people realize.
Every day, homes and businesses throw away large amounts of plastic, which is collected and sent...
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The mystery of magnetic avalanches
Imagine you have a bunch of tiny magnets, much smaller than any magnet you've seen on a fridge.
These magnets are really just atoms inside...
How dust from the Sahara powers ocean life thousands of miles away
A surprising discovery shows that dust blown from the Sahara Desert plays a crucial role in supporting ocean life thousands of kilometers away.
This dust...
Switch to electric vehicles is the best option for cleaner road transport, study finds
The widespread adoption of battery electric vehicles offers the greatest energy efficiency and potential for CO2 reduction, new analysis by Cambridge engineers has shown.
But...
Scientists discover matrilineal societies in Iron Age Britain, revealing women’s central roles in power...
A groundbreaking study has uncovered evidence of a society in Iron Age Britain where women played central roles in family, politics, and society.
Using DNA...
2024 will prove a crucial year for EU, the Russia-Ukraine war
In the months leading up to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, mainland Europe was somewhat divided over the intelligence officials were receiving about the Kremlin...
Scientists discover mice can act like first responders to help unconscious peers
Humans are not the only ones who help others in need—mice may do it too!
A new study from the Keck School of Medicine at...
Winter-proof your home: Simple tips for staying warm and safe
As winter approaches and the days get shorter, many of us enjoy the cozy feeling of snuggling under a blanket with a hot cup...
1.2 billion years ago, a 1-kilometer asteroid smashed into Scotland
In 2008, scientists from Oxford and Aberdeen University made a startling discovery in the northwest of Scotland.
Near the village of Ullapool, which sits on...