Could Martian atmospheric samples teach us more about the red planet than surface samples?
NASA is actively working to return surface samples from Mars in the next few years, which they hope will help us better understand whether ancient life once existed on the red planet's surface billions of years ago. But what about atmospheric samples.....»»
What is an Atlantic Niña? How La Niña"s smaller cousin could affect hurricane season
The North Atlantic Ocean has been running a fever for months, with surface temperatures at or near record highs. But cooling along the equator in both the Atlantic and eastern Pacific may finally be starting to bring some relief, particularly for vul.....»»
The leading alternative to GDP is languishing over a technical disagreement—with potentially grave consequences
Many commentators believe that the world should move away from measuring economic success in terms of GDP growth. Yes, growth has brought prosperity and untold riches, but it has had significant negative side effects for the planet, including climate.....»»
Event Horizon Telescope can now take images of black holes that are 50% sharper
The Event Horizon Telescope, which took the first ever image of a black hole, has made the highest ever resolution observations taken from the Earth's surface......»»
Record-breaking drought in southern China linked to Eurasian warming and tropical sea surface temperature
Southern China experienced an extreme drought that persisted from summer to autumn in 2022, ranking as the most severe drought since 1980. The reason for the occurrence of this extreme drought event was investigated. It shows that both the Eurasian w.....»»
New study shows Alaskan snow crab population collapse in Bering Sea due to climate change
A team of marine biologists from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has found that climate change is the reason for the population collapse of Alaskan snow crabs in the Bering Sea......»»
On wildfires, experts say the West needs to rethink its response
Wildfires and the pain they cause to people, property and the planet are here to stay. And if Western management practices don't change to anticipate more and more record fire years, that pain may spread and worsen......»»
This bird species was extinct in Europe. Now it"s back, and humans must help it migrate for winter
How do you teach a bird how, and where, to fly? The distinctive Northern Bald Ibis, hunted essentially to extinction by the 17th century, was revived by breeding and rewilding efforts over the last two decades. But the birds—known for their distinc.....»»
Researchers identify effective materials for protecting astronauts from harmful cosmic radiation on Mars
Researchers have identified specific materials, including certain plastics, rubber, and synthetic fibers, as well as Martian soil (regolith), which would effectively protect astronauts by blocking harmful space radiation on Mars. These findings could.....»»
Professor proposes how a black hole in orbit around a planet could be a sign of an advanced civilization
In 1971, English mathematical physicist and Nobel-prize winner Roger Penrose proposed how energy could be extracted from a rotating black hole. He argued that this could be done by building a harness around the black hole's accretion disk, where infa.....»»
Wallarm API Attack Surface Management mitigates API leaks
Wallarm announced its latest innovation: API Attack Surface Management (AASM). This agentless technology transforms how organizations identify, analyze, and secure their entire API attack surface. Designed for effortless deployment, Wallarm AASM empo.....»»
First analysis of soil near the moon"s south pole suggests its surface was once covered in molten magma
India's Chandrayaan-3 mission was launched last summer and its Vikram lander touched down on the moon's surface last August. Shortly thereafter, it released a rover called Pragyan. Since that time, the rover has been meandering around the surface of.....»»
Repurposing pencil lead as an optical material using plasma
Optical materials are essential in many modern applications, but controlling the way a material reflects light on its surface is costly and difficult. Now, in a recent study, researchers from Japan found a simple and low-cost way of tuning the reflec.....»»
Unveiling glycoRNAs: New study proves they do exist
In a groundbreaking exploration of cell surface biology, Ryan Flynn has uncovered a surprising role for RNA outside the confines of the cell. Flynn's research, which focuses on the biology of cell surface RNA, led to the discovery that certain RNAs a.....»»
High school book club with prisoner on Death Row explores the complexities, joys of Black life
During the COVID-19 pandemic, when young people across the U.S. were struggling with the isolation, disruptions and frustrations imposed by shuttered schools, online learning and the dearth of social activities, the students in then-high school teach.....»»
What the unique shape of the human heart tells us about our evolution
Mammals, from the mighty blue whale to the tiny shrew, inhabit nearly every corner of our planet. Their remarkable adaptability to different environments has long fascinated scientists, with each species developing unique traits to survive and thrive.....»»
Lithospheric oddities may be sculpting continental interiors
Interactions between neighboring tectonic plates can push parts of Earth's surface up or down to form notable features, such as the Andes and the Himalayas. The forces that sculpt the Earth's surface far from plate edges are less well understood. For.....»»
New view of North Star reveals spotted surface
Researchers using Georgia State University's Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy (CHARA) Array have identified new details about the size and appearance of the North Star, also known as Polaris. The new research is published in The Astrophys.....»»
Researchers teach artificial intelligence about frustration in protein folding
Scientists have found a new way to predict how proteins change their shape when they function, which is important for understanding how they work in living systems. While recent artificial intelligence (AI) technology has made it possible to predict.....»»
Novel ratchet mechanism uses a geometrically symmetric gear driven by asymmetric surface wettability
The ratchet mechanism is a fascinating energy-conversion system that converts disorderly or random motion into orderly, directed movement through a process known as spontaneous rectification. It is a critical component of mechanical systems, typicall.....»»
Apple wants to put touch screens on every MacBook Pro metal surface
Apple still won't make us a touch-screen Mac, but it is at least considering adding touch-sensitive displays on just about every surface that surrounds the MacBook Pro keyboard as the next best thing.Detail from the patent showing an image of a surpr.....»»