How did life get started on Earth? Atmospheric haze might have been the key
A recent study accepted to The Planetary Science Journal and currently posted to the arXiv preprint server investigates how the organic hazes that existed on Earth between the planet's initial formation and 500 million years afterwards, also known a.....»»
Solar wind power likely governs Uranus" thermosphere temperature
Uranus's upper atmosphere has been cooling for decades—and now scientists have shown why. Observations from Earth have shown Uranus' upper atmosphere has been cooling for decades, with no clear explanation......»»
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Arecibo Message
On the 50th anniversary of the “Arecibo message,” we present a reflection on humankind’s first attempt to send a transmission to intelligent life in the cosmos......»»
I played Half-Life 2 for the first time this year—here’s how it went
Wake up and smell the ashes, Ms. Washenko. It's Half-Life 2 week at Ars Technica! This Saturday, November 16, is the 20th anniversary of the release of Half-Life 2—a game of.....»»
How to Design a Real-Life Hot Wheels Loop
You should absolutely not build this thing. But it’s still fun to think through the physics......»»
NASA tests new AI chatbot to make sense of complex data
NASA has partnered with Microsoft to develop an AI-powered chatbot aimed at making sense of vast amounts of Earth-related science data......»»
Elon Musk teases sixth Starship flight test with video of spectacular catch
Ahead of the Starship's sixth test flight, SpaceX boss Elon Musk has shared a spectacular video showing the massive booster being caught on its return to Earth......»»
Electric field signals reveal early warnings for extreme weather, study reveals
A new study led by Dr. Roy Yaniv from the Institute of Earth Sciences at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Sheba Medical Center, in collaboration with Dr. Assaf Hochman from The Hebrew University and Prof. Yoav Yair from Reichmann University, ha.....»»
Kinetic Alfvén waves may be key to mystery of solar corona heating
Syed Ayaz, a researcher at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), has published a paper in Scientific Reports that builds on an earlier first-of-its-kind study that examined kinetic Alfvén waves (KAW) as a possible explanation for why the so.....»»
Climate change: Women"s role in the economy is key to a just transition
The realities of climate change are hitting home for many people living in the Global South. Food security, water access and health have been jeopardized by increased temperatures, extreme weather events and sea level rise......»»
Discovery of 2,586 orphan genes in Rosa chinensis reveals stress adaptation and flower development
Orphan genes, found only in specific lineages, are key drivers of new functions and phenotypic traits. This discovery lays a foundation for understanding how roses thrive under environmental challenges......»»
3 underrated shows on Peacock you need to watch in November 2024
Get ready for thrills, comedy, and real-life drama in the three underrated shows on Peacock that you need to watch in November......»»
Astrology Was an Important Science for Medieval People
In medieval times, astrology was considered a serious science, a branch of astronomy. Curator Larisa Grollemond of the Getty Museum, walks us through the medieval zodiac and how someone’s sign decided their day-to-day life......»»
Happy Martian New Year!
The Martian new year arrives with the Red Planet’s vernal equinox. Explaining why requires a deep dive into celestial mechanics and Earth’s calendrical history.....»»
Yes, the 10 worst passwords still include ‘password’ and ‘secret’
Some six years after virtual private network company NordVPN started searching data breaches for the most-used passwords, things are every bit as bad as when the company started. Each year, the company searches the dark web for passwords stolen by.....»»
iOS 18.2’s Genmoji and Image Playground have three key guardrails you should know
The next wave of Apple Intelligence is almost here, bringing some of the most highly anticipated new capabilities. But two such features, Genmoji and Image Playground, come with some key guardrails in iOS 18.2 you should know about. more….....»»
Half-Life 2 pushed Steam on the gaming masses… and the masses pushed back
Back in 2004, many players saw Valve’s new platform as nothing but “fancy DRM.” It's Half-Life 2 week at Ars Technica! This Saturday, November 16, is the 20th anniversary of.....»»
Research looks to see how hidden costs of Social Security claiming takes toll on widows
The timing of filing for Social Security benefits is one of the most important decisions senior Americans must make. But few think about the implications filing early or late in life has on widowed spouses, a segment of society that represents nearly.....»»
Hundreds of 19th-century skulls collected in the name of medical science tell a story of who mattered and who didn"t
When I started my research on the Samuel George Morton Cranial Collection, a librarian leaned over my laptop one day to share some lore. "Legend has it," she said, "John James Audubon really collected the skulls Morton claimed as his own." Her voice.....»»
Using genetic code expansion to study membrane proteins
Over the years, chemical biology methods have made an important contribution to the study of integral membrane proteins. A key modern approach is genetic code expansion (GCE), which makes it possible to modify proteins directly in living cells to giv.....»»
Q&A: Holobiont biology, a new concept for exploring how microbiome shapes evolution of visible life
Microorganisms—bacteria, viruses and other tiny life forms—may drive biological variation in visible life as much, if not more, than genetic mutations, creating new lineages and even new species of animals and plants, according to Seth Bordenstei.....»»