We could see the glint off giant cities on alien worlds, suggests paper
How large would an extraterrestrial city have to be for current telescopes to see it? Would it need to be a planet-sized metropolis like Star Wars' Coruscant? Or could we see an alien equivalent of Earth's own largest urban areas, like New York City.....»»
Cloud cover and urban structures drastically reduce sunlight in cities
Sunlight plays a crucial role in public health, affecting vitamin D synthesis and psychological well-being. Inadequate exposure to sunlight is associated with various adverse health outcomes, such as cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, depre.....»»
Medicinal tree successfully grown from 1,000-year-old seed found in cave
An international team of botanists, agriculturists and historians has successfully grown a mature tree from an ancient seed found in a cave in Israel. In their paper, published in the journal Communications Biology, the group describes where the seed.....»»
Finnish zoo to return pandas to China early
Finland will return two giant pandas on loan from China more than eight years ahead of schedule because of financial problems at the zoo where they are housed, its chair told AFP on Wednesday......»»
Extreme botany: Paramotorists soar across remote Peru desert to collect threatened plants
In an innovative paper published today in the journal Plants, People, Planet, scientists from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Huarango Nature and paramotorists from Forest Air, highlight the exciting potential of paramotoring as a means of aiding res.....»»
The "publish or perish" mentality is fueling research paper retractions—and undermining science
When scientists make important discoveries, both big and small, they typically publish their findings in scientific journals for others to read. This sharing of knowledge helps to advance science: it can, in turn, lead to more important discoveries......»»
Obama"s 2012 reelection tied to better mental health in educated Black men, study suggests
Following Barack Obama's reelection as U.S. president in 2012, the mental health of college-educated Black men improved significantly, while those who didn't attend college reported worse mental health, according to new research from Rice University.....»»
This forgotten Ridley Scott action thriller is better than you remember (and no, it’s not Blade Runner)
From Alien and Blade Runner to 2024's Gladiator II, Ridley Scott has directed some great movies. This 1989 film isn't one of them, but it's still worth a look......»»
Graphene at 20: Still no sign of the promised space elevator, but the material is quietly changing the world
Twenty years ago this October, two physicists at the University of Manchester, Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov, published a groundbreaking paper on the "electric field effect in atomically thin carbon films." Their work described the extraordinar.....»»
Enigmatic archaeological site in Madagascar may have been built by people with Zoroastrian origins, research suggests
At the turn of the first millennium AD, an unknown group of people lived in the inland Isalo massif of southern Madagascar. Here, they built vast terraces and carved large stone chambers and small hollow rock niches. The architecture is unlike anythi.....»»
Proof-of-concept study uses X-rays to target mock-up asteroids in a vacuum
An X-ray pulse may be able to vaporize the surface of an asteroid and change its trajectory, according to a proof-of-concept paper published in Nature Physics. A laboratory experiment that mimics the deflection of an asteroid model using this techniq.....»»
Educators and parents reveal culture of fear, censorship, and loss of learning opportunities in wake of FL policies
How can a teacher discuss Jim Crow laws without breaking state law? Should a librarian stop ordering books with LGBTQ+ characters? A new white paper by UC San Diego and NYU researchers reveals the experiences of K-12 educators and parents in Florida.....»»
Could stars hotter than the sun still support life?
Although most potentially habitable worlds orbit red dwarf stars, we know larger and brighter stars can harbor life. One yellow dwarf star, for example, is known to have a planet teaming with life, perhaps even intelligent life. But how large and bri.....»»
The Samsung Galaxy S25 may not get the camera upgrade you were hoping for
The Samsung Galaxy S25 is shaping up to being a disappointment. Another rumor suggests certain upgrades aren't going to happen this time......»»
This bizarre Franz Kafka game might just be a perfect fit for VR
Metamorphosis VR, an adaptation of Franz Kafka's classic novel, is a strange project on paper, but it's a surprisingly smart fit for VR......»»
High pay seen as sign of competence, study suggests
When given the choice, people prefer to collaborate on work projects with higher-paid colleagues, but they want to hire subordinates with a lower pay history than theirs, according to research published in the journal American Psychologist......»»
New millisecond pulsar discovered
Using the Green Bank Telescope (GBT), astronomers have observed a globular cluster known as Terzan 6. They detected a new millisecond pulsar that is likely associated with this cluster. The finding was reported in a research paper published September.....»»
Giant panda skin cells transformed into stem cells to help ensure their survival
A team of biologists in China has reprogrammed skin cells from giant pandas into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), opening the door to creating primordial germ cells that could serve as precursors to sperm and egg cells......»»
Scientists reviewed 7,000 studies on microplastics. Their alarming conclusion puts humanity on notice
It's been 20 years since a paper in the journal Science showed the environmental accumulation of tiny plastic fragments and fibers. It named the particles "microplastics.".....»»
Giant sinkholes in a South Dakota neighborhood make families fear for their safety
Giant sinkholes in a South Dakota neighborhood make families fear for their safety.....»»
Double-edged STING: A new pathway involved in aging
A protein called STING, previously shown to control a pathway that contributes to antiviral signaling, also plays an important role in cellular stress clearance and cell survival, according to a new paper published in Molecular Cell......»»