Science
Scientific discoveries and research
Hydrothermal vents supply a geochemical precursor of ATP that could have powered early life
Where did the energy come from to power the chemical origin of life, and how did phosphate come to be the universal energy currency of cells? Biologists from th...
Young infants see saliva sharing as a sign of a close bond, experiments suggest
Imagine you're an infant. Just a few months in the world, trying to gather your faculties, testing gravity—you're pretty helpless and fully reliant on the peopl...
Tetrahedral iron can help clays exchange electrons about ten times faster
Smectites are clay minerals that can contain large amounts of structural iron. Unlike iron oxides, they do not dissolve when their iron is reduced, so they can...
Newly available satellite data show just how flawed some river models can be
"Is there enough water? What's happening with climate change? How do I operate my hydro plant? In a world of water problems, there are problems that we need a g...
AI techniques behind image creation improve flash flood forecasts across U.S. river basins
A flash flood can devastate a community for years in a matter of minutes. These disasters account for roughly 85% of floods and cause thousands of deaths annual...
X-ray technique reveals how quantum materials respond to laser pulses in real time
Creating a quantum device often begins by intentionally damaging a crystal. Scientists fire an ultrafast laser pulse into a material, knocking atoms out of plac...
Highly sensitive biosensor enables rapid detection of cerebrospinal fluid leaks
A research team has developed a highly sensitive electrochemical biosensor capable of rapidly and accurately diagnosing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks that may...
Hydra loses its immortality after cold triggers switch to sexual reproduction
The freshwater polyp Hydra oligactis is essentially immortal and reproduces asexually by cloning itself. Except when it gets too cold: then the animal switches...
Flexible protein gate controls access to mitochondrial folds, simulations suggest
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, mitochondria in our cells churn out energy from the food we eat, which keeps our bodies functioning. Much of this wo...
Laughter, sighs and screams reveal unwritten social rules in everyday life
Alongside words, humans have a treasure trove of nonverbal tools to help express themselves. We chuckle, sigh and gasp to communicate our feelings without utter...
Mathematical model makes image encryption more resilient to real-world uncertainty
In today's digital world, everything from medical images and financial records to personal photos and secure communications depends on encryption systems that c...
Shape-shifting sensory cells may help insects process visual information with less delay
Anyone who has ever tried and failed to swat a fly has experienced the speed of a tiny nervous system. Now, a new review brings together evidence that its secre...