Science
Scientific discoveries and research
Two suns are better than one—planets thrive around binary stars
Planets may actually form more easily around double stars than around single stars like our sun, according to new research from astrophysicists at the Universit...
What to know about sex trafficking as Pittsburgh hosts the NFL draft
With the NFL draft taking place in Pittsburgh and an estimated 500,000 to 700,000 people expected to attend the events downtown and on the North Shore, conversa...
DNA molecular computer combines memory and computing at scales below 2 nm
Until now, molecular-level DNA circuits have mainly been used for simple tasks, such as detecting the presence of cancer-related substances. However, these syst...
The Duolingo taxi test—could being rude to the driver cost you your dream job?
Duolingo recently revealed a seemingly genius trick to assess candidates for a senior position. Hiring managers at the language-learning app read applications a...
Brazil's farm expansion has left a vast soil carbon debt—but one fix could help meet climate goals
The conversion of Brazil's native biomes into agricultural areas has resulted in an estimated loss of 1.4 billion tons of soil carbon. This amount is equal to t...
Mining the solar system to build a new world
I watched Armageddon again fairly recently with Bruce Willis, oil drillers in space and an asteroid the size of Texas bearing down on Earth. Buried beneath the...
CRISPR untangles five-gene protein that helps plants grow in early stages
For most of their lives, plants get their energy from photosynthesis. But during the seed to seedling stage, when they can't absorb light just yet, they rely on...
Japan startup seeks approval of cat kidney disease treatment
A Japanese startup has filed for approval of a new drug to treat chronic kidney disease in cats, the founder said on Monday, offering hope for a common afflicti...
Rare ribosome tweak in E. coli reveals possible antibiotic target
Storing genetic material as DNA or RNA is all well and good for life on Earth, but it would be entirely pointless if we couldn't do anything with it. To use our...
Researchers say remote Lake Superior island's wolves are thriving as packs prey on moose
Wolves on a remote island in Lake Superior appear to be thriving, but they're making deep dents in the moose population that they rely on as a leading food sour...
More than two species? Scientists challenge taxonomy of two-toed sloths in Amazonia
A new study by scientists from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) has revealed significant cryptic diversity within two-toed slot...
Beer and cannabis could share 'sex switch,' study finds
Researchers at University College Dublin have identified a genetic "switch" that determines the sex of cannabis plants, and found the same system may exist in h...