Science
Scientific discoveries and research
'The plastic divide'—how carrier bag bans impact the poorest communities
A new study from The University of Manchester has shed light on an unexpected consequence of plastic bag bans in East Africa, and why well-intentioned environme...
Ribosome could have emerged from ancient antagonism between parasites and proto-cells
Ribosomes are the components of cells that read RNA and build proteins. Without the ribosome, the chemistry of life would still be catalyzed by raw RNA. And yet...
Cannabis essential oils unlock how camphor repels mosquitoes
From summer evenings to global disease prevention, mosquito repellents are a daily defense for billions of people, yet until now, scientists didn't fully unders...
New lab technique can reverse chemical process linked with Alzheimer's disease
An Oregon State University scientist and a team of undergraduate students have uncovered real-time insights into a chemical process linked with Alzheimer's dise...
Enzymes work as 'Maxwell's demon' by using memory stored as motion
Living cells are sustained by countless chemical reactions that must be carefully regulated to maintain internal order and function. Enzymes play a central role...
Methane's missing emissions: The underestimated impact of small sources
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, with an impact estimated at 80 times that of CO₂. Although efforts are being made to reduce the contribution of big polluter...
First global bee estimates hint at thousands of hidden species
The world has far more bees than anyone realized. Scientists have, for the first time, estimated just how many species of bees are out there on a global scale,...
Chemists thought phosphorus had shown all its cards—until it surprised them with a new move
A discovery by UCLA organic chemists may one day put catalytic converter thieves out of business. In new research, they've used abundant, inexpensive phosphorus...
Diamond surfaces are covered in thin, ice-like water layers
Using atomic-scale defects in diamond, researchers in China have gained unprecedented insights into the complex chemical processes that unfold at the interfaces...
Planning exercises that got community engagement right
Much has been written about how government agencies struggle with community engagement in climate resilience planning. For example, a 2024 study by the Resilien...
US weather and climate disasters could top $1 trillion by 2030
From tornadoes and hurricanes to wildfires and floods, weather and climate disasters cause billions of dollars in damage, on top of their steep human toll. Thos...
Study finds Subaru Telescope papers doubled world-average citations in early years
How did the construction of the Subaru Telescope transform Japanese astronomy? A new study provides a quantitative answer by analyzing scientific publications a...