Science
Scientific discoveries and research
Discovery of genetic switch could help turn rice into a perennial crop
Rice is a vital crop that feeds more than half of the world's population. In the wild, many rice species are perennials that live for several years, but the var...
The 'private solution trap': Why richer countries may favor adaptation over public solutions, and who pays
A new study, led by the University of Nottingham and conducted by a team of 72 economists and psychologists across the world, has identified a potential "privat...
A safer, nonflammable battery electrolyte exists, but self-assembly flaw is holding it back
Many important technologies, from handheld phones to medical devices and transportation vehicles, rely on rechargeable batteries. Modern top-of-the-line recharg...
Python scales host microstructures that block bacterial biofilms—revealing potential for antimicrobial materials
Materials inspired by nature, or biomimetic materials, are nothing new. Scientists have designed water-resistant materials inspired by lotus leaves and rose pet...
Tracking Arctic freshwater flow from space
Arctic rivers wind through remote tundra and boreal forests, freezing solid in winter and surging each spring with snowmelt, eventually emptying into the ocean....
Urban blue tits use discarded cigarette butts to protect their nests, study suggests
Discarded litter not only makes our streets and neighborhoods look untidy, but it can also pose a significant risk to wildlife. However, in a surprising develop...
The evolutionary secret of the California poppy's alkaloids
Characteristic features of plants, such as their active ingredients or flower color, may have developed through very different evolutionary histories. This is s...
Decoding sugars one bond at a time—without labels
Researchers at National Taiwan University have developed a tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy platform that can identify tiny structural differences in oligosaccha...
Mining a methane-degrading bioreactor for protein rubies
Scientists have found a new type of iron-storing protein in a mixture of microbes containing methane-degraders. This discovery underscores the importance of cha...
Moby Dick 'ship sinking' sperm whales caught headbutting on camera
New research from the University of St Andrews reports sperm whales headbutting one another. The behavior was captured on film and described scientifically for...
Ancient 'syphilis-like' disease in Vietnam challenges long-held assumptions on congenital infection
The findings of a new study by a Charles Sturt University researcher and colleagues challenge a long-standing assumption used by scientists studying ancient dis...
Online ad fraud is a feature, not a bug
Technological advancements and the dynamics of the platform economy make rooting out fraud more complicated than it may seem. With print media circulation and b...