Science
Scientific discoveries and research
Earthquake scientists reveal how overplowing weakens soil at experimental farm
Plowing, or tilling, is an age-old agricultural practice that readies the soil for planting by turning over the top layer to expose fresh earth. The method—inte...
Monte Verde fieldwork resets age of famous South American archaeological site
New research led by a University of Wyoming archaeologist near an ancient encampment in South America challenges a relatively new but widely accepted theory tha...
How an RNA-binding protein detects and responds to non-optimal codon usage in human cells
Human genes are written in long strings of three-letter units composed of four different nucleotides. These units—or codons—specify one of many amino acids, the...
Humans and animals have the same preference in mating calls, citizen science experiment finds
The bright colors of butterfly wings, the sweet aromas of flowers, and the euphonious melodies of songbirds all evolved as signals that help individuals propaga...
How our planet's history was shaped when the Earth moved
The history of Earth is written on the great tablets of tectonic plates. The motions of plates shaped land masses, formed oceans, and created the varied climate...
Old-growth forests store a lot more carbon than managed forests, study finds
Swedish old-growth forests store 83% more carbon than managed forests, according to a new study from Lund University. The difference is substantially larger tha...
Study uncovers mineral 'sink' that reduced phosphorus in early oceans, potentially delaying Earth's oxygen rise
Scientists have long sought to explain a key mismatch in Earth's early history: oxygen-producing photosynthesis evolved hundreds of millions of years before atm...
Microbial warfare helps bacteria evolve
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a main cause of bacterial pneumonia worldwide. It can also cause ear and sinus infections and, in more severe cases, meningitis or s...
Changing leafcutter ants' food reshapes their microbial gardens, scientists find
A colony of leafcutter ants is home to more than just one species. Each year, studies reveal new layers of complexity in these ecosystems, where various fungi a...
AI can sway voter behavior—EU regulations fall short, study reveals
AI systems are increasingly shaping public opinion, often in very subtle ways. A new study reveals that current legislation, such as the EU AI Act, is ill-equip...
No exotic physics needed: A new formation mechanism of skyrmions inside magnets
Skyrmions, in which electron spins inside a magnet are arranged like vortices, are a key structure in next-generation spintronics technology. KAIST researchers...
JUICE is planning to do science on Jupiter's 'minor' moons too
The European Space Agency's (ESA's) Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) probe is on its (very long) way to Jupiter, and will finally arrive at the King of Planet...