Science
Scientific discoveries and research
Photosynthesis: Study reveals how minerals are involved in homeostasis of chloroplasts
Plants fix 258 billion tons of CO2 in their chloroplasts through photosynthesis every year. For these cell organelles to work properly, they require certain min...
Solid, iron-rich megastructure under Hawaii slows seismic waves and may drive plume upwelling
Mantle plumes beneath volcanic hotspots, like Hawaii, Iceland, and the Galapagos, seem to be anchored into a large structure within the core-mantle boundary (CM...
A new class of strange one-dimensional particles
Physicists have long categorized every elementary particle in our three-dimensional universe as being either a boson or a fermion—the former category mostly cap...
Did we just see a black hole explode? Physicists think so—and it could explain (almost) everything
In 2023, a subatomic particle called a neutrino crashed into Earth with such a high amount of energy that it should have been impossible. In fact, there are no...
How play and social connection may help some dogs understand words
Some dogs are seemingly more talented than others. So-called gifted word learners (GWL) are rare canines that can rapidly learn the names of toys, a skill that...
AI challenges established norms in higher education
Studies from the Department of Communication and Learning in Science show that AI tools such as ChatGPT are not merely being used as support in students' studie...
Cape Town project tests what hydroponic farming can do in urban spaces
Imagine a world where fresh vegetables and herbs sprout in the heart of our cities without the need for sprawling farms. Hydroponics—a method of growing plants...
Ancient American pronghorns were built for speed
The fastest land animal in North America is the American pronghorn, and previously, researchers thought it evolved its speed because of pressure from the now-ex...
Q&A: Researcher calls for scientific reason when building artificial reefs
Millions of tires, old washing machines, barges, warships, covering the ocean floor with thousands of square kilometers of concrete—even giant, concrete spheres...
City council meetings amplify broader civic voices
City council public comment periods may focus on local issues, such as housing and public services. But new research from the University of Michigan shows they...
Global warming is speeding breakdown of major greenhouse gas, research shows
Scientists at the University of California, Irvine have discovered that climate change is causing nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas and ozone-depleting sub...
We ate space mushrooms and survived to tell the tale
The mushrooms spread out on the chopping board seemed normal enough. They were rich and dense, and had a strong earthy aroma. In the saucepan, they melted—along...