Science News

Latest science news, discoveries and scientific developments.

Hidden erosion: Study reveals soft mountain rock erodes three times faster than hard rock—with climate implications
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Hidden erosion: Study reveals soft mountain rock erodes three times faster than hard rock—with climate implications

A University of Massachusetts Amherst-led research team has discovered that weaker rock in mountain landscapes erodes three times faster than harder rock—even on gentler slopes—and is one of the main attributes governing mountain erosion. The finding also challenges our current understanding of the relationship between erosion and the release of carbon dioxide, and suggests that geologists and atmospheric scientists may be underestimating the CO₂ contributions coming from the Earth's rocky places.

📅 2026-10-30 20:40:01    •    Phys.org
Why it could be a bad idea to get AI to flirt for you
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Why it could be a bad idea to get AI to flirt for you

You finally started an online conversation with a stranger you find attractive, yet you don't really know what to say. They seem happy to talk, but you struggle to find the correct responses. You worry that their patience is growing thin. You pray for some guidance. Luckily, the solution could be just a few clicks away.

📅 2026-10-30 20:00:04    •    Phys.org
Four new frog species reveal more of Peru's biodiversity
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Four new frog species reveal more of Peru's biodiversity

Science can't study a species—or unlock its potential to change the world—until people actually know it exists. Four new species of frogs have now been given names, thanks to the efforts of FIU biologist Alessandro Catenazzi.

📅 2026-10-30 20:00:02    •    Phys.org
Novel chemical reaction expands options for building DNA-encoded libraries
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Novel chemical reaction expands options for building DNA-encoded libraries

Finding new drugs requires screening vast numbers of compounds to identify those that interact with a biological target. DNA-encoded libraries (DELs) help researchers explore these large collections by attaching a short DNA sequence to each molecule, acting as a molecular barcode that allows compounds with promising properties to be identified.

📅 2026-10-30 19:20:06    •    Phys.org
Survey reveals what students think about AI
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Survey reveals what students think about AI

College students say they use AI mostly for learning and don't use it to cut corners but think that their peers do, according to the inaugural Dartmouth AI Survey, a new multiyear survey on how AI is shaping students' learning and career readiness.

📅 2026-10-30 19:20:01    •    Phys.org
Crop diversification protects fields from extreme weather and boosts productivity
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Crop diversification protects fields from extreme weather and boosts productivity

Varying crop rotations and keeping the soil constantly covered with vegetation help protect crops against droughts and floods, in addition to increasing productivity. This technique was tested in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, by researchers from the Center for Carbon Research in Tropical Agriculture (CCARBON) at the University of São Paulo (USP).

📅 2026-10-30 19:00:01    •    Phys.org
A decade of carbon dioxide data from space gets an upgrade
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A decade of carbon dioxide data from space gets an upgrade

Every day, two NASA space instruments known as the Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 and -3 (OCO-2 and OCO-3) capture more than a million observations of sunlight reflecting off Earth's surface. Using the physics of how light travels through the air, an algorithm converts these raw data into atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations.

📅 2026-10-30 18:40:08    •    Phys.org
Drone-based AI system tracks cattle growth without stressful trips to scales
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Drone-based AI system tracks cattle growth without stressful trips to scales

In beef cattle production, determining the ideal time to sell makes all the difference in a producer's costs. This is because, once an animal reaches its natural growth limit, it stops gaining weight significantly. From that point on, every additional day in a feedlot means spending money on feed without gaining meat in return.

📅 2026-10-30 18:20:01    •    Phys.org
17th-century sleuths in the dock for witchcraft and wizardry
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17th-century sleuths in the dock for witchcraft and wizardry

Magical versions of today's private investigators found themselves on the wrong side of the law in one English city some 400 years ago, according to research by a University of Southampton historian.

📅 2026-10-30 17:40:22    •    Phys.org