Latest science news, discoveries and scientific developments.
Much of what we know about biology comes from animal models, particularly mice. Applying these insights to humans, however, is not always straightforward. For example, some of the genes important for the formation of germ cells, which eventually give rise to eggs or sperm, differ between mice and humans.
The authors call on governments, investors and conservation organizers to reimagine nature finance based on a central tenet: raising funds should be a means to an end, not an end in itself.
The word "vacuum" may conjure the image of empty space. Maybe you think of a region far outside the solar system without planets, debris, gas clouds or light. According to quantum theory, however, a vacuum is never truly empty. Quantum mechanics extends the Heisenberg uncertainty principle—which states that we cannot measure the position and the velocity of an object exactly at the same time—to a vacuum. The result is that a vacuum can never be still.
For decades, ribosomes have been under the lens of many scientists. Ribosomes are highly sophisticated and complex molecular machines that allow cells to synthesize proteins. However, putting ribosomes together requires intricate assembly processes. While many underlying mechanisms for building ribosomes have been discovered ex situ (outside their native cellular context), our understanding of how ribosomes are assembled in situ has so far remained limited.
An eyewitness can tell the truth, believe every word they say and still send an innocent person to prison. A new study by Stephen Charman from FIU's Department of Psychology takes on a question that has challenged the justice system for decades: Can we rely on eyewitnesses to help identify the person responsible for a crime?
Scientists at Rutgers and in Estonia have used invisible light to look into tiny magnetic whirlpools, called vortices, inside a superconductor, revealing details that could help researchers develop better materials for carrying electricity.
In the ancient past, when human communities were small and the only way to travel was by walking, what were the chances of meeting a stranger? And what would happen next?
Plastic that enters the environment does not necessarily make its way to the sea via rivers. In fact, only a tiny fraction eventually reaches river mouths. Most plastic remains on land or within river systems.
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory has found what might be a tiny new world in the far reaches of our solar system, hidden beyond the orbit of Neptune — and it is among the largest and brightest objects ever discovered beyond Neptune. If confirmed, the miniature world would increase the number of officially recognized solar system dwarf planets to six. Upper estimates of the object's size place it at more than half the diameter of Pluto, the largest known dwarf planet. "My first reaction was one of excited disbelief," Matthew Holman, an astrophysicist at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and member of the Rubin team who wrote the code that helped discover the prospective dwarf planet, sai...
At first glance, it is easy to see why Corybas puniceus has captured the attention of collectors around the world. Small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, its unusual shape and bursts of color make it unlike almost anything else in the orchid world. The species, found only in Southeast Asia, is classified as critically endangered.
Eggs follow a very different developmental path from sperm. Once a male hits puberty, sperm cells are produced continuously throughout his life. Eggs, however, are all produced during the fetal stage. Once formed, eggs enter a long dormant state called the dictyate stage, in which the process of cell division (meiosis) is paused partway through. This dormant period ends only when the egg is ovulated.
Mice and rats can spread dangerous viruses and bacteria, trigger asthma attacks and damage property with their constant gnawing. So when rodents get indoors, most people take action to help keep their home safe.
Scientists can now edit genes in precise locations deep in the brain and body without the use of invasive surgery or implants, thanks to new work from researchers at the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute. The team demonstrated its technique, which uses a combination of ultrasound, light-emitting nanoparticles and photo-controllable gene-editing proteins, by successfully altering genes in mouse brains at selected locations.
Forever chemicals are renowned for their durability and their non-stick properties, but they persist for years in the environment. An alternative inspired by plants doesn't have the same problem
After the United Nations adopted a resolution in September 2026 endorsing a map that more fairly represents the size of Earth's landmasses, author and journalist Moky Makura of Africa No Filter—a main sponsor of the Correct the Map initiative—asked: "What else about Africa is the world underestimating that's also hidden in plain sight?"
Researchers at Aarhus University have discovered that bacteria can continue producing DNA after they die. And they have found a way to control what gets produced. The discovery could eventually contribute to the development of new biological materials.
Researchers have experimentally demonstrated, for the first time, that it is possible to obtain from an altermagnet a spin current that can transport magnetic information. This result is supported by the theoretical model of electron transport developed by the CFM group. Altermagnets are a new class of materials that, despite not exhibiting the net magnetization characteristic of conventional magnets, can generate this type of current.
Organisms are products of the environments they live and evolve in. While the physical world is governed by universal laws like thermodynamics and gravity, there are few laws of biology. An open question for biologists like me is how environmental conditions shape what organisms look like and dictate how they live, breathe and move.
A new study lets some of the air out of a long-held theory that growing, rocky planets will lose their atmosphere if they smash into a large object in space.
For the first time, UC Riverside scientists have measured how much microplastic pollution falls on the Sierra Nevada during snowstorms and were surprised to find significant amounts even in the most remote locations.