Explore the latest scientific discoveries, science news, breakthroughs and developments from around the world.
In all likelihood, the Neanderthals had flat feet. But it was not a defect at all. Instead, it was the consequence of a precise functional strategy to reduce impact stress under heavy loads and maximize stability on mountainous or rough terrain.
Archaeologists have discovered the third-largest assemblage of Ice Age cave art ever found in Mediterranean Iberia in a region thought devoid of cave art, transforming our knowledge of Paleolithic European art.
A meta-analysis of empirical studies involving more than 31,000 participants has revealed the factors that affect the level of influence of so-called social media influencers. Those factors include credibility, expertise, attractiveness and perceived similarity to their followers. They are, the work shows, positively associated with the attitude of consumers toward the brands mentioned or promoted by those influencers and, in turn, their purchasing intentions. Details of the analysis are published in the International Journal of Internet Marketing and Advertising.
Across 10 states this Election Day, voters overwhelmingly backed restrictions on data center development or rejected measures that would have eased their construction
Fluorescent materials usually emit a single consistent color. They are typically made from dyes or metallic components. In contrast, researchers reporting in ACS Central Science have created carbon dots that can fluoresce in a range of colors under UV light, depending on the concentration and the liquid they're in. The team incorporated the new carbon dots into plastic decorations and used them to create a data encryption system.
A recent study published in Nature Electronics and carried out by researchers from nanoGUNE's Quantum Hardware research group, Quantum Motion, London Center for Nanotechnology, Imperial College London and the University of Cambridge introduces a new superinductor created within a silicon integrated circuit fabricated in a commercial complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) process.
Mermaids have inhabited world folklore and mythology for centuries. Ancient Babylonians worshiped Oannes, a human-fish hybrid; sirens populated Greek mythology; and fairy tales such as "The Little Mermaid" have made this figure a pop culture icon.
An international research project is bringing scientists closer to mapping the universe. The MeerKLASS Collaboration has reported its first measurement of the large-scale clustering of cosmic hydrogen, advancing a technique that could transform how cosmologists chart the universe.
The European Union's Omnibus reform has exempted most of the companies it once covered from mandatory sustainability reporting under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). It has also dropped plans for tougher "reasonable" assurance checks on green claims, which come closer to a full audit.
Wearable health-monitoring devices are becoming increasingly important for personalized health care, but conventional patches often rely on substrates that restrict airflow, trap sweat and cause skin discomfort during prolonged use. These limitations can also interfere with the reliable collection and analysis of sweat, highlighting the need for breathable materials that support both comfortable wear and accurate sensing.
Atypical weather conditions caused the Antarctic ozone hole to grow to an unusually large size in 2026, NOAA and NASA scientists reported today, though they said the protective ozone layer is still on track to recover by later this century.
The p97 protein plays a central role in cellular quality control by preparing defective or no-longer-needed proteins for degradation and recycling. Researchers at the University of Münster, in collaboration with the University of Duisburg-Essen, have investigated how p97 and its auxiliary proteins interact in this process. The study has now been published in the journal Nature Communications.