John Mutter remembers seeing the roofs of single-story homes poking above the water level in the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans.
Scientists found a new way to turn sunlight into fuel
A research team created a plant-inspired molecule that can store four charges using sunlight, a key step toward artificial photosynthesis. Unlike past attempts, it works with dimmer light, edging closer to real-world solar fuel production.
Maui’s fires drove a 67% jump in deaths. Most went uncounted
Researchers uncovered that the Maui wildfires caused a spike in deaths far higher than reported, with hidden fatalities linked to fire, smoke, and lack of medical access. They warn that prevention rooted in Native Hawaiian ecological knowledge is critical to avoiding another tragedy.
70 Years of Data Show Extreme Heat is Already Wiping Out Tropical Bird Populations
Human-driven climate change threatens many species, including birds.
Mystery Tumours Killing Tree Frogs
Research into fatal tumours growing on Queensland tree frogs has begun at The University of Queensland.
Researchers Identify Weak Points in Diamond Fusion Fuel Capsules
Scientists at the University of California San Diego have uncovered how diamond — the material used to encase fuel for fusion experiments at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) in Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory — can develop tiny structural flaws that may limit fusion performance.
500-million-year-old “squid” were actually ferocious worms
A stunning discovery in North Greenland has reclassified strange squid-like fossils, revealing that nectocaridids were not early cephalopods but ancestors of arrow worms. Preserved nervous systems and unique anatomical features provided the breakthrough, showing these creatures once ruled as stealthy predators of the Cambrian seas. With complex eyes, streamlined bodies,...
Extinct human relatives left a genetic gift that helped people thrive in the Americas
Scientists have discovered that a gene called MUC19, inherited from Denisovans through ancient interbreeding, may have played a vital role in helping Indigenous ancestors adapt as they migrated into the Americas. Found at unusually high frequencies in both modern and ancient populations, the gene likely provided immune advantages against new...
Scientists unlock nature’s secret to superfast mini robots
Ripple bugs’ fan-like legs inspired engineers to build the Rhagobot, a tiny robot with self-morphing fans. By mimicking these insects’ passive, ultra-fast movements, the robot gains speed, control, and endurance without extra energy—potentially transforming aquatic microrobotics.
Why tiny bee brains could hold the key to smarter AI
Researchers discovered that bees use flight movements to sharpen brain signals, enabling them to recognize patterns with remarkable accuracy. A digital model of their brain shows that this movement-based perception could revolutionize AI and robotics by emphasizing efficiency over massive computing power.