Venus’s pale yellow clouds may hide something surprisingly dark
Scientists calculated that Venus's clouds' unidentified dark ultraviolet material absorbs light far more strongly than previously thought. This finding narrows possibilities for determining whether the mysterious substance is organic, inorganic, or something unexpected.
Scientists find water was fueling volcanoes 3 billion years ago
Water-rich crustal material sank into Earth's mantle more than three billion years ago through a process called "dripduction," fueling volcanic eruptions. Ancient rocks from Western Australia provided evidence that this water-delivery mechanism operated long before modern plate tectonics fully developed.
Scientists discover a hidden switch that shuts down inflammation
Scientists discovered a natural braking system that switches off inflammation and prevents harmful immune cell buildup. Boosting this pathway in people reduced inflammation-related immune changes and accelerated pain relief.
Magnetic nanoparticles detect amoxicillin allergy with 98% sensitivity in early tests
Magnetic nanoparticles can detect amoxicillin allergies with 98% sensitivity, according to research from the University of Malaga. The technology offers rapid and reliable diagnosis for beta-lactam antibiotic allergies including penicillins.
Japan's Hayabusa2 achieves first-ever laser ranging experiment with an asteroid
Hayabusa2 conducted the first laser-ranging experiment from a spacecraft during a flyby of asteroid Torifune on July 5. This achievement demonstrates a new capability for measuring distances to deep-space objects during close approaches to asteroids.
Unexpected Amazon hotspot: Central north faces fastest rise in extreme heat and water stress
The central north Amazon region, previously not identified as climate change's most affected area, now faces the fastest rise in extreme heat and water stress. This zone contains high forest cover, natural savannas, and significant Indigenous territories.
CERN finds gluons behaving strangely deep inside atomic nuclei
CERN researchers observed an unexpected decline in J/ψ particle production at record-high spatial resolution, detecting structures one-quarter the size of a proton. The measurement at unprecedented scales challenges conventional nuclear shadowing explanations for how gluons behave inside atomic nuclei.
How burnt coconut helped discover new to science endemic species in Sri Lanka
Researchers in Sri Lanka discovered a new terrestrial mammal species by using burnt coconut as bait in traps along forest and farmland boundaries. The species was found near Puwakpitiya village at the edge of the Knuckles Mountain Range in central Sri Lanka.
Tiny sound waves could help solve a major quantum computing problem
Researchers at Harvard used microscopic sound waves to protect quantum information stored in a diamond-based qubit, extending its coherence time by roughly threefold. The mechanical vibrations, called phonons, could eventually both transmit and protect quantum information on chips.
Scientists find Ozempic may slow aging itself
Semaglutide extended lifespan in older healthy mice while improving memory, muscle function, and blood sugar control. The drug's anti-aging effects exceeded those produced by calorie restriction alone, suggesting GLP-1 drugs may activate a distinct biological pathway associated with longevity.
Researchers find a Wordle strategy that wins 99% of the time
Researchers developed a mathematical strategy using Shannon entropy that solves Wordle with 99% success rate by selecting guesses that eliminate the most possible answers. The method prioritizes information gain over guessing common letters, sometimes choosing unlikely words to rapidly narrow down remaining possibilities.
As antibiotic resistance grows, researchers turn to copper to fight infections
Researchers at Texas A&M are studying how copper, an essential trace mineral, fights urinary tract infections in the body and how bacteria resist this defense. They are investigating whether these discoveries could lead to new treatment methods for antibiotic-resistant infections.
The secret to longer life may be hidden in bat DNA
Bats possess genetic mechanisms that combine strong immune defenses with strategies for removing damaged cells, enabling them to live for decades while resisting cancer and disease. Scientists are studying these bat DNA characteristics to potentially develop new approaches for protecting human health during the aging process.
66-million-year-old feather in dinosaur poop may reveal why birds survived the asteroid
A feather found in 66-million-year-old fossilized dinosaur feces may explain why birds survived the asteroid impact. The feather belonged to an extinct bird with more primitive insulating feathers, suggesting advanced plumage helped bird ancestors survive the impact winter.
Smart, self-healing packaging uses AI to detect food spoilage in real time
Researchers developed packaging that uses artificial intelligence to detect food spoilage in real time by monitoring conditions inside. The technology allows producers and consumers to receive actionable information about the food's status based on what the smart packaging observes.
New genome study rewrites the early history of grasses, the world's most important plant family
Researchers created a chromosome-level genome assembly revealing new insights into early grass evolution, covering the plant family that produces many global food crops. The study included Donald Danforth Plant Science Center scientist Elizabeth Kellogg and involved producing detailed genetic maps at the chromosome level.
AI helps find hidden human proteins and reveals what they do
AI methods identified 652 previously unknown proteins in human cells that had been missed by conventional detection techniques. These discoveries were made by combining machine learning with advanced mass spectrometry experiments to analyze cellular samples.
Help Refine Data from Space Telescopes with Artifact InSPECtor
A new NASA project called Artifact InSPECtor allows people to help distinguish real astronomical data from errors in images captured by space telescopes located hundreds of thousands of miles away. The tool supports missions including Euclid and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope in identifying artifacts that could compromise scientific findings.
NASA’s Chandra Spots Galactic Gem
Two merging galaxies in the II Zw 096 system show powerful black hole activity and hot gas detected by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. The Chandra X-ray data appears in magenta in an image released on August 25, 2026, combining observations from multiple telescopes.
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 to Discuss Station Mission, Upcoming Return
NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 astronauts will hold a news conference on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 2:45 p.m. EDT from the International Space Station to discuss their mission. The crew includes NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev.
NASA Boosts Open Science, Data Sharing with Artemis Accords
NASA committed to sharing all scientific data from moon rock samples and lunar discoveries with the global scientific community through the Artemis program. Seventy-one countries have signed the Artemis Accords, which establish principles for safe and transparent civil space exploration.
Too much light at night may quietly reshape your heart
Nighttime light exposure was associated with thicker, stiffer heart chambers and early signs of reduced heart function in a study of over 11,000 people. The research suggests that darker bedrooms may help protect heart health by reducing nighttime light exposure.
Your next prescription could be treating a side effect from the last one
A major Ontario study identified 24 common medication chains where one drug's side effects get misdiagnosed as new medical problems, triggering additional prescriptions. Researchers recommend closer medication reviews, increased pharmacist involvement, and automated alerts to prevent these potentially harmful prescribing cascades.
Tiny nanolaser could cut computer energy use in half
Scientists created an ultra-small nanolaser that could allow microchips to transmit information with light instead of electricity, potentially cutting computer energy use roughly in half. Thousands of these lasers could fit on a single chip for applications in data centers, smartphones, and medical sensors.
Scientists just made quantum computer operations 1,000 times faster
Quantum operations can now be performed more than 1,000 times faster by reducing thousands of repeated control cycles to just one. This advance cuts down the number of cycles needed for certain quantum computations.
Study of 1.9 million people finds a striking link between ADHD and gut problems
A study of 1.9 million people found ADHD is linked to significantly elevated rates of digestive disorders. People with ADHD had nearly double the odds of constipation, 58% higher odds of irritable bowel syndrome, and over four times the odds of encopresis.
Meet the under-35s shaping the future of biotech
MIT Technology Review has selected nine biotech professionals under 35 for its annual Innovators Under 35 list. These individuals are recognized for research and technical work expected to shape the future of their fields.
Physicists just found a tiny glitch in time itself
Quantum theories suggest time has a fundamental uncertainty that limits clock precision. The effect remains undetectable with current technology but may connect quantum mechanics, gravity, and spacetime.