Mars express captures dozens of dust devils in Mars valley
Mars Express spacecraft photographed dozens of dust devils in a Martian valley, with some reaching heights up to 8 kilometers and speeds of 45 meters per second. These whirlwinds form when solar-warmed air swirls upward in Mars's lower gravity and play a key role in distributing dust across the planet.
A nearby black hole as a window into the early universe
A galaxy 1.8 billion light-years away has shown exceptional radio brightness for over eight years due to increased matter falling into its central black hole, which is triggering a high-energy particle jet. The black hole exhibits properties typical of the early universe, allowing researchers to study jet formation and black hole growth.
How proteins are inserted into cell membranes
Bacteria insert proteins into cell membranes through processes more similar to those in higher cells than previously believed. Researchers from Heinrich Heine University and Ludwig Maximilian University identified these biochemical similarities by analyzing the complex mechanisms bacteria use for protein insertion.
AI must be built with Indigenous Knowledges, not against them
AI development risks extracting Indigenous Knowledges without consent, credit, or benefit to Indigenous communities, repeating historical patterns of technological exploitation. The concern emerges as Australia marks 50 years of NAIDOC Week celebrating the world's oldest living culture.
Plug-and-play single-photon source can work at room temperature
A compact single-photon source that operates at room temperature without cryogenic cooling has been developed by KRISS and built into a 19-inch rack-mounted device. The plug-and-play system generates quantum light immediately upon powering on.
Small-molecule switches put therapeutic CRISPR editing under on-demand control in living tissues
Researchers developed PRINCE and Little Prince, dual small-molecule-controlled systems that activate CRISPR genome editing with drug inducers while keeping it silent otherwise. The systems use small-molecule switches to control CRISPR activity in living tissues on demand.
A device that revives eyeballs from dead donors could make eye transplants possible
A device preserves dead donor eyes by maintaining their biological functions outside the body, potentially enabling successful whole-eye transplants. Previous transplant attempts failed because transplanted eyes couldn't see, but researchers developed this preservation technology to prevent eye degradation during the transplant process.
Rare fungi help restore Palmyra Atoll rainforests, new study finds. Here’s how
A fungal partnership enables Palmyra Atoll's native rainforest trees to absorb sufficient nutrients from poor soil, supporting the seabirds that nest in them and sustain nearby coral reefs. The study identified rare fungi forming symbiotic relationships with tree roots, allowing the ecosystem cycle dependent on thousands of nesting seabirds to function.
A strange LIGO signal could reveal the missing link behind dark matter
LIGO detected an unusual gravitational wave signal that could indicate the existence of primordial black holes, which have been purely theoretical. Confirming these objects would potentially explain what dark matter is composed of.
Scientists stunned as bumble bees solve a classic intelligence test
Bumble bees invented a novel method to access a hidden reward without prior training. The finding demonstrates that these insects possess unexpected problem-solving abilities and adaptability previously underestimated by researchers.
Airborne AI spots underwater munitions in shallow seas with high precision
An airborne imaging system using multispectral sensing and artificial intelligence can detect unexploded underwater munitions in shallow coastal waters with high confidence, even when partially obscured by sediment or debris. The technology combines advanced multispectral imaging with AI analysis to identify these weapons reliably.
This satellite constellation transformed earth science by creatively tuning in to GPS signals
CYGNSS, a satellite constellation launched in 2016, detected reflected GPS signals to improve hurricane forecasting and applications beyond its original mission. The system's ability to receive and analyze bounced GPS transmissions enabled earth science discoveries that NASA researchers had not anticipated.
Light flips bacterial signaling enzyme between two shapes, unlocking how signals travel
Light causes sensor histidine kinases to shift between two asymmetrical shapes, enabling bacterial signal transmission. This mechanism of light-controlled asymmetry change reveals how these enzymes process signals in bacteria.
AI analysis of data from multiple sensors can improve earthquake detection
AI can combine readings from multiple seismometers across a geographic area to detect weak seismic signals more reliably than traditional methods. This approach uses distributed sensors to distinguish between earthquakes and human activities like underground nuclear tests.
The broader a fungus's diet, the better it kills insects and helps plants
Fungi with broader diets are more effective at killing insects and benefiting plants through nitrogen transfer. A single fungal species can simultaneously function as an insect pathogen, soil decomposer, and plant partner.
Spontaneous current loops in a kagome metal point to hidden quantum order
Researchers discovered spontaneous current loops in a kagome metal, revealing a hidden quantum order that emerges from collective electron arrangements. This state cannot be explained by classical physics theories and demonstrates unusual quantum mechanical behavior in the material.
Researchers develop a new predictive model for designing 2D perovskites
A new predictive model enables researchers to design two-dimensional perovskites for optoelectronic devices by combining characteristics of 2D semiconductors and 3D perovskites. The model helps identify which material compositions will produce desired properties for applications in next-generation electronics.
Plant DNA harbors virus 'fossils' that reflect 300 million years of evolution
Plant genomes contain molecular fossils of viruses that have infected them over 300 million years of evolution. Researchers from INRAE and CIRAD discovered these ancient viral remnants by analyzing plant DNA sequences published in PLOS Pathogens.
New polymer design could make everyday plastics easier to break down without losing performance
Researchers incorporated alkoxycarbonylmethylene units into polymer backbones to create degradation sites that break down under basic conditions while preserving material performance. The new molecular design strategy enables carbon-carbon backbone polymers to degrade without losing their desirable properties during use.
NASA’s Artemis II Breaks Agency Streaming Record
NASA's Artemis II mission generated 149.4 million views across the agency's platforms during its launch, lunar flyby, and splashdown coverage. The viewership included 24/7 streams featuring Orion spacecraft views throughout the mission.
NASA Students Get Airborne View of Atmospheric Science at Ellington Field
NASA's Student Airborne Research Program brought students to Ellington Field in Houston from June 3 to 13 to observe how aircraft collect atmospheric data. Students learned field campaign methods used in atmospheric science, ecology, air quality research, and climate modeling through direct airborne experiences.
NASA’s Webb Reveals Stars Sparking to Life in Cosmic Celebration
The James Webb Space Telescope captured infrared light from previously hidden features in the FS Tau star system, penetrating thick dust that blocked earlier observations. The image reveals numerous background galaxies and stellar features within the star system's dust clouds.
Teaching AI to run with the turbines
AI systems are being deployed to monitor and optimize wind turbine operations in industrial settings. Machine learning algorithms analyze real-time turbine data to improve performance and maintenance scheduling, moving beyond consumer applications into critical infrastructure management.
Sightings of humpback whales surge in Rio de Janeiro, fueling demand for whale-watching trips
Humpback whale sightings off Rio de Janeiro's coast are increasing as populations recover from commercial whaling. The surge in whale observations during annual migration has accelerated demand for whale-watching trips in the region.
New Indonesia roadmap aims to protect Indigenous knowledge for biodiversity
The Indonesian government is developing a roadmap to protect Indigenous knowledge in biodiversity conservation, with drafting that began in June 2026. The initiative aims to strengthen recognition and protection of Indigenous peoples and local communities whose traditional practices have safeguarded Indonesia's ecosystems.
New tool maps public land with potential for hundreds of thousands of affordable homes in British Columbia
A new research tool identifies over 50,000 publicly owned land parcels in British Columbia with potential for affordable housing development. The B.C. Public Lands Map combines federal, provincial, and municipal data and reveals up to 273,000 potential housing units on vacant and underused land in Metro Vancouver alone.
LSST begins full operations with key contributions from Japanese researchers and engineers
The Legacy Survey of Space and Time has begun full operations, with over 80 Japanese researchers participating in the project through data access. Japanese engineers contribute software and operational systems expertise developed through prior work on the Subaru Telescope.
Huge, specially designed heat pump saves a Norwegian agricultural cooperative millions
A specially designed heat pump installed for a Norwegian agricultural cooperative recovers process heat to generate more energy than it consumes. SINTEF, Aneo, and Felleskjøpet collaborated to transform this heat recovery technology from theoretical research into an operational industrial-scale electricity-saving system.
Sun-powered sponges may generate 11% of tropical coral reef productivity
Sponges in tropical coral reefs use photosynthesis to produce nutrients, potentially generating 11% of the reef's total productivity. Researchers at the University of Amsterdam's Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics published findings in Functional Ecology showing that sponges supplement their filter-feeding with photosynthetic energy production.
What’s Up: July 2026 Skywatching Tips from NASA
A predawn gathering of the Moon and planets occurs early in July 2026, while a returning comet becomes visible during the same period. Saturn's rings will appear at a new angle, and July offers optimal viewing conditions for observing the Milky Way.