New report highlights health of the UK's plankton communities
UK marine plankton communities are experiencing major large-scale shifts due to climate change, according to a new report led by University of Plymouth researchers. The Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership published the report examining the latest evidence of these changes in UK waters and their effects on pelagic habitats.
Probing binary stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud with the JWST
Stars and stellar remnants comprise approximately 85% of the baryonic mass in the Milky Way's disk and bulge, directly shaping how galaxies evolve overall. The James Webb Space Telescope is being used to study binary stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud to better understand stellar formation and evolution processes.
Waste CO₂ converts into graphite through a newly observed two-step process
Carbon dioxide waste converts into graphite through a newly discovered two-step chemical process. This method could reduce dependence on graphite mining and imports, particularly for the United States.
Photonic time crystals unlock ultrafast control of light in the terahertz range
Researchers created the first all-optical photonic time crystal, a material with optical properties that can be strongly and periodically modulated at ultrafast timescales. The breakthrough was achieved through collaboration between teams at École Polytechnique, Collège de France, and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf in the terahertz frequency range.
Bacteria build a mineral shield that could help marine infrastructure resist rust
Bacteria produce a mineral coating that protects metal from seawater corrosion, offering an alternative to chemical inhibitors. Researchers at Reichman University published findings in Cell Reports Physical Science demonstrating this biological defense mechanism for marine infrastructure.
A thermal camera trick could let LIGO see twice as far
LIGO's detection range could double by using a thermal camera to monitor and correct heat-induced distortions in its mirrors. The off-the-shelf thermal imaging system addresses thermal noise that has been limiting the gravitational wave detector's sensitivity to smaller measurements.
Pacific Ocean pattern helps explain diverging wildfire trends in US and Australia
Burned forest area has increased substantially in the U.S. Southwest while eastern Australia has not experienced similar increases despite both regions warming. A Pacific Ocean pattern influences moisture and fire conditions differently across the two regions.
Students Take on Airborne Field Research with NASA
Students launched ozonesondes, balloon-based scientific instruments, into the atmosphere above the Texas Gulf Coast as part of NASA's Student Airborne Research Program during its summer session ending July 27. The program had students conduct hands-on atmospheric research from aircraft to collect data on air quality and atmospheric conditions.
Researchers find ‘priority zones’ for yellow fever vaccination of golden lion tamarins
Researchers identified priority zones for vaccinating golden lion tamarins against yellow fever in Brazil's Atlantic Forest. The vaccination strategy targets specific geographic areas where the endangered primates face the highest disease risk.
NASA Assigns Astronaut Deniz Burnham to First Space Station Mission
Astronaut Deniz Burnham will launch aboard Soyuz MS-30 spacecraft to the International Space Station as an Expedition 76 flight engineer in March 2027. She will travel with cosmonauts Dmitri Petelin and Konstantin Borisov from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Starburst Galaxy Centaurus A
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope captured infrared images of Centaurus A galaxy, located 11 million light-years away, revealing dusty structures and hidden activity. The Mid-Infrared Instrument detected unusual features in this nearby yet highly active galaxy system.
This 4,000-year-old city defied the rules of history
Mohenjo-daro's wealth gap between rich and poor households narrowed as the city grew over 4,000 years ago. The city featured shared infrastructure, fair trade systems, and an absence of powerful royal elites.
Rice bran compound may help ease irritable bowel symptoms
Ferulic acid, a compound found in rice bran, reduced intestinal muscle contractions triggered by chemical messengers in laboratory experiments. This suppression of calcium signals could potentially help treat diarrhea-related digestive disorders, though it may worsen constipation.
Scientists found evolution repeating itself in the Galápagos Islands
Giant daisies in the Galápagos Islands independently evolved similar heat-tolerant leaf shapes multiple times, though each lineage used different genetic combinations. Isolated plant populations showed major genetic differences, indicating new species may currently be forming on the islands.
NASA Johnson Interns Shaping the Future of Exploration
NASA Johnson Space Center interns are working on real-world projects alongside engineers and scientists advancing human spaceflight. These students gain hands-on experience contributing to actual missions while preparing for careers in the aerospace workforce.
Chicken kidney sponge could be 'outstanding' at cleaning up polluted ports
A chicken kidney sponge material can filter pollutants like oil and toxins from harbor water. Researchers propose using this sponge as a renaturalization method to clean enclosed ports by introducing hardy species that survive in disturbed marine environments.
The role of community energy in mediating the sustainable energy transition
Community energy projects governed by local members advance just energy transitions by providing power to remote areas, enabling renewable technology adoption, and strengthening electricity networks. Their current limited adoption raises questions about practical implementation methods and strategies for wider expansion.
Daily multivitamin may help older adults stay independent
A daily multivitamin improved functional health in older adults after three years compared to a placebo group. The preliminary findings, which still need peer review, showed users maintained better strength and stamina for everyday activities.
A climate resilience strategy to strengthen US seafood competitiveness
Climate-driven disruptions pose a significant threat to U.S. seafood production competitiveness, requiring resilience investments in fisheries and supply chains. NOAA is advancing efforts to increase domestic seafood production while a University of Miami study emphasizes that long-term competitiveness depends on fisheries' ability to withstand climate disruptions.
Hydrothermal microbes shape seafloor minerals at newly found vents near Greek island
Researchers discovered hydrothermal vents at 100 to 250 meters depth near a Greek island where fluid flow intensity shapes microbial communities and mineral formation. Different hydrothermal fluid intensities control how microbes colonize the seafloor and influence the minerals that form there.
Lake ice loss could accelerate after winter temperatures cross critical thresholds
Lake ice duration is decreasing faster than air temperatures alone would predict, indicating that warming winters are crossing critical thresholds that accelerate ice loss. Research shows that lakes lose ice cover increasingly rapidly once winter temperatures rise above specific transition points where physical processes change.
NASA Awards 2026 Innovative Technology Concepts
Eighteen innovative aerospace technology concepts received awards totaling $3.2 million from NASA's NIAC program. Each Phase I award provides up to $175,000 for nine-month investigations into solar system exploration and universe understanding.
How an overlooked geothermal plant got a second chance
Zanskar purchased a failing geothermal plant in New Mexico in June 2024 where underground reservoir water was cooling over time. The plant now operates at full capacity two years later using a new approach.
NASA Sets Coverage for August Northern Hemisphere Total Solar Eclipse
A total solar eclipse will be visible on August 12 across parts of Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, the Atlantic Ocean, Spain, and a small corner of Portugal. NASA will stream the eclipse live with multiple camera views and expert interviews across various online platforms.
NASA’s Curiosity Views a Sand-Capped Butte
NASA's Curiosity rover photographed a sand-capped butte nicknamed "Miraflores" measuring approximately 20 feet tall using its Mastcam on June 11, 2026. The formation occurred as surrounding rock eroded away over time, leaving the butte standing in a deepening valley.
NASA’s Curiosity Discovers a Field of Martian Polygons
Curiosity rover discovered a large field of polygonal surface features on Mars on sols 4,930 and 4,931, representing the densest concentration of these formations the rover has encountered. The 360-degree panoramic view captured these polygons spanning across a single expanse of terrain.
NASA’s Curiosity Mars Rover Discovers Field of Honeycomb Textures
Curiosity rover discovered honeycomb-textured polygonal fractures measuring 1.5 to 3 inches across while climbing Valle Grande on Mars. Mission scientists have now encountered these geometric shapes multiple times during their exploration of the Martian valley.
Understanding How Martian Auroras Are Made
Charged particles from solar storms strip away charged particles from Mars's atmosphere, contributing to atmospheric loss on the planet. NASA's MAVEN mission identified that Martian auroras form through processes involving this particle interaction with the solar wind.
NASA Webb Explores Family Tree of Newly Discovered Distant Objects
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope discovered little red dots in 2022, which are extremely distant and compact red sources whose nature remains puzzling to astronomers. One theory proposes these little red dots are supermassive black holes, though their exact classification continues to be studied.
Scientists find a simple way to stop cavities without drilling
Silver diamine fluoride liquid brushed onto cavities stopped decay in more than half of treated baby teeth in a major U.S. trial. The treatment requires no drilling, shots, or sedation, though it permanently darkens the decayed area.