Advanced Mini-laboratories Automate Space Station Research
Redwire's ADvanced Space Experiment Processors automatically conduct science experiments on the International Space Station to reduce crew time requirements. Each ADSEP facility contains multiple automated devices designed to handle experiments that would otherwise consume hours of astronaut work.
Sitting up straight may improve your mood and decision-making
Sitting upright caused participants to report more pride and take more successful risks in a virtual balloon game compared to hunching over. Most participants did not realize their posture had been manipulated, suggesting the effect was not based on their expectations about how posture should affect them.
The Download: NASA’s new telescope and Chinese tech import curbs
NASA will launch the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope in late August, which can detect dark energy and identify potentially dangerous asteroids. The telescope combines capabilities for studying cosmic expansion with planetary defense monitoring.
Scientists discover the brain cells that keep you motivated
Orexin neurons help maintain motivation when rewards become harder to obtain. Blocking these brain cells in rats reduced their motivation to continue working toward goals.
80-million-year-old snake brain reveals a surprising evolutionary secret
An 80-million-year-old Brazilian snake fossil shows that early snakes occupied diverse habitats including burrowing, above-ground, and marine environments. Brain reconstructions of Tametara mirim revealed adaptations for burrowing while other contemporary fossils displayed sensory systems suited to different ecological niches.
YouTube star Simone Giertz has some life and science lessons to share with you
Simone Giertz, a Swedish engineer influencer, has accumulated over 2.5 million YouTube followers during more than a decade on the platform. Her content focuses on pursuing a non-traditional path within science and engineering.
A colossal magma system has been hiding beneath Tuscany
A magma reservoir covering approximately 6,000 cubic kilometers has been detected beneath Tuscany using seismic sensors that recorded natural ground vibrations. The discovery demonstrates that massive volcanic systems can exist without surface indicators and may help locate geothermal energy sources and critical minerals.
NASA’s new dark-energy space telescope can also detect killer asteroids
NASA will launch the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope in August to study dark matter and dark energy in the universe. The telescope can additionally detect potentially hazardous asteroids during its observations from Kennedy Space Center.
Europe’s wildfires became so intense they created their own storm
Historic wildfires in Spain and France burned massive areas, with one Spanish fire consuming an area roughly the size of New York City. A French blaze generated a rare towering fire cloud, fueled by lush winter growth, severe heat, drought, and strong winds.
Metal-free process makes plant dyes more durable for textiles
A metal-free dye-fixing process makes natural plant dyes more durable on textiles without requiring metal additives. The method is described in the International Journal of Materials and Product Technology as a way to address durability challenges that have limited wider adoption of plant dyes in sustainable clothing production.
Social influence can help tackle climate change
Social influence from various groups including celebrities, athletes, healthcare workers, religious leaders, and everyday contacts like family and neighbors can accelerate climate action, according to a study by the Center for Climate Change and Social Transformations. The research identified multiple influence sources spanning from public figures to hairdressers and small business owners as capable of shifting climate-related attitudes and behaviors.
New biosynthetic pathway could expand production of high-value bio-based oils
A new biosynthetic pathway enables production of high-value bio-based oils with unusual fatty acids containing novel chain lengths or functional groups. These oils serve as feedstocks for biofuels and bioproducts because they provide energy-dense hydrocarbon molecules.
NASA Will Attempt to Observe Rocket Part’s Lunar Impact
A used Falcon 9 upper stage is expected to impact the Moon on August 5 near the Einstein and Bell craters. NASA and SpaceX are tracking the rocket part using ground-based telescopes and space-based assets to collect lunar data from the impact.
Scientists discover that giant octopuses were top predators of ancient oceans
Ancient octopus relatives were gigantic predators during the late Cretaceous period, unlike modern finned octopuses which are small deep-sea creatures. Researchers in Japan made this discovery in April 2026 by studying fossil evidence of these extinct marine animals.
NASA’s PUNCH Sharpens Solar Storm Forecasting in First Test
NASA's PUNCH mission used continuous imagery to predict a solar eruption's arrival within 30 minutes in an initial test. The capability could improve forecasting accuracy for near-Earth solar storms through real-time continuous observation data.
Cancer-fighting chewing gum cuts HPV levels by up to 93%
A specially engineered chewing gum reduced HPV levels by up to 93% percent and nearly eliminated two bacteria linked to head and neck cancer. The treatment preserved beneficial mouth bacteria while targeting harmful pathogens.
Global hunger levels fall but Africa still lags behind, UN report finds
Global hunger declined for the third consecutive year according to a UN Food and Agriculture Organization report. Africa still has the highest hunger rate at 20% of its population facing insufficient food.
518-million-year-old creature reveals the origins of spider fangs
A 518-million-year-old sea creature fossil contains pincerlike limbs and preserved soft tissues that represent the earliest known evidence of structures that became spider fangs. The discovery explains how spider and scorpion ancestors evolved into effective hunters with these specialized appendages.
This hydrogen turbine turns controlled explosions into electricity
A hydrogen turbine generates electricity using detonation waves to create pressure instead of requiring a mechanical compressor. The system produces its own pressure through controlled explosions within the turbine combustion chamber.
Strange quantum experiment shows “negative time” is more than an illusion
Photons passing through a cloud of atoms emerged early enough to suggest negative dwell time inside the cloud. Researchers confirmed this counterintuitive result using weak measurements of the atoms themselves, demonstrating the effect is physically real rather than an artifact of measurement technique.
A shy bird found only in Nepal is waiting for the world to notice
A medium-sized bird with brownish upperparts and black feather streaks called the spiny babbler was recorded in Nepal for the first time in June after previous disappearance. The species, found only in Nepal's shrubby hillsides, sometimes displays a chalky white facial patch.
DNA on the Shroud of Turin reveals centuries of hidden history
DNA analysis of the Shroud of Turin found traces of human lineages, microbes, plants, animals, and coral accumulated through centuries of handling and travel. The findings document biological material preserved in the cloth but do not prove its age or authenticity.
Your brain may be wired to regain lost weight
The human brain treats a previously higher weight as normal and triggers stronger hunger and lower energy use after weight loss occurs. Medications like Wegovy and Mounjaro reduce appetite signals to counteract this biological response, though their effects may diminish when treatment stops.
These bizarre new beetles look so stretchy scientists named them Luffy
A newly discovered beetle genus with unusually long, slender mandibles and antennae was named Luffy after the stretchy One Piece character. The insects' extended body parts resembled the manga hero's rubber-like ability to elongate his body.
Scientists went looking for giant trees in Taiwan and found a lost world
Researchers discovered an 84.1-meter Taiwania fir in Taiwan's remote mountains, the tallest known tree in East Asia. Using LiDAR mapping and field expeditions, they identified dense clusters of giant trees in carbon-rich ancient forests previously unknown to science.
Mechanical shortcut' rapidly carries organic particles into the deep ocean
A mechanical process rapidly transports organic particles from the surface to the deep ocean, helping capture atmospheric carbon and store it on the seabed. Researchers can now measure this mechanism across depths from the surface to the ocean floor.
Four labs find experimental differences can undermine AI catalyst predictions
Four research labs discovered that experimental variations can significantly reduce the accuracy of AI models predicting which catalysts work best for converting carbon dioxide into fuel. The findings show that AI predictions depend heavily on consistent, high-quality input data, similar to how chatbot performance relies on training data quality.
Forest floors reveal overlooked seed dispersers: Slugs, beetles and crabs spread viable seeds
Tiny ground-dwelling invertebrates including slugs, beetles, and crabs function as seed dispersers and spread viable seeds, according to a review from the University of Hong Kong. This finding challenges traditional assumptions that focused primarily on birds and mammals as the main agents of seed dispersal in forests.
Bringing it all into focus—computational microscope captures 25.2 billion pixels per second across a wide field of view
Researchers developed a computational microscope that captures 25.2 billion pixels per second while maintaining a wide field of view and high resolution. The system overcomes the traditional trade-off between speed, field of view, and resolution that has limited microscope design.
Discarded rice husks capture toxic dyes, offering a reusable water filter
Rice husks, a byproduct of rice processing, can capture toxic dyes from water, offering a reusable filtration material. The world generates 300 billion pounds of rice husk waste annually, which could be repurposed for this water treatment application.