New synthesis method enhances MoS₂ optoelectronic performance
An international research team led by Professor My Ali El Khakani of the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) has made a surprising discovery about the properties of molybdenum disulfide, also known as MoS2. The material is highly sought after in optoelectronics. ⌘ Read more

Advancements in Z-pinch fusion: New insights from plasma pressure profiles
Scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have reported advancements in understanding plasma pressure profiles within flow-stabilized Z-pinch fusion, a candidate for achieving net gain fusion energy in a compact device. ⌘ Read more

Astronomers discover dozens of double-lined double white dwarf binaries
An international team of astronomers reports the discovery of 34 rare double-lined double white dwarf binary systems using the Intermediate-dispersion Spectrograph and Imaging System (ISIS) on the William Herschel Telescope (WHT). The finding was detailed in a research paper published on the preprint server arXiv. ⌘ Read more

Canada conservationists push back as grizzly hunting ban lifted
A decision to partially reverse a nearly two-decade ban on hunting grizzly bears in Canada’s Alberta has angered environmentalists, with a group saying Wednesday they feared its impact on the species. ⌘ Read more

Study: Algorithms used by universities to predict student success may be racially biased
Predictive algorithms commonly used by colleges and universities to determine whether students will be successful may be racially biased against Black and Hispanic students, according to new research published today in AERA Open. ⌘ Read more

Swedish labor market consensus is far from the whole story, says researcher
Twentieth century Swedish labor market policy was not solely shaped by inter-class cooperation, but also by tough conflicts. Industrial rationalization and investments in new technology were met with protests from workers. A new doctoral thesis reveals parallels between technological changes during 1920–1950 and the transition we face today with, for example, artificial intelligence and automation. ⌘ Read more

A new species of extinct crocodile relative rewrites life on the Triassic coastline
The surprising discovery of a new species of extinct crocodile relative from the Triassic Favret Formation of Nevada, U.S., rewrites the story of life along the coasts during the first act of the Age of Dinosaurs. ⌘ Read more

Nanoparticle-based delivery system could offer treatment for diabetics with rare insulin allergy
Up to 3% of people with diabetes have an allergic reaction to insulin. A team at Forschungszentrum Jülich has now studied a method that could be used to deliver the active substance into the body in a masked form—in the form of tiny nanoparticles. ⌘ Read more

Modeling study proposes a diamond layer at the core-mantle boundary on Mercury
A recent study in Nature Communications by scientists from China and Belgium suggests that Mercury’s core-mantle boundary (CMB) includes a diamond layer, potentially up to 18 kilometers thick, deep within the planet’s interior. ⌘ Read more

Rice gone wild: How humans have inadvertently selected for ‘weedy’ rice
University of Massachusetts Amherst researchers have discovered that the anatomical adaptation helping weedy rice varieties to proliferate is not, as previously believed, confined only to these pest varieties. The research, published recently in the Journal of Experimental Botany, shows that despite 10,000 years of human cultivation, a cell tissue that allows rice plants to easily drop their seeds remains a feature in nearly … ⌘ Read more

XL-Calibur telescope launched to study black holes
Scientists from Washington University in St. Louis have launched a balloon-borne telescope to unlock the secrets of astrophysical black holes and neutron stars, some of the most extreme objects in the universe. ⌘ Read more

Auroras caused by head-on blows to Earth’s magnetic field could damage critical infrastructure, scientists say
Auroras have inspired myths and portents for millennia—but only now, with modern technology dependent on electricity, are we appreciating their true power. The same forces which cause auroras also cause currents that can damage infrastructure which conducts electricity, like pipelines. ⌘ Read more

Living in America’s wealthiest communities may not make you safer
One of the privileges the wealthiest Americans enjoy is living wherever they want. But new research published in Risk Analysis suggests they should be cautious when choosing their Shangri-La. ⌘ Read more

A reduction in Iberian pork preservatives is achieved thanks to a yeast
In the face of European regulations mandating salt and nitrite reductions in food, a team from the University of Cordoba has tested the potential of a yeast as a natural preservative in Iberian pork loin from the Pedroches Valley. The findings are published in the journal Food Control. ⌘ Read more

From winter’s rest to spring’s bloom: PmDAM6 gene steers plant bud dormancy
Plant dormancy’s genetic mechanisms are vital for enhancing agricultural resilience and productivity. The interaction between lipid metabolism and hormone regulation significantly influences dormancy phases, essential for plant survival under varying climatic conditions. Exploring these biological challenges through genetic research is crucial for devising innovative strategies to ensure crop adaptability and sustainability. ⌘ Read more

From genomes to gardens: Introducing a search engine for horticultural crops
As genomics profoundly reshapes our understanding of horticultural crops, researchers often grapple with dispersed and complex genomic data. This fragmentation significantly hinders effective analysis and application, presenting a clear demand for more cohesive research tools. ⌘ Read more

How lasers and 2D materials could solve the world’s plastic problem
A global research team led by Texas Engineers has developed a way to blast the molecules in plastics and other materials with a laser to break them down into their smallest parts for future reuse. ⌘ Read more

Evidence of water vapor detected in the atmosphere of Smertrios
Using the CARMENES spectrograph, astronomers have found evidence of water vapor in the atmosphere of a hot Saturn exoplanet designated HD 149026 b, dubbed Smertrios. The finding, reported in a research paper published on the preprint server arXiv, could be key to a better understanding of the structure and formation scenario of this alien world. ⌘ Read more

Beryl downgraded after slamming Texas with deadly rains, wind
Beryl was downgraded Monday evening to a tropical depression after slamming the southern US state of Texas as a Category 1 hurricane, killing at least four people and causing millions to lose power amid scorching summer heat. ⌘ Read more

India floods swamp national park, killing six rhinos
Devastating floods in India’s northeast that have killed scores of people also swamped a national park, drowning six threatened rhinos and other wildlife, government officials said Tuesday. ⌘ Read more

Phage display technology effectively improves specific targeting ability of anti-microbial peptides against S. aureus
Antibiotics are widely used in clinical treatment and animal production as an effective means to combat microbial infections. Antimicrobial peptides, as potential alternatives to antibiotics, have shown promising applications. However, owing to their broad‐spectrum antimicrobial activity, most antimicrobial peptides tend to cause imbalance in the host’s intestinal flora. … ⌘ Read more

Unlocking the potential of anti-perovskites through a convenient one-step synthesis route
Although perovskites have attracted a lot of attention lately, anti-perovskites hold just as much potential as functional materials. Bearing a similar crystal structure to perovskites but with an inverted electrical configuration, anti-perovskites exhibit peculiar properties that could be exploited, including negative thermal expansion, ionic conductivity, and even superconductivity. Unfortunately … ⌘ Read more

Tackling the climate and housing crises: Promoting compact living in Europe
Future European Union housing policy must address the twin challenges of providing adequate housing for all while drastically reducing current levels of resource use. Voluntary reductions in living space could make a significant contribution to achieving these goals. ⌘ Read more

Detroit’s air quality ‘very unhealthy’ following Fourth of July fireworks
Detroit’s air quality ranked among the worst in the U.S. on Friday morning following the Fourth of July holiday fireworks use, posing “very unhealthy” conditions for children, seniors and people with certain health conditions who went outdoors. ⌘ Read more

Wildfire smoke kills thousands of Californians a year: It doesn’t have to be so deadly, say researchers
When wildfires rage, the immediate threat is obvious—but smoke from the fires actually kills far more people than the flames do. It doesn’t have to be so deadly. ⌘ Read more

Texas hunkers down as Hurricane Beryl approaches
Beryl strengthened to a hurricane before hitting the southern US state of Texas on Monday, where some residents were evacuated over warnings of flooding and power outages. ⌘ Read more

Combining community values with science is key to ecosystem restoration, study demonstrates
Up on the “roof of the world,” one of the world’s largest ecosystem restoration projects is taking place. The Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) in western China is the world’s highest plateau and covers a land area roughly five times the size of France. ⌘ Read more

Study of key characteristics of UK politicians reveals ‘ambition, narcissism, genuine idealism’ among common traits
In a new study of politicians’ personalities, humor, charm and raw courage are listed among the most important character traits for successful leaders. ⌘ Read more

Fossils show huge salamanderlike predator with sharp fangs existed before the dinosaurs
Scientists have revealed fossils of a giant salamanderlike beast with sharp fangs that ruled waters before the first dinosaurs arrived. ⌘ Read more

‘Not the end of the world’, says data scientist on the big issues
Humanity has made great strides in recent decades: air is cleaner; poverty, deforestation and childhood mortality have fallen; gasoline cars—and maybe coal—are on the way out. ⌘ Read more

Crew of NASA’s earthbound simulated Mars habitat emerge after a year
The crew of a NASA mission to Mars emerged from their craft after a yearlong voyage that never left Earth. ⌘ Read more

High-selectivity graphene membranes enhance CO₂ capture efficiency
Reducing carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions is a crucial step towards mitigating climate change and protecting the environment on Earth. One proposed technology for reducing CO₂ emissions, particularly from power plants and industrial establishments, is carbon capture. ⌘ Read more

Beryl heads for Texas after causing damage, no deaths in Mexico
Beryl weakened to a tropical storm Friday after hitting Mexico as a Category 2 hurricane, with fierce winds causing material damage but no injuries along the touristic Yucatan Peninsula. ⌘ Read more

Pongamia trees grow where citrus once flourished, offering renewable energy and plant-based protein
An ancient tree from India is now thriving in groves where citrus trees once flourished in Florida, and could help provide the nation with renewable energy. ⌘ Read more

A prototype superconducting coil opens the way for more energy-efficient electromagnets
How can we advance cutting-edge research but consume less energy? CERN’s scientists are working on innovative solutions, and superconductivity is one of the key ingredients. ⌘ Read more

‘Vaults’ within germ cells offer more than safekeeping
Maternal messenger RNAs (mRNAs), located within the cytoplasm of an immature egg, are crucial for jump starting development. Following fertilization, these mRNAs are passed onto the zygote, the first newly formed cell. ⌘ Read more

Engineers find a way to protect microbes from extreme conditions
Microbes that are used for health, agricultural, or other applications need to be able to withstand extreme conditions, and ideally the manufacturing processes used to make tablets for long-term storage. MIT researchers have now developed a new way to make microbes hardy enough to withstand these extreme conditions. ⌘ Read more

Why the US food system needs agroecology
Agroecology—a science, practice, and movement that seeks social, political, economic, and environmental sustainability in the global food system—is gaining momentum in the U.S., according to a new Dartmouth-led commentary in Nature Food. As the co-authors report, the approach requires coordination among scientists, farmers, and activists. ⌘ Read more

Desert-loving fungi and lichens pose deadly threat to 5,000-year-old rock art
The Negev desert of southern Israel is renowned for its unique rock art. Since at least the third millennium BCE, the hunters, shepherds, and merchants who roamed the Negev have left thousands of carvings (petroglyphs) on the rocks. These figures are mostly cut into desert varnish: a thin black coating on limestone rock, which forms naturally. Many represent animals such as ibexes, goats, horses, donkeys, and domestic camel … ⌘ Read more

Strawberries under the high-tech magnifying glass
Sweet flavors and healthy ingredients make strawberries one of the world’s most popular berries. The complex biochemical compounds that determine the flavor and nutritional value of a strawberry—known as biomarkers—can only be determined in detail by experts using modern analyses. ⌘ Read more

Novel universal principle guides properties of fluorophosphate glass
A research team led by Prof. Wang Pengfei from Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics (XIOPM) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences revealed the relationship between F/O ratio and the structure of fluorophosphate glass through conducting comprehensive research on Raman spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. ⌘ Read more

Permaculture found to be a sustainable alternative to conventional agriculture
RPTU University of Kaiserslautern-Landau has shown for the first time, in a joint study with BOKU University, that permaculture brings about a significant improvement in biodiversity, soil quality and carbon storage. ⌘ Read more

To guard against cyberattacks in space, researchers ask ‘what if?’
If space systems such as GPS were hacked and knocked offline, much of the world would instantly be returned to the communications and navigation technologies of the 1950s. Yet space cybersecurity is largely invisible to the public at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions. ⌘ Read more

Searching for dark matter with the coldest quantum detectors in the world
One of the greatest mysteries of science could be one step closer to being solved. Approximately 80% of the matter in the universe is dark, meaning that it cannot be seen. In fact, dark matter is passing through us constantly—possibly at a rate of trillions of particles per second. ⌘ Read more

Compact cities found to have lower carbon emissions but poorer air quality, less green space and higher mortality rates
What types of cities exist in Europe and which are more favorable in terms of human health, environmental quality and carbon footprint? To answer these questions, a study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) has analyzed 919 European cities. ⌘ Read more

To save spotted owls, US officials plan to kill hundreds of thousands of another owl species
To save the imperiled spotted owl from potential extinction, U.S. wildlife officials are embracing a contentious plan to deploy trained shooters into dense West Coast forests to kill almost a half-million barred owls that are crowding out their smaller cousins. ⌘ Read more

Pregnant fish can also get ‘baby brain,’ but not the way that mammals do
New research reveals that pregnancy-related brain impairment is present in live-bearing fish, but instead of affecting learning and memory as expected from similar research on mammals, it appears to have a stronger impact on decision-making and sensory reception. ⌘ Read more

Social media is a likely cause of confusion in modern mate selection
A recent sociological study finds that most young adults surveyed reported feeling confused about their options when it comes to dating decisions. Preliminary analysis suggests that more than half of young people experience confusion about choosing life-partners, with women appearing to be more likely to report partner selection confusion than men. ⌘ Read more

Exploring bird breeding behavior and microbiomes in the radioactive Chornobyl Exclusion Zone
New research finds surprising differences in the diets and gut microbiomes of songbirds living in the radiation-contaminated areas of the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine. This study is also the first to examine the breeding behavior and early life of birds growing up in radiologically contaminated habitats. ⌘ Read more

Discovering new anti-aging secrets from the world’s longest-living vertebrate
New experimental research shows that muscle metabolic activity may be an important factor in the incredible longevity of the world’s oldest living vertebrate species—the Greenland shark. These findings may have applications for conservation of this vulnerable species against climate change or even for human cardiovascular health. ⌘ Read more