The hunt for Planet Nine continues as new discoveries make the Solar System’s biggest mystery even harder to solve. Is there a massive undiscovered planet on the outer reaches of the Solar System? The idea has been around since before the discovery of Pluto in the 1930s. Labeled as planet X, prominent astronomers had put [...]

AI could accelerate the hunt for new physics, but sometimes it knows too much to see what’s right in front of it. Artificial intelligence could make it much cheaper and faster to search for new laws of physics, according to a new study published in the Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics (JCAP). But the [...]

Scientists have created the first complete brain-to-body wiring map of a fruit fly, revealing that complex behavior may arise from distributed neural teamwork rather than a central controller. A large international research team led by labs at Harvard Medical School and Princeton University has reached a major neuroscience milestone: a complete wiring diagram of every [...]

Scientists studying the remarkable regenerative abilities of planarian flatworms have uncovered a previously unknown type of immune cell with an unusually destructive defense strategy. What if an immune cell could wipe out nearby threats by detonating itself? That is exactly what Stanford researchers have discovered in one of nature’s most unlikely creatures: the planarian flatworm. [...]

Scientists discovered that the brain begins preparing for social connection before we even make the first move. Why do we decide to approach other people? According to new research, the answer may start unfolding in the brain several seconds before any movement takes place. A team of scientists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has [...]

A new passive technology could help future wireless networks reach places where signals struggle today. Dead zones are one of the most persistent problems in wireless communications. Whether it’s a basement office, a warehouse aisle, a tunnel, or a crowded indoor venue, signals often struggle to reach every corner. The challenge is expected to grow [...]

This record-breaking crystal can transform from mirror-like to glass-like, opening the door to tiny optical chips, AR displays, and smart contact lenses. Creating truly “invisible” wearable technology such as smart contact lenses and ultrathin augmented reality glasses will require a radical rethink of how optical devices are built. Instead of relying on conventional bulky components, [...]

A decades-old psychology test exposed a surprising weakness in AI’s ability to stay focused. A classic psychology test has revealed a surprising weakness in some of today’s most advanced artificial intelligence systems, suggesting that AI attention may work very differently from human attention. Researchers led by Suketu Patel investigated how large language models (LLMs), the [...]

NASA’s newly announced Artemis III crew is preparing for one of the most complex space missions ever attempted on the road back to the Moon. NASA has unveiled the crew for Artemis III and shared new details about what could become one of the most challenging human spaceflight missions ever attempted. Scheduled for 2027, the [...]

A new detector-based method clarifies how gravitational waves should be measured in an evolving universe. Imagine trying to measure a ripple on the surface of a pond while the pond itself is slowly changing shape. That is the challenge scientists face when they study gravitational waves not as isolated signals from colliding black holes, but [...]

MIT’s new two-in-one space engine could turn tiny satellites into surprisingly capable deep-space explorers. Researchers at MIT are testing a new propulsion technology that could give small satellites a major boost in capability. The system combines two very different forms of spacecraft propulsion in a single package, allowing satellites to perform both rapid maneuvers and [...]

A newly discovered genetic clock acts as the body’s developmental timekeeper, coordinating the bursts of gene activity needed for growth. Scientists found that when this clock breaks down, development comes to a halt. Think about a train sitting at a station. Passengers have boarded, conductors are checking tickets, and everything is ready to go. But [...]

Detached sea cucumber tissue survived, healed, and grew for years in natural seawater, revealing a remarkable new model for regeneration and biomedical research. A chance observation has led scientists to a discovery that challenges one of biology’s most basic assumptions: that detached animal tissue eventually dies. Instead, researchers found that tissue removed from a sea [...]

A new study suggests that reproducing a crucial sleep-like brain pattern in awake animals may help preserve memory and learning abilities. What if part of the brain could get some of the benefits of sleep without the rest of the brain ever going offline? A new NIH-funded study suggests that may be possible. Researchers found [...]

EEG studies suggest caffeine can reduce deep, restorative sleep even when sleep duration appears normal. Its effects vary by individual, and relying on caffeine for energy may come at the cost of nighttime recovery. Evening coffee has long been debated. Some people can drink it and fall asleep with no trouble, while others struggle to [...]

Researchers have created a model that follows food beyond traditional calorie calculations, incorporating the role of gut microbes in digestion. Food labels make calorie counts look straightforward. The number listed per serving is calculated from the food’s fat, carbohydrate, and protein content. In reality, the digestive process is much more complex. As food moves through [...]

Scientists found a concerning Alzheimer’s link involving glucosamine, a joint supplement used by millions. A widely used supplement marketed for joint pain relief may be linked to faster progression of Alzheimer’s disease, according to new research from University of Florida scientists. The study found that people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who reported taking glucosamine [...]

Rare charcoal fragments from an ancient lakeshore campsite are offering new clues about fire use, resource management, and the environmental knowledge of some of humanity’s earliest fire users. Long before cities, farms, or written language existed, some of humanity’s ancestors had already discovered a resource that would transform the course of human evolution: fire. But [...]

A new study suggests evolution stayed stuck for millions of years until sexual reproduction helped unleash a burst of biodiversity. New research suggests that the earliest animals on Earth may have unintentionally slowed the pace of evolution for millions of years. Scientists have found that their reliance on asexual reproduction limited competition and reduced the [...]

A newly discovered feathered dinosaur from China may help solve a long-standing mystery surrounding a fossil bed filled with ancient bird remains. For years, one fossil site in northwestern China has posed a mystery. The area contains hundreds of fossilized birds, many remarkably well preserved. Mixed among them are strange clusters of shattered bones compressed [...]