Science
Scientific discoveries and research
Nitrate in drinking water may be linked to preterm births in New Zealand
A new Aotearoa New Zealand study has found that nitrate concentrations in drinking water are associated with an increased risk of preterm birth, even at levels...
When words signal conflict: Measuring exclusionary nationalism in prewar Japan
Why do countries go to war? While economic, military and geopolitical factors are often part of the answer, researchers have also pointed to exclusionary nation...
Low carbon dioxide levels improve microbial production of biodegradable plastic
In an innovative gas fermentation process, reducing the concentration of carbon dioxide was found to significantly improve microbial production of the biodegrad...
Report details ecological characterization of peatlands and coastal lagoons in EU
A new synthesis report, titled "Ecological Characterisation of Peatlands and Coastal Lagoons in Europe," has been published to support the assessment, monitorin...
Are we missing the universe's 'noosignatures?'
Astrobiology has long been split into two camps: a search for "biosignatures" and a search for "intelligence." These look for very different things, but they al...
More than 50% of Australian university assignments used AI. How should universities respond?
Last week, the U.S. software company Turnitin revealed 53.6% of Australian tertiary education submissions run through its system used some form of AI in the per...
New technique for building ultra-thin material stacks promises quantum breakthrough
Scientists have unveiled a new fabrication technique for the ultra-clean manufacturing of 2D heterostructures—materials just a few atoms thick—that could be use...
Astronomers uncover the earliest known signs of galaxy-building in action
Astronomers at Durham University have made a major advance in understanding how galaxies formed and evolved in the early universe. Using powerful new observatio...
Europe's last pagan state was already diverse: Medieval Vilnius drew migrants from Christian lands
Lithuania was famously the final pagan state in Europe. While the rest of the continent converted to Christianity, Lithuania remained officially pagan until Cat...
Ocean acidification emerging as a planetary signal linking today's carbon emissions to Earth's deep-time memory
When most people hear the phrase "ocean acidification," they think of coral reefs, shellfish or declining fisheries. Those concerns are real. But while working...
Tailored limits could manage 350,000 chemicals better than zero-release goal
Man-made substances surround us everywhere in our daily lives. According to the current understanding of the "Planetary Boundaries" framework, the carrying capa...
Television and movie content linked with racial bias in children
It has been well-established that the developmental roots of racial prejudices emerge in early childhood, but scientists have a less clear understanding of how...