Science
Scientific discoveries and research
Nanoplastics become more harmful after being outdoors, study finds
When cutlery, insulation, packaging and other items made of polystyrene plastic break down, they can form nanoplastics up to 100 times thinner than the average...
Green clay courts serve up environmental solutions by absorbing carbon dioxide
Green clay tennis courts are able to absorb massive amounts of carbon dioxide via enhanced rock weathering, according to a new study in Applied Geochemistry. En...
The 'silent takeover': Invasive bees are reshaping Chile's unique pollination networks
Biological invasions are a major driver of biodiversity loss and invasive pollinators can reshape native plant-pollinator networks. A new study published in the...
Study explores 'antifragility' in nature, where some species benefit from extreme swings
From deadly heat waves to unprecedented flooding, devastating wildfires to record-breaking droughts, extreme weather is becoming the new normal. As climate-fuel...
Discovery of genetic switch could help turn rice into a perennial crop
Rice is a vital crop that feeds more than half of the world's population. In the wild, many rice species are perennials that live for several years, but the var...
The 'private solution trap': Why richer countries may favor adaptation over public solutions, and who pays
A new study, led by the University of Nottingham and conducted by a team of 72 economists and psychologists across the world, has identified a potential "privat...
A safer, nonflammable battery electrolyte exists, but self-assembly flaw is holding it back
Many important technologies, from handheld phones to medical devices and transportation vehicles, rely on rechargeable batteries. Modern top-of-the-line recharg...
Python scales host microstructures that block bacterial biofilms—revealing potential for antimicrobial materials
Materials inspired by nature, or biomimetic materials, are nothing new. Scientists have designed water-resistant materials inspired by lotus leaves and rose pet...
Tracking Arctic freshwater flow from space
Arctic rivers wind through remote tundra and boreal forests, freezing solid in winter and surging each spring with snowmelt, eventually emptying into the ocean....
Urban blue tits use discarded cigarette butts to protect their nests, study suggests
Discarded litter not only makes our streets and neighborhoods look untidy, but it can also pose a significant risk to wildlife. However, in a surprising develop...
The evolutionary secret of the California poppy's alkaloids
Characteristic features of plants, such as their active ingredients or flower color, may have developed through very different evolutionary histories. This is s...
Decoding sugars one bond at a time—without labels
Researchers at National Taiwan University have developed a tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy platform that can identify tiny structural differences in oligosaccha...