Science
Scientific discoveries and research
Ozone-depleting CFCs detected in historical measurements—20 years earlier than previously known
An international research team led by the University of Bremen has detected chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in Earth's atmosphere for the first time in historical me...
New mineral sunscreen reduces white cast by using tetrapod-shaped zinc oxide
UCLA researchers have developed a mineral sunscreen formulation that significantly reduces the white, chalky cast that keeps many people from wearing sun protec...
Physicists achieve near-zero friction on macroscopic scales
For the first time, physicists in China have virtually eliminated the friction felt between two surfaces at scales visible to the naked eye. In demonstrating "s...
Maps offer neighborhood-level insight into American migration
California's most devastating wildfire—the 2018 Camp Fire, which killed 85 and destroyed nearly 19,000 structures—forced nearly half of all residents living wit...
The unraveling of the shrew, in winter: Studies decode genetic basis of seasonal organ shrinkage in mammals
Some mammals hibernate to survive in winter, but the Eurasian common shrew (Sorex araneus) employs Dehnel's phenomenon to get through it. This is a metabolic pr...
No fences needed: GPS collars show 'virtual fencing' is next frontier of livestock grazing
For generations, farmers have spent backbreaking hours tearing down and rebuilding fences just to move livestock to fresh grazing fields. Now, thanks to a groun...
Photosynthesis: Study reveals how minerals are involved in homeostasis of chloroplasts
Plants fix 258 billion tons of CO2 in their chloroplasts through photosynthesis every year. For these cell organelles to work properly, they require certain min...
Solid, iron-rich megastructure under Hawaii slows seismic waves and may drive plume upwelling
Mantle plumes beneath volcanic hotspots, like Hawaii, Iceland, and the Galapagos, seem to be anchored into a large structure within the core-mantle boundary (CM...
A new class of strange one-dimensional particles
Physicists have long categorized every elementary particle in our three-dimensional universe as being either a boson or a fermion—the former category mostly cap...
Did we just see a black hole explode? Physicists think so—and it could explain (almost) everything
In 2023, a subatomic particle called a neutrino crashed into Earth with such a high amount of energy that it should have been impossible. In fact, there are no...
How play and social connection may help some dogs understand words
Some dogs are seemingly more talented than others. So-called gifted word learners (GWL) are rare canines that can rapidly learn the names of toys, a skill that...
AI challenges established norms in higher education
Studies from the Department of Communication and Learning in Science show that AI tools such as ChatGPT are not merely being used as support in students' studie...