The science of how fireflies stay in sync
Engineers have uncovered the mathematical rules fireflies follow to sync up their flashes.
Jennifer Ouellette
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2
Science // Science & Exploration
Figuring out why AIs get flummoxed by some games
When winning depends on intuiting a mathematical function, AIs come up short.
John Timmer
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77
Magnetars drag spacetime to power superluminous supernovae
Frame-dragging may explain an odd pattern seen in the brightest supernovae.
Jacek Krywko
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70
Centuries before the Inca, Peru’s wealthy imported parrots from afar
The Inca Empire’s system of roads were built on centuries-old trade routes.
Kiona N. Smith
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17
We study pandemics, and the resurgence of measles is a grim sign of what’s coming
The US eliminated measles in 2000, but the disease is once again circulating.
The Conversation
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108
Anduril, the autonomous weapons maker, doubles the size of its space unit
“We are focused on protecting space, assuring access to space, ensuring custody of space.”
Stephen Clark
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83
NIH director launches “Scientific Freedom” lectures with non-scientist
First speaker minimizes climate change, COVID risks—and is a lab leak proponent.
John Timmer
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137
Don’t lick that cold metal pole in winter—if you do, don’t panic
Highest risk of part of tongue being torn off is with temps between -5° and -15° C (23° to 5 °F).
Jennifer Ouellette
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85
Most Read
Quantum computing meets the Möbius molecule
A complex structure with multiple electrons is within reach of today’s hardware.
John Timmer
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38
Ig Nobels ceremony moves to Europe over security concerns
Marc Abraham: “During the past year, it has become unsafe for our guests to visit the country.”
Jennifer Ouellette
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267
An unlikely set of clues helps reconstruct ancient Chinese disasters
Shang Dynasty oracle bones and modern weather models feature in the same study.
Kiona N. Smith
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22
Flexible feline spines shed light on “falling cat” problem
Falling cats in the study also seemed to show a marked preference for turning to the right.
Jennifer Ouellette
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145
Tiny, long-armed dinosaur leads to rethink of dinosaur miniaturization
Small size seems to have come before a change in diet for a tiny dinosaur lineage.
Jacek Krywko
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45
Hunting for elusive “ghost elephants”
Werner Herzog directed this evocative NatGeo documentary of an ornithologist’s quest to find a new species.
Jennifer Ouellette
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30
A unicorn-like Spinosaurus found in the Sahara
A unique head spike and fish-eating jaws help make sense of these dinosaurs.
Jacek Krywko
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47
Asteroid defense mission shifted the orbit of more than its target
The binary asteroid’s orbit around the Sun was affected by the impact.
Jacek Krywko
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76
How moss helped convict grave robbers of a Chicago cemetery
Burr Oak Cemetery is the final resting place of Emmett Till and blues singer Willie Dixon, among others.
Jennifer Ouellette
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62
Why are vertebrate eyes so different from those of other animals?
A new hypothesis proposes that our ancestors lost their eyes, then rebuilt them.
Federica Sgorbissa
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103
TerraPower gets OK to start construction of its first nuclear plant
Plant won’t be done until 2030 at the earliest, and it still needs an operating license.
John Timmer
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250
Space Command chief throws cold water on the question of UAPs in space
“I am not aware of anything that is extraterrestrial, other than comets and things like that.”
Stephen Clark
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169
Large genome model: Open source AI trained on trillions of bases
System can identify genes, regulatory sequences, splice sites, and more.
John Timmer
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63
Re-creating the complex cuisine of prehistoric Europeans
SEM analysis of pottery residues showed people combined fish with a wide variety of plants when cooking.
Jennifer Ouellette
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80
What we can learn from scientific analysis of Renaissance recipes
Multispectral imaging, proteomics, historical texts yield new insights into 16th-century medical manuals.
Jennifer Ouellette
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43
Research roundup: Six cool science stories we almost missed
Smart underwear measures farts, brain cells play Doom, and AI discovers rules of an ancient game.
Jennifer Ouellette
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81
The strange animals that control their body heat
Some creatures can dramatically alter their internal temperature and outlast storms, floods and, predators
Knowable Magazine
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73
Photons that aren’t actually there influence superconductivity
Interactions between neighboring materials is mediated by virtual photons.
John Timmer
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87
Neanderthals seemed to have a thing for modern human women
“Neanderthal deserts” in our genomes suggest a strong pattern in matings.
John Timmer
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206
The physics of squeaking sneakers
Geometry of tread patterns determines frequency, so blocks were designed to play Star Wars music.
Jennifer Ouellette
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37
ULA isn’t making the Space Force’s GPS interference problem any easier
Officials expect the investigation into a booster anomaly on ULA’s Vulcan rocket to last multiple months.
Stephen Clark
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51
Boozy chimps fail urine test, confirm hotly debated theory
Spare a thought for the intrepid graduate students who spent last summer in Africa collecting chimp urine.
Jennifer Ouellette
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90
Following 35% growth, solar has passed hydro on US grid
Coal makes a bit of a comeback, if only by accident.
John Timmer
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216
Scientists crack the case of “screeching” Scotch tape
Micro-cracks travel along the peeling tape at supersonic speeds, producing shock waves and sound pulses.
Jennifer Ouellette
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95
Pentagon buyer: We’re happy with our launch industry, but payloads are lagging
“The point is to get missions out the door as fast as possible. Two to three years is too slow.”
Stephen Clark
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64
NASA says it needs to haul the Artemis II rocket back to the hangar for repairs
“Accessing and remediating any of these issues can only be performed in the VAB.”
Stephen Clark
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273
Dinosaur eggshells can reveal the age of other fossils
Like rocks, egg shells can trap isotopes, allowing us to use them to date samples.
Elizabeth Rayne
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29
Have we leapt into commercial genetic testing without understanding it?
A new book argues that tests might reshape human diversity even if they don’t work.
Diana Gitig
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173