Has a huge blob of dark matter been found in our galactic neighborhood?
If confirmed, vast cloud could test predictions about the Milky Way’s hidden architecture
20 years after Hurricane Katrina, is the U.S. better prepared?
In late August 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated the U.S. Gulf Coast. The storm cut a deadly swath through Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, deluging coastal towns as surges of ocean water …
Distant suns covered in dark spots could shape the search for life
Scientists have devised a new method for mapping the spottiness of distant stars by using observations from NASA missions of orbiting planets crossing their stars’ faces. The model builds on …
The crucial role of chaos in our brain’s most extraordinary functions
Think back through your day and consider all the amazing tasks your brain has helped you perform. From brushing your teeth to eating your lunch and reading the words on …
Trust in elections rises after ‘inoculations’ meant to preempt false fraud claims
New U.S.-Brazil study points to ways of countering election misinformation, political scientists say
Horses may have become rideable with the help of a genetic mutation
Two key gene variants may have made early domesticated horses more tame and more physically resilient to bearing a rider, researchers report August 28 in Science. The resulting horses were …
Warped planet nurseries rewrite the rules of how worlds are born
The textbook picture of how planets form – serene, flat discs of cosmic dust – has just received a significant cosmic twist. New research, published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, …
Are farmed oysters, mussels and clams the ultimate green foods?
Tuck into a green dish of bivalves Shutterstock/Plateresca Picture an environmentally friendly food. Your mind might turn to the humble lentil, but is it possible to eat more luxuriously while …
Stalagmites reveal devastating droughts that helped spur Maya breakdown
Series of droughts chronicled in cave rocks likely pushed civilization to breaking point
River turbulence can push toxic pollutants into the air
Toxic pollutants from a Southern California river are infiltrating the air. Polluted water surging along a turbulent section of the Tijuana River in San Diego can release toxic gases, including …