Orange rivers and melting glaciers: federal report shows rapid change in the Arctic
This year’s Arctic Report Card from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration finds that the northernmost part of the Earth is warming faster than the
Category: Science
Pumas in Patagonia started feasting on penguins — but now they’re behaving strangely, a new study finds
Pumas in Patagonia, Argentina are eating penguins in a national park — and it’s changing how the big cats are interacting with each other.
James Webb telescope finds supermassive black hole hidden inside ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ galaxy
The discovery of a hidden supermassive black hole inside an ancient galaxy suggests that some of our universe’s most extreme objects could be invisible unless
Snakes’ mind-bending ‘heat vision’ inspires scientists to build a 4K imaging system that could one day fit into your smartphone
The human eye can only detect wavelengths in the visible light range, but a new imaging system will let us “see” infrared radiation using smartphones.
A new hunt for an Earth analog begins
The Terra Hunting Experiment will track the wobbles of dozens of stars nightly for years in the most focused hunt yet for an Earth twin.
Polar plunges aren’t just for the daring
Bragging rights and an adrenaline rush aren’t the only reasons to start the year with a frigid swim. A dip in icy water builds resilience.
Spiders on Jupiter? Scientists uncover secret origins of arachnid-like ‘demon’ lurking on gas giant’s moon.
A new study reveals the likely origin of a mysterious spider-like pattern first spotted on Jupiter’s moon Europa in 1998. The finding could have implications
Detectorists find Anglo-Saxon treasure hoard that may have been part of a ‘ritual killing’
These Anglo-Saxon accessories were recovered from the side of a hill in England and may be from a hoard, a ritual deposit or a collection
Saturn’s largest moon may be riddled with ‘slushy tunnels’ that contain alien life, new study hints
Decades ago, a spacecraft suggested Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, had an ocean. New observations suggest that the liquid may look more like slush.
This giant microbe organizes its DNA in a surprising way
3-D microscopy shows that the giant bacterium Thiovulum imperiosus squeezes its DNA into peripheral pouches, not a central mass like typical bacteria.
The Year in Physics
It in no way reflects my feelings toward Quanta staff writer Charlie Wood that my favorite moment of the year in physics happened when he
Trump’s rush to build nuclear reactors across the U.S. raises safety worries
A new program at the Department of Energy is pushing the development of nearly a dozen new reactor designs at breakneck speed. (Image credit: Idaho
From bird droppings to holiday kisses: How we ended up under the mistletoe
The etymology of mistletoe — a plant with small, oval evergreen leaves and waxy white berries — may strike some as repugnant. (Image credit: Gerry