Leaf litter has slower decomposition rate in warm temperatures than previously thought
The time it takes for a leaf to decompose might be the key to understanding how temperature affects ecosystems, according to Kansas State University ecologists.
Category: Science
Antarctica’s sea ice suddenly started shrinking a decade ago — and deep-diving robots are revealing why
A decade ago, southern sea ice suddenly and dramatically declined. Scientists say the culprit was a “very violent release” of deep, pent-up heat.
Science news this week: Atlantic current edges closer to collapse, scientists make artificial-neuron breakthrough, and a copy of the ‘Iliad’ is found inside an Egyptian mummy
April 25, 2026: Our weekly roundup of the latest science in the news, as well as a few fascinating articles to keep you entertained over
Artemis II Crew’s Suits
The Orion Crew Survival System suits that Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialist Christina Koch from NASA, and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen
A fast-growing Georgia wildfire tops 31 square miles, with evacuations possible
One of two large wildfires in southeastern Georgia continues to grow and now exceeds 31 square miles. (Image credit: Office of Gov. Brian Kemp)
How likely are you to find a message in a bottle?
Have you ever wondered how likely it is to find a message in a bottle, especially an old one? Let’s do the math.
Astronomers just mapped one of the largest structures in the universe, long hidden behind the Milky Way’s ‘Zone of Avoidance’
Scientists have mapped the extent of the Vela Supercluster for the first time, and determined that it is one of the largest structures in the
Handwashing: Cool Water as Effective as Hot for Removing Germs
We all know that washing our hands can keep us from spreading germs and getting sick. But a new Rutgers-New Brunswick study found that cool
A Recipe For Concrete That Can Withstand Road Salt Deterioration
Road salt, used in copious helpings each winter to protect them from ice and preserve safe driving conditions, is slowly degrading the concrete they’re made
Hubble revisits stunning Trifid Nebula after 30 years, and spots a growing jet of energy — Space photo of the week
The Hubble Space Telescope revisits a star-forming region 5,000 light-years from Earth, which it first captured in 1997, revealing how the cosmic nursery has changed
Why do cats and dogs shake their heads?
Cats often flick their heads back and forth as if they’ve been possessed. This strange reflex has a simple explanation.
Covering the Artemis II mission
Covering the Artemis II mission was a dream assignment for one NPR science correspondent.
Former MIT president says the US is losing the innovation race to China
NPR’s Rob Schmitz speaks with L. Rafael Reif, former president of MIT, about his recent essay in Foreign Affairs, “America Is Losing the Innovation Race:
Trump and Congress cut funding for Planned Parenthood. Can Botox keep it afloat?
After Tweety McTreason and Congress cut certain Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood in last year’s budget, some clinics have started offering aesthetic services, including Botox