Donkeys are an unassuming yet ubiquitous presence in northern Namibia. They traverse sandy village roads, pull carts stacked with firewood, and graze freely along the northern edge of Etosha National Park.
Human-induced climate change made the intense early January heat wave in Australia five times more likely, according to a new analysis by World Weather Attribution.
Recent research has demonstrated that a rhodium (Rh) cluster of an optimal, intermediate size—neither too small nor too large—exhibits the highest catalytic activity in hydroformylation reactions. Similar to the concept of finding the "just right" balance, the study identifies this so-called "Goldilocks size" as crucial for maximizing catalyst efficiency. The study is published in the journal ACS Catalysis and was featured as the cover story.
There's a bright side to every situation. In 2032, the moon itself might have a particularly bright side if it is blasted by a 60-meter-wide asteroid. The chances of such an event are still relatively small (only around 4%) but are non-negligible. And scientists are starting to prepare both for the bad (massive risks to satellites and huge meteors raining down on a large portion of the planet) and the good (a once-in-a-lifetime chance to study the geology, seismology, and chemical makeup of our nearest neighbor). A new paper from Yifan He of Tsinghua University and co-authors, posted to the arXiv preprint server, looks at the bright side of all of the potential interesting science we can do if a collision does, indeed, happen.
Artificial intelligence is reshaping how companies operate, but it may not translate into more job creation, according to new research.
When Apollo 13 looped around the moon in April 1970, more than 40 million people around the world watched the United States recover from a potential catastrophe. An oxygen tank explosion turned a planned landing into an urgent exercise in problem-solving, and the three astronauts on board used the moon's gravity to sling themselves safely home. It was a moment of extraordinary human drama, and a revealing geopolitical one.
Engineering can create weapons systems or systems for defense and well-being. But can engineering create peace? In a Perspective, Guru Madhavan and colleagues propose an expansive mode of engineering practice that seeks to reduce conflict. The work is published in PNAS Nexus.
Gifu University scientists have uncovered how a brain-specific enzyme reshapes protein-linked sugar chains to facilitate the formation of complex glycans essential for normal brain function. These insights could inform future research into glycan-related brain disorders and open new avenues for therapeutic investigation.
Shortly after her arrival last fall, Amelia Gray met Hudson, and the pair hit it off immediately. They touched their noses together in greeting and chuffed—a soft, breathy, snorting sound that signals affection or reassurance. Amelia Gray rolled on her back, gently pawing at her counterpart. Later that same day, they played in the pool together.
EPFL professor Robert West and invited professor Ágnes Horvát discuss how the rise of AI is transforming the dissemination and production of scientific knowledge.
