Soft robots harvest ambient heat for self-sustained motion

An fMRI marker of Alzheimer’s-related cognitive decline

After nearly 100 years, scientists may have detected dark matter

Newly identified fossil fish from England’s Jurassic Coast reveals insights into an extinct group

Recently discovered X-ray transient traced to possible collapsar origin

The world’s most efficient solar cell: Chinese researchers explain how they designed and built it

Musicians drift less in blindfolded walk: Could musical training be utilized in cognitive rehabilitation?

Reducing social media use for just a week can improve mental health

Experimental proof shows quantum world is even stranger than previously thought

Folklore sheds light on ancient Indian savannas

Urban natives: Plants evolve to live in cities

Scientists identify five structural eras of the human brain over a lifetime

Collaborating minds think alike, processing information in similar ways in a shared task, study shows

Genetic study links impulsive decision making to a wide range of health and psychiatric risks

Scientists warn mountain climate change is accelerating faster than predicted, putting billions of people at risk

Scientists warn mountain climate change is accelerating faster than predicted, putting billions of people at risk

Mountain regions are warming on average 0.21°C per century faster than lowlands, with increased rainfall variability and a shift from snow to rain. These changes threaten water supplies for over a billion people and disrupt ecosystems, as species are forced to higher elevations. Data gaps and limited monitoring may mean the pace and impacts of mountain climate change are underestimated.

Ocean’s upper 1,000 meters undergoing unprecedented, deep-reaching compound change

Up to 40% of the ocean’s upper 1,000 meters has experienced significant simultaneous changes in temperature, salinity, oxygen, and acidity compared to 60 years ago, with the most intense shifts in the tropical and subtropical Atlantic, North Pacific, Arabian Sea, and Mediterranean. These compound changes threaten marine ecosystems, reduce the ocean’s climate-regulating capacity, and highlight the need for enhanced monitoring and policy action.

Microplastics pose a human health risk in more ways than one

Microplastics in aquatic environments are colonized by pathogenic and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, with polystyrene and nurdles posing higher risks due to their capacity to adsorb antibiotics and promote biofilm formation. Over 100 unique antimicrobial resistance gene (ARG) sequences were identified on microplastics, exceeding those on natural or inert substrates. These findings highlight microplastics as vectors for the spread of pathogens and ARGs, raising concerns for environmental and human health.

Earthquakes shake up Yellowstone’s subterranean ecosystems

Seismic activity in Yellowstone alters subsurface geochemistry by exposing new rocks and releasing trapped fluids, increasing hydrogen, sulfide, and dissolved organic carbon levels. These changes lead to higher planktonic cell concentrations and shifts in microbial populations, suggesting earthquakes can enhance microbial habitability in subterranean ecosystems.

Earth system models overstate carbon removal: New findings suggest nitrogen fixation is 50% lower than thought

Earth system models have overestimated natural nitrogen fixation rates by about 50%, leading to an 11% overestimation of the carbon dioxide fertilization effect on plant growth. This suggests that projections of future carbon removal by plants are too high, highlighting the need to revise climate models to account for lower natural nitrogen fixation.

Study highlights gaps in avalanche safety awareness among snowshoers and winter hikers

Researchers from Simon Fraser University are urging snowshoers and winter hikers to get clued up on avalanche safety after a new study found a concerning lack of awareness among those taking part in the sports.

AI quake tools forecast aftershock risk in seconds, study shows

AI-powered earthquake forecasting tools can predict aftershock risk within seconds after an initial tremor, matching the accuracy of traditional models like ETAS but with significantly faster results and lower computational demands. These models, trained on diverse global earthquake data, offer rapid, reliable forecasts to support emergency response and resource allocation in affected regions.

From publications to policy: New global analysis reveals how academic research shapes sustainable development policy

Analysis of over 12 million policy documents shows that research is more frequently cited in SDG-related policy than in non-SDG policy, highlighting a strong link between science and global action. Open access articles are cited earlier, and concise formats like reviews and news are highly influential. Most cited research originates from the Global North, with limited domestic citation in the Global South.

The world’s little-known volcanoes pose the greatest threat

Volcanoes that appear dormant and are poorly monitored pose a greater global threat than well-known, frequently studied volcanoes. Eruptions from these “hidden” volcanoes can have far-reaching impacts, including climate effects and humanitarian crises. Despite this, most active volcanoes lack adequate monitoring, especially in densely populated regions, highlighting the need for proactive investment in surveillance and preparedness.

Two centuries of tree rings reveal hydroclimatic patterns and mega-drought impacts in China’s Central Water Tower

A two-century tree-ring δ¹⁸O record reconstructs summer relative humidity (RH_JJA) in southern China’s Central Water Tower, revealing major drought and wet periods, decadal-scale climate synchronicity, and north-south RH_JJA discrepancies. Hydroclimatic variability is mainly driven by the Asian and Indian Summer Monsoons, with ENSO as a modulator. Future warming may intensify regional dryness.

Tiny fee on Minneapolis carbon pollution won’t do much for the climate, warns expert

Minneapolis implemented a carbon fee targeting its largest polluters, but legal limits cap both the fee per ton and total annual charges, significantly reducing its potential impact on emissions. The program is expected to cut only about 1,000 tons of CO₂ annually, a small fraction of the city’s 3.6 million tons of yearly emissions. The fee mainly funds local climate initiatives rather than driving substantial emission reductions.

How we created a climate change museum to inspire hope among eco-distressed students

A climate change museum was developed to address eco-distress among students by emphasizing positive stories of resilience, innovation, and community engagement. The museum integrates a “pedagogy of hope” into its exhibits and educational activities, encouraging constructive engagement and creative connections to local environments, rather than focusing solely on negative climate narratives.

NGO links major chocolate brands to Liberia deforestation

Major chocolate brands are linked to deforestation in Liberia’s Upper Guinean rainforest, with around 250,000 hectares lost between 2021 and 2024 in key cocoa-producing areas. High cocoa prices and regional crop failures have driven farm expansion, while untraceable cocoa beans are mixed with certified ones, undermining sustainability claims. Other drivers of forest loss include small-scale agriculture, mining, palm oil, and rubber production.

Ethiopian volcanic plume captured by satellite

The Hayli Gubbi volcano in northeast Ethiopia erupted after a long dormancy, releasing a significant ash and sulfur dioxide plume detected by the Copernicus Sentinel-5 Precursor satellite. Satellite imagery tracked the plume’s movement from Ethiopia toward the Arabian Peninsula and Arabian Sea, highlighting the importance of remote sensing for monitoring atmospheric events in inaccessible regions.

5 reasons the COP30 climate conference failed to deliver on its ‘people’s summit’ promise

COP30 failed to fulfill its promise as a “people’s summit,” with Indigenous groups largely excluded from key negotiations and fossil fuel interests dominating. Major decisions occurred through voluntary side deals rather than binding agreements, and the final text omitted commitments to phase out fossil fuels. The absence of the US shifted dynamics but did not lead to stronger outcomes, and the main goals of the Paris Agreement remain unmet.

The demands of young people went unfulfilled by the UN climate summit. Mostly

Key demands from young people at Cop30—including commitments to phase out fossil fuels, stronger legal accountability, Indigenous rights, Amazon protection, and a just transition—were largely unmet. The final agreement lacked concrete measures on fossil fuels, deforestation, and adaptation finance, with youth voices and civil society input remaining limited in decision-making.