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Smithsonian Magazine-the Weekender
“Astronomers may have witnessed a rare double explosion of a star called a ‘superkilonova’ for the first time.”
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An artistic representation of a superkilonova (Caltech / K. Miller and R. Hurt (IPAC)) In a First, Astronomers May Have Witnessed a Rare Double Explosion of a Star Called a Superkilonova
A massive star may have burst, leaving behind two dense, dead cores, which then collided and caused another explosion Margherita Bassi 
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Science-Google News
“The moon and sun figure big in the new year’s lineup of cosmic wonders.”
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Accessed on 28 December 2025, 1513 UTC.
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Latest from “Live Science.”
“6 ‘lost cities’ archaeologists have never found” and “Is the Sun really a dwarf star?”
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Accessed on 27 December 2025, 2310 UTC.
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4hScholars know of some important ancient cities from texts, but they haven’t been able to find them.4hEven the most skilled face recognizers are duped by AI-generated faces, a new study finds. But they can improve with training.10hHere are a dozen strange and interesting tales from the medical literature.Today
/ 4hSpotting an AI-generated face is harder than you might think. How confident are you in your ability?12hOur sun is huge, at least compared to Earth and the other planets. So is it really a dwarf?Yesterday
Dian Fossey was a zoologist who spent decades studying the elusive mountain gorillas of Congo and Rwanda before she was murdered.1dA large fish-eating dinosaur died beside a river 125 million years ago in Cretaceous Thailand. Now, the remains of this ancient predator are helping researchers better understand Asia’s enigmatic spinosaurids.1dScientists adapted a method that can produce double the amount of hydrogen when splitting water molecules with electricity.A new computational model suggests that Uranus’ and Neptune’s cores may be less icy than their “ice giant” nickname suggests.1dBased on our “Diagnostic Dilemma” series, this quiz tests your medical know-how.1dA never-before-seen Homo erectus face reveals a complex picture of early human evolution./ 1dFindings about our human ancestors continue to surprise us, especially those from 2025.1dA dormant volcano in Ethiopia erupted after 10,000 years of silence. This event shows how the world’s little-known volcanoes pose the greatest threat.1dFrom Orion and Taurus to Auriga and Perseus, here are 10 easy sets of stars to find in the Northern Hemisphere’s winter night sky./ 1dThe Coconucos volcanic chain is a mountain ridge dotted with at least 14 volcano craters, including one that is active and erupted in December 2025.Dec 25, 2025
1dConservationists are celebrating the rediscovery of flat-headed cats in Thailand after camera traps recorded the endangered feline for the first time in almost 30 years.1dScientists in Paris discovered two new substances with incredible radioactivity. It earned them the Nobel Prize in Physics but would ultimately kill one of them.2dThe manumea, a critically endangered ground pigeon and one of the closest living dodo relatives, has been spotted multiple times in a remote Samoan rainforest.2dHow well do you know that organ between your ears? Test your recognition of neuroscience terms with this word search.2dArchaeologists discovered artifacts for sale in a thrift shop. They decided to create a college course on what to do about them.Dec 24, 2025
2dThe James Webb Space Telescope blasted off from a launchpad in French Guiana in 2021, before reaching a spot in orbit a million miles away. It soon began breaking cosmology.The modern Christmas themes of peace and joy were in short supply amid the ‘dislocation and danger’ of ancient Judea – as they are in today’s fractured world too.Scientists using the James Webb telescope observed a distant exoplanet with an atmosphere of soot and diamonds, challenging all explanations.A double explosion, in which a dying star split, then recombined, may be a long-hypothesized but never-before-seen “superkilonova.”Fifty years after a fossil skeleton of Australopithecus afarensis was unearthed in Ethiopia, we know so much more about how this iconic species lived and died./ 3dAI slop, chatbots and agentic AI are changing the internet, and could transform it beyond recognition, experts say./ 3dDo you know your mathematical equations from your scientific constants? If you know your numbers then try our daily quiz.3dDNA from soil could soon reveal who lived in ice age caves, research shows.3dBlood tests that look for over a dozen cancers are being developed. But how soon will they help patients?3dDiscover the highlights of the Northern Hemisphere’s winter night sky with our guide to the top celestial sights to enjoy through binoculars between November 2025 and January 2026.3dIn an unusual case, a man’s bladder swelled dramatically at its base, taking the shape of a Christmas tree.Dec 23, 2025
Earth’s seasons look very different at locations not far from each other, 20 years’ worth of satellite data reveals.4dSome people in Ukraine weathered the harshest moments of the last ice age by creating shelters made partly of mammoth bones and tusks.4dBy directly communicating with the brain, a new wireless device could someday help restore lost senses or manage pain without medications, its developers say./ 4dA small study reveals that cats greet male owners more vocally than female ones. But the findings could be a result of cultural norms among the participants, rather than a universal cat behavior, scientists say.NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft has just taken its milestone 100,000th photo of the Red Planet using its high-definition camera. It reveals a dark region of moving sand dunes.4dA 2,000-year-old palace in the Republic of Georgia and a 1,500-year-old church in Iraq suggest Zoroastrians coexisted with people of other religions.4dA new material called multiscale reduced graphene oxide could mean faster charging and power delivery than traditional batteries allow. -
Science | The Guardian
“Trump’s shuttering of the National Center for Atmospheric Research is Stalinist….”
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This is the latest in the relentless purge of climate researchers who refuse to be co-opted by the fossil fuel industry The Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin would no doubt have understood and even appreciated the latest attack by the Trump administration on climate researchers and their work. The National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, is to be dismantled after more than 50 ye/ 1dTexas governor among those to call for expanded access to ibogaine, said to help with treating veterans with PTSD For half a century, psychedelics largely belonged to the cultural left: anti-war, anti-capitalist, suspicious of the church and state. Now, one of the most politically consequential psychedelic drugs in the US – ibogaine – is being championed by evangelical Christians, Republican gove/ 1dOur circadian cycle doesn’t just affect our sleeping and waking, but our motivations, mood, behaviour and alertness. Whether you are a lark or an owl, here’s how to recognise your own rhythm • Sign up here to get the whole series straight to your inbox It’s easy to hate clocks. Their unstoppable forward churn wakes us up and shames us for running late. They are a constant reminder that every enjoYesterday
/ 6hWintering Well boxes to counter effects of low light on mental health are ‘super popular’, says island librarian “Boxes of light” are being used to help people who struggle with low winter mood while living in one of Scotland’s darkest communities as part of a wider research initiative to support the million-plus sufferers of seasonal affective disorder across Britain. Residents of the Orkney Isl/ 21hOver the holiday period, the Guardian leader column is looking ahead at the themes of 2026. Today we look at how the struggle to adapt to a dangerously warming world has become a test of global justice The record-breaking 252mph winds of Hurricane Melissa that devastated Caribbean islands at the end of October were made five times more likely by the climate crisis. Scorching wildfire weather in S/ 22hThese fungi boost plant growth and restore depleted ecosystems, but federal funding for a library housing them has been cut – and it may be forced to close Inside a large greenhouse at the University of Kansas, Professor Liz Koziol and Dr Terra Lubin tend rows of sudan grass in individual plastic pots. The roots of each straggly plant harbor a specific strain of invisible soil fungus. The shelves/ 1dSurgeon leading xenotransplantation trial aimed at solving shortage of human organs says edits can lessen risk of rejection A leading surgeon behind a clinical trial of transplanting pig kidneys into living humans has said they could one day be superior to those from human donors. Dr Robert Montgomery, the director of NYU Langone’s Transplant Institute, said the first transplant of the trial hadDec 25, 2025
/ 1dWe can share images and sounds, so why not smells? Dr Kate McLean-MacKenzie hopes her new atlas will make scents Christmas may be associated with the aromas of oranges and mince pies but our towns and cities also boast special scents during the rest of the year. Now, one researcher is publishing an atlas attempting to capture these quirky “smellscapes”. Dr Kate McLean-MacKenzie, a designer and re/ 2dExclusive: Scientists find a way to forecast hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which affects millions worldwide Scientists are developing a simple blood test to predict who is most at risk from the world’s most common inherited heart condition. Millions of people worldwide have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a disease of the heart muscle where the wall of the heart becomes thickened. It is caused/ 2dSarah Harper says society must create new ways of living and working amid potential ‘silver economy’ Concerns over an ageing population are overblown and society should learn to celebrate and capitalise on its “massive cohort of healthy, active, older, creative adults”, a leading population expert has said. While pundits and pressure groups have raised concerns over falling fertility rates , highDec 24, 2025
/ 2dPsychologists have typically believed that we become less curious as we age, but recent research has shown curiosity actually becomes more targeted and specific in our later years. In this episode from September, Madeleine Finlay hears from Dr Mary Whatley, an assistant professor of psychology at Western Carolina University, and Dr Matthias Gruber of Cardiff University’s Brain Research Imaging Ce/ 3dFlame retardants commonly used in furniture are linked to serious health issues, including cancer and thyroid disease Removing old furniture made with flame retardants from people’s homes can significantly reduce the amount of the toxic chemicals in blood, a new 10-year, peer-reviewed study by California regulators and public health groups has found. The drop that researchers found was a “super bDec 23, 2025
/ 3dResearchers share the easy ways to uncover moments of festive discovery, proving you don’t need a lab coat to experiment this Christmas Christmas may seem like a time for switching off and suspending disbelief but there are plenty of ways to introduce a little science into the celebrations. We asked experts for their top home experiments to challenge friends and family. Continue reading…/ 3dRichard Fishacre used his knowledge of light and colour to argue against ‘fifth element’ theories of the day About 800 years ago, Richard Fishacre, a Dominican friar at the University of Oxford, challenged the scientific thinking of the day, using his understanding of the behaviour of light to show that stars and planets are made of the same elements as found on Earth. Though he faced heavy criti/ 3dScientists working for government breed biological control agents in lab to take on species choking native wildlife Crayfish, weevils and fungi are being released into the environment in order to tackle invasive species across Britain. Scientists working for the government have been breeding species in labs to set them loose into the wild to take on Japanese knotweed, signal crayfish and HimalayaStudying chemical chatter as tiny balls of cells embed could shine a light on early pregnancy and glitches that lead to miscarriage Researchers have created the lining of a womb in a dish, which promises to shed light on the mysterious early stages of human pregnancy and the glitches that can lead to miscarriage and medical complications. In laboratory experiments, early-stage human embryos donatDec 22, 2025
4dOur 20 favourite pieces of in-depth reporting, essays and profiles from the year Victor Pelevin made his name in 90s Russia with scathing satires of authoritarianism. But while his literary peers have faced censorship and fled the country, he still sells millions. Has he become a Kremlin apologist? Continue reading…/ 4dScientists are beginning to understand that ageing is not simply a linear process and we age, according to recent research, in three accelerated bursts: at about 40, 60 and 80 years old. In this episode from July, Ian Sample talks to Stanford University’s Prof Michael Snyder, who explains what the drivers of these bursts of ageing could be, and how they might be counteracted Scientists find human/ 4dBiologist says specimen filmed by a Victorian fisher is ‘unusual’, but not a rare albino as some had wondered Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Cody Stylianou thought he saw a huge trout. But, skimming just below the surface, it was moving differently than a fish would. The creature surfaced and, amazed, the Victori/ 4dThe answers to today’s problems Earlier today I set you the following set of numerical challenges to celebrate the arrival of 2026. Auld lang signs Five 9s Six 8s. Six 7s. Six 6s. Four 5s. Six 4s. Four 3s. Four 2s. a partridge in a pair tree. (Only joking) Continue reading…South coast most likely to see snowflakes, though a full festive blanketing has been unlikely for decades now While ongoing showers might suggest this Christmas will be a washout, experts say a wintry snap is on its way and some areas of the UK might even have a white Christmas. According to the Met Office, high pressure is building – meaning that, while some areas may experience showers, many wi/ 5dAs number of lunar satellites soars, sites will be marked out where defunct hardware can be crash-landed Patches of the moon are destined to become spacecraft graveyards where dead lunar satellites and other defunct hardware can be crashed into the ground, far away from sites of cultural and scientific importance, researchers say. The number of satellites circling the moon is set to soar in the n/ 5dResearchers have realised the records are a ‘goldmine’ to study changes in environmental conditions Yangang Xing had never heard of organ-tuning books, but his colleague Andrew Knight often played the pipe organ at churches as a teenager. When the pair, who are researchers at Nottingham Trent University, set out to study how environmental conditions in churches had changed over time, Knight expla/ 5dFrom HIV to TB, scientists and doctors made breakthroughs in treatment and prevention of some of the world’s deadliest diseases With humanitarian funding slashed by the US and other countries, including the UK, this year’s global health headlines have made grim reading. But good things have still been happening in vaccine research and the development of new and improved treatments for some of theDec 21, 2025
/ 5dThe year ahead in numbers UPDATE: Read the solutions here As we say goodbye to 2025, let’s delight in its numerical charms one final time. The year was unique this century as being a square number. 44 2 = 1936 45 2 = 2025 46 2 = 2116 Five 9s Six 8s. Six 7s. Six 6s. Four 5s. Six 4s. Four 3s. Four 2s. a partridge in a pear tree. (Only joking) Continue reading…Patient watchers should wrap up warm to witness one of nature’s subtler events on night of 22 to 23 December If the Geminids whetted your appetite for meteor showers, then you are in luck. This week it is the turn of the Ursids. Admittedly, they are nowhere near as plentiful as the Geminids, producing a maximum of just 10 meteors an hour, but there is a unique satisfaction to witnessing one of na/ 5dSurvey adds to experts’ concern about addiction risk and highlights support for plan to ban sales to under-18s One in eight teenagers aged 14 to 17 have used nicotine pouches, a survey has found, adding to health experts’ concern about their growing popularity. Users hold the small sachets, which look like mini-teabags and are often flavoured, in their mouths to enjoy the release of the nicotine/ 5dCutting-edge therapies exist, but the market cannot deliver them cheaply. Britain must build NHS capacity so that cures become collective goods, not expensive products Just a small fraction of our 20,000 genes can cause disease when disrupted – yet that sliver accounts for thousands of rare disorders . The difficulty is: what can a doctor do to treat them? In a common condition such as type 2 dia/ 6dThe commercialisation of the cosmos is already underway, and our current laws aren’t fit for purpose If there is one thing we can rely on in this world, it is human hubris, and space and astronomy are no exception. The ancients believed that every -
Nature Briefing
“Science Quiz: Vampire fungus, migrating moths, and a 160-year-old mystery.”
Views expressed in this science and technology update are those of the reporters and correspondents.
Accessed on 25 December 2025, 1714 UTC.
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View this email in your browser Thursday 25 December 2025 
Hello Nature readers,
Merry Christmas! While I relax somewhere with visions of sugarplums dancing in my head, I hope you enjoy this holiday assortment of Briefing treats.Please note that some Nature stories require you to register your e-mail address to read all the way to the end. In the interest of expediency, you could register here first: my-profile.springernature.com. Then, assuming you have cookies accepted and stay in the same browser, you would not be asked to log in again while reading.

(Ami Vitale/BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition) The best science images of the year
Kenya’s black rhinoceroses (Diceros bicornis) have rebounded from near-extinction thanks to conservation efforts, but protecting them is difficult work. In this photograph — a winner in the 2025 BigPicture wildlife photography competition — a team treats a sick rhino, showing the skill and coordination needed to handle these powerful animals safely — even when the rhino is under sedation.
See more of the year’s sharpest science shots, selected by Nature’s photo team.
The feel-good science stories of the year
Nature’s pick of some of the best uplifting science stories we reported in 2025 includes:
- The return of the adorable Australian marsupial known as the ampurta (Dasycercus hillieri) — which moved from near-extinction to ‘least concern’ this year.
- The continued recovery of the Antarctic ozone layer — thanks to the international cooperation that saved it via the 1987 Montreal Protocol.
- Heroic efforts from health workers and African governments contained an outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in just 42 days.
The year’s 10 best science books
Spineless creatures, bold women and possibly the world’s oldest beer receipt are among Andrew Robinson’s pick of the year’s top science books to put on your gift list (or just buy for yourself).
Science to watch out for in 2026
The rise of AI scientists, missions to explore the moons of Earth and Mars and a massive ocean-floor drill are among the developments set to shape research in 2026.
Podcast: Festive spectacular 2025
This festive episode of the Nature Podcast features games, gifts and the annual slate of festive songs celebrating the science of the past year — including “I am the Very Model of a Miniature Tyrannosaur”, the story of a diminutive dinosaur that turned out to be its own species.
Nature Podcast | 42 min listen
Subscribe to the Nature Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube Music, or use the RSS feed.
News & Views
Podcast: Scientists on science
News & Views articles offer expert analysis of cutting-edge research. In this week’s Nature Podcast, the News & Views team talk about some of their science highlights of 2025, from astrophysics to genetics, climate change to materials science.
Nature Podcast | 20 min listen
Subscribe to the Nature Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube Music, or use the RSS feed.

News & Views end-of-year quiz
Think you know science? Go beyond the headlines with these 12 questions to test your knowledge of the expert research analysis published in Nature this year.
Quote of the day
“Never give up on your dreams … There’s sometimes just a low probability that it comes true, and I just got very lucky.”Michaela Benthaus, a European Space Agency engineer who injured her spinal cord in a mountain biking accident in 2018, is the first wheelchair user in space after taking a short suborbital trip on a Blue Origin rocket. (The New York Times | 4 min read)
On Friday, in the final penguin-search of the year, Leif Penguinson was exploring the Dürrenstein-Lassingtal wilderness area in Austria, home to one of Europe’s last primeval beech forests. Did you find the penguin? When you’re ready, here’s the answer. The Briefing team is on holiday, returning the week of Monday, 5 January. Stay tuned for one more special edition during the break — including an epic look back at Leif’s adventures this year.
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Flora Graham, senior editor, Nature BriefingFree newsletters from Nature
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Science X Magazine
“Alzheimer’s disease can be reversed in animal models to achieve full neurological recovery.”
Views expressed in this science and technology update are those of the reporters and correspondents.
Accessed on 25 December 2025, 0331 UTC.
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Russ Roberts (https://hawaiisciencejournal.com).
All News
Medical Xpress / Call 911 or risk losing the baby? Raids force some immigrants to avoid care
As immigrants in southeastern Louisiana and Mississippi braced for this month’s U.S. Homeland Security operation, Cristiane Rosales-Fajardo received a panicked phone call from a friend.
46 minutes ago in Pediatrics
Phys.org / New image sensor breaks optical limits
Imaging technology has transformed how we observe the universe—from mapping distant galaxies with radio telescope arrays to unlocking microscopic details inside living cells. Yet despite decades of innovation, a fundamental …
8 hours ago in Physics
Medical Xpress / Alzheimer’s disease can be reversed in animal models to achieve full neurological recovery
For over a century, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has been considered irreversible. Consequently, research has focused on disease prevention or slowing, rather than recovery. Despite billions of dollars spent on decades of research, …
11 hours ago in Neuroscience
Phys.org / Observations catch galaxy cluster in the process of merging
Astronomers have used the Keck Observatory’s DEIMOS multi-object spectrograph to observe a nearby galaxy cluster designated RXC J0032.1+1808. As a result, they found that the cluster undergoes a major merging event. The finding …
12 hours ago in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Glowing urine and shining bark: Scientists discover the secret visual language of deer
During mating season, when male white-tailed deer want to get noticed by the opposite sex and warn off rivals, they rub their antlers against trees and scrape the forest floor. Then they pee on these patches. But there is …
13 hours ago in Biology
Tech Xplore / Unlocking corrosion-free Zn/Br flow batteries for grid-scale energy storage
Scientists have found a way to push zinc–bromine flow batteries to the next level. By trapping corrosive bromine with a simple molecular scavenger, they were able to remove a major barrier to the performance and lifespan …
12 hours ago in Energy & Green Tech
Phys.org / Mechanism for twisted growth of plant organs discovered
From morning glories spiraling up fence posts to grape vines corkscrewing through arbors, twisted growth is a problem-solving tool found throughout the plant kingdom. Roots “do the twist” all the time, skewing hard right …
7 hours ago in Biology
Medical Xpress / Heart-brain connection: International study reveals role of vagus nerve in keeping the heart young
The secret to a healthier and “younger” heart lies in the vagus nerve. A recent study coordinated by the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa and published in Science Translational Medicine has shown that preserving …
8 hours ago in Neuroscience
Phys.org / Resurrected tissue: Mechanism that enables regeneration after extensive damage solves a 50-year-old mystery
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, our skin tissue—and in fact many types of epithelial tissue that lines and covers the body’s organs—can respond to death and destruction with a burst of regeneration. This phenomenon, …
8 hours ago in Biology
Medical Xpress / Rb1 identified as predictive biomarker for new therapeutic strategy in some breast cancers
A new study published in Science Translational Medicine by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center details a therapeutic vulnerability in patients with an aggressive subtype of triple-negative breast …
8 hours ago in Oncology & Cancer
Phys.org / An AI-based blueprint for designing catalysts across materials
Hydrogen peroxide is widely used in everyday life, from disinfectants and medical sterilization to environmental cleanup and manufacturing. Despite its importance, most hydrogen peroxide is still produced using large-scale …
8 hours ago in Chemistry
Tech Xplore / AI overestimates how smart people are, according to economists
Scientists at HSE University have found that current AI models, including ChatGPT and Claude, tend to overestimate the rationality of their human opponents—whether first-year undergraduate students or experienced scientists—in …
9 hours ago in Business
Tech Xplore / For computational devices, talk isn’t cheap: Research reveals unavoidable energy costs across all communication channels
Every task we perform on a computer—whether number crunching, watching a video, or typing out an article—requires different components of the machine to interact with one another. “Communication is massively crucial for …
9 hours ago in Energy & Green Tech
Tech Xplore / Redesigned carbon molecules boost battery safety, durability and power
Research published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society demonstrates a new way to make carbon-based battery materials much safer, longer lasting, and more powerful by fundamentally redesigning how fullerene molecules …
9 hours ago in Energy & Green Tech
Medical Xpress / Stimulant ADHD medications work differently than previously thought
Prescription stimulants, such as Ritalin and Adderall, are widely used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), including in children. In the U.S., about 3.5 million children aged 3 to 17 take an ADHD medication, …
11 hours ago in Attention deficit disorders
Phys.org / Scientists boost mitochondria to burn more calories
Researchers have developed experimental drugs that encourage the mitochondria in our cells to work a little harder and burn more calories. The findings could open the door to new treatments for obesity and improve metabolic …
12 hours ago in Chemistry
Phys.org / Radio black hole trio lights up in rare galaxy merger
Astronomers have confirmed the first known triple system in which all three galaxies host actively feeding, radio-bright supermassive black holes.
12 hours ago in Astronomy & Space
Medical Xpress / Novel AI tool offers prognosis for patients with head and neck cancer
A team led by investigators at Mass General Brigham and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has developed and validated an artificial intelligence (AI)–based noninvasive tool that can predict the likelihood that a patient’s oropharyngeal …
3 hours ago in Oncology & Cancer
Phys.org / Africa’s rarest carnivore: The story of the first Ethiopian wolf ever captured, nursed and returned to the wild
What’s the value of one animal? When a wild animal is found badly injured, the most humane option is often euthanasia to prevent further suffering. That’s what usually happens, and often for good reason. Even when the resources …
13 hours ago in Biology
Medical Xpress / Key enzyme controls both weight gain and cholesterol levels in animal models
Obesity is a global epidemic and a major cause of morbidity and mortality because it increases the risk for comorbidities, including heart disease and fatty liver disease (MASLD). Rates of these disorders have risen as the …
12 hours ago in Overweight & Obesity
Phys.org / Saturn’s icy moon Enceladus is an attractive target in the search for life—new research
A small, icy moon of Saturn called Enceladus is one of the prime targets in the search for life elsewhere in the solar system. A new study strengthens the case for Enceladus being a habitable world.
7 hours ago in Astronomy & Space
Medical Xpress / Sleep variability linked with sleep apnea and hypertension
Over 70 million Americans wear digital activity trackers (DATs) to record their sleep, steps and heart rate. A new study from Scripps Research found that these devices could also provide insight into even more, including …
7 hours ago in Cardiology
Phys.org / California’s plastic bag phaseout nears, but leftover bags remain unregulated
On Dec. 19, at the Target store on Riverside Boulevard, stacks of plastic bags sat prominently at checkout counters—the only visible option available for shoppers at both self-checkout kiosks and traditional lanes.
8 hours ago in Earth
Medical Xpress / AI model predicts blood loss in liposuction
A newly developed artificial intelligence (AI) model is highly accurate in predicting blood loss in patients undergoing high-volume liposuction, reports a study in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery journal.
8 hours ago in Surgery
Phys.org / Southern California braces for devastating Christmas storm
Flash flood warnings were in effect in Los Angeles and most of southern California on Wednesday as one of the worst Christmas storms in recent memory brought heavy rain and fears of deadly mudslides.
9 hours ago in Earth
Tech Xplore / First Bond game in a decade hit by two-month delay
A Danish video game studio said it was delaying the release of the first James Bond video game in over a decade by two months to “refine the experience.”
9 hours ago in Business
Phys.org / Maryland climate commission calls for state action amid budget pressure
The Maryland Commission on Climate Change released its 2025 annual report on Dec. 23, offering a new set of recommendations aimed at helping the state meet aggressive greenhouse gas reduction goals while preparing communities …
2 hours ago in Earth
Medical Xpress / Automatic label checking: The missing step in making medical AI reliable
Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University have discovered a practical way to detect and fix common labeling errors in large radiographic collections. By automatically verifying body-part, projection, and rotation tags, …
9 hours ago in Radiology & Imaging
Medical Xpress / Flu surge exposes missed COVID lessons
Three leading public health and social psychology experts warn that the U.K. is failing to apply vital lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic as flu cases surge with hospitals facing mounting winter pressures ahead of the planned …
5 hours ago in Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes
Phys.org / Why California’s milk cartons may lose their coveted recycling symbol
California milk cartons may lose their coveted recycling symbol, the one with the chasing arrows, potentially threatening the existence of the ubiquitous beverage containers.
12 hours ago in Earth
Phys.org / It’s (not) a new bike! How to manage kids’ gift expectations at Christmas
Holiday celebrations involving gift giving can be roller coasters. The excitement of tearing into gifts is often mixed with intense anticipation—and sometimes, disappointment.
13 hours ago in Other Sciences
Tech Xplore / Rome pushes Meta to allow other AIs on WhatsApp
Italian regulators ordered Meta on Wednesday to open its WhatsApp chat platform to rival AI chatbots as it and EU authorities pursue a probe that the US tech giant is abusing its dominant market position.
13 hours ago in Business
Medical Xpress / Text messages could be key to helping TB patients quit smoking, according to study
Tuberculosis (TB) patients who smoke will recover far more quickly if they can quit—and help could come from their mobile phones, according to new research.
12 hours ago in Addiction
Phys.org / Why mangoes fall before they’re ripe—and how science is helping them hang on
Ever wondered why your mango tree drops fruit before it’s ripe? Each season, mango growers across Australia watch helplessly as millions of mangoes fall to the ground too early.
13 hours ago in Biology
Medical Xpress / Boston reports 114% recent surge in flu cases in December, urges vaccinations
Boston is seeing an early surge in flu cases this year, city and health officials warned, with sharp upticks in cases and hospitalizations and even higher increases for children and teens as winter sets in.
12 hours ago in Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes
Phys.org / ‘Never move around a flaming dessert’: A scientist explains the chemistry of a Christmas pudding
Christmas means different things to different people. For me, it’s an opportunity to eat celebratory foods that aren’t available all year round.
13 hours ago in Chemistry
Medical Xpress / ‘The best gift ever’: Baby is born after the rarest of pregnancies, defying all odds
Suze Lopez holds her baby boy on her lap and marvels at the remarkable way he came into the world.
13 hours ago in Obstetrics & gynaecology
Medical Xpress / Ice baths and marathons: Our modern obsession with ‘wellness’ is driven by ancient instincts
If you’ve spent even a little time on social media in recent years, you’ve no doubt come across a swath of “wellness” content.
13 hours ago in Health
Medical Xpress / Holiday heart risk: Overindulgence, stress, cold increase heart attacks
Eat, drink and enjoy the outdoors and family gatherings—in moderation, say those who see an increase in heart emergencies during the holiday season.
12 hours ago in Psychology & Psychiatry
Phys.org / India space agency launches its heaviest satellite
India’s space agency launched its heaviest ever payload on Wednesday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling the deployment “a significant stride” for the space sector.
18 hours ago in Astronomy & Space
Tech Xplore / Federal judge halts Texas app store age verification law
A federal judge on Tuesday blocked a Texas law that would have required age verification and parental consent for minors downloading mobile apps, ruling the measure likely violates free speech protections.
17 hours ago in Business
Phys.org / Bazinga! Physicists crack a ‘Big Bang Theory’ problem that could help explain dark matter
A professor at the University of Cincinnati and his colleagues have figured out something two of America’s most famous fictional physicists couldn’t: how to theoretically produce subatomic particles called axions in fusion …
Dec 18, 2025 in Physics
Phys.org / Scientists crack ancient salt crystals to unlock secrets of 1.4 billion-year-old air
More than a billion years ago, in a shallow basin across what is now northern Ontario, a subtropical lake much like modern-day Death Valley evaporated under the sun’s gentle heat, leaving behind crystals of halite—rock …
Dec 23, 2025 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / The universe may be lopsided, new research suggests
The shape of the universe is not something we often think about. My colleagues and I have published a new study that suggests it could be asymmetric or lopsided, meaning not the same in every direction.
Dec 23, 2025 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / Should we smoke salmon using traditional techniques, or should we simply add the flavor?
If you think something is off with added smoke flavoring in salmon, you’re not alone. Many consumers are skeptical of salmon that hasn’t been smoked in the traditional way.
23 hours ago in Biology
Phys.org / New reactor produces clean energy and carbon nanotubes from natural gas
Scientists from the University of Cambridge have developed a new reactor that converts natural gas (a common energy source primarily composed of methane) into two highly valuable resources: clean hydrogen fuel and carbon …
Dec 23, 2025 in Physics
Phys.org / A third path to explain consciousness: Biological computationalism
Right now, the debate about consciousness often feels frozen between two entrenched positions. On one side sits computational functionalism, which treats cognition as something you can fully explain in terms of abstract information …
Dec 22, 2025 in Biology
Dialog / Hidden threats in the dark: Alarming levels of human-made debris in Mediterranean sea caves
Just when we thought we had described all the possible marine environmental recipients of plastic pollution, new research comes in to overturn the picture.
Dec 18, 2025 in Earth
Phys.org / New ‘cloaking device’ concept shields electronics from disruptive magnetic fields
University of Leicester engineers have unveiled a concept for a device designed to magnetically “cloak” sensitive components, making them invisible to detection.
Dec 19, 2025 in Physics
Phys.org / Anything-goes ‘anyons’ may be at the root of surprising quantum experiments
In the past year, two separate experiments in two different materials captured the same confounding scenario: the coexistence of superconductivity and magnetism. Scientists had assumed that these two quantum states are mutually …
Dec 22, 2025 in Physics
Tech Xplore / Anode-free battery can double electric vehicle driving range
Could an electric vehicle travel from Seoul to Busan and back on a single charge? Could drivers stop worrying about battery performance even in winter? A Korean research team has taken a major step toward answering these …
Dec 23, 2025 in Energy & Green Tech
Phys.org / The chaotic ‘Dracula’s Chivito’: Hubble reveals largest birthplace of planets ever observed
Astronomers using NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope have imaged the largest protoplanetary disk ever observed circling a young star. For the first time in visible light, Hubble has revealed the disk is unexpectedly chaotic and …
Dec 23, 2025 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / How the global fish trade is spreading ‘forever chemicals’ around the world
Eating fish may well be good for you, but it carries a hidden risk of exposure to so-called “forever chemicals.” A new study published in the journal Science has revealed that the global seafood trade is acting as a massive …
Dec 23, 2025 in Earth
Dialog / Cosmic rays from a nearby supernova may help explain Earth-like planets
How common are Earth-like planets in the universe? When I started working on supernova explosions, I never imagined that my research would eventually lead me to ask a question about the origin of Earth-like planets. Yet that …
Dec 21, 2025 in Astronomy & Space
Phys.org / CO2 soon to be buried under North Sea oil platform
In the North Sea where Denmark once drilled for oil, imported European carbon dioxide will soon be buried under the seabed in a carbon capture and storage (CCS) project nearing completion.
Dec 22, 2025 in Earth
Phys.org / Scientists who use AI tools are publishing more papers than ever before
Science is entering a massive publishing boom, in large part due to artificial intelligence. New research published in the journal Science has revealed that scientists who use large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT are …
Dec 21, 2025 in Other Sciences
Phys.org / Raindrops form ‘sandballs’ as they roll downhill, contributing more to erosion than previously thought
What happens as a raindrop impacts bare soil has been fairly well-studied, but what happens to raindrops afterward is poorly understood. We know that the initial splash of raindrops on soil contributes to erosion, but a new …
Dec 23, 2025 in Physics
Phys.org / Machine learning and microscopy solve 170-year-old mystery of premelting ice
Through a novel combination of machine learning and atomic force microscopy, researchers in China have unveiled the molecular surface structure of “premelted” ice, resolving a long-standing mystery surrounding the liquid-like …
Dec 19, 2025 in Physics
Phys.org / Paraplegic engineer becomes the first wheelchair user to blast into space
A paraplegic engineer from Germany blasted off on a dream-come-true rocket ride with five other passengers Saturday, leaving her wheelchair behind to float in space while beholding Earth from on high.
Dec 21, 2025 in Astronomy & Space
Medical Xpress / Gut bacteria may play role in bipolar depression by directly influencing brain connectivity
Bipolar disorder (BD) is a psychiatric disorder characterized by extreme mood changes. Individuals diagnosed with BD typically alternate between periods of high energy, euphoria, irritability and/or impulsivity (i.e., manic …
Dec 23, 2025 in Psychology & Psychiatry
Phys.org / Converting CO₂ into valuable chemicals in acidic environments: Iodide ions unlock efficient ethylene production
The emission of carbon dioxide (CO₂) is one of the primary factors contributing to air pollution and climate change on Earth. In recent years, energy engineers have thus been trying to develop systems that could reduce …
Dec 23, 2025 in Chemistry
Phys.org / Study shows the 2008 recession caused people to identify with a lower class
Class identity, which is how individuals view their economic and social positions in relation to others, has wide-ranging effects on people’s well-being, thoughts, and behavior. Previous studies have shown that people who …
Dec 22, 2025 in Other Sciences
Medical Xpress / Brain chemistry can reactivate or suppress dormant HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections are still fairly common and an estimated 40 million people worldwide are currently living with this condition. The HIV virus attacks the body’s immune system and thus makes those …
Dec 23, 2025 in HIV & AIDS










































