Everything on the wire from ScienceDaily (US).
A new study reveals that viral infections may leave behind hidden damage to the immune system long after symptoms disappear. Researchers found that mice recovering from an acute infection experienced lasting changes to their spleens and weakened immune responses, potentially leaving them more…
Why do some volcanoes erupt with spectacular lava fountains while others release lava more quietly? Scientists have discovered that a hidden effect of extreme heat inside magma may help explain the difference. Experiments revealed that superheated magma can delay crystal formation for more than…
A mysterious force driving the expansion of the Universe may have undergone a dramatic reversal billions of years ago. Scientists exploring an overlooked branch of an alternative gravity theory discovered that dark energy could have switched from negative to positive roughly 9.5 billion years ago…
The massive solar storm that illuminated skies worldwide in May 2024 has uncovered an unexpected twist: Earth's own atmosphere may have helped make the storm so powerful. Satellite measurements revealed that roughly 85% of the charged particles fueling the disturbance originated from Earth's upper…
Crows may be even smarter than we thought, and their brains are astonishingly fast. Researchers at the University of Tübingen discovered that crows can make visual decisions twice as quickly as humans and monkeys, taking just 235 milliseconds on average to identify the direction of moving dots…
Scientists have developed an AI-powered approach that makes experimental bionic vision technology more precise, helping predict the flashes and shapes of light perceived by a blind man with a brain implant. By learning how an individual's brain responds to electrical stimulation, the technology…
NASA's Perseverance rover has confirmed complex organic carbon just beneath the surface of ancient Martian rocks, raising intriguing questions about the Red Planet's potential to have supported life. The remarkable preservation of these compounds, along with similar discoveries thousands of miles…
A sweeping analysis of 540 million years of marine fossils has revealed surprising gaps in our understanding of Earth's ancient life. Scientists discovered that some of the greatest opportunities for finding previously unknown species lie in relatively recent geological periods, rather than the…
Researchers have discovered that a familiar tropical butterfly actually belongs to three nearly identical species, including one previously unknown to science. Hidden ultraviolet wing patterns and DNA differences revealed the truth, leaving scientists puzzled about how the butterflies remain…
Earth's water may have been born in the planet's fiery atmosphere rather than delivered by icy comets or asteroids. Scientists discovered that rocky pebbles reacting with hydrogen under extreme heat can produce water in minutes, potentially generating hundreds of oceans' worth during Earth's…
A groundbreaking new supercomputer simulation is revealing how the universe escaped its cosmic dark age and transformed into a cosmos filled with stars and galaxies. Called Lumina, it recreates 2 billion years of early cosmic history across a region 1.6 billion light-years wide, capturing…
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has revealed a surprising secret hidden within the chaos of space: turbulent magnetic fields reverse their direction of rotation when examined at extremely small scales. The discovery exposes an unexpected pattern in solar wind turbulence that could help scientists better…
Scientists have discovered that the intricate patterns of hair follicles on mammals may arise from a remarkably simple process involving cells following chemical signals. The findings challenge a long-standing theory and reveal how nature can create complex biological patterns without a detailed…
The Antarctic ozone hole expanded to its seventh-largest size on record in 2026, driven by unusual weather conditions that pushed it close to its historic maximum. Scientists say international restrictions on ozone-destroying chemicals prevented even greater damage, and Earth's protective ozone…
A bizarrely deformed 1834 British silver coin found at a car boot sale may preserve evidence of a rare minting accident nearly 200 years ago. Advanced 3D scans and microscopic analysis revealed unusual metal distortions suggesting the coin was crushed under extreme pressure, potentially during its…
A remarkable discovery in a South African cave suggests that an extinct human relative may have created an all-female burial site more than 240,000 years ago. Scientists analyzed ancient proteins preserved in Homo naledi teeth and found no male-specific markers among at least 20 individuals…
Scientists have uncovered fossils of a giant rodent that lived in Thailand 34 million years ago, revealing that enormous rodents evolved much earlier than previously thought. Named Yakamys sirindhornae, the ancient animal may have weighed around 66 pounds, roughly twice as much as other known…
A bizarre, heavily armored amphibian roamed the oceans 237 million years ago, despite the fact that modern amphibians cannot survive entirely in saltwater. Discovered in China, the giant salamander-sized creature may be the first known amphibian to have adapted to a fully marine existence.
After more than a year of simulated life on Mars, four NASA volunteers have finally emerged from isolation, bringing a remarkable space exploration experiment to an end. Their experiences growing food, conserving resources, and overcoming Mars-like challenges could help NASA prepare for humanity's…
Even when bad cholesterol is brought down to healthy levels, some people remain at risk of heart attacks, and scientists may have discovered why. Researchers identified two types of fat-carrying particles that appear to promote inflammation and damage blood vessels through mechanisms beyond…