Why do animals behave differently, and what are the consequences of this? A research team from the Collaborative Research Center NC³ at Bielefeld University and the University of Münster now provides a new explanation: epigenetic processes—chemical markings on DNA—may play a key role. The study, published in the journal Trends in Ecology & Evolution, links…
In addition to efficiency, a nuclear-electric propulsion system has the benefit of using conventional plasma thrusters. But instead of using solar power to energize the thrusters’ xenon fuel, SR-1 will use electricity generated from a nuclear reactor. “Our nuclear program, SR-1, is not about going and lobbying for billions of dollars to undertake a brand-new…
Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Work on a sewer line southeast of Amsterdam was paused recently, after construction crews discovered an unexpected and very large obstacle. According to a recent social media post from the Dutch town of Wijk bij Duurstede, municipal workers encountered…
Could being a “morning person” improve your health … on the moon? Scientists have identified what appears to be a “cavity” of reduced cosmic radiation near Earth’s moon. The finding could help lower astronauts’ exposure to harmful radiation on future lunar missions by timing some surface operations for local morning hours. The discovery, based on…
NASA has selected Jennifer Lyons as acting program manager for the agency’s Launch Services Program (LSP) based at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In this role, Lyons will lead NASA’s acquisition and management of domestic commercial launch services for science and robotic exploration missions beginning Wednesday, April 1. Lyons will oversee mission planning, launch vehicle…
These days, most smartphones have a USB-C port that you only use for one thing: charging. And while we’ve recently explained that the USB-C port on an iPhone, Galaxy, or Android can do a lot more than that, it can also power all sorts of wild gadgets. Here are five things you probably didn’t know…
A researcher holds a 14,300 year-old dog jawbone found at Gough’s Cave in the United Kingdom, on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in London. Mustakim Hasnath/AP This July 2019 image provided by the Cantonal Archaeological Service of Schaffhausen shows an ancient dog jawbone that was found in the Kesserloch cave in Switzerland. (Ivan Ivic/Cantonal Archaeological Service…
March 25, 2026 2 min read Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAm Earth’s magnetic field may be more powerful than we thought A major defense against everything space throws at us, Earth’s magnetic field may even protect the moon from damaging galactic cosmic rays By K. R. Callaway edited by Claire Cameron Far from the Earth’s…
The US has caused an eye-watering $10tn in global damages to the world over the past three decades through its vast planet-heating emissions, with a quarter of this economic pain inflicted upon itself, new research has found. By being the largest carbon emitter in history, the US has caused greater harm to worldwide economic growth…
Dr Simon Williams (Letters, 19 March) writes that ambition in quantum computing cannot succeed without sustained investment in people and fundamental science. He is correct on that point, but wrong to say that UK’s investment plans risk losing quantum computing talent. The UK’s advantageous position in quantum has only emerged through sustained long-term public investment…
