Science
The latest in science news, from the depths of space to the quantum realm
Although it outnumbers regular matter by a ratio of five to one, dark matter is frustratingly elusive, and efforts to hunt down different types of candidate particles have revealed no direct trace. Now, researchers from Max Planck have proposed a new hypothetical particle that might be behind dark matter – the superheavy gravitino – and outlined just how we might find them.
LATEST NEWS
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What causes gut microbiome changes in astronauts?
A new analytical tool suggests distinct microbiome changes caused by spaceflight are most likely caused by microgravity. -
Borrowed bacteria make plants salt-resistant
Much of the world's soil is too salty for crops. There's hope, though, as scientists have developed a method of growing plants in "unusable" soil. -
First autonomous oil spill boat takes to the water
In the not-too-distant future, folks dealing with oil spills may have a robotic helper to call on. -
ESA's Rosalind Franklin Mars rover receives instruments
ESA's Rosalind Franklin Mars rover has received its full suite of instruments that it will use to seek out signs of past or present life on the Red Planet. -
Wearable detects autism outbursts 60 seconds in advance
A new monitoring device can predict autism outbursts up to a minute in advance, creating a new window of opportunity to prepare ahead of time. -
Neanderthals may not have been as clever as thought
Wood tar used by Neanderthals as a glue to construct tools didn't require as complex a process as once thought. -
Interstellar isotopes found in Antarctica were forged from supernovae
In the pure white snow of Antarctica, scientists have found rare isotopes that don't occur naturally on Earth. The isotope, known as iron-60, is usually forged in the crucible of supernova explosions, and the researchers believe it fell to Earth as our solar system passed through an interstellar gas cloud. -
A low-fat better butter made of mostly water
Food scientists from Cornell University have crafted a new spread they say mimics butter, with only about a quarter of the calories and fat. -
Study finds nicotine-free e-cigs can damage blood vessels
New research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania has shown nicotine-free e-cigarette vapor can have an immediate harmful effect on the body's vascular function. -
Dark energy experiment fails to feel the force
The universe is believed to be expanding at an accelerating rate, thanks to a mysterious force dubbed dark energy. But how exactly does this force work? -
Blood test predicts likelihood of dying within 10 years
Provocative study suggests blood tests can predict a person's risk of dying within the next 10 years. -
Science
GPS backpacks shed light on nightlife of desert bats
A team of researchers led by the University of Helsinki has used new miniaturized GPS tags to keep tabs on desert bats as they fly about in Kenya.
