How the arts and science can jointly protect nature
A new study by a large international team of conservation scientists and artists explores how growing synergies between conservation and the arts can unveil many mutual benefits and fresh approaches to intractable conservation problems. ⌘ Read more

Orcas seen killing young great white sharks by flipping them upside-down
A specialized shark-hunting pod of orcas in the Gulf of California has been caught on camera expertly targeting young great white sharks—flipping them upside-down to eat the energy-rich liver. ⌘ Read more

Agricultural practices play a decisive role in the preservation or degradation of protected areas, research shows
New research shows that modern agriculture is impacting biodiversity inside protected areas in Europe, while some traditional agricultural practices may help preserve it. The Natura 2000 is the largest network of protected areas in the world, established to conserve the most valuable habitats and species in the European Union (EU). ⌘ Read more

Dam disasters of the 1920s made reservoirs safer—now the climate crisis is increasing risk again
One hundred years ago, a catastrophic flood carrying enormous boulders swept through part of Dolgarrog village, north Wales, destroying several homes, a bridge and the local chapel. Ten adults and six children lost their lives. The tragedy was widely reported and King George V sent a message of condolence. ⌘ Read more

Seven ways to teach little kids about body safety before they can talk
Families with young children are yet again reeling after this week’s Four Corners investigation into abuse in the early childhood sector. ⌘ Read more

50 dead as Caribbean digs out from Hurricane Melissa
Jamaican officials announced plans Saturday to set up multiple field hospitals as it recovers from Hurricane Melissa, with the death toll numbering at least 50 across the Caribbean—and expected to rise. ⌘ Read more

Delhi’s cloud seeding effort fails to ease smog, raises questions on effectiveness
India’s efforts to combat air pollution by using cloud seeding in its sprawling capital New Delhi appear to have fallen flat, with scientists and activists questioning the effectiveness of the move. ⌘ Read more

How to spot November’s supermoon, the closest of the year
The moon will look slightly bigger and brighter Wednesday night during the closest supermoon of the year. ⌘ Read more

Drinking tequila and mezcal sustainably on The Day of the Dead
People in Mexico and elsewhere will soon be marking the annual Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) on Nov. 2. Many will celebrate the day with the quintessential Mexican beverage, tequila; perhaps in the form of a slushy margarita or a shot. ⌘ Read more

Explorers seek ancient Antarctica ice in climate change study
An explorer and a glaciologist have embarked on a three-month mission to cross part of Antarctica on kite skis in search of ice that is 130,000 years old. ⌘ Read more

China’s Shenzhou 21 docks with space station, sets the country’s own speed record
China announced Saturday that its Shenzhou 21 spaceship docked with China’s space station with its latest three rotation crew at the country’s own record speed after a successful launch. ⌘ Read more

Rate my AI teacher? Students’ perceptions of chatbots will influence how they learn with AI
A “transformation” is upon us. After a multi-year procession of educational technology products that once promised to shake things up, now it’s AI’s turn. ⌘ Read more

Calorimetric experiment achieves tightest bound on electron neutrino mass
In a Physical Review Letters study, the HOLMES collaboration has achieved the most stringent upper bound on the effective electron neutrino mass ever obtained using a calorimetric approach, setting a limit of less than 27 eV/c² at 90% credibility. ⌘ Read more

Growing rice in the UK ‘not so crazy’ as climate warms
Wearing large rubber boots, Nadine Mitschunas joyfully handled mature rice plants peeking through the water of her small plot growing in the fertile soil of eastern England. ⌘ Read more

Endangered across west Africa, leopards thrive in I.Coast reserve
Like other big cats, the leopard is endangered across West Africa. Yet in Ivory Coast’s Comoe National Park, the famously spotted feline appears to be doing rather well—surprisingly, given the reserve’s conflict-riven recent history, according to researcher Robin Horion. ⌘ Read more

Camels replace cows as Kenya battles drought
“God, God, God, protect them,” chanted two herders, their eyes following a dozen camels rushing toward acacia trees, oblivious to the dry riverbed in northern Kenya where it hasn’t rained since April. ⌘ Read more

Grandparenting tells us much about our history—it’s important to preserve these stories
Grandparents can play a fundamental role in families, yet they have often been overlooked in Australian history. ⌘ Read more

We’re putting lots of transition metals into the stratosphere. That’s not good.
We successfully plugged the hole in the ozone layer that was discovered in the 1980s by banning ozone-depleting substances such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). But, it seems we might be unintentionally creating another potential atmospheric calamity by using the upper atmosphere to destroy huge constellations of satellites after a very short (i.e. 5 year) lifetime. ⌘ Read more

Checkup time for Fido? The wait to get an appointment might be longer in rural areas
Most people can get their pets in for veterinary visits relatively quickly, but access to care could be improved in rural areas, suggests a recent study. ⌘ Read more

Ocean iron fertilization or artificial ocean alkalinization? Study reveals divergent effects on climate
Global warming poses a significant threat to human society. Rapid and substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are necessary measures to mitigate global warming. However, substantially reduced emissions alone may not be sufficient to achieve the temperature control targets of the Paris Agreement. ⌘ Read more

Plastic packaging could be a greater sin than food waste
Food waste has long been reviled as an immoral, largely preventable feature of our consumer society. ⌘ Read more

Three wolf pups sought in California’s Sierra Valley after parents euthanized
Three wolf pups from a pack whose adult members were euthanized by state conservation officials earlier in October had still not been captured despite weeks of searching by scientists and wildlife officers, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said. ⌘ Read more

Electrochemical system converts plant compound into two valuable products at once
A research team has created a new kind of electrochemical “two-in-one” system that turns plant-based molecules into two useful products at once. Using a finely tuned single-atom ruthenium catalyst, the process combines two chemical reactions, oxidation and hydrogenation, inside a single electrolytic cell, much like cooking two dishes in the same pot without mixing up the flavors. Details of the research were p … ⌘ Read more

Were Neanderthals capable of making art?
The ability to make art has often been considered a hallmark of our species. Over a century ago, prehistorians even had trouble believing that modern humans from the Upper Paleolithic (between 45,000 and 12,000 years ago) were capable of artistic flair. ⌘ Read more

Genome-wide analysis of gene expression in sorghum furthers efforts to improve stem biomass
Sorghum bicolor is a deep-rooted, heat- and drought-tolerant crop that thrives on marginal lands and is increasingly valued for its applications in biofuel, bioenergy, and biopolymer production. ⌘ Read more

EU in race against time to agree climate emissions target
European diplomats are scrambling to agree on a 10-year target to cut EU carbon emissions this week, with time running out ahead of the United Nations COP30 climate summit. ⌘ Read more

Eyes above the trees: LiDAR technology improves forest assessment with laser beams
Forests have been benefiting humanity since long before the health benefits of forest bathing were discovered. They are major carbon sinks that provide a wide range of ecosystem services, including timber and non-timber forest products, recreation, and climate regulation. ⌘ Read more

Cubans flee the coast as Hurricane Melissa looms
Under sheets of rain and laden with possessions, residents of southeast Cuba fled inland Tuesday—escaping the peril of the coast before Hurricane Melissa’s arrival. ⌘ Read more

Melissa is a beast among a string of monster Atlantic storms. Scientists explain
Hurricane Melissa, which struck Jamaica with record-tying 185 mph winds Tuesday, was a beast that stood out as extreme even in a record number of monster storms spawned over the last decade in a superheated Atlantic Ocean. ⌘ Read more

Researchers develop highly fluorescent helical quinolizinium salts via rhodium-catalyzed synthesis
A research team has successfully synthesized a new class of helical quinolizinium salts exhibiting exceptionally strong fluorescence in the orange-to-red light region (606–682 nm). ⌘ Read more

Plantation forests are key for koalas’ survival: Researchers say urgent rethink on logging is needed
A new study has shown areas of state forest in Northern New South Wales, currently zoned as hardwood eucalypt plantation and slated for logging in 2025–2026, are in fact vital koala habitat. ⌘ Read more

Unlocking cell identity: RNA sequestration in P-bodies directs cell fate transitions
A new study published in Nature Biotechnology shows that stem cell differentiation is linked to cellular structures called P-bodies, providing a potential means of controlling cell identity. Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, the University of Colorado Boulder and collaborating institutions studied P-bodies in various developmental stages across multiple vertebrate species and found that selective RNA seques … ⌘ Read more

Geoscientist’s innovative approach aims to safeguard irrigation canals
Irrigation canal maintenance in western Nebraska is taking a giant step forward thanks to an innovative, non-invasive method by Husker geoscientist Mohamed Khalil to check canal integrity. His sophisticated time-lapse analysis pinpoints canal seepage and structural settlement far more accurately and efficiently than traditional approaches—using a technology that can have wide-ranging uses statewide for agriculture, … ⌘ Read more

Cul-de-sac effect: Why Mediterranean regions are becoming more prone to extreme floods in a changing climate
In May 2023, Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region experienced devastating, if not unprecedented, floods that caused widespread damage to infrastructure, homes, businesses, and farmland. Seventeen people lost their lives, and the disaster caused an estimated €8.5 billion in damages. The persistent rainfall and resulting landslides and flooding displaced tens of thousands of residents, leaving a deep ma … ⌘ Read more

Now in 3D, maps begin to bring exoplanets into focus
Astronomers have generated the first three-dimensional map of a planet orbiting another star, revealing an atmosphere with distinct temperature zones—one so scorching that it breaks down water vapor, a team co-led by a Cornell expert reports in new research. ⌘ Read more

Sinking Indian megacities pose ‘alarming’ building damage risks
Sinking land is quietly destabilizing urban infrastructure in India’s largest cities, putting thousands of buildings and millions of people at risk, according to Virginia Tech scientists. ⌘ Read more

China’s Zhuque-3 reusable rocket passes key milestone
The Chinese company LandSpace continues to develop the Zhuque-3 (ZQ-3), a two-stage reusable launch vehicle inspired by SpaceX’s Starship and Super Heavy. They achieved their first milestone in January 2024 with a vertical takeoff and vertical landing (VTVL) using their VTVL-1 test vehicle at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC) in northern China. By September, the company conducted a second VTVL test where the prototype hovered for over 200 … ⌘ Read more

The fate of Marineland’s belugas exposes the ethical cracks in Canadian animal law
Most people think countries like Canada have strong animal protection laws, but it doesn’t. A case in point is the unfolding tragedy-in-the-making at Marineland. ⌘ Read more

Iguanas on Clarion Island, Mexico, found to predate human presence in the Americas
An international team of biologists, including those at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, have discovered that the spiny-tailed iguanas on Clarion Island (Mexico), previously thought to be introduced by humans, have likely been there since before humans colonized the Americas. ⌘ Read more

Racial disparities persist in victim compensation for homicide survivors
Families of Black homicide victims are more likely to file victim compensation claims but face disproportionately high denial rates, according to a Rutgers Health study. ⌘ Read more

Young stars ejecting plasma could offer clues into the sun’s past
The sun is frequently ejecting huge masses of plasma, called coronal mass ejections (CMEs), into space. They often occur together with sudden brightenings called flares, and sometimes extend far enough to disturb Earth’s magnetosphere, generating space weather phenomena including auroras or geomagnetic storms, and even damaging power grids on occasion. ⌘ Read more

Earliest long-snouted fossil crocodile from Egypt reveals the African origins of seagoing crocs
In the Egyptian Western Desert, where red sandstones and green shales rise above the arid plains of Kharga Oasis, paleontologists have uncovered a fossil that fundamentally reshapes our understanding of crocodile evolution. ⌘ Read more

White oak genome reveals genetic markers for climate adaptability and pest resistance
White oak (Quercus alba) is important economically, ecologically, and culturally. However, the species currently faces a significant challenge: a low rate of seedling recruitment, the process by which seeds successfully germinate and grow into new trees. ⌘ Read more

Dark matter could color our view of the universe
Dark matter has two central properties: it has mass like regular matter, and unlike regular matter, it reacts weakly or not at all with light. Neutrinos satisfy these two criteria, but neutrinos move through space at nearly the speed of light, making them a form of hot dark matter. The observations we have suggest that dark matter is cold. ⌘ Read more

Why US activists are wearing inflatable frog costumes at protests against Trump
Three frogs, a shark, a unicorn and a Tyrannosaurus rex dance in front of a line of heavily armored police in riot gear. ⌘ Read more

How the Mayans were able to accurately predict solar eclipses for centuries
The Maya Civilization, from Central America, was one of the most advanced ancient civilizations, known for its significant achievements in astronomy and mathematics. This includes accurate calendars and detailed celestial records, but scientists don’t fully understand all the details of their calculations. However, new research is shedding light on how they predicted future eclipses with remarkable accuracy. ⌘ Read more

Hurricane Melissa strengthens as it crawls toward Jamaica
Hurricane Melissa was cutting a deadly path through the Caribbean on Sunday, strengthening into a Category 4 storm as it crawled along a worryingly slow course toward Jamaica and the island of Hispaniola. ⌘ Read more

Japan successfully launches new cargo spacecraft to deliver supplies to International Space Station
Japan’s space agency successfully launched Sunday its most powerful flagship H3 rocket, carrying a newly developed unmanned cargo spacecraft for its first mission to deliver supplies to the International Space Station. ⌘ Read more

4MOST telescope facility captures first light
On October 18, 2025, the 4-meter Multi-Object Spectroscopic Telescope (4MOST) facility, installed on the VISTA telescope at the European Southern Observatory’s (ESO) Paranal Observatory in Chile, obtained its first light. This milestone is a crucial step in the life of any telescope, marking the moment it is ready to begin its scientific journey. ⌘ Read more

Saturday Citations: Primate skull diversity; exploring matter-antimatter asymmetry; asthma clarified
Howdy, pards! This autumnal week brought a new challenge to last decade’s claim of a strong Yellowstone trophic cascade after the reintroduction of wolves. Evolutionary biologists propose that carrion-eating was a dependable nutritional strategy for early humans that may have influenced evolution. And Chinese researchers report that LLMs and humans represent sentences similarly. ⌘ Read more