Science

Informed by science from the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and astronomers worldwide, this “documentary that you can walk through” visualizes the cosmos in a 3-D introduction to the universe

Migration flights of dragonflies and damselflies crisscross much of our planet, new research reveals. Scientists from the universities of Exeter and Lund reviewed global evidence and found 100 dragonfly and damselfly species that migrate, and a further 85 possible migratory species. This means that only 1.5% of all dragonfly and damselfly species migrate (or 2.9% including possible migrants)—but the migrations can include millions of individuals, and some travel thousands of kilometers. The study is published in Biological Reviews.

The remains include a rare 70-million-year-old T. rex relative. The post Rare dinosaur fossils finally returned to Mongolia 20 years after theft appeared first on Popular Science.

Cool Routes helps users find the coolest paths and reduce exposure to dangerous heat. The post Arizona students design app that calculates least-sweaty walking route appeared first on Popular Science.

Birds in flocks, bacteria and cells: In many collective systems, individual elements respond to only part of their surroundings, seemingly defying Newton's third law of motion—action equals reaction. These exceptions are known as nonreciprocal interactions. A Dresden physics team working with Roderich Moessner, a founding member of the Würzburg–Dresden Cluster of Excellence ctd.qmat, has now developed a theory that makes it possible to describe these interactions efficiently and simulate them far more precisely.

The Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) is a marvel of nature, a highly effective killer that doesn't have to move an inch to capture and kill its prey. It releases a fruity nectar scent to attract flies and other insects. After they land in the trap, tiny hairs are triggered and the leaves shut with impressive speed.

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From snow white and jet black to golden brown, domestic chickens display a wider range of plumage colors than almost any other livestock species. A new international study, with researchers from Leipzig University playing a key role, explains why: A single gene is capable of producing this full spectrum. The study provides an example of how genetic diversity and visible traits can emerge within a short evolutionary period. The findings have now been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The massive necropolis, located deep in the southeastern Indian Ocean, is teeming with marine life supported by the whale carcasses, including many suspected new species

Alaska’s glaciers are proving to be highly sensitive to warming temperatures. Using radar satellites to monitor more than 3,000 glaciers, researchers found that every 1°C (1.8°F) increase in average summer temperature extends glacier melting by about three weeks. The study also revealed that intense heat waves can strip away up to 28% more protective snow cover, exposing ice much earlier than normal and accelerating ice loss.

With its vibrant hues, vast landscapes and a venerable history, there’s much to love about the coastal country

Despite lacking brains or nervous systems, slime molds are capable of making surprisingly sophisticated decisions: navigating mazes, finding food and even remembering where they found it last time. How they manage to do all this without any neural architecture has long puzzled researchers.

A new nature-inspired membrane uses perfectly uniform one-nanometer pores to filter molecules with remarkable precision. The technology could transform industries such as pharmaceuticals and textiles by reducing energy consumption, improving water reuse, and delivering separation performance far beyond current filters.

During the Archean Eon—roughly 4 billion years ago—the Earth was a lifeless planet. The atmosphere lacked oxygen, and there were few, if any, organisms to be found anywhere on the globe. Then something incredible happened. Microscopic bacteria appeared in freshwater lakes, likely in what is now present-day Australia. These bacteria—known now as cyanobacteria—had the near-magical ability to convert sunlight and water into oxygen and other chemical energy.

R. Buckminster Fuller envisioned factories churning out 185,000 Dymaxion Houses each year. The post After WWII, flying saucer-shaped houses almost filled American suburbs appeared first on Popular Science.