Life

Health, science, climate, and society-focused reporting.

Briefing: Research reveals hidden ocean heat waves threatening South China Sea ecosystems

Strategic angle: The South China Sea faces growing threats from subsurface marine heat waves that could impact its rich biodiversity and fisheries.

Editorial Staff Mar 18

Life

Briefing: Researchers explore new ways to neutralize germs using light-activated nanomaterials

Strategic angle: At Empa, researchers are developing innovative methods to combat harmful bacteria and viruses using advanced nanomaterials.

Editorial Staff Mar 18

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Briefing: How Edvard Munch's painting 'The Scream' might look in 300 years' time

Strategic angle: Exploring the future of Edvard Munch's iconic artwork and the impact of time on its appearance.

Editorial Staff Mar 18

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Briefing: Natural textile fibers may persist for more than a century in lake sediments

Strategic angle: Natural fibers like cotton and wool, often seen as sustainable, have been found preserved in a U.K. lake for over a century, challenging biodegradation assumptions.

Editorial Staff Mar 17

Life

Briefing: Light-activated material offers new approach to carbon dioxide conversion

Strategic angle: Scientists have developed a new material that can use sunlight and water to convert carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide, paving the way for sustainable fuel and chemical production.

Editorial Staff Mar 17

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Briefing: Using cow dung for sustainable carbon dioxide capture

Strategic angle: Exploring innovative methods to combat climate change through natural resources.

Editorial Staff Mar 17

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Briefing: Decline in Japanese chum salmon linked to climate change

Strategic angle: Japanese chum salmon populations are dwindling, prompting increased reliance on imports.

Editorial Staff Mar 17

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Briefing: Scientists create a new state of matter at room temperature using light and nanostructures

Strategic angle: Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have engineered a supersolid by manipulating light and matter interactions.

Editorial Staff Mar 17

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Briefing: The cactus on your desk is an evolution speed machine

Strategic angle: New research reveals that cacti can rapidly create new species, challenging previous beliefs about plant evolution.

Editorial Staff Mar 17

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Briefing: AI model predicts chemical effects on gene expression, speeding drug discovery

Strategic angle: A new AI model offers insights into gene expression changes, potentially transforming drug discovery processes.

Editorial Staff Mar 17

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Briefing: Why models and longitudinal data on adherence to non-pharmaceutical interventions must come together

Strategic angle: An interdisciplinary team of authors from Canada, Austria, the U.S. and Germany has outlined how immuno-epidemiology and individual decision-making on non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) can be understood jointly in the future.

Editorial Staff Mar 17

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Briefing: Space Force overhauls buying structure with new mission portfolios

Strategic angle: New structure gives ‘Portfolio Acquisition Executives’ authority over funding, requirements and integration across major space missions.

Editorial Staff Mar 17

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Briefing: Nest-building birds help disperse cotton further than wind, study suggests

Strategic angle: A study reveals that birds significantly contribute to the dispersal of wild cotton, surpassing the role of wind.

Editorial Staff Mar 17

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Briefing: Genetic Analyses Reveal Unique Sponge Species in the Indo-Pacific

Strategic angle: New research highlights the regional uniqueness of sponge species in the Indo-Pacific, a vital area for marine biodiversity.

Editorial Staff Mar 17

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Briefing: Statistics that tell the whole truth? It's as easy as ABC

Strategic angle: A Cornell statistics expert proposes a method to enhance statistical power and reduce bias in research.

Editorial Staff Mar 17

Life

Briefing: What happens to cigarette butts after 10 years in the environment

Strategic angle: Cigarette butts are the most common form of litter worldwide, with trillions discarded annually, impacting various environments.

Editorial Staff Mar 17

Life

Briefing: Nano 3D Metallic Parts Exhibit Unexpected Strength Despite Defects

Strategic angle: Caltech scientists have engineered tiny 3D metallic components that maintain surprising strength, even with defects.

Editorial Staff Mar 17

Life

Briefing: Proof-of-concept quantum battery shows faster charging as it gets larger

Strategic angle: Australian scientists have developed the world's first proof-of-concept quantum battery, revolutionizing energy storage technology.

Editorial Staff Mar 17

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Briefing: From dust to planets: Parabolic flight reveal a turbulent path

Strategic angle: A research team explores how fine dust aggregates into building blocks for planets through parabolic flight experiments.

Editorial Staff Mar 17

Life

Briefing: Sunscreen produces persistent free radicals when exposed to light, study finds

Strategic angle: Research from the Department of Environmental Health Sciences explores how common sunscreen ingredients behave under light exposure.

Editorial Staff Mar 17