Discoveries

• A new study suggests that current scientific methodologies for searching for extraterrestrial life may be overly cautious, potentially leading to "false negatives." • Researchers argue that strict criteria for what constitutes a biological signature could cause scientists to overlook genuine evidence of alien life. • This issue matters because an overly narrow definition of life risks ruling out habitable environments or biological processes that differ from those found on Earth.

• Artificial intelligence is accelerating scientific research by integrating machine learning into drug discovery, climate modeling, and scientific automation. • Key breakthroughs include the use of AI to accurately map protein structure and function, which has significantly advanced structural biology and medical research. • AI is enhancing environmental science by processing massive datasets to refine the accuracy of weather predictions and climate simulations.

Brittlestars, sea anemones and a catshark among new-to-science species collected during expedition off the Queensland coastGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMarine scientists have discovered more than 110 new fish and invertebrate species in the Coral Sea – a figure they believe could exceed 200 as more are identified.The species were found in waters between 200 metres and 3km deep in the Coral Sea marine park, Australia’s largest marine protected area, which spans nearly 1m sq km to the east of the Great Barrier Reef. Continue reading...