Articles about Scientist

Experts say brutal March heat has left critical snowpack at record-low levels – and key basins in uncharted territorySnow surveys taking place across the American west this week are offering a grim prognosis, after a historically warm winter and searing March temperatures left the critical snowpack at record-low levels across the region.Experts warned that even as the heat begins to subside, the stunning pace of melt-off over the past month has left key basins in uncharted territory for the dry seasons ahead. Though there’s still potential for more snow in the forecast, experts said it will likely be too little too late. Continue reading...

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...

• Oregon Health & Science University researchers revealed a previously unknown system of directed fluid flows within cells that rapidly transport essential proteins to the cell's leading edge, published today in Nature Communications. • The breakthrough emerged from an accidental observation during a neurobiology course when scientists used lasers to track protein movement and discovered an unexpected wave of soluble actin being pushed forward rather than drifting randomly through the cell. • The discovery fundamentally reshapes understanding of cell migration, cancer metastasis, and wound healing by revealing that cells use active internal mechanisms rather than passive diffusion to position critical proteins.

Female named Rounder was surrounded by family members and others as she was about to give birth to her second calfScientists have managed to film a sperm whale giving birth while other female whales worked together to support the mother and her newborn.A team from Project Ceti, an international effort seeking to understand how whales communicate, was in a boat near a pod of 11 whales off the coast of the Caribbean island of Dominica on 8 July 2023. Continue reading...

• Researchers led by Professor Silvia von Karstedt discovered that loss of Caspase 8 protein in small cell lung cancer triggers inflammation promoting tumor growth and spread. • The study, published in Nature Communications on March 25, 2026, shows this loss reprograms cancer cells into an aggressive neuron-like state associated with relapse. • Findings from the CECAD Cluster of Excellence explain the cancer's notorious aggressiveness and poor prognosis.

• CERN researchers conducted the first-ever transport of volatile antimatter, mysterious antiparticles with negative charges identical to corresponding particles but opposite in charge. • The antimatter transport represents a major milestone in particle physics research; if the antimatter contacts regular matter even momentarily, it annihilates in a flash of energy. • This breakthrough has significant implications for advancing fundamental physics understanding and could enable new experimental capabilities at the European Organization for Nuclear Research.

• The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) filed a lawsuit on March 24, 2026, against the Trump administration as part of a coalition for removing scientific signage on climate change impacts from U.S. national parks like Glacier National Park. • Signs detailing climate effects on iconic landscapes, such as retreating glaciers, were censored, preventing public education on environmental changes documented as part of parks' missions. • The suit, represented by Democracy Forward Foundation, demands restoration of accurate climate and historical information to promote scientific literacy and protect public lands for future generations.

• Carrie Wolinetz warns in a March 24, 2026, viewpoint that firing credible scientists and dismantling U.S. health agencies poses severe risks to public health and scientific integrity. • The article highlights the broader implications for national research capacity amid ongoing policy shifts affecting federal science funding and personnel. • Such actions undermine peer-reviewed findings and U.S. leadership in health research, potentially delaying responses to emerging threats.

• Researchers made a major breakthrough in solving the mystery of static electricity, explaining how it causes hair to stand on end and related phenomena. • The findings elucidate the physics behind volcanic lightning and other electrostatic events, providing new insights into charge separation mechanisms. • This peer-reviewed discovery advances fundamental physics knowledge with potential applications in materials science and atmospheric studies.

Unseasonably warm and even dangerous temperatures this week were up to 30F above average for the time of yearThe record-breaking heatwave scorching the US west this week would have been “virtually impossible” if not for the climate crisis, a team of scientists has determined.Millions of Americans from the Pacific coast to the Rockies baked under unseasonably warm and even dangerous temperatures this week, with temperatures up to 30F (17C) above average for the time of year. Continue reading...

• A STAT national survey reveals NIH funding interruptions are causing layoffs, lab closures, and driving early-career scientists away from research careers due to federal budget and priority changes. • Harvard researcher Josiemer Mattei had her diabetes prevention trial in Puerto Rico terminated in May 2025 when the administration cut over $2.8 billion in grants across the university, forcing her to scramble to relocate the study to avoid losing patients and data. • The NIH remains committed to fully spending its 2026 budget but lags significantly behind prior years in grant awards and disbursements, with researchers reporting taking 95% pay cuts to avoid staff layoffs.

• FASEB hosted its annual Capitol Hill Day on March 18, 2026, bringing 46 biomedical researchers from 19 member societies across 25 states to Washington, D.C., to push for increased NIH and NSF funding. • Advocates met with nearly 90 House and Senate offices, thanking lawmakers for bipartisan FY 2026 appropriations that boosted NIH funding and protected facilities costs from 15% caps. • The effort highlights the role of federal investment in accelerating medical discoveries and delivering state-specific impacts on health outcomes.

Researchers say their prototype is a big step towards fully functioning batteries with rapid charging timesAustralian scientists have developed what they say is the world’s first proof-of-concept quantum battery.Quantum batteries, first proposed as a theoretical concept in 2013, use the principles of quantum mechanics to store energy, and have the potential to be more efficient than conventional batteries. Continue reading...

Snappily named Xi-cc-plus, Cern physicists spotted the particle in shower of debris that lit up Large Hadron ColliderScientists at the Cern nuclear physics laboratory near Geneva have discovered a heavier version of the proton, the subatomic particle that sits at the heart of every known atom in the universe.They spotted the particle in a shower of debris that lit up a detector at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), located deep beneath the ground at Cern, which smashes protons together at close to the speed of light. The collisions recreate in microcosm conditions that prevailed just after the big bang, with the energy converting to particles that spray in all directions. The newfound particle, which is four times heavier than the regular proton, should help physicists refine their understanding of the strong nuclear force that glues together the innards of all atomic nuclei. The force is unusual because it behaves like a rubber band, getting stronger as the distance between subatomic particles increases. Continue reading...

• Researchers from Skoltech have successfully used gene editing to double the number of grains produced per wheat spike, a breakthrough that could significantly increase crop yields. • The advancement addresses global food security concerns by enhancing wheat productivity through targeted genetic modifications. • This development represents a major step forward in agricultural biotechnology and sustainable food production methods.

Latest observations of L98-59d, about 35 light years from Earth, suggest it could be different to anything seen beforeAstronomers have identified a planet composed of molten lava, suggesting the existence of an entirely new category of liquid planet.The distant world, known as L98-59d, is about 1.6 times the size of Earth and orbits a small red star 35 light years away. Astronomers initially thought the planet might harbour a deep ocean of liquid water, but the latest analysis suggests that it could be fundamentally different to anything seen before. Continue reading...

• Researchers created pure hexagonal diamond (lonsdaleite) by compressing organized graphite at 20 gigapascals and 1,300-1,900°C for 10 hours, confirmed via structural analyses and simulations. • The material, rarer than cubic diamond, was identified in Arizona's Barringer Crater meteorite and offers superior hardness for tools and electronics. • Study provides definitive evidence of hexagonal diamond's existence, countering past skepticism about meteorite samples.

Researchers from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) and global collaborators identified over 2.3 million conserved non-coding sequences (CNSs) across 314 plant genomes from 284 species, using a new computational tool called Conservatory. These ancient 'DNA switches' originated before flowering plants diverged from non-flowering ancestors more than 400 million years ago, with some confirmed essential for developmental functions through genetic editing. The discovery provides a comprehensive atlas for plant biology, aiding crop breeders in addressing drought and food shortages by fine-tuning traits. CSHL's Zachary Lippman described it as 'a new window into the evolution of life across eons.'

Researchers from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL), Hebrew University, and Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University published a study in Science identifying over 2.3 million conserved non-coding sequences (CNSs) across 314 plant genomes from 284 species, some originating more than 400 million years ago before flowering plants diverged from non-flowering ancestors. The team developed a new computational tool called Conservatory to locate these ancient DNA 'switches' essential for plant development, with co-first author Anat Hendelman confirming their function through genetic editing. This comprehensive atlas includes dozens of crop species and wild ancestors, offering plant biologists and breeders tools to address drought and food shortages by fine-tuning traits. CSHL's Zachary Lippman described it as 'a new window into the evolution of life across eons.'

The books, TV, games and more that New Scientist staff have enjoyed this week

The books, TV, games and more that New Scientist staff have enjoyed this week

The books, TV, games and more that New Scientist staff have enjoyed this week

Researchers at Texas A&M University have developed what they describe as the most challenging AI benchmark test to date, with results that contradict earlier expectations about artificial intelligence capabilities. The comprehensive study involved a large team of scientists investigating how cutting-edge AI systems perform on extreme difficulty assessments as these models become increasingly sophisticated. The findings suggest that current AI systems are achieving unexpected performance levels on this rigorous evaluation framework, providing important insights into the true capabilities and limitations of advanced machine learning models.

Physicists at the University of Tennessee used a neutron detector to measure beta-delayed two-neutron emission in exotic nuclei along the r-process pathway, marking the first detailed study of this process crucial for heavy element formation like gold. The team also discovered a long-sought single particle neutron state in tin-133 after 20 years of searches and observed a non-statistical population challenging existing nuclear models. These findings, funded by the National Science Foundation, enhance models of stellar nucleosynthesis and open new fields in nuclear physics. Next steps include refining theoretical calculations for r-process events in neutron star mergers.