Science Daily

Life uses 4 DNA letters. Scientists just made 8 work

Researchers at UC San Diego have demonstrated that a key cellular enzyme can accurately read an eight-letter genetic alphabet, doubling the four letters used by all known life on Earth. Detailed imaging revealed that RNA polymerase handles synthetic DNA letters in surprisingly similar ways to natural ones. The finding brings scientists closer to building expanded genetic systems that could perform entirely new biological functions.

science  Sep 5, 2026

Science Daily

Quantum oscillations defy expectations in this exotic material

Scientists have uncovered an unusual form of electron behavior in zirconium pentatelluride, a quantum material that can act as both an insulator and a conductor. Under temperatures near absolute zero and magnetic fields reaching 60 tesla, electrons produced quantum oscillations that continued even after conventional physics predicted they should disappear.

science  Sep 5, 2026

NASA News

APOD: 2026 September 5 – Chasing the Moon’s Shadow

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 September 5 –… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Chasing the Moon’s […]

science  Sep 5, 2026

Science Daily

Scientists overturn a theory about this shark’s strange head

Scientists have overturned a leading explanation for why male and female bonnethead sharks have differently shaped heads. Instead of males developing a pointed snout at maturity, both sexes actually begin with more pointed heads that become rounder with age, particularly in females.

science  Sep 4, 2026

Science Daily

Harvard scientists turn knitting into shape-shifting smart fabric

Harvard researchers have transformed ordinary knitting into a platform for creating fabrics that can snap between different shapes and perform useful functions. Using elastic yarns and industrial knitting techniques, the team engineered thick textiles that naturally curve and lock into multiple stable configurations, much like a light switch flipping between on and off. By adding conductive yarn, they turned these shape-shifting fabrics into soft electronic switches capable of controlling lights

science  Sep 4, 2026

NASA News

NASA Ames Fire Department Aircraft Firefighting Training

The fire department at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley will perform training on the Moffett Federal Airfield beginning Tuesday, Sept. 8 through Friday, Sept. 11. The training will involve the use of a propane-fueled aircraft fire simulator and be conducted from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. PDT. Because the aircraft simulator is […]

science  Sep 4, 2026

NASA News

NASA Hosts Virtual Artemis Webinar for Blind, Low-Vision Community

NASA will host a virtual webinar at 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 2, titled “The RS-25 Engine and the Future of Artemis Missions: An Accessible Webinar for the Blind and Low-Vision Community.” This webinar is open to the public, however it is tailored specifically for a blind and low-vision audience. The webinar will last about two hours and include […]

science  Sep 4, 2026

The Guardian Science

Bath show highlights sibling finds – and England’s first paid female astronomer

Exhibition features artworks in townhouse where William and Caroline Herschel worked and lived in late-18th centuryFrom the garden of their Georgian townhouse in Bath, a brother and sister made a series of extraordinary astronomical discoveries in the late-18th century.Now, a new art show in the house where the siblings, William and Caroline Herschel, worked and lived highlights both their pioneering spirit and their domestic arrangements. Continue reading...

science  Sep 4, 2026

NASA News

Lunar Occultation of Venus

On Wednesday, June 17, skywatchers across the United States—and parts of Canada—enjoyed a rare event: a daytime lunar occultation of Venus. A lunar occultation occurs when the Moon moves directly in front of another celestial object from our viewpoint on Earth, briefly hiding it from sight. This time, the Moon slipped in front of Venus […]

science  Sep 4, 2026

Science Daily

Stanford scientists discover a seafood that can reverse signs of aging

A substance found in edible sea squirts appeared to reverse several signs of aging in older mice. Plasmalogen supplements improved memory and learning, strengthened connections between brain cells, reduced inflammation, and even helped the mice grow thicker, darker hair. Researchers believe the compounds may encourage brain regeneration and protect aging synapses.

science  Sep 4, 2026

Science Daily

Extreme drought now covers 44% of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico’s normally rainy season has instead brought a severe and fast-growing drought. By August 25, three-quarters of the territory was in at least moderate drought, with extreme drought covering 44 percent and some areas receiving less than 20 percent of their usual rainfall. Water shortages have forced rationing, while farmers are losing crops and ranchers are running low on hay. The situation has become serious enough to trigger both local and federal disaster declarations.

science  Sep 4, 2026

Science Daily

MIT turns bacteria into living transistors

MIT researchers have created bacterial “transistors” that can be wired together into living circuits capable of performing calculations and directing chemical signals. One day, these biological computers could coat plant roots or leaves, detecting environmental threats and automatically triggering defenses.

science  Sep 4, 2026

Science Daily

A longer exhale may push your brain toward bolder decisions

Slow breathing with a prolonged exhale made people more willing to take risks by changing heart activity and increasing the brain’s sensitivity to rewards. The findings suggest that something as simple as controlling your breath can directly influence how you evaluate choices.

science  Sep 4, 2026

Science Daily

Giant Greenland iceberg slams into Joe Island and survives

A giant iceberg measuring more than 76 square kilometers broke from Greenland’s Petermann Glacier in August 2026, marking the Arctic’s largest glacier calving event since 2020. The berg later slammed into Joe Island but survived without breaking apart, and satellites are now tracking it as it drifts through Nares Strait.

science  Sep 4, 2026

Science Daily

Dying radio galaxies fade faster than scientists expected

Astronomers have identified a surprisingly young population of fading radio galaxies whose supermassive black holes have already switched off their powerful jets. The confirmed remnants range from about 8 to 42 million years old, suggesting many may disappear from view much faster than previously recognized. More distant remnants also seem to fade especially quickly, helping explain why they have been so difficult to detect.

science  Sep 4, 2026

The Guardian Science

Week in wildlife: a hitchhiking crab, a shy wallaby and penguins in little jackets

This week’s best wildlife photographs from around the world Continue reading...

science  Sep 4, 2026

Science Daily

Dark matter detector finds a strange signal scientists can’t yet explain

The LUX-ZEPLIN experiment has detected a rare particle interaction that looks unusually difficult to explain as ordinary background noise and appeared where dark matter might be expected. Scientists are not claiming a discovery yet, but additional data could show whether this single mysterious event is the first hint of a long-sought dark matter particle.

science  Sep 4, 2026

Science Daily

Scientists reveal the hidden instructions that build the human brain

UCLA researchers have discovered two powerful influences that help guide how the human brain forms before birth. Radial glia, stem cells responsible for producing much of the cerebral cortex, change their behavior depending on how they process glucose and on physical contact with signals arriving from the thalamus. Those signals can alter which types of neurons are produced, including upper-layer neurons that are especially prominent in humans.

science  Sep 4, 2026

NASA News

APOD: 2026 September 4 – Na Uhane Mahoe Huki Pu i ke Ola

APOD Science APOD APOD: 2026 September 4 – Na… Today’s APOD Archive Submissions Index Search Calendar RSS Education About Discuss   APOD Astronomy Picture of the Day Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. Nā ʻUhane […]

science  Sep 4, 2026

NASA News

A Trio of Tropical Cyclones in the Pacific

The Pacific was buzzing with storms while the Atlantic was notably quiet.

science  Sep 4, 2026