The Guardian Science

Scientists reveal surprising mechanism behind Venus flytrap’s rapid snap

Intricate tests show hair-trigger detection causes cells on outer surface of leaf to soften, prompting closureThe Venus flytrap is one of nature’s most impressive predators, luring insects with the intoxicating scent of nectar before capturing them with a snap of its jaw-like leaves.Now, scientists have revealed the mechanism that allows the carnivorous plant to react with lightning speed, resolving a problem that stumped Charles Darwin and many researchers after him. Continue reading...

science  Jun 11, 2026

The Guardian Science

Subterranean fungi networks more than 100 quadrillion km in length, study finds

First ever global mapping of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi shows scale of hyphal systems that sustain plant lifeOur planet’s soils contain enough of the subterranean fungi that sustain plant life and help regulate the climate to stretch from the Earth to the sun almost three-quarters of a billion times, a groundbreaking new study has found.Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are networks of tubular cells called hyphae that sustain life on Earth by forming critical partnerships with more than 70% of plan

science  Jun 11, 2026

NASA News

Soccer Meets Space Science

A soccer ball floats in microgravity in this March 2, 2026, picture from the International Space Station. The space station crew tested soccer balls to study how internal mass affects motion and stability in microgravity. The findings have improved understanding of how embedded technologies, including match-ball sensors, can influence performance during play. Through research aboard […]

science  Jun 11, 2026

NASA News

NASA’s Career Technical Education Day Highlights Technical Careers

At NASA, remaining a global leader in exploration and innovation includes having a skilledand dedicated workforce. Technicians play a critical role in advancing the agency’sresearch and missions, applying hands-on expertise across engineering, fabrication,electronics, and countless other technical fields. To help cultivate the next generation of technical talent, NASA’s Office of STEM Engagementhosted Career Technical Education […]

science  Jun 11, 2026

NASA News

NASA, USGS Scientists Go Rock Hounding in California’s High Desert

Equipped with rock picks and hand lenses, a team of geoscientists deployed to the Mojave Desert recently to investigate a tantalizing “fingerprint” detected by a NASA sensor. Their target: a cache of topaz hiding in plain sight. The geologists weren’t searching for gem-grade treasure. Rather, the presence of topaz could hint at a more valuable […]

science  Jun 11, 2026

NASA News

NASA to Preview Katalyst Mission to Boost Swift Spacecraft’s Orbit

NASA will host an audio-only media teleconference at 11 a.m. EDT, Wednesday, June 17, to preview the Katalyst Space mission to boost the orbit of NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. Katalyst’s robotic servicing spacecraft, called LINK, will attempt to rendezvous with Swift and raise its altitude, extending its science mission lifespan and advancing a key […]

science  Jun 11, 2026

Science Daily

Scientists built a battery-free device that turns sunlight into fuel

Scientists have developed an artificial photosynthesis system that essentially regulates itself, eliminating the need for batteries used in many current designs. The key innovation is an electrolyzer that automatically adapts to changing sunlight by altering its electrical properties as it heats up. This keeps solar fuel production more stable while reducing cost and complexity.

science  Jun 11, 2026

Science Daily

The deadly tapeworm spreading across America has reached the Pacific Northwest

A potentially dangerous tapeworm linked to severe, cancer-like disease has now been found in the Pacific Northwest, marking its first detection in wild animals along the U.S. West Coast. Researchers discovered the parasite, Echinococcus multilocularis, in 37% of coyotes tested around Puget Sound—a surprisingly high rate for a region where it had never been reported until recently.

science  Jun 11, 2026

Science Daily

The 1,100-year-old mystery of Montana’s lost bison hunting site finally solved

For nearly 700 years, Indigenous hunters repeatedly used a bison kill site in central Montana—then suddenly stopped, even though bison were still abundant. Researchers uncovered evidence that recurring, decades-long droughts likely made the site less practical by reducing access to the water needed to process large numbers of animals. At the same time, hunting groups were shifting toward larger, more coordinated operations that required dependable resources and specialized locations.

science  Jun 11, 2026

Science Daily

Scientists discover a strange property in rice and turn it into a smart material

Scientists discovered that rice behaves in a highly unusual way: it weakens under rapid compression but stays stronger when pressure is applied slowly. Using this effect, they engineered a new material that reacts differently to gentle movements and sudden impacts. The material can adapt its stiffness automatically, opening the door to safer soft robots and protective equipment that responds instantly to collisions.

science  Jun 11, 2026

Science Daily

NASA reveals Artemis III crew for one of the most complex space missions ever

NASA has selected the Artemis III crew for a high-stakes 2027 mission designed to test the future of lunar exploration. Astronauts will launch aboard Orion and perform unprecedented docking operations with lunar landers being developed by both Blue Origin and SpaceX. The mission will require a remarkable sequence of heavy-lift rocket launches and complex in-space maneuvers, helping pave the way for future Moon landings and eventually crewed missions to Mars.

science  Jun 11, 2026

Science Daily

James Webb reveals two completely different twilights on an alien world

JWST has revealed dramatic differences between the dawn and dusk regions of the scorching exoplanet WASP-121 b. Fierce winds appear to carry heat from the planet’s permanent dayside, making the evening side hotter and more expanded. Scientists also found signs that water is being broken apart by extreme temperatures and that mysterious mineral clouds may be shaping the cooler side’s atmosphere.

science  Jun 11, 2026

Science Daily

AI could uncover new physics faster but there’s a surprising catch

Scientists found that transfer learning can make the search for new physics in the universe much faster, slashing the need for expensive simulations. Yet the approach can backfire when AI relies too heavily on familiar patterns, potentially missing evidence of something truly new.

science  Jun 11, 2026

Science Daily

Scientists turn tofu and cheese waste into tiny CO2-catching beads

Scientists have developed biodegradable protein beads made from dairy and tofu waste that can capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere more efficiently than many current technologies. Unlike conventional systems that require large amounts of energy, the new method releases captured CO2 using a simple room-temperature process.

science  Jun 11, 2026

Science Daily

Scientists discover a hidden cause of aging cells that can be reversed

Researchers discovered that declining levels of phosphatidylcholine may be a major cause of age-related mitochondrial dysfunction and loss of cellular energy. Remarkably, boosting this nutrient restored more youthful mitochondrial performance in aging organisms, suggesting some aspects of aging can be slowed or reversed.

science  Jun 11, 2026

NASA News

Air Pollution’s Daily Pulse Over the Northeast

The TEMPO mission helped scientists track morning nitrogen dioxide that contributed to afternoon ozone along the New York–Washington corridor in May 2026.

science  Jun 11, 2026

The Guardian Science

‘The undruggable became druggable’: a breakthrough cancer treatment – podcast

A daily pill can double survival time in patients with the world’s deadliest cancer, according to the results of a clinical trial that experts are saying is a gamechanger and one of the biggest breakthroughs in decades. To find out more about how daraxonrasib works and how life-changing it could be for patients, Madeleine Finlay speaks to Prof Naureen Starling, consultant medical oncologist at the Royal Marsden hospitalSupport the Guardian: theguardian.com/sciencepod Continue reading...

science  Jun 11, 2026

NASA News

Curiosity Blog: Sols 4913-4919: Planetary explorers, freewheeling to the Yardang unit!

Written by Catherine O’Connell-Cooper, APXS Strategic Planner and Payload Uplink/Downlink Lead, University of New Brunswick, Canada Earth planning day: Friday, June 5th, 2026 In a very broad sense, Curiosity has two modes of doing science – one centred around a defined science campaign (such as the recent boxwork campaign) and the other as we move […]

science  Jun 10, 2026

NASA News

NASA Awards Contract for Construction Services in California

NASA has selected multiple small businesses for the Western Regional Multiple Award Construction Contract, which supports a broad range of facility enhancement, modernization, and sustainment work at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley, and other federal agencies in the region. The contract provides general construction, […]

science  Jun 10, 2026

NASA News

NASA, NOAA to Hold Joint Session at 23rd Symposium on Operational Environmental Satellite Systems

Abstracts are now being accepted for the session, which will take place at the 2027 AMS Annual Meeting.

science  Jun 10, 2026