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New research from NASA’s Cassini mission reveals that Enceladus, one of Saturn’s most intriguing moons and a prime candidate for extraterrestrial life, is releasing heat from both poles. This surprising discovery suggests the icy world has the long-term thermal balance needed for life to possibly take hold. The findings were published on November 7 in…

A new study published in Nature Geoscience reveals that the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS) experienced a major retreat about 9,000 years ago, triggered by a powerful feedback between melting ice and ocean currents. Led by Professor Yusuke Suganuma of the National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR) and the Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI),…

In California’s Death Valley, where summer heat often surpasses 120 degrees Fahrenheit, survival appears almost impossible. Yet, among the cracked soil and intense sunlight, one native plant not only endures but flourishes. That plant, Tidestromia oblongifolia, has helped scientists at Michigan State University reveal how life can persist in such extreme conditions. Their findings offer…

In a new study, first author Palash Kumawat from the University of Bremen’s Geosciences Department and his team investigated how microbes manage to survive in one of the planet’s harshest underwater environments. They analyzed lipid biomarkers, specialized fat molecules that reveal biological activity, to uncover the organisms’ survival strategies. The site’s pH of 12 makes…

A scientist at Florida International University (FIU) has created a revolutionary test that can detect small, hard-to-find hammerhead sharks without ever spotting them in the water — a breakthrough that could help save species on the edge of extinction. This innovative method identifies traces of the sharks’ presence without catching or disturbing them. Acting like…

Stanford engineers have discovered a standout material, strontium titanate (STO), that performs even better in extreme cold. Instead of weakening, its optical and mechanical properties improve at cryogenic temperatures. STO outperforms every comparable material tested in low-temperature environments, revealing exceptional strength, stability, and tunability. Its unique capabilities could accelerate advances in quantum computing, laser systems,…

Researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have uncovered a new way to use deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Beyond carrying genetic information, DNA can also serve as a tool for creating medicines more efficiently. Specific regions of DNA known as phosphates act like tiny “hands” that guide chemical reactions to form the correct mirror-image version…

Lu Li, a physicist who studies advanced materials, knows that people often want to hear how his research could lead to new technologies or practical breakthroughs. But sometimes, what he uncovers is so unusual that its value lies purely in revealing how strange the universe can be. Working with an international team of scientists, Li…