News

  1. Astronomy

    A galaxy 11.3 billion light-years away appears filled with dark matter

    The “Cosmic Seagull,” a distant galaxy magnified by a gravitational lens, seems chock-full of dark matter, in contrast with other galaxies almost as far away.

    By Lisa Grossman
  2. Tech

    Here’s what robots could learn from fire ants

    Fire ants’ secret to success is prioritizing efficiency over fairness. Robot teams could use that strategy to work more efficiently in tight, crowded quarters.

    By Maria Temming
  3. Tech

    Children may be especially vulnerable to peer pressure from robots

    Elementary school children often endorsed unanimous but inaccurate judgments made by small groups of robots.

    By Bruce Bower
  4. Oceans

    Viruses may help phytoplankton make clouds — by tearing the algae apart

    Sick phytoplankton shed their calcium carbonate plates more easily than their healthy counterparts, which could play a role in forming clouds.