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Paleontology

Dinosaur feathers may have been more birdlike than previously thought

Feather proteins can change during fossilization, raising questions about what dinosaur feathers really can tell us about feather evolution.

Plants

Berkley Walker wants to revamp photosynthesis for a changing climate

Finding ways to make plants work better could help feed a growing population, especially as the planet warms.

Climate

50 years ago, scientists warned of the ‘neglected dangers’ of heat islands

In 1973, scientists knew temperatures in cities were higher than in rural areas. Now, some cities are attempting to cool down with engineering.

Genetics

These 8 GMOs tell a brief history of genetic modification

Since the first genetically modified organism 50 years ago, GMOs have brought us disease-resistant crops, new drugs and more.

Astronomy

A rare glimpse at a relatively nearby supernova offers clues to how stars die

Thanks to its home in the Pinwheel galaxy, a favorite of amateur astronomers, researchers have monitored SN 2023ixf since shortly after it exploded.

Animals

How sea anemones living on deep-sea hydrothermal vents avoid metal poisoning

The anemone Alvinactis idsseensis dominates its toxic environment thanks to an unusual number of genes geared toward protecting cells from heavy metals.

Planetary Science

Giant planet ‘destabilization’ may have coincided with the birth of Earth’s moon

New meteorite data suggest the orbits of the giant planets abruptly changed about 60 million to 100 million years after the solar system started forming.

Genetics

Most of today’s gene therapies rely on viruses — and that’s a problem

The next big strides in gene therapy for rare diseases may come from CRISPR and new approaches to delivery.

Life

10 billion snow crabs have disappeared off the Alaskan coast. Here’s why

In the eastern Bering Sea, the snow crab population plummeted after a marine heat wave in 2018. The crabs may have starved, a new study finds.

Health & Medicine

Blocking an aging-related enzyme may restore muscle strength

Treating old mice with a drug that inhibits a “gerozyme” restored muscle strength, which can diminish with aging.

Space

Here’s how citizen scientists can help during the 2024 solar eclipse

The sun will be near the peak of its activity cycle during the eclipse on April 8, 2024, making it a great time to crowdsource solar research.

Physics

Tiny accelerators get electrons up to speed using lasers

In a first, chip-scale accelerators revved up electrons while also confining them into a beam.