Astronomy

Life arose early in Earth's history. Was this an inevitable process, or an extremely unlikely event that happened early on, and what does this tell us about the likelihood of life on other worlds? In a new paper, a researcher calculated the variables that went into the formation of life and found that a spontaneous emergence is theoretically feasible, but extremely unlikely. Instead, he suggests that there could be protection mechanisms or unknown self-organising principles that got life going.

If you've ever dreamed of traveling through space as an explorer, you know there'll be some serious "downside dangers". One of them is cosmic rays. These high-speed particles slam through anything, including our bodies, damaging DNA and ripping molecules apart. As dangerous as they sound to unprotected spacefarers, they could actually help microscopic life survive hiding under the icy surfaces of places like Europa or Enceladus.

Unravelling Earth’s 4.5-billion-year history with rocks is tricky business.

Piles of dirt can cheaply store renewable energy as heat – and that stored energy can reactivate the machinery of retired coal power plants, letting them provide backup power for the electricity grid

Piles of dirt can cheaply store renewable energy as heat – and that stored energy can reactivate the machinery of retired coal power plants, letting them provide backup power for the electricity grid

NASA has awarded Firefly Aerospace a $176.7 million contract to deliver a pair of rovers and three scientific instruments to the moon's south pole.

NASA is accelerating its plans for a nuclear reactor on the moon, aiming to establish such a power outpost by 2030, according to Politico.

There are three types of cognitive reserve that can protect against decline as we age. Columnist Helen Thomson explores the lifestyle choices that can help you build a more resilient brain – and finds that midlife is a critical time to implement them

There are three types of cognitive reserve that can protect against decline as we age. Columnist Helen Thomson explores the lifestyle choices that can help you build a more resilient brain – and finds that midlife is a critical time to implement them

NASA has stopped trying to revive its Lunar Trailblazer moon orbiter, which went dark a day after its Feb. 26 launch.

Infectious bird flu virus was found in milk, on equipment, within wastewater and aerosolized in the air on California dairy farms

A devastating bacterium has decimated populations of sunflower sea stars, predators that play a crucial role in their environment

We use the Navier-Stokes equations every day, for applications from building rockets to designing drugs. But sometimes they break – and we don’t know why

We use the Navier-Stokes equations every day, for applications from building rockets to designing drugs. But sometimes they break – and we don’t know why

The Japanese space-sustainability company Astroscale has unveiled a patent for what it describes as a new method for space debris removal.

Fifty-eight people have been infected—and two have died—in a New York City outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease—a severe type of pneumonia caused by a bacterium commonly associated with air-conditioning systems and cooling towers

The dashing 'Trek' veteran talks Anson's wild wig, colorful kisses, and meditating on set while directing 'the latest Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' episode.

Increasing evidence suggests chronic constipation can be a causal factor in illnesses including cardiovascular disease and cognitive impairment. So what can you do to get moving again?

Increasing evidence suggests chronic constipation can be a causal factor in illnesses including cardiovascular disease and cognitive impairment. So what can you do to get moving again?