Science News

Encrypted quantum messages are limited by how far photons can stably pass through optical fibres, but they can now travel the distance between London and Paris

ALAN TURING was no slouch. He laid the mathematical groundwork for modern computing. He led the successful effort to crack Germany's Enigma code during the second world war. And he also, though it is less well known, mad...

Oh CRISPR, how you've grown. From an obscure part of the bacterial immune defense system, you're now on track to cure genetic diseases, thwart superbugs, boost global food production, and wipe out disease-carrying pests....

ON APRIL 24th police in California announced the arrest of Joseph DeAngelo. Mr DeAngelo stands accused of eight counts of murder. On April 27th some intriguing details emerged of what had prompted the arrest. The startin...

There's an old one-liner: "Laser eye surgery isn't nearly as cool as it sounds". Now, I don't know if this is fair--in my opinion, blasting a person's cornea back into shape so that they can see without glasses is one of...

A butchered rhino found on the island of Luzon shows early humans were living in the Philippines 709,000 years ago, which may explain the origins of the diminutive Homo floresiensis

A huge planet is losing its atmosphere in a stream trailing off its night side, and we've seen the first signs of helium on an exoplanet in its comet-like tail

Soaring demand for palm oil is being driven by its use as biofuel, which is increasing carbon emissions as well as destroying forests and biodiversity

A new machine learning algorithm has proved to be over 91% effective in predicting which students are at higher risk of perpetrating school violence.

Researchers report on why some people may experience increasing levels of aggression at the end of the day. The study reports the scientists have developed new gene editing tools to help turn of cells that cause sundowni...

Researchers have identified a cluster of neurons in mouse brains that encourage fear response to perceived threats. When an adjacent cluster of neurons is activated, boldness and courage behaviors are exhibited.

With its suspended metallic spheres that clack back and forth, Newton's cradle is more than a popular desktop plaything. It has taught a generation of students about conservation of momentum and energy. It is also the in...

For Emperor penguins waddling around a warming Antarctic, diminishing sea ice means less fish to eat. How the diets of these tuxedoed birds will hold up in the face of climate change is a big question scientists are grap...

A new study reveals, contrary to popular belief, children with ASD are able to create imaginary companions. Imaginary friends, researchers argue, are an important feature in a child's emotional development.

Yale physicists have uncovered hints of a time crystal--a form of matter that "ticks" when exposed to an electromagnetic pulse--in the last place they expected: a crystal you might find in a child's toy.

A study of nearly 12,000 people wearing health monitoring devices shows how people's biological rhythms fall out of sync after big political events

According to researchers, dopamine neurons may play a key role in the formation of episodic memory. The findings could help in the development of new treatments for neurodegenerative disorders that affect memory.

Lots of little baby humpback whales may be on their way.

A growing number of clinical trials are looking into whether compounds in marijuana can be used to treat some of the symptoms of autism.

A "colossal" computer error meant 450,000 women missed crucial breast cancer screening appointments, possibly resulting in hundreds of avoidable deaths

It takes a lot of work to achieve nothingness. The beam pipes within particle accelerators are some of the emptiest regions in the universe. They are evacuated so as to prevent the accelerating particles from colliding w...

Their evidence included an odd Pac-Man effect.