Cat movement study finds lying is felines' favourite activity
A New Zealand study of cat movements confirms that cats spend most of their time lying down, with sitting a distant second.
Science
Space, physics, materials, and general research.
Early Earth's chemistry may have stabilized 4.33 billion years ago
New research pinpoints when early Earth's environment may have become stable enough to support the chemistry of life.
Lead traces in ancient ink could reveal Herculaneum scroll texts
Experiments show that even minuscule amounts of lead in ancient ink make writing visible in X-ray scans, potentially unlocking lost Greek and Roman works from carbonized scrolls.
Quantum Simulator Recreates Particle Formation from String Breaking
A trapped-ion quantum computer observed string breaking, a process linked to matter formation after the Big Bang.
REM sleep drains brain energy even as blood supply rises, study finds
During REM sleep, neuronal ATP falls despite increased blood flow, suggesting dreaming is metabolically demanding.
Beneficial fungi could help crops grow in Martian soil
A new review suggests plant-growth-promoting fungi could turn nutrient-poor lunar and Martian regolith into viable soil for space farming.
Fossilized blood vessels found in T. rex rib reveal healing process
Non-destructive imaging of a 66-million-year-old rib reveals preserved blood vessels from the dinosaur's healing response.
VR River Scenes and Classical Music Lower Hospital Blood Pressure
Combining virtual nature scenes with classical music may quickly lower dangerously high blood pressure in hospital patients.
CERN Begins Swapping LHC Magnets for High-Luminosity Upgrade
The Large Hadron Collider is being dismantled around two detectors so that stronger magnets can boost collision rates and expand physics data collection.
Pacific Warming Flips Oxygen and Water Age Patterns
A new modeling study shows climate warming will make subtropical Pacific waters older and less oxygenated while tropical Pacific waters become younger and more oxygenated.
Heroes' first season remains a near-perfect sci-fi story
A New Scientist columnist argues that the debut season of Heroes, now 20 years old, still stands out despite the show's later decline.
Mathematician proposes new eight-faced shape with three holes
A newly described genus-3 polyhedron with eight faces could be a rare real-world addition to geometry.
China's Reusable Rocket Push: Can It Close the Gap with SpaceX?
The next space race centers on cheap, reliable rocket reuse, where the US still leads but China is working to catch up.
Dead White Dwarf Emits Shock Wave That Shouldn't Exist
Astronomers have detected a persistent shock wave from a white dwarf with no visible disk, hinting at an unknown energy source.
Uranus moon Ariel may have hidden 100-mile-deep ocean
New modeling suggests Ariel once hosted a deep subsurface ocean, adding Uranus to the list of possible ocean worlds.
Two new sea spider species found in Salish Sea
Scientists have discovered two previously unknown sea spider species in the Salish Sea, distinguished by hairy legs and red eyes.
Exercise Keeps Astronauts' Hearts Fit for Mars, Study Finds
Intense exercise during long spaceflights may preserve heart function enough for Mars gravity, a new study suggests.
Focused ultrasound tested on horse's sarcoid tumors
A horse named Pea is the first to receive focused ultrasound for sarcoids, a tumor type that often requires chemotherapy or surgery.