Spectacular fossil treasure trove pushes back origins of complex animals

One of the most transformative events in Earth’s history was the rapid diversification of animal life, resulting in a dramatic increase in complexity and diversity from simpler life forms. Up to now, this was thought to have occurred at the start of the Cambrian Period, in an event known as the Cambrian explosion, starting around 535 million years ago.

== ways to go, but…
Gravitational waves as possible candidates for the origin of dark matter

Astrophysical observations confirm that dark matter permeates the whole universe and forms galaxies as well as the largest known structures in the cosmos. However, the particles that make up dark matter are still unknown. Many theories and ongoing experiments are looking for an answer to this open question.

Molecular system can distinguish and neutralize cancer cells, paving the way for ‘smart’ drugs

How can cancer cells be targeted without damaging healthy tissue? This is one of the major challenges facing oncology today. Among the most promising approaches of recent decades are antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs). Despite their remarkable success, ADCs still face significant limitations.

Pesticides and cancer: Study reveals the biological mechanisms behind an environmental health risk

esticides are widely present in food, water, and the environment, often in the form of complex mixtures. Until now, it has been difficult to accurately assess their effects on human health, as most studies focus on isolated substances and experimental models that are far removed from real-world exposure conditions.

A 500-million-year-old clawed predator rewrites the origin of spiders and horseshoe crabs

It had been a long day of teaching for Rudy Lerosey-Aubril. As a reward, he returned to cleaning an intriguing Cambrian arthropod fossil he had recently received for review. At first, the specimen showed all the expected characteristics of its time—yet, something was off. In place of an antenna, there appeared to be a claw.

Wisconsin-sized chunk of Alaskan permafrost is thawing

Focusing on a Wisconsin-sized area of Alaska’s North Slope containing hundreds of rivers and streams flowing into the Beaufort Sea, the team analyzed 44 years of model data at one-kilometer grid resolution, revealing how massively runoff is increasing, the increased loads of previously frozen carbon flowing through northern Alaska’s rivers and how the thawing season has extended into late-summer and fall.

Gravitational waves suggest a ‘forbidden zone’ for stellar-origin black holes

At the end of their lives, most massive stars collapse into black holes—objects with gravity so strong that not even light can escape. Some very massive stars, however, are expected to become so hot that they are blown apart in a pair-instability supernova—an explosion so intense that the star is completely disrupted, leaving behind no black hole.

== april fools?
Unexplained sky flashes from the 1950s: Independent analysis supports their existence

In 2019, an international team of astronomers launched the VASCO Project, aiming to identify unusual phenomena hidden within vast archives of historical data. In particular, their work focused on astronomical transients: objects that suddenly appear in the sky in some images, but vanish in subsequent observations.

Benefits of mindfulness meditation go far beyond relaxation

Imagine being asked to sit alone in a quiet room for 15 minutes with nothing to do—no phone, no music, no external distraction. In a well-known 2014 study, many participants found that task so challenging that they chose to press a button to give themselves an unpleasant electric shock instead of continuing to sit with their thoughts and sensations.

Vibrations in your skull may be your next password

A team of researchers has developed a security system that could change how people log in to virtual and augmented reality platforms by eliminating passwords, personal identification numbers and eye scans and replacing them with something far more seamless.

How the solar wind really works

The sun, our nearest star, never stops breathing. Every second of every day, it exhales a vast stream of charged particles that sweeps outward through the solar system at hundreds of kilometers per second.

== another approach to the problem
SimCells successfully target and kill drug-resistant bacteria

We are continually in an evolutionary arms race with bacteria. As we develop new antibiotics, they develop resistance, and so it goes on until some of our treatments no longer work. Superbugs and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are a huge global health problem.

New catalyst enables targeted antibiotic redesign to beat resistant bacteria

Antibiotics, our infantry against bacteria, are losing their ability to fight against bacterial infections due to the rise of superbugs—microbes that have developed resistance to medications that are designed to kill them.

New index reveals global water resources’ growing dependence on extreme rainfall

While much attention has focused on how much rain will fall overall, researchers are now highlighting another concern: a growing share of that rain is coming in intense, extreme downpours rather than gentle, steady showers.

How plants could betray themselves across the galaxy

Here’s a thought experiment. Imagine looking at Earth from a distant star system, armed with a powerful telescope capable of capturing its reflected light. Could you tell the planet was alive?

Pairs of atoms observed existing in two places at once for the first time

Their experiment using helium atoms represents a major advancement over similar experiments using photons, which are particles of light. Unlike photons, helium atoms are massive particles that can be held, cooled, and manipulated in gravitational fields.

Human brain operates near, but not at, the critical point

Neuroscientists have long found the idea fascinating—that the brain operates near a “critical point,” a phase transition between stable and chaotic dynamics. Theory suggests this sweet spot enhances computational flexibility, dynamic range, and sensitivity to inputs.

Quadratic Gravity Theory Reshapes Quantum View of Big Bang

While general relativity has been successful for more than a century, it breaks down at the extreme conditions that existed at the birth of the universe. To address this problem, the team used Quadratic Quantum Gravity, which remains mathematically consistent even at extremely high energies—similar to the kind present during the Big Bang.

Heat dome burns off mountain snow in western U.S., flashing warning for fire season

New study finds low snowpack, early melt ramp up severe fire risk.

Engineers Found Evidence of Hydraulics in an Ancient Pyramid, Solving a 4,500-Year-Old Mystery

A study suggests the first of seven key pyramids in Egypt, the Step Pyramid of Djoser, was built using a hydraulic lift.

== yjc, rather thought invoking
30 Combined Photos By This Digital Artist That Remind Us Of The Two Different Worlds That People Live In

Ugur Gallenkus is a world-known digital artist based in Istanbul, Turkey. He gained his popularity with thought-provoking photo collages conscientiously addressing the “widening global divide between the privileged and oppressed, weaving together misery and mirth, wealth and poverty and love and despair”.

AI data centres can warm surrounding areas by up to 9.1°C

Data centres built to power AIs produce so much heat that they can raise the surface temperature of the land around them by several degrees – creating so-called data centre heat islands that may already be affecting up to 340 million people.

World’s Smallest QR Code - Smaller Than Bacteria - Could Store Data for Centuries

Scientists have created a microscopic QR code so tiny it can only be seen with an electron microscope—smaller than most bacteria and now officially a world record. But this isn’t just about size; it’s about durability.

This friendly robot just installed 100 MW of solar power

Like just about every other business that demands a high degree of physical labor, the construction industry is facing huge labor shortages, making machines like Maximo that provide real efficiency gains welcome additions to the job site.

Jupiter’s Lightning May Have the Force of Nuclear Weapons

Jupiter, the most massive planet in our solar system, has correspondingly humongous storms, some of which last for centuries. Some of these storms also generate terrific bolts of lightning.

Self-cleaning fabric could eliminate the need for detergent

Detergents may begin their journey by cleaning our clothes, but they end up contaminating the environment, flowing into rivers, ponds, and oceans, where they severely disrupt aquatic animal life. Even after wastewater treatment, some chemicals remain and pass through filtration systems, continuing to pollute natural water bodies.

Zone 2, 3, 4? What do heart rate zones mean for your health?

Runners, cyclists and gym-goers with wearable fitness trackers are no doubt familiar with the five “heart rate” zones. Ranging from low to very high intensity, these zones are calculated as percentages of a person’s maximum heart rate and correlate with the intensity of any given workout. Maximum heart rate is often estimated as 220 minus your age.

The northern lights’ dark twin is a wild card for the power grid

Scientists are working to understand how magnetic currents from the sun spread beneath Earth’s crust when the northern lights dance across the sky. Their goal is to tame its “dark twin” and prevent damage to our power grid.

Major volcanic eruptions might be driven by gas dissolving back into magma

Understanding what triggers large volcanic eruptions is crucial for hazard assessment, but the exact mechanism driving these eruptions is still poorly understood. The prevailing theory is that volatile exsolution—gas coming out of magma—is a main driver of eruptions.

Implantable ’living pharmacy’ produces multiple drugs inside the body

While implantable living pharmacies could transform the treatment of numerous diseases, these tiny cellular factories have faced a stubborn biological barrier: oxygen.

== yjc, worth a read I think
What Made Bell Labs So Successful?

But what was the secret to its success? Start with its lucky arrival in a “problem-rich” environment, suggests Arno Penzia, winner of one of Bell Labs’ 11 Nobel Prizes:

UK Startup Ignites Plasma Inside Nuclear Fusion Rocket

If fusion propulsion becomes possible, it has the potential to be far more powerful than today’s rocket engines - potentially delivering up to 1,000 times more thrust than conventional systems used in orbit and allowing spacecraft to reach speeds of roughly 800,000 kilometres per hour (500,000 mph).

NASA’s First Nuclear-Powered Interplanetary Spacecraft Will Send Helicopters to Mars in 2028

Nuclear electric propulsion systems operate like nuclear power plants here on Earth, relying on an onboard fission reactor. NEP is a fundamentally different technology than radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs), which have powered the instruments of NASA deep-space probes like Voyager for decades.