All Stories
- Chemistry
New polish could turn long nails into touchscreen styluses
It registers nails' touch by disrupting the touchscreen’s electric field. But this high-tech varnish isn’t ready to hit store shelves yet.
- Ecosystems
Let’s learn about wetlands
Just how wet these lands are varies a lot — from seasonally soaked to permanently flooded.
- Computing
Scientists Say: Boolean
Computers handle complex problems through a series of very simple answers, such yes or no, on or off — and most often, one or zero.
- Artificial Intelligence
Don’t trust AI for help with citations, science-fair judges warn
Fake, AI-generated citations have begun disqualifying major science-fair projects. Such ‘ghost’ references even haunt research journals.
- Brain
Brain scans offer clues to why math is harder for some kids
Kids with math learning disabilities process number symbols differently than numbers shown as dots.
- Animals
Animals can feel joy. Here’s how scientists might study it
Research has long focused on understanding negative emotions like fear in animals. Now they’re trying to measure positive feelings like joy. It’s a challenge.
- Animals
Analyze This: How many insects are in the air?
Weather data have helped estimate the density of flying insects in U.S. skies. That could help track climate change’s impact on insects.
- Artificial Intelligence
A new shield could guard AI agents against cyberattacks
A teen’s software could help guard AI that handles sensitive data against sneaky “prompt injection attacks.”
- Health & Medicine
Scientists get smart about farts with new underwear sensor
It snaps into regular undies to measure releases of hydrogen gas. Rates vary widely, but 32 farts a day seems about average, early data suggest.
- Space
Scientists Say: Observable universe
No light will ever reach Earth from beyond this distant horizon of space.
- Space
Do multiple universes exist?
Some branches of physics hint that our universe is just one of many in a vast “multiverse.”
- Plants
Light pollution could be supercharging your pollen allergies
Light pollution in North American cities seems to be tricking plants into releasing pollen for longer periods each year.
