science daily research articles

Technology News

Top headlines, latest headlines.

• Biosensing, Brain-Inspired Computation
• Diamond as Large-Scale Quantum Networks
• When Does a Conductor Not Conduct?
• New Circuit Boards Can Be Repeatedly Recycled
• Oxide Semiconductor Challenges Resolved
• Key to Efficient and Stable Organic Solar Cells
• Entanglement Structure in an Array of Qubits
• Thin-Film Electronics for Chip Design
• Rubber-Like Stretchable Energy Storage Device
• Holographic Displays: An Immersive Future

Earlier Headlines

Friday, may 3, 2024.

• When Injecting Pure Spin Into Chiral Materials, Direction Matters

Monday, April 22, 2024

• 2D Materials Rotate Light Polarization
• Magnetic With a Pinch of Hydrogen

Friday, April 19, 2024

• Development of Organic Semiconductors Featuring Ultrafast Electrons

Thursday, April 18, 2024

• Novel Material Supercharges Innovation in Electrostatic Energy Storage

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

• Atom-by-Atom: Imaging Structural Transformations in 2D Materials
• Machine Learning Used to Create a Fabric-Based Touch Sensor
• Two-Dimensional Nanomaterial Sets Record for Expert-Defying, Counter-Intuitive Expansion

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

• Photonic Computation With Sound Waves

Monday, April 15, 2024

• New Colorful Plastic Films for Versatile Sensors and Electronic Displays

Thursday, April 11, 2024

• 'Surprising' Hidden Activity of Semiconductor Material Spotted by Researchers

Wednesday, April 10, 2024

• Breakthrough for Next-Generation Digital Displays
• Waterproof 'e-Glove' Could Help Scuba Divers Communicate

Thursday, April 4, 2024

• Researchers 3D Print Key Components for a Point-of-Care Mass Spectrometer

Wednesday, April 3, 2024

• Drawing Inspiration from Plants: A Metal-Air Paper Battery for Wearable Devices

Monday, April 1, 2024

• Physics-Based Predictive Tool Will Speed Up Battery and Superconductor Research

Thursday, March 28, 2024

• Revolutionary Biomimetic Olfactory Chips to Enable Advanced Gas Sensing and Odor Detection

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

• Super Permeable Wearable Electronics Developed for Stable, Long-Term Biosignal Monitoring

Monday, March 25, 2024

• Scientists Deliver Quantum Algorithm to Develop New Materials and Chemistry
• Quantum Interference Could Lead to Smaller, Faster, and More Energy-Efficient Transistors
• In-Situ Observation of Nanoscale Heat Propagation
• Artificial Nanofluidic Synapses Can Store Computational Memory

Friday, March 22, 2024

• Downscaling Storage Devices: Magnetic Memory Based on the Chirality of Spiral Magnets

Thursday, March 21, 2024

• N-Channel Diamond Field-Effect Transistor

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

• Quantum Talk With Magnetic Disks

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

• Brain-Inspired Wireless System to Gather Data from Salt-Sized Sensors
• Spectroscopy and Theory Shed Light on Excitons in Semiconductors

Monday, March 18, 2024

• Reimagining the Future of Solar Energy
• Fast-Charging Lithium-Sulphur Batteries on the Horizon

Friday, March 15, 2024

• Printed Polymer Allows Researchers to Explore Chirality and Spin Interactions at Room Temperature
• Breakthrough Could Make Automated Dosing Systems Universal

Thursday, March 14, 2024

• Researchers Prove Fundamental Limits of Electromagnetic Energy Absorption
• New Study Shows Analog Computing Can Solve Complex Equations and Use Far Less Energy
• An Electricity Generator Inspired by the Drinking Bird Toy Powers Electronics With Evaporated Water

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

• Scientists Use Novel Technique to Create New Energy-Efficient Microelectronic Device
• Scientists Develop Ultra-Thin Semiconductor Fibers That Turn Fabrics Into Wearable Electronics
• Straightening Teeth? AI Can Help
• Staying in the Loop: How Superconductors Are Helping Computers 'remember'

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

• Spiral Wrappers Switch Nanotubes from Conductors to Semiconductors and Back
• Powerful New Tool Ushers in New Era of Quantum Materials Research

Monday, March 11, 2024

• Wearable Tech Captures Real-Time Hemodynamics on the Go

Friday, March 8, 2024

• Tiny Wireless Light Bulbs for Biomedical Applications

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

• Compact Chips Advance Precision Timing for Communications, Navigation and Other Applications
• Nanosurgical Tool Could Be Key to Cancer Breakthrough

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

• Using Light to Precisely Control Single-Molecule Devices
• A New Theoretical Development Clarifies Water's Electronic Structure

Monday, March 4, 2024

• Spontaneous Curvature the Key to Shape-Shifting Nanomaterials

Friday, March 1, 2024

• Umbrella for Atoms: The First Protective Layer for 2D Quantum Materials

Thursday, February 29, 2024

• Turning Waste Into Gold
• When the Music Changes, So Does the Dance: Controlling Cooperative Electronic States in Kagome Metals
• Researchers Improve the Stability of Perovskite Solar Cells
• Researchers Create New Compound to Build Space-Age Antennas
• New Microwave Photonics Chip for High-Speed Signal Processing
• Building Bionic Jellyfish for Ocean Exploration

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

• Quantum Films on Plastic

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

• Movies of Ultrafast Electronic Circuitry in Space and Time

Friday, February 23, 2024

• Mixed-Dimensional Transistors Enable High-Performance Multifunctional Electronic Devices

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

• Method Identified to Double Computer Processing Speeds

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

• These Tiny Power Converters Run on Vibrational Energy
• Physicists Develop More Efficient Solar Cell
• Terahertz Biosensor Detects Skin Cancer With Remarkable Accuracy, Ushering in New Era of Early Detection
• Tapping Into the 300 GHz Band With an Innovative CMOS Transmitter
• Engineers Achieve Breakthrough in Quantum Sensing

Monday, February 19, 2024

• This Tiny, Tamper-Proof ID Tag Can Authenticate Almost Anything

Thursday, February 15, 2024

• Altermagnetism Experimentally Demonstrated

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

• Altermagnetism Proves Its Place on the Magnetic Family Tree

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

• Hand-Held Biosensor Makes Breast Cancer Screening Fast, Affordable, and Accurate

Friday, February 9, 2024

• New Adhesive Tape Picks Up and Sticks Down 2D Materials as Easily as Child's Play

Thursday, February 8, 2024

• Technique Could Improve the Sensitivity of Quantum Sensing Devices
• A New 'metal Swap' Method for Creating Lateral Heterostructures of 2D Materials

Wednesday, February 7, 2024

• Smart Earrings Can Monitor a Person's Temperature
• BESSY II: Molecular Orbitals Determine Stability

Monday, February 5, 2024

• Unveiling the Generation Principles of Charged Particles 'trion' In 2D Semiconductor

Friday, February 2, 2024

• A Sleeker Facial Recognition Technology Tested on Michelangelo's David

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

• Bringing Together Real-World Sensors and VR to Improve Building Maintenance
• Will Electric Fields Lead the Way to Developing Semiconductors With High Power Efficiency?

Monday, January 29, 2024

• Sound-Powered Sensors Stand to Save Millions of Batteries

Wednesday, January 24, 2024

• Researchers Add a 'twist' To Classical Material Design
• A New Design Improves Water Decontamination Via Plasma Jet

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

• Potential Use of Topological Magnets for Magneto-Thermoelectric Energy Conversion

Monday, January 22, 2024

• New Sustainable Method for Creating Organic Semiconductors
• Scientists Advance Affordable, Sustainable Solution for Flat-Panel Displays and Wearable Tech
• Researchers Unveil New Way to Counter Mobile Phone 'account Takeover' Attacks

Thursday, January 18, 2024

• Self-Powered Sensor Automatically Harvests Magnetic Energy
• Researchers Create Faster and Cheaper Way to Print Tiny Metal Structures With Light
• Lighting the Path: Exploring Exciton Binding Energies in Organic Semiconductors
• Unlocking the Secrets of Quasicrystal Magnetism: Revealing a Novel Magnetic Phase Diagram
• Efficiently Moving Urea out of Polluted Water Is Coming to Reality

Tuesday, January 16, 2024

• Scientists Use Heat to Create Transformations Between Skyrmions and Antiskyrmions

Thursday, January 11, 2024

• Artificial Muscle Device Produces Force 34 Times Its Weight
• Artificial Intelligence Helps Unlock Advances in Wireless Communications
• Integrating Dimensions to Get More out of Moore's Law and Advance Electronics

Friday, January 5, 2024

• Using Berry Phase Monopole Engineering for High-Temperature Spintronic Devices

Thursday, January 4, 2024

• Engineers Invent Octopus-Inspired Technology That Can Deceive and Signal
• High-Performance Stretchable Solar Cells

Wednesday, January 3, 2024

• Functional Semiconductor Made from Graphene
• Better Microelectronics from Coal
• Non-Toxic Quantum Dots Pave the Way Towards CMOS Shortwave Infrared Image Sensors for Consumer Electronics

Friday, December 29, 2023

• Breakthrough in Organic Semiconductor Synthesis Paves the Way for Advanced Electronic Devices

Thursday, December 21, 2023

• Are Diamonds GaN's Best Friend? Revolutionizing Transistor Technology
• LATEST NEWS
• Top Science
• Top Physical/Tech
• Top Environment
• Top Society/Education
• Health & Medicine
• Mind & Brain
• Living Well
• Space & Time
• Matter & Energy
• Business & Industry
• Automotive and Transportation
• Consumer Electronics
• Energy and Resources
• Engineering and Construction
• Telecommunications
• Textiles and Clothing
• Biochemistry
• Inorganic Chemistry
• Organic Chemistry
• Thermodynamics
• Electricity
• Energy Technology
• Alternative Fuels
• Energy Policy
• Fossil Fuels
• Nuclear Energy
• Solar Energy
• Wind Energy
• Engineering
• 3-D Printing
• Civil Engineering
• Construction
• Electronics
• Forensic Research
• Materials Science
• Medical Technology
• Microarrays
• Nanotechnology
• Robotics Research
• Spintronics
• Sports Science
• Transportation Science
• Virtual Environment
• Weapons Technology
• Wearable Technology
• Albert Einstein
• Nature of Water
• Quantum Computing
• Quantum Physics
• Computers & Math
• Plants & Animals
• Earth & Climate
• Fossils & Ruins
• Science & Society
• Education & Learning

Strange & Offbeat

• Sound-Suppressing Silk Can Create Quiet Spaces
• Material 'Better Than Graphene'
• High-Performance Solar Cells
• Powerful Quantum Computers
• Genetic Defect Behind Cerebral Palsy
• Flexible Robot: Caterbot? Robatapillar?
• Universal, Long-Lasting Flu Shot
• Better Vision from CRISPR Gene Editing Trial
• Why Venus Has Almost No Water
• Stellar Light Surrounding Ancient Quasars

Trending Topics

• May 7, 2024 | Did the Webb Telescope Find Alien Life on Exoplanet K2-18b? Here’s What We Know
• May 7, 2024 | Transformative Discovery Could Solve Billion-Dollar Problem of Poorly Managed Wound Healing
• May 7, 2024 | Rare Retinal Cells May Hold the Key to True Color Perception
• May 7, 2024 | A New Frontier in Chemistry: Roaming Reactions Shatter Old Assumptions
• May 7, 2024 | Cold Case: Scientific Sleuths Solve the Case of the Mysterious Giant Opening in Antarctic Sea Ice

Biology News

Biology is the scientific study of life and living organisms, encompassing various sub-disciplines such as microbiology, botany, zoology, and physiology. We’re dedicated to bringing you the latest research findings, innovative technologies, and thought-provoking discoveries from top scientists, research institutions, and universities around the world.

This section on biology news includes new research related to many related subjects such as biochemistry, genetics, cytology, and microbiology. Popular sub-topics include Biotechnology , DNA ,  Microbiology , Neurology , Evolutionary Biology , Genetics , Stem Cells , Neuroscience , Bioengineering , and Cell Biology .

Whether you are a professional biologist, an aspiring scientist, or simply someone with a passion for learning about the living world, our Biology News page offers a wealth of information and insights to keep you informed and inspired.

Biology May 7, 2024

Rare Retinal Cells May Hold the Key to True Color Perception

Rochester researchers harnessed adaptive optics to gain insight into the complex workings of the retina and its role in processing color. They have identified elusive…

Inside the Cellular Tug-of-War: What Drives Cancer’s Spread?

Unveiling Vitamin D’s Hidden Power Against Cancer

Quantum Magnetoreception: The Evolutionary Secrets of Bird Navigation

Orangutan Heals Own Wound With Medicinal Plant: First Ever Evidence of Self-Treatment

Surprising Patterns Unearthed – Study Debunks Traditional Views on Yeast Evolution

Cutting-Edge CRISPR: Princeton Researchers Develop a More Precise Gene-Editing Tool

Timing Is Everything: Squid Birth Dates Influence Love Strategies

Scientists Identify New Brain Circuit That Inhibits Appetite

Biology May 4, 2024

New Global Study Confirms: Conservation Actually Works

A comprehensive meta-analysis examines the success of various conservation interventions globally and across different time periods. A recent study recently published in the journal Science…

Biology May 3, 2024

Marine Mystery Solved: Ancient Origins of Bioluminescence Uncovered

Study explores an ancient lineage of marine invertebrates, including soft corals, pushes back the previous oldest dated example of trait by nearly 300 million years….

Genetic Sleuths Discover Red Squirrels As Medieval Leprosy Carriers

Research reveals medieval English red squirrels hosted leprosy-causing bacteria, impacting our understanding of disease history and its transmission between humans and animals. Evidence from archaeological…

Biology May 2, 2024

“Incredible Hulk” Lizard Unveils Secrets of Evolutionary Adaptation

Body shape, color, and behavior often evolve together as species adapt to their environment. Researchers from Lund University in Sweden have studied this phenomenon in…

Biology May 1, 2024

Implications for Alien Life: Scientists Discover Previously Unexplored Underground Habitat

A new molecular DNA analysis technique has enabled the detection of viable microbes at depths of up to 4.20 meters. This discovery also holds significance…

How Do Birds Flock? Researchers Reveal Previously Unknown Aerodynamic Phenomenon

These findings could be useful in the fields of transportation and energy. As you gaze into the sky in the early weeks of spring, you…

Secrets Beneath the Sweat: Scientists Decode the Molecular Impact of Exercise

MoTrPAC examined the molecular effects of exercise on 2,600 volunteers, incorporating factors like age, race, and gender diversity. Building upon research in rats, MoTrPAC discovered…

Crafting Programmable Living Materials With Synthetic Biology & 3D Printing

New study uses 3D printing and genetically modified plant cells to create complex, self-repairing materials that could revolutionize biomanufacturing and construction. Scientists are harnessing cells…

Biology April 30, 2024

Challenging Our Views of Cognition – New Johns Hopkins Test Reveals That Mice Think Like Babies

Behavior that is “surprisingly strategic” enhances our understanding of animal cognition. Are mice clever enough to be strategic? Kishore Kuchibhotla, a Johns Hopkins University neuroscientist…

Subscribe or renew today

Every print subscription comes with full digital access

Science News

This snake goes to extremes to play dead — and it appears to pay off

When dice snakes fake their death to avoid predators, those that use a combination of blood, poop and musk spend less time pretending to be dead.

Lampreys have ‘fight or flight’ cells, challenging ideas about nervous system evolution

The discovery of sympathetic nervous system cells in lampreys draws a closer tie between the animal and complex vertebrates — such as humans.

As the Arctic tundra warms, soil microbes likely will ramp up CO 2 production

Experiments in mini greenhouses show how the tiny organisms lurking underground in a "sleepy biome" could be a contributor to climate change.

Online spaces may intensify teens’ uncertainty in social interactions

Little is known of how teens learn about emotions online and then use that knowledge to cope with social uncertainty during in-person encounters.

Want to see butterflies in your backyard? Try doing less yardwork

Growing out patches of grass can lure adult butterflies and moths with nectar and offer lawn mower–free havens for toddler caterpillars.

College students want to help during an opioid overdose but don’t know how

A survey of college students reported many are comfortable calling emergency services for an overdose, but fewer know how to intervene with naloxone.

This orangutan used a medicinal plant on his face wound

Rakus the orangutan appeared to be treating a cut to his face with a plant that’s also used in traditional human medicine.

Belugas may communicate by warping a blob of forehead fat

Jiggling the “melon” like Jell-O seems to be associated with sexual behaviors, scientists say.

Scientists developed a sheet of gold that’s just one atom thick

Ultrathin goldene sheets could reduce the amount of gold needed for electronics and certain chemical reactions.

50 years ago, margarine’s ‘healthy’ reputation began to melt away

In the 1970s, scientists began to suspect that margarine was bad for heart health. A key component, artificial trans fat, was a major factor.

Scientists are getting closer to understanding the sun’s ‘campfire’ flares

The detection of cool plasma before the tiny outbursts on the sun is helping researchers make connections between campfire flares and other solar eruptions.

A ruinous hailstorm in Spain may have been supercharged by warming seas

Giant hail that pummeled northeast Spain in August 2022 could not have formed without climate change, computer simulations suggest.

Subscribers, enter your e-mail address for full access to the Science News archives and digital editions.

Not a subscriber? Become one now .

Last update: 4 hours ago

Science news

• Date 6 hours 12 hours 1 day 3 days all
• Rank Last day 1 week 1 month all
• LiveRank Last day 1 week 1 month all
• Popular Last day 1 week 1 month all

Machine learning & AI

A framework to detect hallucinations in the text generated by LLMs

Large language models (LLMs) are advanced AI-based dialogue systems that can answer user queries and generate convincing texts following human instructions. After the advent of ChatGPT, the highly performing model developed ...

15 hours ago

Earth Sciences

Computer models show heat waves in north Pacific may be due to China reducing aerosols

A team of oceanographers and planetary scientists at the Ocean University of China, working with a pair of colleagues from the U.S. and one in Germany, has found via computer modeling, that recent heat waves in the north ...

14 hours ago

Researchers develop nanotechnology for creating wafer-scale nanoparticle monolayers in seconds

Nanoscale materials present us with astonishing chemical and physical properties that help materialize applications such as single molecular sensing and minimally invasive photothermal ...

Nanoscale materials present us with astonishing chemical and physical properties that help materialize applications such as single molecular sensing and ...

Nanomaterials

8 hours ago

Study reveals flaw in long-accepted approximation used in water simulations

Computational scientists at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have published a study in the Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation that questions a long-accepted ...

Computational scientists at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have published a study in the Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation ...

Analytical Chemistry

New accreting millisecond X-ray pulsar discovered

Astronomers report the discovery of a new pulsar using the Spektr-RG space observatory. The newfound object, designated SRGA J144459.2−604207 (or SRGA J1444 for short), turns out ...

Astronomers report the discovery of a new pulsar using the Spektr-RG space observatory. The newfound object, designated SRGA J144459.2−604207 (or SRGA ...

Study underscores new strategies to fight drug-resistant bacteria

Several billion years ago, a genetic arms race began between bacteria and their viral killers. This seemingly eternal struggle continues today, with implications for diseases killing tens of thousands of people around the ...

Cell & Microbiology

In South Africa, tiny primates could struggle to adapt to climate change

In the "sky islands" of the Soutpansberg Mountains of South Africa, two closely related species of primate jostle for space. One is the thick-tailed greater galago (Otolemur crassicaudatus), also known as a bushbaby, which ...

Plants & Animals

7 hours ago

Researchers establish commercially viable process for manufacturing with promising new class of metals

Nanostructured high entropy alloys—metals made from a chaotic mix of several different elements—show a lot of promise for use in industries such as aerospace and automotive because of their strength and stability at high ...

9 hours ago

New research confirms that Beethoven had lead poisoning—but it didn't kill him

To this day, no one knows for certain what caused the liver and kidney disease that led to Ludwig van Beethoven's untimely death. However, a new letter to the editor in the journal Clinical Chemistry rules out one popular ...

Biochemistry

11 hours ago

Chimps shown to learn and improve tool-using skills even as adults

Chimpanzees continue to learn and hone their skills well into adulthood, a capacity that might be essential for the evolution of complex and varied tool use, according to a study published May 7 in the open-access journal ...

10 hours ago

How NASA's Roman mission will hunt for primordial black holes

Astronomers have discovered black holes ranging from a few times the sun's mass to tens of billions. Now a group of scientists has predicted that NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope could find a class of "featherweight" ...

Scientists create robot snails that can move independently using tracks or work together to climb

A team of roboticists at the Chinese University of Hong Kong has created a robot snail with a helmet-like shell that moves by rolling around on bulldozer-like tracks. They have published a paper on their research in Nature ...

Cannabis, nicotine use during pregnancy found to increase rate of infant death fourfold

In a new study, Oregon Health & Science University researchers report that combined cannabis and nicotine use during pregnancy is associated with significantly higher risk of poor health outcomes for newborns compared with ...

The Future is Interdisciplinary

Find out how ACS can accelerate your research to keep up with the discoveries that are pushing us into science’s next frontier

• Last Comments

Study finds that the transport of mRNAs into axons along with lysosomal vesicles prevents axon degeneration

May 6, 2024

Medical Xpress

Using AI and social media to track depression in communities could offer more reliable assessments than surveys

Mouse study shows intermittent fasting protects against liver inflammation and liver cancer

New analysis links resident physicians' exam scores to patient survival

Researchers use foundation models to discover new cancer imaging biomarkers

A potential treatment for inflammatory bowel disease: Engineered yeast can transport medicines and lower inflammation

New genetic mutation identified for congenital thyroid condition

AI may help physicians detect abnormal heart rhythms earlier

AI predicts tumor-killing cells with high accuracy, study shows

Study finds AI is as good as a physician at prioritizing which patients need to be seen first

Study identifies signifiers of severe COVID-19 disease and death

Seeking medical insights in the physics of mucus

Key role found for gut epithelial cells in the defense against deadly diarrheal infections

Three-dimensional retinal electrodes in a convex Braille shape partially restore sight

You're breathing potential carcinogens inside your car, says study

Almost all counterfeit oxycontin pills contain fentanyl, finds study

Researchers suggest B-cells may play role in lung transplant rejection

Why sleep soothes distress: Neurobiology explained

Researchers demonstrate a new mechanism of neural plasticity underlying learning and memory processes

Researchers develop reminder system to enhance memory recall

Researchers report exceptionally small implant for future vision correction

Biomarker found to help identify cells that can repair damaged blood vessels

Years after his death, late scientist's work could yield new cancer treatments

Study finds genetic link between growth during puberty and long-term health conditions

Researchers make strides in understanding little-known autoimmune myelin-impairing disorder

Study: Progression of herpesvirus infection remodels mitochondrial organization and metabolism

Study shows that the cerebellum is involved in processing emotions, with implications for ataxia care

Gut bacteria metabolite shows promise in fighting inflammatory bowel disease

Ion channel discovery offers hope for long COVID patients

Cellular study of Schaaf-Yang syndrome offers better understanding of a rare disease that causes intellectual disability

Tech xplore.

Computer scientists discover vulnerability in cloud server hardware used by AMD and Intel chips

Why getting in touch with our 'gerbil brain' could help machines listen better

New process brings commercialization of CO₂ utilization technology to produce formic acid one step closer

Australian engineers develop an ultrasonic cold brew coffee machine

Researchers engineer sound-suppressing silk to reduce noise transmission in a large room

Engineers evaluate reliability of pressure relief valves for liquid natural gas tanks in train derailment scenarios

Using artificial ground reflectors to boost the efficacy of solar panels

New software trained on photographic database may allow facial recognition beneath the mask

Streamlined life-cycle assessments of natural gas systems can inform near-term energy transition

Q&A: Economist says EVs can help drive US to carbon-neutral power grid

New large learning model shows how AI might shape LGBTQIA+ advocacy

A second life for discarded lithium-ion cells

Apple's biggest announcements from its iPad event: brighter screen, faster chips and the Pencil Pro

Smartphone app can unmask forged documents

Nintendo to announce Switch successor in this fiscal year as profits rise

Advancing satellite-based PNT service: Low Earth orbit satellite constellations augment the GNSS

Researcher explains why we should care more about converging technologies

TikTok challenges potential US ban in court

Strengthening Swiss hydropower with science

Researchers say cybersecurity education varies widely in US

US seeks information from Tesla on how it developed and verified whether Autopilot recall worked

Amazon says will invest $9 billion in Singapore

Engineers create a caterpillar-shaped robot that splits into segments, reassembles, hauls and crawls

Turing test study shows humans rate artificial intelligence as more 'moral' than other people

Microcapacitors with ultrahigh energy and power density could power chips of the future

Researchers develop a biomechanical dataset for badminton performance analysis

3D video conferencing tool lets remote user control the view

Multiplexed neuron sets make smaller optical neural networks possible

Advanced experimental setup expands the hunt for hidden dark matter particles

Scientific evidence for dark matter comes from observing how it influences the motion of stars and galaxies. Scientists believe that dark matter may consist of particles. To search for these particles and their billiard ball-like ...

General Physics

Geologists reveal mysterious and diverse volcanism in lunar Apollo Basin, Chang'e-6 landing site

The far side of the moon is a mysterious place that is never visible from the Earth. The most remarkable feature of the moon is its asymmetry between the lunar near side and far side in composition, crust thickness, and mare ...

Planetary Sciences

12 hours ago

Public cloud services employ special security technologies. Computer scientists at ETH Zurich have now discovered a gap in the latest security mechanisms used by AMD and Intel chips. This affects major cloud providers.

A study that used artificial intelligence (AI) and social media posts to assess the rates of depression and anxiety in nearly half of American counties found that the AI-generated measurements produced more reliable assessments ...

Discharge of scrubber water into the Baltic Sea is responsible for hundreds of millions in costs

Discharge from ships with so-called scrubbers cause great damage to the Baltic Sea. A new study from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, shows that these emissions caused pollution corresponding to socioeconomic costs ...

Environment

19 hours ago

Using algorithms to decode the complex phonetic alphabet of sperm whales

The allure of whales has stoked human consciousness for millennia, casting these ocean giants as enigmatic residents of the deep seas. From the biblical Leviathan to Herman Melville's formidable Moby Dick, whales have been ...

Fatty liver disease often leads to chronic liver inflammation and can even result in liver cancer. Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the University of Tübingen have now shown in mice that intermittent ...

Research team discovers new property of light

A research team headed by chemists at the University of California, Irvine has discovered a previously unknown way in which light interacts with matter, a finding that could lead to improved solar power systems, light-emitting ...

Optics & Photonics

How do we know whether newly minted doctors have what it takes to prevent patient deaths? After completing residency training, graduating physicians typically take board certification exams at the time they enter practice—but ...

Researchers at Mass General Brigham have harnessed the technology behind foundation models, which power tools like ChatGPT, to discover new cancer imaging biomarkers that could transform how patterns are identified from radiological ...

Study exposes alarming risks to Scotland's food delivery couriers

A new study highlighting the risks encountered by food delivery couriers reveals a majority feel 'unsafe' when at work with every woman surveyed having experienced sexual harassment or abuse.

Regulating branch development of petunias

Branching is a pivotal determinant of plant architecture, not only influencing the capacity of the plant to adapt to its environment but also significantly impacting crop yield, ornamental characteristics, and production ...

Snap bean panel reveals variability in leaf, pod color phenotypes

A new study led by researchers from Oregon State University explores the significance of vegetable color in consumer choices and agricultural production, focusing on snap beans. The color of snap bean pods, influenced by ...

Proton-lithium interactions model lays the foundation for unlocking the secrets of stellar reactions

The reactions between protons and lithium isotopes, especially lithium-6, are pivotal for several domains ranging from nuclear energy applications to astrophysics. The detailed understanding of these interactions aids in ...

Bsal and beyond: Task force helps stave off amphibian disease threat

Amphibians—like frogs and salamanders—are the most imperiled group of animal species in the world; infectious diseases are among the greatest threats to their existence. After a decade of research, a scientific task force ...

Researchers discover three ingots made of Roman lead in Northern Córdoba

Three ingots from the site of Los Escoriales de Doña Rama (Belmez) and dating from the Roman era demonstrate the importance of lead production and exportation in northern Córdoba. Measuring some 45 centimeters long and ...

Researchers study the intricacies of homologous recombination and abnormal chromosome bridges

Keeping the genetic information stored in genomic DNA intact during the cell division cycle is crucial for almost all lifeforms. Extensive DNA damage invariably causes various adverse genomic rearrangements, which can lead ...

How reports of community firearm violence are framed on local television news in Philadelphia

Two new studies published in Preventive Medicine Reports and BMC Public Health led by corresponding author Jessica H. Beard, MD, MPH, FACS, of Temple University, more closely examine how reports of community firearm violence ...

Study shows female gamers only label half of sexual harassment incidents they experience as such

A new study from the Kinsey Institute reveals that only 50.5% of women who were targets of sexual harassment during online gaming identified qualifying incidents as such. This figure dropped further to only 42.2% for women ...

How do emotions help construct our cultural identity in music festivals?

2022 was a record year for music festivals in Spain, hitting historic highs just two years after the entire country was locked down due to the pandemic. Spain boasts close to a thousand music festivals and a live music industry ...

Business-focused anti-poverty initiatives can have unintended consequences

A new study of entrepreneurial small businesses created to address poverty in rural Africa found that the introduction of the entrepreneurial model led to unexpected social shifts that made the small business operators a ...

Why legal changes aimed at preventing frivolous litigation motivate firms to avoid recalling products

Researchers from University of Adelaide and University of Danang have published a new Journal of Marketing study that examines Universal Demand laws and the unintended consequence of firms becoming less likely to recall products.

Aquatic weed among 'world's worst' expands in northeastern US

An article published in the journal Invasive Plant Science and Management provides new insights on a northern hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) subspecies (lithuanica) and its establishment outside the Connecticut River.

A photocatalyst for sustainable syngas production from greenhouse gases

Researchers have developed a novel photocatalyst, named Rh/InGaN1-xOx, which is a nanoarchitecture consisting of rhodium nanoparticles anchored on oxygen-modified indium gallium nitride nanowires grown on silicon substrates.

The big lesson from past pandemics? Avoid panic buying, says new research

COVID-19 upended almost every aspect of daily life, including consumer and retailer behavior. However, it was not the first pandemic that changed how we shop.

Educational research should pinpoint anti-Black aggressions to build better policy, scholar writes

Educational research has long lumped all people of color together when examining microaggressions perpetrated against them. A University of Kansas scholar has published an article that argues educational research should instead ...

Engineers develop innovative microbiome analysis software tools

Since the first microbial genome was sequenced in 1995, scientists have reconstructed the genomic makeup of hundreds of thousands of microorganisms and have even devised methods to take a census of bacterial communities on ...

From flooding in Brazil and Houston to brutal heat in Asia, extreme weather seems nearly everywhere

In sweltering Brazil, worst-ever flooding killed dozens of people and paralyzed a city of about 4 million people. Voters and politicians in the world's largest election in India are fainting in heat that hit as high as 115 ...

New patent for bio-based polymer to be used in piezoelectric devices

UD engineers are the lead inventors on a new patent for making piezoelectric devices, such as sensors and actuators, using Nodax, a biodegradable, bio-based polymer.

The quantum theory of gravitation, effective field theories and strings: Past and present

Gravity is one of four fundamental interactions. The most precise description of this force is still provided by Einstein's General Theory of Relativity, published in 1915, an entirely classical theory. This description sets ...

E-mail newsletter

Latest News

Epic NASA video takes you to the heart of a black hole — and destroys you in seconds

Stephanie Pappas published 7 May 24

What would it be like to fall past the event horizon of a black hole? A new NASA simulation provides a peek into the bizarre physics of spaghettification.

2,500-year-old Illyrian helmet found in burial mound likely caused 'awe in the enemy'

Owen Jarus published 7 May 24

Archaeologists excavating a burial mound in Croatia have discovered a 2,500-year-old Illyrian helmet that may have been a votive offering.

China has launched a secret robot to the far side of the moon, new Chang'e 6 photos reveal

Harry Baker published 7 May 24

A tiny, previously undisclosed lunar rover has been spotted strapped to the side of China's moon-bound Chang'e 6 lander in newly released pre-launch photos. The true purpose of the rover, which is scheduled to land on the moon's far side, remains a mystery.

Boeing's 1st Starliner astronaut launch scrubbed due to loud buzzing valve

Ben Turner published 7 May 24

The first crewed launch of Boeing's Starliner space capsule was canceled on Monday (May 6) due to a loudly buzzing valve on the Atlas V rocket carrying it. The delay is yet another headache for Boeing in its attempt to get its Starliner capsule up and running.

Could cannabis treat cancer someday? Here's what the science says so far

Emily Cooke published 7 May 24

For decades, cannabis has been studied for its potential antitumor properties, but whether it can actually treat cancer is still unknown.

Japan captures 1st image of space debris from orbit, and it's spookily stunning

Joanna Thompson published 7 May 24

A new Japanese mission to photograph space junk from orbit marks a milestone in orbital debris cleanup efforts.

Planet Earth

Earth from space: Mysterious wave ripples across 'galaxy' of icebergs in Arctic fjord

By Harry Baker published 6 May 24

A puzzling arc was spotted in the water of a Greenland fjord littered with iceberg fragments. There are a couple of possible explanations for this bizarre phenomenon but we will likely never know what caused it, experts say.

Antarctic ice hole the size of Switzerland keeps cracking open. Now scientists finally know why.

By Ben Turner published 3 May 24

The Maud Rise polynya has been sporadically opening up in Antarctica's ice since at least the 1970s. Now climatologists finally know why.

• 2 Why do most mammals have 5 fingers?
• 3 'Lost' satellite finally found after orbiting undetected for 25 years
• 4 Japan captures 1st image of space debris from orbit, and it's spookily stunning
• 5 1,900-year-old Roman legionary fortress unearthed next to UK cathedral
• 2 Japan captures 1st image of space debris from orbit, and it's spookily stunning
• 3 1,900-year-old Roman legionary fortress unearthed next to UK cathedral
• 4 2,500-year-old Illyrian helmet found in burial mound likely caused 'awe in the enemy'

Space photo of the week: A planet-size explosion rocks the sun's 'mossy' corona

By Brandon Specktor published 5 May 24

Coronal moss grows, solar rain falls and plasma eruptions rear their gargantuan heads in this fiery landscape of the sun's outer atmosphere, taken by ESA's Solar Orbiter.

China launches Chang'e 6 sample-return mission to moon's far side

By Mike Wall published 3 May 24

China's launched its Chang'e 6 sample-return mission, which will haul dirt and rocks home from the mysterious lunar far side.

archaeology

1,900-year-old Roman legionary fortress unearthed next to UK cathedral

By Jennifer Nalewicki published 7 May 24

Ongoing excavations have revealed Roman ruins that were once part of a legionary fortress.

Key events in the Bible, such as the settlement and destruction of Jerusalem, confirmed using radiocarbon dating

By Tom Metcalfe published 4 May 24

The research combined radiocarbon dating with measurements of atmospheric radiocarbon from tree rings to build a chronology of the ancient city.

Gut bacteria sometimes get people drunk, leading to DUIs and liver disease

By Bill Sullivan published 5 May 24

Sometimes bacteria lurking in people's guts can get them drunk, even if they don't consume any alcohol.

Boost your running speed with training — but don't fall for these myths, scientists say

By Dawn P. Coe, Elizabeth (Kip) Webster published 4 May 24

Your running speed partly comes down to factors you can't control, like genetics, and partly relies on your training.

What causes the placebo effect?

By Kamal Nahas last updated 3 May 24

Experts look to psychology and physiology to understand why people sometimes feel better after receiving a sham treatment.

Why do most mammals have 5 fingers?

By Katherine Irving published 6 May 24

The simple question of "why five" has puzzled scientists from multiple fields, and the answer still isn't entirely clear.

Why do dogs sniff each other's butts?

By Clarissa Brincat published 5 May 24

And like dogs, why do cats also sniff fellow felines' behinds?

Hammer-headed bat: The African megabat that looks like a gargoyle and holds honking pageants

By Sascha Pare published 4 May 24

Hammer-headed bats are named after the males' oversized boxy heads, which evolved to amplify and project the honking sounds they produce to impress females during courtship displays.

Human Behavior

'We're meeting people where they are': Graphic novels can help boost diversity in STEM, says MIT's Ritu Raman

By Alexander McNamara published 5 May 24

In a new series of comics, where young, female scientists take center stage, MIT's Ritu Raman explains how the format can inspire the next generation of young people into the world of STEM.

Why do people feel like they're being watched, even when no one is there?

By Angely Mercado published 18 April 24

The causes range from innocuous media exposure to severe mental illness.

Why did the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima leave shadows of people etched on sidewalks?

By Stacy Kish last updated 27 March 24

The nuclear bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of WWII left shadows of people on the ground and buildings. Here's why.

Physics & Mathematics

Stunning image shows atoms transforming into quantum waves — just as Schrödinger predicted

By Ben Turner published 1 May 24

A new imaging technique, which captured frozen lithium atoms transforming into quantum waves, could be used to probe some of the most poorly understood aspects of the quantum world.

Quantum mechanics: Definitions, axioms, and key concepts of quantum physics

By Adam Mann last updated 29 April 24

Reference Quantum mechanics, or quantum physics, is the body of scientific laws that describe the wacky behavior of photons, electrons and the other subatomic particles that make up the universe.

Tweak to Schrödinger's cat equation could unite Einstein's relativity and quantum mechanics, study hints

By Andrey Feldman published 26 April 24

Physicists have proposed modifications to the infamous Schrödinger's cat paradox that could help explain why quantum particles can exist in more than one state simultaneously, while large objects (like the universe) seemingly cannot.

Why does striking flint against steel start a fire?

By Laurel Hamers published 27 April 24

What's the science behind starting a fire with flint and steel?

World's thinnest gold leaf, dubbed 'goldene,' is just 1 atom thick

By Victoria Atkinson published 25 April 24

Goldene is the latest 2D material to be made since graphene was first created in 2004.

Inside the 20-year quest to unravel the bizarre realm of 'quantum superchemistry'

By Sam Lemonick published 29 March 24

More than two decades ago, scientists predicted that at ultra-low temperatures, many atoms could undergo 'quantum superchemistry' and chemically react as one. They've finally shown it's real.

'World's purest silicon' could lead to 1st million-qubit quantum computing chips

By Keumars Afifi-Sabet published 7 May 24

Scientists engineer the 'purest ever silicon' to build reliable qubits that can be manufactured to the size of a pinhead on a chip and power million-qubit quantum computers in the future.

Scientists could make blazing-fast 6G using curving light rays

By Roland Moore-Coyler published 6 May 24

Researchers have discovered a way to curve data-carrying terahertz signals around obstacles, paving the way for ultrafast 6G.

'It would be within its natural right to harm us to protect itself': How humans could be mistreating AI right now without even knowing it

By Keumars Afifi-Sabet published 4 May 24

How can we truly know if AI is sentient? We do not yet fully understand the nature of human consciousness, so we cannot discount the possibility that today's AI is indeed sentient — and that we are mistreating it to potentially grave consequences.

Advertisement

Supported by

Scientists Find an ‘Alphabet’ in Whale Songs

Sperm whales rattle off pulses of clicks while swimming together, raising the possibility that they’re communicating in a complex language.

  By Carl Zimmer

When These Snakes Play Dead, Soiling Themselves Is Part of the Act

Dice snakes found on an island in southeastern Europe fully commit themselves to the role of ex-reptile.

  By Asher Elbein

U.S. Tightens Rules on Risky Virus Research

A long-awaited new policy broadens the type of regulated viruses, bacteria, fungi and toxins, including those that could threaten crops and livestock.

  By Carl Zimmer and Benjamin Mueller

Boeing Starliner Flight of NASA Astronauts Is Scrubbed

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will have to wait for another day to fly to the International Space Station in an orbital capsule that has already faced years of costly technical delays.

From Baby Talk to Baby A.I.

Could a better understanding of how infants acquire language help us build smarter A.I. models?

  By Oliver Whang

How to Know When a Good Dog Has Gone Bad

Gov. Kristi Noem suggested that President Biden should have euthanized the family dog, as she did. Animal experts said that such an option should be a last resort.

  By Emily Anthes

Our Reporter on the Cicada Lifecycle

Two periodical cicada broods are appearing in a 16-state area in the Midwest and Southeast for the first time in centuries.

  By Aaron Byrd ,  Karen Hanley and Carl Zimmer

Was the Stone Age Actually the Wood Age?

Neanderthals were even better craftsmen than thought, a new analysis of 300,000-year-old wooden tools has revealed.

  By Franz Lidz

Maps of Two Cicada Broods, Reunited After 221 Years

Brood XIII and Brood XIX are making their first dual appearance since 1803.

  By Jonathan Corum

What Makes a Society More Resilient? Frequent Hardship.

Comparing 30,000 years of human history, researchers found that surviving famine, war or climate change helps groups recover more quickly from future shocks.

¿Por qué las mujeres padecen más enfermedades autoinmunes? Un estudio apunta al cromosoma X

Las moléculas que se adhieren al segundo cromosoma X de las mujeres lo silencian y pueden confundir al sistema inmunitario, según un nuevo estudio.

Fossil Trove From 74,000 Years Ago Points to Remarkably Adaptive Humans

An archaeological site in Ethiopia revealed the oldest-known arrowheads and the remnants of a major volcanic eruption.

Why Do Whales Go Through Menopause?

A new study argues that the change brought these females an evolutionary advantage — and perhaps did the same for humans.

Tras la pista de los denisovanos

El ADN ha demostrado que esos humanos ya extintos se extendieron por todo el mundo, desde la fría Siberia hasta el Tíbet, a una gran altitud, quizá incluso en las islas del Pacífico.

Climate and Environment

Giant Batteries Are Transforming the Way the U.S. Uses Electricity

They’re delivering solar power after dark in California and helping to stabilize grids in other states. And the technology is expanding rapidly.

  By Brad Plumer and Nadja Popovich

Are Flight Offsets Worth It?

A lot of them don’t work and some might even be harmful. But there are things you can do if you really have to fly.

  By Susan Shain

What Happens When NASA Loses Eyes on Earth? We’re About to Find Out.

Three long-running satellites will soon be switched off, forcing scientists to figure out how to adjust their views of our changing planet.

  By Raymond Zhong

‘We Will Save Our Beef’: Florida Bans Lab-Grown Meat

Other states have also considered restrictions, citing concerns about farmers’ livelihoods and food safety, though the product isn’t expected to be widely available for years.

  By Dionne Searcey

U.S. Plan to Protect Oceans Has a Problem, Some Say: Too Much Fishing

An effort to protect 30 percent of land and waters would count some commercial fishing zones as conserved areas.

  By Catrin Einhorn

Locks of Beethoven’s Hair Offer New Clues to the Mystery of His Deafness

Using powerful technologies, scientists found staggering amounts of lead and other toxic substances in the composer’s hair that may have come from wine, or other sources.

By Gina Kolata

Study Suggests Genetics as a Cause, Not Just a Risk, for Some Alzheimer’s

People with two copies of the gene variant APOE4 are almost certain to get Alzheimer’s, say researchers, who proposed a framework under which such patients could be diagnosed years before symptoms.

By Pam Belluck

First Patient Begins Newly Approved Sickle Cell Gene Therapy

A 12-year-old boy in the Washington, D.C., area faces months of procedures to remedy his disease. “I want to be cured,” he said.

By Gina Kolata and Kenny Holston

Are We Talking Too Much About Mental Health?

Recent studies cast doubt on whether large-scale mental health interventions are making young people better. Some even suggest they can have a negative effect.

By Ellen Barry

Widening Racial Disparities Underlie Rise in Child Deaths in the U.S.

New research finds that the death rate among Black youths soared by 37 percent, and among Native American youths by 22 percent, between 2014 and 2020, compared with less than 5 percent for white youths.

By Emily Baumgaertner

Here Come a Trillion Cicadas. The Midwest Is Abuzz.

Illinois is the center of the cicada emergence that is on the way. Two groups of cicadas are expected at once, leaving some people queasy, others thrilled.

By Julie Bosman and Jamie Kelter Davis

New Mutations Identified in Bird Flu Virus

A genetic analysis sheds light on when the outbreak began, how the virus spread and where it may be going.

By Apoorva Mandavilli and Emily Anthes

Gas Stove Pollution Risk Is Greatest in Smaller Homes, Study Finds

Gas-burning ranges, a significant contributor to indoor pollution, can produce and spread particularly high levels of some pollutants in smaller spaces.

By Hiroko Tabuchi

China Launches Moon Lander

The Chang’e-6 mission aims to bring back samples from the lunar far side.

By CCTV via Associated Press

Covid Vaccine Side Effects: 4 Takeaways From Our Investigation

Thousands of Americans believe they experienced rare but serious side effects. But confirming a link is a difficult task.

By Apoorva Mandavilli

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

• View all journals
• Explore content
• About the journal
• Publish with us
• Sign up for alerts
• 30 April 2024

Why doing social science research is difficult in India today

• Yamini Aiyar 0

Yamini Aiyar is the former president and chief executive of the Centre for Policy Research, based in New Delhi.

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

You have full access to this article via your institution.

India’s academic freedom has been in steady decline for a decade. This is well documented: in the 2024 Academic Freedom Index update produced by V-Dem, a project on democracy based in Gothenburg, Sweden, India is ranked in the bottom 20% of a list of 179 countries and territories on metrics such as ‘institutional autonomy’ and ‘freedom to research and teach’.

Historically, academic freedoms were certainly not perfect in India. Yet even a cursory glance at the evidence reveals that the scale of restrictions and the misuse of laws to curb academic freedom has increased. In the interests of preserving India’s global competitiveness, whoever wins the election should seek to reverse this trend.

Climatologist Michael Mann wins defamation case: what it means for scientists

The documented drop in academic freedom is part of a broader decline in India’s vibrant culture of public debate. I have personally witnessed the growing restrictions during my 15 years as a researcher at the New Delhi-based Centre for Policy Research (CPR), where I served as president for 7 years until I stepped down in March.

My own research community — think tanks that aim to support evidence-based policies — engages deeply with the global academic and policy ecosystem. Given that public funds have many competing priorities, much of our research relies on international philanthropic funding. That is becoming increasingly difficult to come by, owing to a tightening of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), which controls licences to access foreign funding.

For instance, after amendments to this law in 2020, recipients of foreign funding cannot give subgrants to other organizations, making collaborative research impossible. And since 2014, nearly 17,000 civil-society organizations have lost their FCRA licences altogether . For those that still have a licence, the renewal process is onerous. Many organizations receive temporary extensions of three to six months, rather than the full period of five years allowed under law.

Why Joe Biden’s bid to restore scientific integrity matters

It seems that tax laws are also increasingly being used against institutions. Some research organizations are facing penalties and, in extreme cases, the loss of their tax-exempt status, which is required for accessing charitable donations. In September 2022, six institutions, including the CPR, were subject to tax ‘surveys’ that eventually resulted in them having both their FCRA licences and their tax-exempt statuses revoked . This has left them mired in legal minutiae and struggling to fund their work.

Similar challenges to the freedom to pursue independent research are visible on university campuses. In 2022, the India Academic Freedom Network (IAFN) prepared a status report for the United Nations special rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression. It lists 78 instances in which seminars, lectures or talks at public universities were disrupted by politically aligned groups or the permission to organize such events was denied. It also lists 25 cases of faculty arrests, including some under anti-terror and sedition laws — mostly for speaking on issues of public interest, on campus or in social-media posts. A further 37 incidents pertain to the arrest of students. The IAFN report also points to difficulties associated with foreign researchers obtaining visas and entering India — even for people who hold Overseas Citizenship of India cards.

All this comes at a juncture when critical feedback and effective consultation are required to secure the country’s long-term growth and prosperity. But rather than engage with ideas and challenge them in the spirit of inquiry and public debate, in my view, it has now become increasingly common for technocrats in government to seek to discredit researchers and suppress research. In late 2023, for instance, the World Bank removed from its website an important study that highlighted reversals of progress recorded under a flagship sanitation programme. The bank cited procedural issues , but was presumably under government pressure.

How to protect US science from political meddling after Trump

Even crucial government data are now hard to obtain. The decennial census, for example, was last conducted in 2010–11; the public report on the 2017–18 household consumption expenditure survey was junked and only partial data have been released from the 2022–23 survey. The consequences of this are significant. In my field, development and social policy, the data gaps make it harder to measure changes in well-being. The debate on poverty reduction is bogged down in estimates, leaving the public with relatively little objective analysis on the reach and effectiveness of economic policies.

To reverse these trends, researchers must make their voices heard and be willing to defend the principle and value of academic freedom in the public domain. Research bodies should engage more effectively with philanthropists in India and find ways to preserve the space for civil discourse. An alliance with broader civil society is also required to push back against draconian regulations that undermine scientific freedoms.

India’s experience is not unique, but a reflection of a broader malaise. The V-Dem report makes it clear that several countries — including the United States, where university campuses are in turmoil — have witnessed a deterioration in the space available to pursue independent research. Researchers in India and elsewhere should fight to retain that space. It will be a long and difficult battle. But it is an essential one.

Nature 629 , 9 (2024)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-01214-1

Reprints and permissions

Competing Interests

The author declares no competing interests.

Related Articles

• Institutions
• Scientific community

Argentina’s pioneering nuclear research threatened by huge budget cuts

News 07 MAY 24

How to meet Africa’s grand challenges with African know-how

World View 01 MAY 24

Controversial virus-hunting scientist skewered at US COVID-origins hearing

News 01 MAY 24

France’s research mega-campus faces leadership crisis

News 03 MAY 24

US National Academies report outlines barriers and solutions for scientist carers

Career News 02 MAY 24

Judge dismisses superconductivity physicist’s lawsuit against university

News 25 APR 24

Who’s making chips for AI? Chinese manufacturers lag behind US tech giants

Support communities that will lose out in the energy transition

Editorial 01 MAY 24

Chinese virologist who was first to share COVID-19 genome sleeps on street after lab shuts

Faculty Positions in School of Engineering, Westlake University

The School of Engineering (SOE) at Westlake University is seeking to fill multiple tenured or tenure-track faculty positions in all ranks.

Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

Westlake University

High-Level Talents at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University

For clinical medicine and basic medicine; basic research of emerging inter-disciplines and medical big data.

Nanchang, Jiangxi, China

The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University

Technician / Senior Technician in Structural Biology of Membrane-Less Organelles

Job description APPLICATION CLOSING DATE: June 15th, 2024. Human Technopole (HT) is a distinguished life science research institute founded and sup...

Human Technopole

Research Associate (part-time) / Ph.D. candidate in Surface Science

The University of Bonn is an international research university with a wide education and research profile. With a 200-year history, approximately...

Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen (DE)

Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität

Research assistant (praedoc) (m/f/d) - Department of Physics

Department of Physics - Institute of Experimental Physics   Research assistant (praedoc) (m/f/d) with 75 %part-time job limited up to 4 years salar...

Berlin (DE)

Freie Universität Berlin

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Quick links

• Explore articles by subject
• Guide to authors
• Editorial policies

Suggested Searches

• Climate Change
• Expedition 64
• Mars perseverance
• SpaceX Crew-2
• International Space Station
• View All Topics A-Z

Humans in Space

Earth & climate, the solar system, the universe, aeronautics, learning resources, news & events.

How NASA’s Roman Mission Will Hunt for Primordial Black Holes

International SWOT Mission Can Improve Flood Prediction

New NASA Black Hole Visualization Takes Viewers Beyond the Brink

• Search All NASA Missions
• A to Z List of Missions
• Upcoming Launches and Landings
• Spaceships and Rockets
• Communicating with Missions
• James Webb Space Telescope
• Hubble Space Telescope
• Why Go to Space
• Astronauts Home
• Commercial Space
• Destinations
• Living in Space
• Explore Earth Science
• Earth, Our Planet
• Earth Science in Action
• Earth Multimedia
• Earth Science Researchers
• Pluto & Dwarf Planets
• Asteroids, Comets & Meteors
• The Kuiper Belt
• The Oort Cloud
• Skywatching
• The Search for Life in the Universe
• Black Holes
• The Big Bang
• Dark Energy & Dark Matter
• Earth Science
• Planetary Science
• Astrophysics & Space Science
• The Sun & Heliophysics
• Biological & Physical Sciences
• Lunar Science
• Citizen Science
• Astromaterials
• Aeronautics Research
• Human Space Travel Research
• Science in the Air
• NASA Aircraft
• Flight Innovation
• Supersonic Flight
• Air Traffic Solutions
• Green Aviation Tech
• Drones & You
• Technology Transfer & Spinoffs
• Space Travel Technology
• Technology Living in Space
• Manufacturing and Materials
• Science Instruments
• For Kids and Students
• For Educators
• For Colleges and Universities
• For Professionals
• Science for Everyone
• Requests for Exhibits, Artifacts, or Speakers
• STEM Engagement at NASA
• NASA's Impacts
• Centers and Facilities
• Directorates
• Organizations
• People of NASA
• Internships
• Our History
• Doing Business with NASA
• Get Involved
• Aeronáutica
• Ciencias Terrestres
• Sistema Solar
• All NASA News
• Video Series on NASA+
• Newsletters
• Social Media
• Media Resources
• Upcoming Launches & Landings
• Virtual Events
• Sounds and Ringtones
• Interactives
• STEM Multimedia

International SWOT Mission Can Improve Flood Prediction 

NASA’s TESS Returns to Science Operations

NASA Mission Strengthens 40-Year Friendship 

NASA Selects Commercial Service Studies to Enable Mars Robotic Science

NASA’s Commercial Partners Deliver Cargo, Crew for Station Science

NASA Is Helping Protect Tigers, Jaguars, and Elephants. Here’s How.

C.26 Rapid Mission Design Studies for Mars Sample Return Correction and Other Documents Posted

NASA Selects Students for Europa Clipper Intern Program

Orbits and Kepler’s Laws

Breaking the Scaling Limits: New Ultralow-noise Superconducting Camera for Exoplanet Searches

ARMD Solicitations

NASA’s Commitment to Safety Starts with its Culture

NASA Uses Small Engine to Enhance Sustainable Jet Research

Tech Today: NASA’s Ion Thruster Knowhow Keeps Satellites Flying

Big Science Drives Wallops’ Upgrades for NASA Suborbital Missions

NASA Challenge Gives Artemis Generation Coders a Chance to Shine

NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars

Ken Carpenter: Ensuring Top-Tier Science from Moon to Stars

White Sands Propulsion Team Tests 3D-Printed Orion Engine Component

A Different Perspective – Remembering James Dean, Founder of the NASA Art Program

Diez maneras en que los estudiantes pueden prepararse para ser astronautas

Astronauta de la NASA Marcos Berríos

Resultados científicos revolucionarios en la estación espacial de 2023

Researchers develop ‘founding document’ on synthetic cell development.

Tara Friesen

Cells are the fundamental units of life, forming the variety of all living things on Earth as individual cells and multi-cellular organisms. To better understand how cells perform the essential functions of life, scientists have begun developing synthetic cells – non-living bits of cellular biochemistry wrapped in a membrane that mimic specific biological processes.

The development of synthetic cells could one day hold the answers to developing new ways to fight disease, supporting long-duration human spaceflight, and better understanding the origins of life on Earth.

In a paper published recently in ACS Synthetic Biology , researchers outline the potential opportunities that synthetic cell development could unlock and what challenges lie ahead in this groundbreaking research. They also present a roadmap to inspire and guide innovation in this intriguing field.

“The potential for this field is incredible,” said Lynn Rothschild, the lead author of the paper and an astrobiologist at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley. “It’s a privilege to have led this group in forming what we envision will be a founding document, a resource that will spur this field on.”

Synthetic cell development could have wide ranging benefits to humanity. Analyzing the intricacies that go in to building a cell could guide researchers to better understand how cells first evolved or open the door to creating new forms of life more capable of withstanding harsh environments like radiation or freezing temperatures.

These innovations could also lead to advancements in food and medical sciences – creating efficiencies in food production, detecting contaminants in manufacturing, or developing novel cellular functions that act as new therapies for chronic diseases and even synthetic organ transplantation.

Building synthetic cells could also answer some of NASA’s biggest questions about the possibility of life beyond Earth.

“The challenge of creating synthetic cells informs whether we’re alone in the universe,” said Rothschild. “We’re starting to develop the skills to not just create synthetic analogs of life as it may have happened on Earth but to consider pathways to life that could form on other planets.”

As research continues on synthetic cell development, Rothschild sees opportunities where it could expand our understanding of the complexities of natural life.

“Life is an amazing thing. We use the capabilities of cells all the time – we build houses with wood, we use leather in our shoes, we breathe oxygen. Life has amazing precision, and if you can harness it, it’s unbelievable what we could accomplish.”

For news media :

Members of the news media interested in covering this topic should reach out to the  NASA Ames newsroom .

Related Terms

• Ames Research Center
• Cell and Molecular Biology
• Developmental, Reproductive and Evolutionary Biology
• Science & Research

Explore More

NASA’s TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) returned to science operations May 3 and is once…

Discover Related Topics

Cell Science

Space Synthetic Biology (SynBio)

Science News