Science

12/31/2024

After 60 years, scientists finally know why ginger, calico, and tortoiseshell cats look the way they do. https://bit.ly/412iJ4f

12/31/2024

Science’s 2024 Breakthrough of the Year is lenacapavir, an injectable drug that demonstrated remarkable success at preventing HIV infection with one shot every 6 months. The drug attaches to the lattice-like capsid proteins that shield the virus’s genetic material—a mechanism that could inspire other antivirals.

Learn more about this year's and other big advances in science: https://scim.ag/49y7p1S

12/31/2024

Some 100,000 years ago, scientists believe Antarctica’s massive western ice sheet collapsed, temporarily opening waterways between a trio of seas surrounding the continent.

Evidence for that scenario comes from a surprising source: octopus DNA. https://scim.ag/4ggT1xK

12/30/2024

What qualifies as life? Just when we think we have it figured out, new discoveries challenge our thinking.

One of our most popular stories this year explores “obelisks,” a new kind of viruslike entity that inhabits bacteria dwelling in our mouths and guts.

Analysis of sequence databases reveals novel circular RNA genomes belonging to “obelisks”

12/30/2024

As part of our Working Life section, a weekly series that explores lessons scientists learn as they pursue their careers, we also published essays about scientific fraud, moving internationally, mentoring, and more.

Here are the most read ones from the past year, to offer some inspiration and reflection as we head into the new year. ⬇️

Our Working Life essays highlight the people behind the research and lessons learned as they overcome personal and professional challenges

12/30/2024

Thunderstorms have strong electric fields and generate gamma ray glows that could be interfering with cosmic measurements.

Storms may be confounding measurements at high-altitude observatories of the universe’s highest energy light

12/30/2024

By mapping the meanings of the words used to communicate emotions across more than one-third of the planet’s spoken languages, a study in Science found that there is significant variation in how emotions are expressed across cultures. https://scim.ag/3ZJS6i6

12/29/2024

As the parent of any teenager knows, humans need a long time to grow up: We take about twice as long as chimpanzees to reach adulthood. Anthropologists theorize that our long childhood and adolescence allow us to build comparatively bigger brains or learn skills that help us survive and reproduce.

Now, a study of an ancient youth’s teeth suggests a slow pattern of growth appeared at least 1.8 million years ago, half a million years earlier than any previous evidence for delayed dental development: https://scim.ag/3ZQ2W6p

12/29/2024

Estimates of whale longevity often require scarce tissue samples and can rely on techniques that are difficult to interpret.

A new study may have found a better way: By combining decadeslong photo records with the same statistical approach companies use to set life insurance rates, scientists have deduced that at least one species of whale survives almost twice as long as researchers expected.

Study extends lifespan estimate for one whale species and suggests researchers have been underestimating others as well

12/29/2024

We here at Science take science seriously, of course, but we are also big fans of its lighter side. And nothing exemplifies that better than the annual Ig Nobel Prize ceremony, billed as celebrating science that makes you laugh—then think.

This year’s story is a behind-the-scenes look at the show, containing revelations that surprised even us.

At the Ig Nobel Prize ceremony, tradition and humor take center stage

12/28/2024

Last year, researchers designed a robot that can create and cook a cake with up to seven ingredients, more than any other printed food to date.

Learn more: https://scim.ag/3ZPiyam

12/28/2024

A remarkable 161-million-year-old fossil unearthed in Argentina pushes back the evolutionary origin of tadpoles by at least 20 million years.

Ancient banana-size tadpole was surprisingly about as big as its adult form

12/28/2024

With a few keystrokes, anyone can ask an artificial intelligence program such as ChatGPT to write them a term paper, a rap song, or a play. But don’t expect William Shakespeare’s originality. A new study finds such output remains derivative—at least for now.

Computer program finds that ChatGPT and its ilk remix words well, yet their output remains derivative

12/27/2024

The world’s reflective cloud cover has shrunk in the past 2 decades by a small but tangible degree, allowing more light in and boosting global warming.

Narrowing storm bands may be a surprising and dangerous new feedback of climate change

12/27/2024

Syrian researchers around the world begin to plan for the nation’s future.

Syrian researchers around the world begin to plan for the nation’s future

12/27/2024

Researchers created a tiny camera that, when strapped on a beetle’s back, can show the world from a bug’s-eye view.

Steerable arm helps save energy while capturing panoramic views

12/26/2024

From mysterious circles in deep space to what our pets might do to us after we die, this has been another great year for fun and fascinating science news stories.

Here you’ll find a roundup of some of our favorites—a mix of articles our staff cherished and those that resonated strongly with our readers. ⬇️

A roundup of some of our most popular and memorable items

12/26/2024

Latin American journals are open-access pioneers. Now, they need an audience.

Learn more: https://scim.ag/3ZCrbG6