Astronomers classify near-Earth asteroids
Researchers determined the sizes, rotational speeds, and chemical compositions of 39 asteroids orbiting the Sun near Earth. Many were…
Category: Big Questions
Nanoplastics could promote Parkinson’s disease
Scientists demonstrated that polystyrene nanoplastics cause proteins associated with Parkinson's disease to accumulate in mice’s brains.
The fate of massive rotating stars
Researchers showed that massive stars at the end of their lives are more likely to collapse into black holes than to explode into…
Metal-tolerant plants could change the future of mining
Researchers demonstrated that some plant species store high amounts of nickel in their biomass, making them good candidates for metal…
How did Mars get its moons?
Astronomers calculated possible trajectories for small objects approaching Mars. They found that as many as 1 in 50 get captured in orbit,…
Lava tubes contain unknown “microbial dark matter”
Researchers discovered lava tubes on Mauna Loa containing previously unknown microorganisms with metabolisms and communities that could…
Astronomers model early star clusters
Scientists used computer simulations to determine how ancient star clusters formed. Their results were similar to real clusters found with…
Reinventing fabric coatings from textile waste
Scientists developed a sustainable way to upcycle discarded polyester and spandex fabrics into durable, toxin-free coatings using…
Scientists observe a changing exoplanet orbit
Astronomers conducted a multifaceted study of the exoplanet TrES-1 b and found that its orbit is shifting, possibly due to an unseen…
Do microbes prefer biodegradable plastic?
Researchers found that microbes living on biodegradable plastics have more genes for plastic degradation than those living on traditional…