Upcycling polystyrene with sunlight and sulfur
Researchers in China developed a rapid, solar-driven process that transforms waste polystyrene and excess sulfur into chemicals used in…
Category: Big Questions
Magma rapidly rises to Earth’s surface as Africa splits in two
Researchers analyzed timescales preserved in crystal growth zones and found that magma beneath Ethiopia rises dozens of miles to the surface…
Searching for planets in a galaxy far away
Researchers surveyed over 20,000 stars thought to come from a nearby galaxy and found that no more than 1% harbored close-orbiting,…
Why the 2023 El Niño broke records
Researchers found that the 2023 El Niño event was fueled primarily by heat stored in the ocean rather than in Pacific winds.
What makes ‘chemically peculiar stars’ peculiar?
Scientists used a network of satellites to measure the rotational characteristics of 85 stars previously thought to have unique chemistries.
Biofertilizers change plants’ natural microbes
Scientists tested how mixtures of plant-growth-promoting bacteria affect the microbial communities of different sunflower varieties for use…
Ants struggle to protect host plants under rising temperatures
Scientists found that ants under heat stress were less active, which left their host acacia plants vulnerable to herbivores and other…
A humane genomics curriculum to help curb racism
Scientists developed a new genetics curriculum based on humane genomics, which emphasizes how environmental factors and social interactions…
Turning carbon dioxide into fuel with nanostructures
Scientists designed an electrocatalyst infused with bismuth metal that helps convert CO2 to formate, providing a scalable new way to recycle…
Building a ready-made cancer data library
Researchers built a cancer database combining 4 types of molecular data across 32 cancer types to enable consistent use of machine learning…