A science traverse in 2007 to 2009 crossed the East Antarctic Plateau in late summer. The coldest conditions on Earth occur in this region few months later, in July and August, during the polar night. (Photo: Ted Scambos, NSIDC.) We’ve now got new insight into just how extreme conditions on our planet can get — at opposite ends of the thermometer. In a new study, a team of researchers has found that some sites in Antarctica get as cold as minus 98 degrees C ...read more

A new study suggests GMO opposition dropped in Vermont following a mandatory GMO labeling law. (Sally McCay, University of Vermont) Scientists and food companies have long worried that GMO labels on food will be viewed like the warnings on cigarettes and alcohol — an admission that the product is unhealthy. Many anti-GMO advocates — beyond pushing for transparency — thought labels might hurt sales and force corporations to back off genet ...read more

An animation of GOES-16 weather satellite images shows thick plumes of smoke billowing from wildfires in California on June 24 and 25, 2018. (Note: When you click on the image, you will be taken to another website to watch the animation. It may take a little time load properly. Source: RAMMB/CIRA) As I’m writing this Wednesday, June 27, 51 large, active wildfires are burning on more than 450,000 acres in the United States, most of them in western states and Alaska. That ...read more

Saturn’s moon Enceladus. (Credit: NASA) A new analysis of data from NASA’s Cassini spacecraft indicates the presence of large organic molecules on Enceladus, something not found on the moon before. Using two instruments aboard the now-perished orbiter, an international team of researchers looked at molecules erupting with plumes of water vapor streaming from beneath Enceladus’ surface. Though similar experiments have been performed in th ...read more

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The unique properties of graphene allow researchers to use electricity to control how much infrared light can pass through it. (Credit: Coskun Kocabas) Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak seemed to do a good job of hiding him for many adventures after curfew, but what if the professors patrolling Hogwarts had thermal imaging technology? Would Harry’s cloak have obscured his body heat as well? If not, he might want to upgrade his magical cloak with some nanos ...read more

Researchers have found changes to rabbit brains that may explain why your pet bunny is so snuggly.Photo Credit: Alex The process of domestication fundamentally changes an animal’s looks and behavior. Floppier ears and a loss of fear of humans, for example, are nearly universal in domesticated species. Now, researchers have learned what domestication looks  like in the brain—at least, for rabbits.  It’s not exactly clear whe ...read more

On June 24, Hayabusa-2 snapped a shot of Asteroid 1993 JU3, known as Ryugu, from a distance of just 25 miles (40 kilometers). (Credit: JAXA, University of Tokyo, Kochi University, Rikkyo University, Nagoya University, Chiba Institute of Technology, Meiji University, Aizu University, AIST) Deep-space exploration has been all the rage lately, but the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is honing in on a target closer to home. JAXA’s Hayabusa-2 spacecraft is quickly ap ...read more