Science

By Milan Loiacono  An ecologist, a volcanologist, and a chemist walk into a forest… It sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, but this very real collaboration between scientists from NASA and the Universidad de Costa Rica (University of Costa Rica) continues decades of cross-disciplinary work that is currently providing insight into the future of the planet.   In summer 2025, a NASA-led team of scientists and engineers gathered in Rincón de la Vieja National Park in Costa Rica. We had a twofold purpose: to test the feasibility of using an uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) to gather data about volcanic emissions, and to use those data to better understand how rising levels of carbon dioxide will impact vegetation across the world.  This project is called the Costa Rica Airborne resea...

Edmund McMillen and Tyler Glaiel's cat breeding roguelike Mewgenics came out earlier this week to an overwhelmingly positive reception and plenty of early success. However, one aspect of the game has left folks on the fence - this list of pretty... complicated internet personalities who've voiced the copious amounts of meows emitted by in-game cats. So, to get a better picture of how those cameos came to be, I reached out to developer McMillen. (more…)

Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, a mad scientist creates a monstrous creature with severed body parts. In certain film adaptations, a dismembered head is tacked onto the malformed body. Then, with the help of a lightning storm, a new life is born.  From the first successful kidney transplant in 1954, modern organ transplantation has often been linked to the horrors of Frankenstein. While people have grown to accept kidney and liver transplants as life-saving surgeries, the notion of a head transplant still invokes Frankenstein-like revulsion in the medical community and beyond. In 2015, Italian neurosurgeon Sergio Canavero came under fire for...

A small update to the Pixel VPN by Google lets you more easily check connection status from the Quick Settings (QS) Tile. Previously, the 2×1 QS Tile awkwardly displayed “VPN by Google” twice. Now, the second line shows the current status of your connection.  Connected: The Tile is also active (filled) and a rounded rectangle Paused: Pill Connecting… Can’t connect  Old These descriptions were previously only available in the VPN by Google “app,” and this QS addition saves you from having to open that fullscreen experience. (Tip: Long-press the QS Tile to immediately open rather than accessing via Settings > Network & internet > VPN.) That said, most people probably use the 1×1 QS Tile. Advertisement - scroll for more c...

WANTAGH, NY. — Wantagh High School juniors Lauren Furer and Charlotte Heron received some early-career accolades this month, as Furer was published in the Royal Society of Chemistry Journal and Heron received a $300 grant from the New York Institute of Technology. Both Furer and Heron are in their third year of the science research program at Wantagh; Furer studying the way antibodies interact with radioactive metals with a view towards using them to diagnose and treat diseases, while Heron studied hydroponic systems that could allow for the growth of vegetables without soil. For her part, Fruer spent last summer in Hunter College’s Zeigler Lab, on a team led by Ph.D. Candidate Zachary Samuels. Furer spent three days a week in the lab taking measurements and preparing samples, an effort f...

As part of Blizzard's 30th anniversary spotlight broadcast for the Diablo series this week, it has surprised fans with the release of brand new paid DLC for Diablo II: Resurrected. It's called Reign of the Warlock and is available today from the Switch eShop for $24.99 / £20.99 or your regional equivalent. It introduces the Warlock class and much more. Here's a bit about this new class and you can check out the official gameplay trailer above. "Hell rises once more in Reign of the Warlock, a transformative DLC for Diablo II: Resurrected. Rediscover the iconic story, gameplay, and challenge that defined the original, now enhanced with additional content and an expanded endgame. "Wield forbidden magic as the Warlock, a new class forged from demonic pacts and Hell itself. Discover new builds...

The Mother Within Long after birth, a fraction of our own cells carry a quiet maternal signature. This biological duet reflects a phenomenon called microchimerism, where maternal cells persist in offspring. These lingering cells are few, yet their influence appears profound. They illuminate how identity in biology can be shared, not strictly owned. “In living bodies, identity is rarely singular; it is often a negotiated truce.” Key points: A tiny population of maternal cells persists for a lifetime. These cells help teach immunity to remain calmly tolerant. The phenomenon reframes certain autoimmune and repair processes. A Subtle Trade Across the Placenta During pregnancy, a two‑way traffic of cells crosses the placental border. A few maternal cells settle in fetal tissues, becoming ...

Samsung Display has announced its new "QD-OLED Penta-Tandem" premium technology brand for its proprietary five-layer organic light-emitting structure. Samsung QD-OLED Penta-Tandem Displays Come With Five-Layer Organic Light Emitting Structure, VESA DisplayHDR TrueBlack 500 Certification & Available Across Full Lineup This Year Press Release: Samsung Display unveiled ‘QD-OLED Penta Tandem’, a new premium technology brand built on its proprietary five-layer organic light-emitting structure, a core innovation unique to its QD-OLED panels. Samsung Display announced that it has completed trademark registration for the new brand, created to highlight the distinctive value of its five-layer organic light-emitting structure applied to QD-OLED panels for premium monitors and TVs. “Pent...

On March 26, 2026, at 10:00 am ET, ISMPP U will host “Restoring Trust in Science: Storytelling, AI, and Integrity in Scholarly Publishing,” a timely webinar addressing one of the most pressing challenges in research communication today. Jointly presented by the Council of Science Editors (CSE) and the International Society for Medical Publication Professionals (ISMPP), the session will explore how storytelling can rebuild public confidence, the evolving role of AI in peer review, and how the scientific community can confront publishing malfeasance. Designed for editors, researchers, and medical communications professionals, the webinar offers practical strategies to strengthen credibility and trust across the publication ecosystem and qualifies for 1.0 CMPP credit. Register now. ...

While Valentine’s Day is a time to celebrate love, for the 250 million roses and other floral bouquets produced for the holiday, it means a slow death. That countdown is driven in part by ethylene, a natural plant hormone that speeds up aging in cut flowers. Researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington are testing new ways to blunt ethylene’s effects, with the goal of helping bouquets and fresh produce last longer. Here’s what to know.What is ethylene?Plants produce ethylene — an odorless, colorless gas — as they age, when damaged and in response to shifts in temperature, sunlight and other environmental stressors. News RoundupsCatch up on the day's news you need to know.By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.Rasika Dias is a professor of chemistry and b...