A new generation of telescopes will probe the ‘unknown unknowns’ that could transform our knowledge of the universe

Cosmology could be transformed by a new wave of telescopes – both on the ground and in space.

Richard Massey, Professor of extragalactic astrophysics (dark matter and cosmology), Durham University • conversation
Oct. 17, 2024 ~12 min

Scientists around the world report millions of new discoveries every year − but this explosive research growth wasn’t what experts predicted

Don’t be fooled by the image of a mad scientist isolated in his basement laboratory. Science is a collaborative endeavor, and international teams have contributed to a huge rise in scientific output.

Justin J.W. Powell, Professor of Sociology of Education, University of Luxembourg • conversation
Oct. 14, 2024 ~10 min


AI was central to two of 2024’s Nobel prize categories. It’s a sign of things to come

AI will feature in future Nobel prizes as scientists exploit the power of this technology for research.

Nello Cristianini, Professor of Artificial Intelligence, University of Bath • conversation
Oct. 10, 2024 ~5 min

A ‘ring of fire’ eclipse is taking place in South America and the Pacific. Here’s how eclipses happen

Argentina and Chile will see the ‘ring’, but other regions will see a partial eclipse.

Oisin Creaner, Assistant Professor of Physical Sciences, Dublin City University • conversation
Oct. 2, 2024 ~5 min

You can count female physics Nobel laureates on one hand – recent winners have wisdom for young women in the field

Only 5 women have ever won a Nobel Prize in physics. The field as a whole has issues with gender diversity, but as a woman physicist explains, success is possible for women in the field.

Filomena Nunes, Professor of Physics, Michigan State University • conversation
Oct. 1, 2024 ~8 min

Rare Florida fossil finally ends debate about how porcupine jaws and tails evolved

Modern North American porcupines are at least twice the size of their southern cousins and have stronger jaws. But how long have they looked that way?

Natasha S. Vitek, Assistant Professor of Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook University (The State University of New York) • conversation
Sept. 20, 2024 ~6 min

Astronomers can’t agree on how fast the universe is expanding. New approaches are aiming to break the impasse

The Hubble tension has been described as a “crisis” for cosmology. Can it be resolved?

Alex Hall, Royal Society University Research Fellow, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh • conversation
Sept. 19, 2024 ~12 min

A 149 million-year-old pterosaur is Britain’s largest flying animal – how scientists proved it from a single finger bone

The Jurassic pterosaur’s size was estimated from only its finger bone.

Jason Gilchrist, Lecturer in the School of Applied Sciences, Edinburgh Napier University • conversation
Sept. 12, 2024 ~8 min


Snowball Earth: how we discovered unique Scottish rocks record when Earth was first encased in ice

The islands’ rocks record the first stage of a huge freeze that would eventually cover the Earth in ice.

Elias Rugen, PhD Candidate, Department of Earth Sciences, UCL • conversation
Sept. 6, 2024 ~6 min

The biggest-ever sample of core material from Earth’s mantle could have valuable clues into the origins of life

New research that offers valuable insights into the Earth’s mantle.

Andrew McCaig, Associate Professor, School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds • conversation
Aug. 12, 2024 ~6 min

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