Science news

Nature, Published online: 14 January 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-00069-y

Symmetrical arrangements of botanical motifs indicate a grasp of spatial division long before the advent of formal written numbers.

Nature, Published online: 14 January 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-00147-1

Six experts at the forefront of AI development give their opinions on what is next for the field.

Nature, Published online: 14 January 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-00145-3

More than half of Gen Z now have a side gig. Are researchers among those seeking a second income?

Nature, Published online: 14 January 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-00162-2

Artificial intelligence use can boost outputs, at the cost of research breadth — plus, solving the mystery of the Universe’s ‘little red dots’.

Nature, Published online: 14 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10104-7

Retraction Note: Antibodies against endogenous retroviruses promote lung cancer immunotherapy

Nature, Published online: 14 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09949-1

Colourful patterns in two-dimensional lead halide perovskites are created by letting them self-etch into tiny squares that can template epitaxial growth.

Nature, Published online: 14 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09960-6

A survey of the reconstructed gene set of the last eukaryotic common ancestor shows a consistent link between Asgard archaea and the origin of numerous, functionally diverse eukaryotic genes, demonstrating the dominant Asgard contribution to eukaryogenesis.

Nature, Published online: 14 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09913-z

Molecular mimicry between a gut commensal and a tumour antigen forms part of an important mechanistic framework that can boost the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade therapy and restrain tumour growth.

Nature, Published online: 14 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09904-0

Fabrication of fully stretchable organic light-emitting diodes incorporating an intrinsically stretchable exciplex-assisted phosphorescent layer along with MXene-contact stretchable electrodes is described, demonstrating high efficiency and mechanical compliance for applications in next-generation wearable and deformable displays.

Nature, Published online: 14 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09918-8

Direct observation of the Migdal effect in neutron–nucleus collisions is reported, which resolves a long-standing gap in experimental validation.

Researchers have discovered a rare new type of diabetes that affects babies early in life. The condition is caused by changes in a single gene that prevent insulin-producing cells from working properly. When these cells fail, blood sugar rises and diabetes develops, often alongside neurological problems. The findings help explain a long-standing medical mystery and deepen understanding of diabetes overall.

A new discovery may explain why so many people abandon cholesterol-lowering statins because of muscle pain and weakness. Researchers found that certain statins can latch onto a key muscle protein and trigger a tiny but harmful calcium leak inside muscle cells. That leak may weaken muscles directly or activate processes that slowly break them down, offering a long-sought explanation for statin-related aches.

Scientists have identified a newly recognized threat lurking beneath the ocean’s surface: sudden episodes of underwater darkness that can last days or even months. Caused by storms, sediment runoff, algae blooms, and murky water, these “marine darkwaves” dramatically reduce light reaching the seafloor, putting kelp forests, seagrass, and other light-dependent life at risk.

Scientists are taking a closer look at monk fruit and discovering it’s more than just a sugar substitute. New research shows its peel and pulp contain a rich mix of antioxidants and bioactive compounds that may support health. Different varieties offer different chemical profiles, hinting at unique benefits. The work could shape how monk fruit is used in future foods and supplements.

A massive international brain study has revealed that memory decline with age isn’t driven by a single brain region or gene, but by widespread structural changes across the brain that build up over time. Analyzing thousands of MRI scans and memory tests from healthy adults, researchers found that memory loss accelerates as brain tissue shrinkage increases, especially later in life. While the hippocampus plays a key role, many other brain regions also contribute, forming a broad vulnerability rather than isolated damage.

Earth’s oceans reached their highest heat levels on record in 2025, absorbing vast amounts of excess energy from the atmosphere. This steady buildup has accelerated since the 1990s and is now driving stronger storms, heavier rainfall, and rising sea levels. While surface temperatures fluctuate year to year, the ocean’s long-term warming trend shows no sign of slowing.

A new study reveals that alpha brain waves help the brain decide what belongs to your body. Faster rhythms allow the brain to match sight and touch more precisely, strengthening the feeling that a body part is truly yours. Slower rhythms blur that timing, making it harder to separate self from surroundings. The findings could improve prosthetic design and immersive virtual experiences.

Some people get drunk without drinking because their gut bacteria produce alcohol from food. Researchers have now identified the microbes and biological pathways behind this rare condition, auto-brewery syndrome. Tests showed patients’ gut samples produced far more alcohol than those of healthy people. In one case, a fecal transplant led to long-lasting symptom relief.

Despite longstanding guidelines, many dementia patients are still prescribed brain-altering medications that can raise the risk of falls and confusion. A new study shows that while prescribing has decreased overall, people with cognitive impairment remain more likely to receive these drugs. In many cases, there was no documented medical justification. The results suggest that medication safety remains a serious concern in dementia care.

A damaging cotton virus thought to be a recent invader has actually been hiding in U.S. fields for nearly two decades. New research shows cotton leafroll dwarf virus was present as early as 2006, quietly spreading across major cotton-growing states long before it was officially identified. By reanalyzing old genetic data with modern tools, scientists uncovered a hidden history of the virus’s spread—including its first confirmed appearance in California and even traces in animal feed.

The woolly rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiquitatis) is a cold-adapted herbivore that went extinct around 14,000 years ago, but little is known about their population decline prior to extinction.

The post 14,400-Year-Old Woolly Rhinoceros Genome Shows No Evidence of Recent Inbreeding appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.

SETI@home, the pioneering distributed-computing project launched in 1999 that enlisted millions of volunteers to analyze radio signals from space, produced some 12 billion detections -- brief bursts of energy that stood out from background noise -- as it combed through observations recorded at the now-defunct Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico.

The post Millions Joined SETI@home Project, Now Astronomers Zero In on 100 Promising Signals appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.

At Leang Bulu Bettue, a rock-shelter in the Maros-Pangkep karst region on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, paleoanthropologists have uncovered one of the most complete records of early human occupation ever found in Wallacea.

The post Enigmatic Hominins May Have Overlapped with Homo sapiens on Sulawesi appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.

A fish species called the armored rockhead poacher (Bothragonus swanii) carries a secret that has confounded marine biologists for decades: a deep, bowl-shaped hole in the middle of its skull.

The post Scientist Finds Built-In Drum in Head of Weird-Looking Fish appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.

Astronomers using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have captured the most detailed infrared view yet into the center of the Circinus Galaxy, one of the closest known active galaxies to the Milky Way.

The post Webb Peers into Heart of Circinus Galaxy appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.

In new experiments aboard the International Space Station (ISS), microbiologists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Rhodium Scientific Inc. have discovered that the near-weightless environment of space can significantly reshape how bacteriophages -- viruses that infect bacteria -- interact with their hosts.

The post Microgravity on International Space Station Alters Coevolution of Bacteriophages and Their Hosts appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.

Using the high resolution images from the NIRCam (Near-InfraRed Camera) instrument onboard the NASA/ESA James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have spotted one of the earliest barred spiral galaxies known, shaping our view of cosmic evolution.

The post Barred Spiral Galaxy Spotted Just Two Billion Years after Big Bang appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.

A team of paleontologists from Mexico and the United States has identified a new species of bird-like dinosaur with an unusually thick and domed skull, suggesting it may have used head-butting during combat with members of its own species.

The post Thick-Skulled Troodontid Dinosaur Unearthed in Mexico appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.

Physicists from the Center of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity at the University of Bremen and the Transylvanian University of Brașov have unveiled a new theoretical framework that could rewrite how we understand the accelerating expansion of the Universe -- and potentially render the mysterious dark energy obsolete.

The post New Solution to Cosmic Acceleration Challenges Dark Energy Paradigm appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.

Using ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT), astronomers have captured a breathtaking shock wave around the white dwarf star 1RXS J052832.5+283824 (RXJ0528+2838 for short) -- a phenomenon that doesn’t fit existing models and could reshape our understanding of stellar evolution.

The post Unexpected Shock Wave Detected around Nearby White Dwarf appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.

Famed dino likely spent much of its life competing for food against smaller predators

Terahertz instrument at Dome A, world’s driest spot, traces the faint glow of gases beyond other telescopes’ reach

Analysis of 41 million papers finds that although AI expands individual impact, it narrows collective scientific exploration

Small seed “parachutes” may be causing inbreeding

Mission to Canada’s Queen Elizabeth Islands reveals degradation of a sea ice haven

Painting roofs white and adding screens to doors and windows is a low-cost way to increase comfort and curb malaria risk

Homo habilis, 2 million years old, was known mainly from teeth and jaw bones

Observation challenges understanding of how dead stars interact with their environments

Scientists welcome GSK announcement that two trials succeeded—even though data are still lacking

Far from the icy Arctic, ancient South Americans hunted whales using whalebone tools

A piece of woolly rhinoceros flesh hidden inside a wolf that died 14,400 years ago has yielded genetic information that improves our understanding of why one of the most iconic megafauna species of the last glacial period went extinct

Some of the world’s biggest megacities are located in river deltas threatened by subsidence due to excessive groundwater extraction and urban expansion, compounding the threat they face from sea-level rise

A decades-long push to identify clear biomarkers for anxiety and depression is at last achieving results

A Chinese application to the International Telecommunications Union suggests plans for the largest satellite mega constellation ever built – but something else might be going on here

An analysis of growth rings in the leg bones of 17 Tyrannosaurus rex individuals reveals that the dinosaurs matured much more slowly than previously thought, and adds to the evidence that they weren't all one species

Easing stress is one of the healthiest pursuits you can embark on this January. Here are some evidence-backed ways to ground yourself in 2026

Construction generates between 10 and 20 per cent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, but cities can slash their climate impact by designing buildings in a more efficient way

A report warns that we may have seriously underestimated the rate of warming, which could damage economic growth

A few extra minutes of sleep per day or an extra half-serving of vegetables with dinner can add a year to our lives, according to an analysis of data from 60,000 people

Clues from studies of ancient plants and animals have helped archaeologists pin down where the last Neanderthals found refuge, says columnist Michael Marshall

Stretching along the Brazilian coastline, the Atlantic Forest is home to hundreds of species of birds, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and fishes. However, due to human expansion, only about a third of the forest's original area remains intact.

New findings from the University of East London show that online risk-taking is widespread among young people, with behaviors such as digital piracy, accessing risky online spaces or engaging with harmful content having a high potential to lead to more serious offenses.

Rag rugs, the kind Grandma used to make from worn-out sheets and bits of cloth, may seem like relics from a bygone era, but they hold valuable modern-day lessons.

Social media is often criticized for fueling misinformation and violence, but it could actually play a role in preventing genocide and mass atrocities—if used strategically.

Coworking spaces have emerged as an alternative to traditional workplaces. Driven by the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of remote working, these spaces are becoming increasingly common in cities, as well as in rural areas, where they hold promise for community engagement and local development, but also face challenges such as funding and long-term viability.

Archival discoveries including a 19th-century autobiography transform our understanding of Shadrach Byfield, an English veteran of the War of 1812 who buried his own amputated arm and designed a custom prosthesis.

One of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease is the clumping of proteins called Tau, which form tangled fibrils in the brain. The more severe the clumping, the more advanced the disease is.

Sports are often viewed as an escape from the problems of the real world. But when a Colombian soccer star's father was kidnapped, the resulting media coverage helped move the story from the field of play to front-page news that united a country, cast doubt on peace negotiations and influenced how people viewed a president on multiple continents.

Media increasingly portray being single as an expression of people's lifestyle, self-determination and empowerment, with expressions such as self-partnership, solo living, sologamy and singlehood dominating the discourse. At the same time, more and more young adults are opting not to engage in a committed romantic relationship.

Graphene has long been hailed as a "wonder material." It is incredibly strong, highly conductive and almost impossibly thin—just one atom thick. These properties make it a promising candidate for next-generation technologies such as flexible electronics, wearable devices and printed sensors. Yet despite years of research, turning graphene into practical, printable inks has remained a major challenge.

A 67-million-year-old claw fossil reveals a new dinosaur species that may have used its hand spikes to snatch and pierce eggs.

Signals transmitted via leaves can warn neighboring plants of stressful events, making the group collectively more resilient than plants in isolation.

Nicola Dell, a computer scientist studying the role of technology in intimate partner violence, cofounded the Center to End Technology Abuse.

An analysis of global climate data shows sustained warming even as El Niño faded.

Flower designs on 8,000-year-old Mesopotamian pots reveal a “mathematical knowledge” perhaps developed to share land and crops, archaeologists say.

A study on rabbits dosed with viper venom suggests that botulinum toxin may alleviate some effects of snakebite, possibly by dampening inflammation.

The density of fine hairs on bumblebees’ tongues determines how much nectar they can collect — and workers put queen bees to shame.

Black-bulb yam’s mimicry tricks birds into spreading its berrylike clones. The plant's novel strategy helps it spread without seeds or sexual reproduction.

In humans, teens do the most dangerous things. In chimpanzees, that honor goes to toddlers. The difference may lie in caregiver supervision.

The elm zigzag sawfly has spread to 15 states in five years. Now it's attacking the tree that cities planted to replace Dutch elm disease victims.