Oxford mathematician challenges optical-correction explanation for Parthenon’s curves
An Oxford mathematician found little support for the claim that the Parthenon’s curved features were designed to counter optical illusions.
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NASA pilot completes first X-59 cockpit engine run in California
NASA said test pilot Mike Lippert operated the X-59's engines from its cockpit for the first time during an August ground test in California.
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Mouse study finds gut-trained immune cells migrate to brain membranes
Researchers found that infection-responsive T cells traveled from the gut to membranes around the brain in mice and responded again during a later infection.
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NASA tests autonomous three-robot science team in Virginia
NASA and its partners field-tested three robots that cooperatively selected and investigated science targets in Blacksburg, Virginia.
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NASA activates Roman Space Telescope's primary camera in space
NASA said the Roman Space Telescope's 300-megapixel Wide Field Instrument is operating as expected after its first activation and commissioning tests.
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Researchers identify RNF213 pathway that clears abnormal glycogen in brain cells
A Nature study found that RNF213 tags abnormal glycogen for cellular disposal, limiting its buildup in mouse brain cells.
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Webb observations identify smallest known brown dwarfs in IC 348
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope identified brown dwarfs in the IC 348 star-forming region with masses about twice that of Jupiter.
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Webb observations identify brown dwarfs as small as twice Jupiter's mass in IC 348
NASA said Webb observations of the IC 348 star-forming region identified brown dwarfs with about twice Jupiter's mass.
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Study maps thousands of genetic and non-genetic protein variants across human tissues
Researchers analyzing 29 healthy human tissues identified 13,910 localized protein variants representing 7,215 distinct amino-acid substitutions.
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Researchers identify 25-kilometer ancient impact crater in Quebec
Researchers found field evidence that a 25-kilometer formation near Quebec’s Lake Marsal is an impact crater created about 390 million years ago.
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NASA says fuel savings could extend Roman telescope operations to at least 22 years
NASA said a precise trajectory correction and surplus fuel could give the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope enough propellant for at least 22 years of science operations.
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NASA acquires Satlantis satellite datasets for Earth science program
NASA announced that its Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition program acquired Satlantis datasets covering methane and other Earth observations.
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NASA selects 12 crop and astronaut-health studies for space exploration
NASA selected 12 studies on off-planet food production and the effects of space conditions on astronaut health.
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NASA opens proposals for large-scale XRISM observation programs
NASA announced the first XRISM Key Programs, with proposals due Dec. 4 and about three million seconds of observing time available starting in June 2027.
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NASA schedules first SkyFall Mars landing-site workshop for February 2027
NASA announced a virtual workshop for Feb. 9-10, 2027, to evaluate potential landing sites and exploration zones for the SkyFall Mars mission.
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Single brain implant decodes intended speech and gestures simultaneously
Researchers demonstrated a brain implant that translated intended words and gestures at the same time for two people with severe paralysis.
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Djibouti signs NASA-led Artemis Accords as 72nd participant
Djibouti signed the Artemis Accords at NASA headquarters in Washington, becoming the 72nd participating nation and the eighth from Africa.
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NASA program acquires Wyvern hyperspectral satellite datasets for Earth research
NASA announced that its Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition program acquired datasets from Wyvern’s five-satellite Dragonette constellation.
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Pharma data improve experimental AI protein model, consortium reports
A pharmaceutical consortium reported that adding 20,167 private protein structures improved an OpenFold3 model's test performance, though the work is not peer-reviewed.
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Researchers identify nine new deep-sea sponge species off Alaska
Researchers identified nine previously undescribed sponge species from the Gulf of Alaska and Aleutian Islands, NOAA announced.
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NASA publishes 2026 decadal report on Earth surface and interior research
NASA published the 2026 CORE 2.0 report, a decadal assessment of challenges and research opportunities involving Earth's surface and interior.
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NASA launches balloon carrying technology experiments over New Mexico
NASA launched its BOOP scientific balloon from Fort Sumner, New Mexico, with experiments for planetary exploration, radiation mapping and flight imaging.
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Mastodon molar found in California preserve will undergo carbon dating
Paleontologists identified a fossil found in San Mateo County as a well-preserved adult Pacific mastodon molar, which Stanford researchers plan to carbon-date.
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NASA catalog lists newly announced gas giant OGLE-2016-BLG-0261L b
NASA’s exoplanet catalog lists OGLE-2016-BLG-0261L b as a gas giant whose discovery was announced in 2026.
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Researchers identify new tick-associated virus in patients in China
Researchers identified Asian longhorned tick nairovirus in patients in China who had symptoms resembling another tick-borne infection.
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Atlantic hurricane season sets satellite-era record for latest first hurricane
The 2026 Atlantic season reached Sept. 12 without a hurricane, the latest start in the satellite era, according to a federal meteorologist.
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Copernicus says August tied the record for Earth's hottest month
Earth's August average temperature effectively tied July 2023's monthly record, while NOAA said the contiguous United States had its hottest summer on record.
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Study finds GABA-like drugs slowed glioma growth in mice
Researchers found that drugs mimicking the effects of GABAergic neurons slowed the growth of gliomas in mice, Nature reported.
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Study identifies seismic signals that could warn of volcano-triggered tsunamis
Researchers found that fast-moving seismic T-waves tracked the 2022 Hunga volcano collapse and could provide earlier warning of tsunamis from underwater eruptions.
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Study finds rivers carry more microplastic pollution to oceans than previously estimated
A new study found that river-borne microplastic pollution is larger than earlier estimates and can spike during intense rain where waste management is poor.
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Webb detects water and silicate dust around dying star IRS 3
NASA reported that Webb observations detected water for the first time in the dust envelope surrounding IRS 3 near the center of the Milky Way.
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UK survey finds perceived shared interests strongly shape trust in scientists
A survey of 4,262 UK adults found 63% expressed high trust in scientists, with perceived shared interests and transparency among the strongest factors.
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Meta-analysis finds emotional climate messages prompt more engagement than facts alone
An analysis of 71 studies found that emotion-centered climate messages generally motivated more engagement than factual explanations alone.
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Study finds early-career scientists use different mentors for research, jobs and support
A survey of nearly 900 early-career scientists found that research, career and peer mentors were associated with different professional and personal benefits.
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Small osteoporosis trial links modified marrow-cell treatment to fewer fractures
Ten women with advanced osteoporosis had fewer low-impact fractures after receiving modified bone-marrow cells, but the uncontrolled trial cannot establish efficacy.
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National Science Foundation announces portfolio-based grant strategy
The National Science Foundation said it will combine investigator-led grants with agency-directed programs centered on four interdisciplinary research priorities.
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NASA launches citizen-science project to identify artifacts in telescope data
NASA announced Artifact InSPECtor, a project in which volunteers classify false signals in Euclid data to help improve AI tools used by astronomers.
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NASA adds OroraTech thermal satellite data to commercial acquisition program
NASA said its Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition program acquired OroraTech datasets for uses including fire detection and land-temperature monitoring.
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NASA selects 10 projects in Artemis II human-research data challenge
NASA's Human Research Program selected 10 methods designed to analyze the small, complex health datasets produced by four-person spaceflight crews.
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