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Reservoir, human activity impact Ravi River's surface water availability by fivefold

What does a healthy river look like? For most of us, an obvious answer would involve two aspects: water flowing through a channel and green vegetation along its banks. However, in reality, a river's health depends on several factors, such as how much water flows through it, how water moves through the landscape, how that flow changes with the seasons, how sediment moves downstream, how often it spills into its floodplain and how these processes change with the seasons.

Phys.org · EN

According to science, you may be more likely to gain respect and status by helping others

Human intelligence is still a bit of an enigma. Researchers have some ideas about why advanced intelligence evolved in humans, but they have not come to a conclusive answer. One prominent idea is that intelligence serves a social function. In their new study, a group of researchers led by Jonathan Egeland reports additional evidence supporting this idea. According to their research, published in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior, greater intelligence seems to garner more respect, but only when it's applied to tasks that help others.

Phys.org · EN

Molecular dinitrogen anions pave the way for low-temperature ammonia synthesis

While ammonia (NH₃) is best known for its role in fertilizer production, it is attracting attention as a carbon-free hydrogen carrier, potentially offering a practical way to store and transport clean fuel. Despite this promise, NH₃ synthesis still depends on high-temperature, high-pressure processes that are difficult to scale up sustainably. The reason behind this is the extremely strong bond between nitrogen atoms in nitrogen gas (N₂), which requires a lot of energy to break.

Phys.org · EN

Are we overfertilizing our fields? Researchers challenge conventional soil testing

A new study led by Dr. Shikma Zaarur of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, in collaboration with Dr. Ran Erel of the Agricultural Research Organization–Volcani Institute, reveals that agricultural soils may contain a substantial unaccounted-for reservoir of potassium, an essential nutrient for plant growth, that is largely overlooked by conventional soil testing methods. The findings could pave the way for more precise fertilizer recommendations, potentially reducing unnecessary fertilizer use while supporting sustainable agricultural production.

Phys.org · EN

The Mystery of Why Some Drugs Vanish

Disappearing versions of pharmaceutical molecules mean scientists can lose the ability to create some drugs, but why? The post The Mystery of Why Some Drugs Vanish appeared first on Nautilus .

Nautilus · EN

“Zombie Bacteria” Might One Day Lurk in the Sewers

But they’ll be there to help The post “Zombie Bacteria” Might One Day Lurk in the Sewers appeared first on Nautilus .

Nautilus · EN

Is Sleeping in on the Weekends Bad for Your Heart?

A new study links sleep regularity to cardiovascular health The post Is Sleeping in on the Weekends Bad for Your Heart? appeared first on Nautilus .

Nautilus · EN

Meds Are Often the Go-to for Dementia Patients. Is There a Better Way?

Federal statistics show nursing homes still overuse medications to quell the behavioral problems that come with cognitive decline. Experts advocate for alternatives The post Meds Are Often the Go-to for Dementia Patients. Is There a Better Way? appeared first on Nautilus .

Nautilus · EN

Can Whales Sing with Their Mouths Full?

Their songs provide a new way to monitor their feeding behavior The post Can Whales Sing with Their Mouths Full? appeared first on Nautilus .

Nautilus · EN

A Cross-Species Same-Sex Love Story

In Ethiopia, scientists documented repeated sex and bonding between a bull and a male donkey The post A Cross-Species Same-Sex Love Story appeared first on Nautilus .

Nautilus · EN

Listen to the Earliest Known Recordings of a Nearly Dead American Language

These “lost” recordings of the Creole language offer unique insights that written transcripts can’t provide The post Listen to the Earliest Known Recordings of a Nearly Dead American Language appeared first on Nautilus .

Nautilus · EN

A Collapsing Star Produced an Afterglow Brighter Than Its Galaxy

“The explosion packed roughly a billion years of the sun’s energy output into a pencil-thin beam” The post A Collapsing Star Produced an Afterglow Brighter Than Its Galaxy appeared first on Nautilus .

Nautilus · EN

How Voting Is Like a Klein Bottle

A new topological model connects a centuries-old voting paradox to a surface with no distinct inside or outside. The post How Voting Is Like a Klein Bottle first appeared on Quanta Magazine

Quanta Magazine · EN

How Spiders Spin ‘Silk Dope’ Into Nature’s Toughest Material

By probing its molecular structure, biologists are uncovering how a tangle of unstructured proteins turns into a strong, flexible fiber. The post How Spiders Spin ‘Silk Dope’ Into Nature’s Toughest Material first appeared on Quanta Magazine

Quanta Magazine · EN

How Do You Take a Picture of a Black Hole?

Astrophysicist Shep Doeleman explains how capturing the first image of a black hole required a telescope the size of the world, and why the next goal is to create a movie. The post How Do You Take a Picture of a Black Hole? first appeared on Quanta Magazine

Quanta Magazine · EN

A New Map of ‘Empty’ Space Challenges a Tranquil Picture of the Galaxy

For decades, astronomers treated the interstellar medium as a static backdrop to the goings-on of the universe. Now, a wave of 3D mapping is bringing the interstellar medium’s dynamic nature into focus. The post A New Map of ‘Empty’ Space Challenges a Tranquil Picture of the Galaxy first appeared on Quanta Magazine

Quanta Magazine · EN

Is There Anything Left in the Dream of Cold Fusion?

Dig a little deeper and you’ll find a thriving research program with exotic atoms that won’t solve the energy crisis but stretches the boundaries of physics. The post Is There Anything Left in the Dream of Cold Fusion? first appeared on Quanta Magazine

Quanta Magazine · EN