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Economics & Business Political science
How rogue nations are capitalizing on gaps in crypto regulation to finance weapons programs
Two years after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, families of the victims filed suit against Binance, a major cryptocurrency platform that has been plagued by scandals.
Earth Sciences
The North Pole keeps moving. Here's how that affects Santa's holiday travel and yours
When Santa is done delivering presents on Christmas Eve, he must get back home to the North Pole, even if it's snowing so hard that the reindeer can't see the way.
Social Sciences Political science
Doubts about women in combat don't stand up to history
Germany has unveiled plans to introduce voluntary military service. From January 2026, all 18-year-old men will be required to complete a questionnaire asking if they are interested and willing to join the armed forces. Women will not be required to fill out this form.
Earth Sciences Environment
How bubbles may speed up CO₂ uptake by the ocean
A new study provides evidence that the ocean may have absorbed as much as 15% (0.3–0.4 Pg C yr-1) more CO2 than previously thought, requiring a re-think of future CO2 flux assessments and global climate models.
Economics & Business
Can AI read your travel vibes? This research says yes
Feeling run down and needing a place to recharge, but not sure where to go? Wanting a place that only serves local coffee where you can look at paintings from local artists? Interested in renting an e-scooter to explore the creative district of a city?
Polymers Materials Science
Cool satellites and flexible electronics: Thin interlayers strengthen flexible composite materials
The picture that pops up before our inner eye when we hear the word "satellite" is probably this: Two extended solar "wings" and a compact body wrapped in foil with a golden or silvery shimmer. Researchers at Empa's Mechanics of Materials and Nanostructures laboratory in Thun are now working to improve this foil. As its widespread use indicates, the material is crucial for satellites and space probes. It is known as multilayer insulation, or superinsulation, and consists of several layers of a robust polymer coated with a thin layer of metal, usually aluminum. The coated film can also be encountered on Earth, for example in the form of survival blankets.
Cell & Microbiology Molecular & Computational biology
How cells survive oxidative stress and ferroptosis
EPFL scientists have identified a molecular pathway that protects cells from lipid oxidation and ferroptosis, a regulated form of cell death involved in aging and several diseases.
Economics & Business Education
Teenagers are preparing for the jobs of 25 years ago, and schools are missing the AI revolution
The government has recently released its national youth strategy, which promises better career advice for young people in England. It's sorely needed: for teenagers today, the future of work probably feels more like a moving target than a destination. Barely three years after ChatGPT went mainstream, the labor market has already shifted under young people's feet.
Cell & Microbiology Molecular & Computational biology
Cell membrane fluctuations can produce electricity
Researchers have developed a theoretical framework that shows how living cell membranes can generate electricity from molecular fluctuations. The work is published in the journal PNAS Nexus.
Social Sciences
There are fewer online trolls than people think
Americans overestimate online toxicity, believing 43% of Reddit users post severely toxic comments when only 3% actually do, and this misperception inculcates pessimism about society.
Space Exploration
The next frontier in space is closer than you think: Welcome to the world of very low Earth orbit satellites
There are about 15,000 satellites orbiting Earth. Most of them, like the International Space Station and the Hubble Telescope, reside in low Earth orbit, or LEO, which tops out at about 1,200 miles (2,000 kilometers) above Earth's surface.
Education
A, B, C or D: Grades might not say all that much about what students are actually learning
Grades are a standard part of the American educational system that most students and teachers take for granted.
Political science
Two superpowers, one playbook: Why Chinese and US bureaucrats think and act alike
The year 2025 has not been a great one for U.S.-Chinese relations. Tit-for-tat tariffs and the scramble over rare earth elements has dampened economic relations between the world's two leading economies. Meanwhile, territorial disputes between China and American allies in the Indo-Pacific region have further deepened the intensifying military rivalry.
Social Sciences
The trouble with idioms: How they can leave even fluent English speakers behind
Being a linguist—and someone who has tried to learn several languages (including English) in addition to my mother tongue (Flemish Dutch)—I have an annoying habit: instead of paying attention to what people are saying, I often get distracted by how they are saying it. The other day, this happened again in a meeting with colleagues.
Social Sciences
Christmas at the end of the world: The curious allure of festive apocalypse films and TV
Navigating the chaos of Christmas celebrations can feel a bit like fighting through the battle of Armageddon. Yet while it might be tempting to escape this with a hot chocolate and another viewing of Love Actually, Christmas films needn't be jolly.
Veterinary medicine
Is your dog or cat getting old? These simple gestures could help them live longer and happier lives
Geriatric veterinary care is in great shape, with dogs and cats living on average 11.3 years, according to French data. Our knowledge of how to accompany them in later life is expanding fast. We now know that simple changes can do wonders for an old cat or dog's comfort and quality of life. The main trick is for pet owners not to stand by idly as their four-legged companions age.
Astronomy Planetary Sciences
Webb observes pulsar-orbiting planet whose composition defies explanation
Scientists using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope have observed a rare type of exoplanet, or planet outside our solar system, whose atmospheric composition challenges our understanding of how it formed.
Materials Science
A hydrocarbon waste solution through a symbiosis network
Enabling collaboration to monetize emissions is becoming increasingly attainable as researchers explore enhancing integration within the industrial sector through work focused on Carbon–Hydrogen–Oxygen Symbiosis Networks (CHOSYN).
Analytical Chemistry Materials Science
A new transfer strategy to boost ultra-thin flexible temperature sensor performance
In the fields of intelligent health care and robotic sensing, the development of ultra-thin flexible temperature sensors serves as a core prerequisite for achieving high conformability and integration. However, a fundamental bottleneck persists: the high-temperature processes required to ensure high sensitivity are incompatible with the low thermal tolerance of flexible substrates. Consequently, it remains challenging for ultra-thin devices to simultaneously achieve high sensitivity, excellent flexibility, and long-term stability.
Other Social Sciences
How pointing fingers shape what we see in old master paintings
One of the most common human gestures, the pointing finger, appears frequently in Old Master paintings as a guiding cue. However, its influence on viewers' gaze has never been systematically investigated. Researchers in experimental art history at the University of Vienna used eye‐tracking methods to analyze whether and how viewers' eyes follow pointing gestures in works by renowned artists such as Raphael, Giorgione, Caravaggio, and Rembrandt.
Environment
Remote Southern Ocean seabirds study highlights reach of 'forever chemicals'
Seabirds in one of the remotest parts of the planet are being exposed to a wide range of forever chemicals, scientists have discovered.
Archaeology
Pahon Cave provides a look into 5,000 years of surprisingly stable Stone Age tool use
The Pahon Cave in Gabon offers archaeologists a well-preserved look into the Late Stone Age time period in central Africa, thanks to the stratified layers of guano-based sediment. This is in contrast with much of the surrounding areas, which are rich in acidic soils that make preservation difficult.
Biotechnology Molecular & Computational biology
ROSE-3D advances isotropic 3D super-resolution microscopy
In a study published in Nature Methods on December 2, a research team led by Profs. Xu Tao and Ji Wei from the Institute of Biophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a three-dimensional interferometric localization microscope called repetitive optical selective exposure in 3D (ROSE-3D), achieving camera-based isotropic nanoscale resolution in 3D.
Biochemistry Analytical Chemistry
Composite copper oxides show strong, long-lasting antiviral action against tough viruses
Composite copper–lanthanum and copper–yttrium oxides developed by researchers from Japan demonstrate exceptionally high antiviral activity against non-enveloped virus. These oxides are highly stable and achieve more than 99.999% viral inactivation in laboratory tests.
Economics & Business
Buy now, panic later is the new holiday ritual—stopping it won't be easy
The holiday season brings celebration and gift-giving, but it also ushers in something less festive: financial stress. In the UK, retailers now shape much of the spending calendar, with Black Friday one of the busiest shopping events of the year.
Economics & Business Political science
What makes people welcome or reject refugees? What research in Germany reveals
Across the EU, immigration is one of the most divisive topics in politics today. Germany, a country once known for its "Willkommenskultur" (welcome culture), is a case in point.
Social Sciences Economics & Business
How stores fighting thieves risk putting off shoppers with disabilities and kids
"Welcome," the sign at the supermarket entrance says, above a drawing of a shopper walking in and pushing a cart.
Economics & Business
How bus stops and bike lanes can make or break your festive city trip
Picture yourself strolling through Christmas markets, sipping mulled wine. Would you want to spend more time exploring the city or waiting for a taxi in the cold?
Social Sciences Economics & Business
How good people justify bending the rules at work—and what leaders can do about it
Consider the following scenario. You're facing pressure to meet quarterly targets, but the numbers aren't quite where they need to be. With a deadline looming, you "round up" a figure just slightly to make the results look better.
Plants & Animals Ecology
Milder winters, more parasites: Are moose at risk from winter ticks?
As climate change profoundly alters ecosystems in North America, a small parasite is wreaking havoc: the winter tick. This tick, now more prevalent due to milder environmental conditions, is severely affecting the winter survival of young moose in eastern Canada.