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A study in Science Advances reports that the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter detected unexpected spikes of hydrogen chloride gas around the flanks of Alba Mons, Mars's largest volcano by surface area. Researchers also identified newly discovered fissures thousands of feet long with mineral discoloration resembling volcanic gas vents on Earth, pointing to gas seeping from underground.
Researchers at Hopkins Marine Station observed that a bleached coral fragment regained its pigmentation after being placed touching a healthy fragment from the same coral colony. In a controlled experiment with ten fragment pairs of Pocillopora damicornis, five pairs were set to touch each other while five were kept apart, and the touching pairs showed transfer of symbiotic algae and rapid recovery of colour within days to weeks. The findings were published in Science Advances on 14 October.
Archaeologists cataloged 597 wooden remains found at Abric Romaní near Barcelona, dating between 62,000 and 40,000 years ago, published in Science Advances. Mineral-rich water had coated the wood in a limestone-like crust, preserving mold impressions after the wood itself rotted away, revealing spears, digging sticks, bark trays, shelter parts and an unusual club.
Researchers have successfully sequenced the genome of Jonathan, the world's oldest land animal at approximately 194 years old. The study compared his genetic makeup with that of other tortoises to identify factors linked to his extraordinary longevity. Findings highlighted unique gene variants related to aging pathways such as DNA repair and mitochondrial function.
Researchers led by neuroscientist Agustín Ibáñez at Adolfo Ibáñez University created an algorithm that analyzes hundreds of vocal traits, including pitch and speaking speed, from four-minute recordings to estimate a person's age. The team found that a large gap between this speech-predicted age and a person's actual age was strongly linked to cognitive problems associated with conditions like dementia, according to findings published in Science Advances.
NASA scientist Robert Wagner discovered a massive new lunar crater while performing a routine data check on imagery from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. The impact, likely caused by an object roughly the size of a six-story building sometime between April and May 2024, created a crater 728 feet wide and 141 feet deep, the largest fresh impact site the orbiter has ever recorded.
Researchers applied mass spectrometry-based proteomics to analyze adhesives and glues found on a range of ancient Egyptian artifacts without damaging them, publishing their findings in Science Advances. Alongside expected animal collagens and egg proteins, they identified plant-derived proteins from sesame and moringa (drumstick tree) sources, expanding the known palette of binding materials used by ancient craftspeople.
Scientists at the Technical University of Denmark built a nanolaser small enough to potentially be embedded by the thousands on a single microchip, letting devices transmit data as light rather than electrical signals. The work, led by professor Jesper Mørk with colleagues Meng Xiong and Yi Yu, appeared in Science Advances.
Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have identified a ten-sided cloud formation encircling Saturn's south pole, a counterpart to the long-known hexagon at the planet's north pole. The decagon, detailed in a new Science Advances study, has sides roughly 16,800 kilometers long and sits near a jet stream blowing close to 260 miles per hour, even though the shape itself drifts at less than 6 mph.
Researchers examined a fragment of 'hiroshimaite,' fallout material from the 1945 Hiroshima atomic bombing, and identified a previously unknown alloy composed of seven elements. The discovery, imaged via scanning electron microscope, was published in Science Advances ahead of the bombing's 81st anniversary.
A new study in Science Advances reports that roughly 560 million children under age 10 worldwide now experience at least one additional month of dangerous heat stress annually because of climate change. Researchers led by Rosa Pietroiusti at Vrije Universiteit Brussel used the WetBulb Globe Temperature threshold of 28°C, a standard combining heat, humidity, wind, and cloud cover, to measure how often conditions cross into risky territory for children's health.