Liquid crystals create easy-to-read, color-changing sensors

Chameleons are famous for their color-changing abilities. Depending on their body temperature or mood, their nervous system directs skin tissue that contains nanocrystals to expand or contract, changing how the nanocrystals reflect light and turning the reptile's skin a rainbow of colors.

9h

Two bizarre brown dwarfs found with citizen scientists' help

With the help of citizen scientists, astronomers have discovered two highly unusual brown dwarfs, balls of gas that are not massive enough to power themselves the way stars do.

9h

Venice completes first test of all flood barriers

Venice's long awaited flood defence system designed to protect the lagoon city from damaging waters during high tides on Friday survived a first test of its 78 barriers.

9h

Tropical Storm Fay shutters beaches as it heads north

Beaches closed in Delaware and shore town streets flooded in New Jersey as the fast-moving Tropical Storm Fay churned up the East Coast on a path expected to soak the New York City region.

9h

'Gun culture 3.0' is missing link to understand US gun culture

Leading firearm violence prevention researchers are first to use data to show differences in gun culture across the country, identifying gun cultures around recreation, self-defense, and politics.

9h

Arctic Ocean changes driven by sub-Arctic seas

New research explores how lower-latitude oceans drive complex changes in the Arctic Ocean, pushing the region into a new reality distinct from the 20th-century norm.

9h

How Venus flytraps snap

Venus flytraps catch spiders and insects by snapping their trap leaves. This mechanism is activated when unsuspecting prey touch highly sensitive trigger hairs twice within 30 seconds. A study led by researchers at the University of Zurich has now shown that a single slow touch also triggers trap closure—probably to catch slow-moving larvae and snails.

11h

Amazon deforestation increases 25 percent in Brazil

Deforestation of the Brazilian Amazon increased by a record 25 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2020, official data released Friday showed, increasing pressure on President Jair Bolsonaro to abandon his plans to develop the region.

11h

Pittsburgh's air pollution levels decreased during the stay-at-home order—but the overall impact remains small

A team of Carnegie Mellon University researchers found that Pittsburgh's air pollution levels decreased during the stay-at-home order—but the overall impact remains small.

11h

New research shows that laser spectral linewidth is classical-physics phenomenon

New ground-breaking research from the University of Surrey could change the way scientists understand and describe lasers—establishing a new relationship between classical and quantum physics.

12h