FutureFactual

Woodpeckers grunt and brace their bodies like athletes to maximize drilling power Woodpeckers pack a punch, pounding wood with extreme force and experiencing decelerations of up to 400g. Now, researchers reveal in the Journal of Experimental Biology that drilling woodpeckers turn…

🔍 Read: Woodpeckers pack a punch, pounding wood with extreme force and experiencing decelerations of up to 400g.

phys.org/news/2025-11...

The 'blue forest' in figures: First global inventory of carbon stored by seagrass meadows An international study presents the first global assessment of blue carbon accumulated in the living parts of seagrass plants. According to the results, their leaves, rhizomes and roots store up to…

🔍 Read: An international study presents the first global assessment of blue carbon accumulated in the living parts of seagrass plants. According to the results, their leaves, rhizomes and roots store up to 40 million tons of carbon worldwide.

phys.org/news/2025-11...

Researchers discover an 'all-body brain' in sea urchins An international team of researchers, including scientists from the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, has uncovered a surprisingly complex nervous system in sea urchins. The animals appear to possess an…

🔍 Read: An international team of researchers, including scientists from the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, has uncovered a surprisingly complex nervous system in sea urchins.

phys.org/news/2025-11...

East African Rift study uncovers why breaking up is hard for some continents Tulane University researchers, collaborating with an international team of scientists, have discovered why some parts of Earth's crust remain strong while others give way, overturning long-held…

🔍 Read: Tulane University researchers, collaborating with an international team of scientists, have discovered why some parts of Earth's crust remain strong while others give way.

phys.org/news/2025-11...

Simulations show Antarctic meltwater slows warming but drives uneven sea level rise Melting of the Antarctic ice sheet due to global warming has long-term, irreversible societal impacts with important implications for people around the world. Spatial patterns of sea level change…

🔍 Read: Melting of the Antarctic ice sheet due to global warming has long-term, irreversible societal impacts with important implications for people around the world.

phys.org/news/2025-11...

Astronomers reveal tasty insights into exoplanet formation using SPAM Astronomers using W. M. Keck Observatory on Maunakea, Hawaiʻi Island have taken the closest-ever look at the dusty regions where planets form, offering new insight into the earliest stages of…

🔍 Read: Astronomers using W. M. Keck Observatory on Maunakea, Hawaiʻi Island have taken the closest-ever look at the dusty regions where planets form, offering new insight into the earliest stages of planetary birth.

phys.org/news/2025-11...

DYK that a bee's good mood is contagious? And that they overthrow their queen when she gets sick? Bees have social systems more complex than we ever imagined.

Get the biggest ideas in science delivered to your inbox: landing.futurefactual.com/x-sept-2025

Optimizing avalanche photodiode design for photodetection in the ultraviolet wavelength Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes (GM-APDs) are highly sensitive light detectors, capable of detecting single photons. Photons of certain wavelengths, when absorbed by photodiodes, generate…

🔍 Read: Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes (GM-APDs) are highly sensitive light detectors, capable of detecting single photons.

phys.org/news/2025-11...

480-million-year-old parasite still plagues today's shellfish A new study has unexpectedly discovered that a common parasite of modern oysters actually started infecting bivalves hundreds of millions of years before the dinosaurs went extinct.

🔍 Read: A new study has unexpectedly discovered that a common parasite of modern oysters actually started infecting bivalves hundreds of millions of years before the dinosaurs went extinct.

phys.org/news/2025-11...

Golden oyster mushrooms cultivated, sold in Florida: Scientist urges caution The golden oyster mushroom, with bright yellow pillowy caps, are a popular buy that are sold in grow-your-own kits as well as standard grocery stores, farmer and gourmet markets. A University of…

🔍 Read: The golden oyster mushroom, with bright yellow pillowy caps, are a popular buy that are sold in grow-your-own kits as well as standard grocery stores, farmer and gourmet markets.

phys.org/news/2025-11...

Golf's cruelest moment: The physics behind the 'lip out' phenomenon Picture this: It's the 18th hole and the game's on the line. You line up your putt, take a breath, and roll the ball toward the hole. The pace is firm, the line looks good—until the ball dips in,…

🔍 Read: Picture this: It's the 18th hole and the game's on the line. You line up your putt, take a breath, and roll the ball toward the hole.

phys.org/news/2025-11...

Bacterial enzyme structure reveals new path for renewable plastic Current demand for plastics and chemical raw materials is met through large-scale production of ethylene from fossil fuels. This makes it necessary to search for new, renewable processes. Using…

🔍 Read: Current demand for plastics and chemical raw materials is met through large-scale production of ethylene from fossil fuels. This makes it necessary to search for new, renewable processes.

phys.org/news/2025-11...

Global study reveals soaring freshwater demand in material production An international research team has published a study unveiling the hidden water footprint of materials such as steel, cement, paper, plastics, and rubber. The findings highlight alarming growth in…

🔍 Read: An international research team has published a study unveiling the hidden water footprint of materials such as steel, cement, paper, plastics, and rubber.

phys.org/news/2025-11...

Engineered E. coli use direct, cell-to-cell contact to grow into new structures Plant a seed and, if the conditions are right, the seed grows. The process seems simple enough at first glance and is something many of us may feel like we learned in elementary school.

🔍 Read: Plant a seed and, if the conditions are right, the seed grows. The process seems simple enough at first glance and is something many of us may feel like we learned in elementary school.

phys.org/news/2025-11...

103 years ago, British archaeologist Howard Carter discovered the tomb of King Tut in Egypt's Valley of the Kings. This intact tomb provided unprecedented insights into ancient Egyptian civilization, culture, burial practices.

Learn more on @NatGeo: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VANT...

Radiocarbon analysis of turfgrasses can help cities measure greenhouse gas emissions Cities around the world are working to limit emissions of climate-warming greenhouse gases, but there have been few ways of measuring whether those gases are actually decreasing in any given…

🔍 Read: Cities around the world are working to limit emissions of climate-warming greenhouse gases, but there have been few ways of measuring whether those gases are actually decreasing in any given municipality.

phys.org/news/2025-11...

Brains and stock markets follow the same rules in crisis, study finds What do brains and the stock market have in common? While this might sound like a set-up for a joke, new research from U-M researchers reveals that the behaviors of brains and economies during crises…

🔍 Read: What do brains and the stock market have in common? While this might sound like a set-up for a joke, new research from U-M researchers reveals...

phys.org/news/2025-11...

Tissue 'tipping points': How cells collectively switch from healthy to disease states Cells convert mechanical forces into signals that influence physiological processes, such as exercise strengthening bones. A research team at Washington University in St. Louis and Tsinghua…

🔍 Read: Cells convert mechanical forces into signals that influence physiological processes, such as exercise strengthening bones. A research team has discovered that biological tissues can also undergo dramatic phase transitions.

phys.org/news/2025-11...

Large brains require warm bodies and big offspring in vertebrates, study finds Vertebrates have extremely different brain sizes: even with the same body size, brain size can vary a hundredfold. As a rule, mammals and birds have the largest brains in relation to their body size,…

🔍 Read: Vertebrates have extremely different brain sizes: even with the same body size, brain size can vary a hundredfold. As a rule, mammals and birds have the largest brains in relation to their body size, followed by sharks and reptiles.

phys.org/news/2025-11...

Unexpectedly high concentrations of forever chemicals found in dead sea otters A paper published in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, finds high quantities of toxic "forever" chemicals in sea otters recovered off the Pacific Ocean. The paper is titled "Concentrations of…

🔍 Read: A paper published in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, finds high quantities of toxic "forever" chemicals in sea otters recovered off the Pacific Ocean.

phys.org/news/2025-11...

Bamboo tissue paper may not be as eco-friendly as you think In recent years, Chinese tissue paper made from bamboo has emerged as a trendy choice for eco-friendly shoppers. However, new research suggests these bamboo paper products may not offer significant…

🔍 Read: In recent years, Chinese tissue paper made from bamboo has emerged as a trendy choice for eco-friendly shoppers. However, new research suggests these bamboo paper products may not offer significant climate benefits.

phys.org/news/2025-10...

Advanced imaging reveals how electrocatalysts simultaneously generate hydrogen and organic compounds Hybrid water electrolysers are recent devices, which produce hydrogen or other reduction products at the cathode, while valuable organic oxidation products are formed at the anode. This innovative…

🔍 Read: Hybrid water electrolysers are recent devices, which produce hydrogen or other reduction products at the cathode, while valuable organic oxidation products are formed at the anode.

phys.org/news/2025-10...

Abandoned coal mine drainage identified as a significant source of carbon emissions For the past 250 years, people have mined coal industrially in Pennsylvania, U.S.. By 1830, the city of Pittsburgh was using more than 400 tons of the fossil fuel every day. Burning all that coal has…

🔍 Read: For the past 250 years, people have mined coal industrially in Pennsylvania, U.S.. By 1830, the city of Pittsburgh was using more than 400 tons of the fossil fuel every day.

phys.org/news/2025-11...

Virus-loaded patches successfully kill bacteria in contaminated food Every year, around 600 million people are struck down by foodborne illnesses. The culprits are often common yet dangerous bacteria, such as E. coli and Salmonella, that thrive in undercooked or…

🔍 Read: Every year, around 600 million people are struck down by foodborne illnesses. The culprits are often common yet dangerous bacteria, such as E. coli and Salmonella.

phys.org/news/2025-10...

Seismic study sheds light on factors that led to 2025 Myanmar supershear rupture Recently, Science put out an article detailing new research on the Myanmar earthquake that occurred on March 28, 2025. In one of these studies, Shengji Wei and colleagues analyze data on the event…

🔍 Read: Recently, Science put out an article detailing new research on the Myanmar earthquake that occurred on March 28, 2025.

phys.org/news/2025-10...

Possums in Australia show some of the world's highest PFAS levels among small mammals New research has shown for the first time that Australian marsupials are contaminated with synthetic "forever chemicals," which are linked to significant health impacts on other animals and humans.

🔍 Read: New research has shown for the first time that Australian marsupials are contaminated with synthetic "forever chemicals," which are linked to significant health impacts on other animals and humans.

phys.org/news/2025-10...

Orcas seen killing young great white sharks by flipping them upside-down A specialized shark-hunting pod of orcas in the Gulf of California has been caught on camera expertly targeting young great white sharks—flipping them upside-down to eat the energy-rich liver.

🔍 Read: A specialized shark-hunting pod of orcas in the Gulf of California has been caught on camera expertly targeting young great white sharks—flipping them upside-down to eat the energy-rich liver.

phys.org/news/2025-10...

Unprecedented decline in marine viruses in western Mediterranean linked to climate change A team led by the Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC) has described a sustained and unprecedented decrease in the abundance of marine viruses in the northwestern Mediterranean over the last two…

🔍 Read: A team led by the Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC) has described a sustained and unprecedented decrease in the abundance of marine viruses in the northwestern Mediterranean over the last two decades.

phys.org/news/2025-10...

Global climate models need the nitrogen cycle—all of it Nitrogen is an important component of the global environment, affecting agriculture, climate, human health, and ecosystems. The role of the nitrogen cycle has become more widely appreciated, yet…

🔍 Read: Nitrogen is an important component of the global environment, affecting agriculture, climate, human health, and ecosystems. The role of the nitrogen cycle has become more widely appreciated.

phys.org/news/2025-10...

Psychology study suggests chimpanzees might be rational thinkers Chimpanzees may have more in common with human thinkers than previously thought. A new study published in Science by an international team of researchers provides evidence that chimpanzees can…

🔍 Read: Chimpanzees may have more in common with human thinkers than previously thought. A new study published in Science by an international team of researchers provides evidence that chimpanzees can rationally revise their beliefs.

phys.org/news/2025-10...