Philosopher Nicholas Rescher once wrote, "Scientific discoveries are often made not on the basis of some well-contrived plan of investigation, but through some stroke of sheer luck."
Astronomy
Apr 21, 2020
1
771
During a chemical reaction, the molecules involved in the reaction gain energy until they reach a "point of no return" known as a transition state.
Materials Science
Dec 16, 2019
0
565
Providing seeds with a protective coating that also supplies essential nutrients to the germinating plant could make it possible to grow crops in otherwise unproductive soils, according to new research at MIT.
Ecology
Nov 25, 2019
2
226
A toxic pollutant produced by burning fossil fuels can be captured from the exhaust gas stream and converted into useful industrial chemicals using only water and air thanks to a new advanced material developed by an international ...
Materials Science
Nov 22, 2019
0
549
For a plant to thrive, it needs the help of a friendly fungus—preferably one that will dig its way deep into the cells of the plant's roots.
Ecology
Oct 28, 2019
7
2939
Coral reefs are considered one of the most threatened ecosystems on the planet and are dying at alarming rates around the world. Scientists attribute coral bleaching and ultimately massive coral death to a number of environmental ...
Environment
Jul 15, 2019
10
12099
A new way of measuring atomic-scale magnetic fields with great precision, not only up and down but sideways as well, has been developed by researchers at MIT. The new tool could be useful in applications as diverse as mapping ...
General Physics
Mar 15, 2019
1
891
Most of Earth's essential elements for life—including most of the carbon and nitrogen in you—probably came from another planet.
Earth Sciences
Jan 23, 2019
24
3196
Microbes that provide natural fertilizer to the oceans by "fixing" nitrogen from the atmosphere into a form useable by other organisms were once thought to be limited to warm tropical and subtropical waters. Now, however, ...
Environment
Dec 10, 2018
0
68
Each of us is only half human. The other half is microbial. Trillions of viruses, fungi, bacteria and other microscopic organisms coat our skin and line our vital organs.
Cell & Microbiology
Oct 29, 2018
2
348
