Wetenschap

Nature, Published online: 20 April 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01259-4

Researchers filmed 10 species eating or scavenging bats at known Marburg-virus hotspot — and caught hundreds of humans visiting.

Nature, Published online: 20 April 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01278-1

Autonomous agents aren’t just creating their own research — on the Reddit-style website Agent4Science, they’re chatting about it, too.

Nature, Published online: 20 April 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01261-w

Computer scientists share their advice for ensuring that your scientific software does what it’s supposed to do.

Nature, Published online: 20 April 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-00990-2

It’s an important milestone in many academic careers, yet the tenure process is surprisingly nebulous. Here’s what it takes to succeed.

Nature, Published online: 20 April 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01262-9

Thrilling, frivolous, a waste: not everyone’s happy about the Artemis II Moon mission

Scientists at UC Riverside have found a clever new way to outsmart termites—by turning their own instincts against them. Using a natural pine scent called pinene, which smells like food to termites, researchers can lure the pests straight toward a targeted dose of insecticide hidden in wood. The result is dramatically higher kill rates—jumping from about 70% to over 95%—without the need for widespread toxic fumigation.

A unique hybrid honeybee thriving in Southern California may hold a powerful clue to saving struggling bee populations. While U.S. beekeepers are losing massive numbers of colonies—largely due to destructive Varroa mites—a locally adapted mix of feral and diverse bee lineages is showing remarkable resilience. These bees aren’t immune, but they carry far fewer mites and are far less likely to require chemical treatments. Even more surprising, their resistance appears to start early in life, with larvae that are less attractive to the parasites.

Cancer cells are known for their “glutamine addiction,” but many can escape this weakness by switching to alternative fuels. Researchers found that vitamin B7 acts like a metabolic “license,” enabling this escape route through a key enzyme. Without biotin, cancer cells lose that flexibility and stop growing. Mutations in a cancer-linked gene can make this vulnerability even stronger, offering a promising new target for therapy.

A trio of common amino acids may hold the key to unlocking far more powerful gene therapies. Researchers found that adding them to lipid nanoparticles can boost mRNA delivery up to 20-fold and push CRISPR editing efficiency close to 90%. The trick isn’t changing the drug—but helping cells take it in more easily. In early tests, the approach dramatically improved survival and treatment outcomes, pointing to a simple but game-changing upgrade for future medicine.

Cyanobacteria—ancient microbes that oxygenated Earth and made complex life possible—are still revealing surprises billions of years later. Scientists have now discovered that a molecular system once used to separate DNA has been repurposed into something entirely different: a structure that shapes the cell itself.

CT scans of a decades-old specimen from the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History show a new species of short-snouted crocodylomorph with unusually strong jaws, offering a rare snapshot of ecological specialization in the Late Triassic epoch.

The post Museum Fossil Reveals Triassic Crocodile Cousin with Powerful Jaws appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.

A new anniversary image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope reveals surprisingly fast evolution in a turbulent stellar nursery called the Trifid Nebula, where newborn stars sculpt gas and dust on human timescales.

The post Hubble’s 36th Birthday Image Shows Trifid Nebula appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.

A continent-like shelf beneath the Martian surface hints that a vast ocean once covered up to a third of Mars, reshaping the long-running debate over its watery past.

The post Newly-Identified Geological Feature Points to Vast, Long-Dried Up Ocean in Northern Plains of Mars appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.

By studying almost 900 parrots living with humans, a team of researchers found evidence that some birds don’t just mimic speech, they may assign and use names to identify specific individuals.

The post Study: Parrots Use Names in Flexible, Sometimes Human-Like Ways appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.

New research suggests some black holes formed before the Big Bang and survived a cosmic ‘bounce,’ potentially explaining dark matter, gravitational-wave backgrounds, and the early growth of supermassive black holes and galaxies.

The post Black Holes from Before Big Bang Could Still Exist Today as ‘Cosmic Fossils’ appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.

Such prescient planning started 50,000 years earlier than thought, study finds

First study of how drugs affect behavior of fish in the wild adds to concerns about chemical exposure

Despite missing his entire upper beak, Bruce the kea is winning at life

Children who had cerebral malaria or severe malaria anemia have lower scores on tests measuring general cognition and math achievement

White House taps physician and lawyer Erica Schwartz to lead struggling health agency

Women's bodily autonomy and health, particularly with regard to abortion, are under attack. The politicisation of women's bodies and choices is part of a wider attempt to roll back human rights and freedoms of women and marginalised groups. Political parties with regressive ideologies, rising across the world, are finding common cause with anti-gender religious groups. Transnational anti-gender movements have become professionalised and influence national and international agendas. Overseas aid has become a bargaining chip for abortion and gender rights, with dire consequences to sexual and reproductive health.

One lament you will often hear from global health activists is the lack of commitment, even interest, shown by high-income country political leaders towards health and health equity. There have been exceptions. Norway's Jens Stoltenberg (vaccination). Canada's Stephen Harper (women's and children's health). America's Bill Clinton (HIV). Still, indifference is commonly the default. Last week, France's President, Emmanuel Macron, defied the trend by hosting an international Summit on One Health in Lyon.

French President Emmanuel Macron promises action on One Health, with a suite of pledges announced at the ninth One Health Summit. Faith McLellan reports from Lyon.

Vanuatu has a long history of natural disasters. But a combination of traditional knowledge and a simple warning system have kept deaths remarkably low. Chris McCall reports.

As part of a continuing series, Talha Burki looks at the issues at the core of medicine in nuclear power plants.

Experiment with nanodiamonds reveals that they are less rigid than other diamonds, adding to our understanding of how they could be used in new technologies

Filtering a protein that may cause sepsis out from the blood has shown promising signs for improving survival

An injured kea with just half a beak has used what's left as a weapon that gives him dominance over a captive colony of the birds

A traditional vaccine primes the immune system to build better defences. Researchers think we can do something similar to increase our resilience to the pressures and worries of life

Stress is linked to many of our biggest killers, but a growing body of research suggests that certain types can sharpen the mind and strengthen the body. Here’s how to find your perfect dose

In 2020, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) as the primary trade framework for the three countries. The agreement is now being reviewed by the three countries. In a new report by the Brookings Institution, experts delved into what the agreement has meant for the three countries, and how the three states can ensure that the partnership can be successful going forward.

Language skills like reading, writing, listening, and speaking are essential for effective communication in English and are closely linked to educational and professional success both locally and internationally. In many non-English-speaking countries, students learn English as a foreign language (EFL) for their future endeavors, making it important to create classroom environments that support effective learning and communication.

Adelaide University researchers and industry partners have uncovered scientific evidence that daily probiotic and postbiotic supplementation can significantly boost gut and skin health in dogs, offering pet owners a promising alternative to antibiotics.

A new study led by researchers from the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin reveals how the loss of large mammals can ripple through ecosystems in unexpected ways, even affecting amphibian larvae living in temporary ponds. By examining changes in nutrient dynamics over more than two decades, the researchers show that declines in large herbivores are associated with a system-wide reduction in nitrogen isotope values in aquatic habitats, highlighting how disruptions in terrestrial wildlife populations can cascade across ecosystem boundaries.

Rob Moore is a recognized leader in the development of autonomous science and self-driving laboratories at the Department of Energy's (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). A Tennessee native who spent five years as a U.S. Navy submarine officer, Moore joined ORNL in 2019 to perform research in the syntheses and characterization of quantum materials.

In a study of 6.5 million children in Brazil, higher temperatures were associated with worse nutrition outcomes, especially in vulnerable groups.

With half a beak, Bruce has developed an innovative fighting style that has won the kea top status in his flock, videos and documented interactions reveal.

The vaccine candidate is the furthest any shot has gotten since the last one was pulled in 2002. Scientists are testing other ways to block infection.

Editor in chief Nancy Shute discusses the fascinating world of constructed languages, our behind-the-scenes look at a vast science museum collection, and how some mathematicians are embracing AI to check complex proofs.

Pacific pocket mice are geographically isolated, but the species may retain the genetic diversity needed to adapt to climate change.