The Best Move in Rock, Paper, Scissors (According to Science… Well, a Survey) ✊✋✌️ - 107.5 Kool FM

This is the sound of our solar system's giants. By converting astronomical data into audio, we can now 'listen' to Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus. This process, called sonification, translates light detected from the planets into unique and ethereal soundscapes.

While these grainy, black-and-white images might not look like much today, they were a huge deal at the time.

Chen and his team pioneered an innovative "negative-curvature interface" strategy in alloys. The graphic illustrates how negative-curvature interfaced nanoprecipitates harden the novel microstructures of the designed alloy. Credit: Nature Communications (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-74629-1 Metallic materials used in extremely cold environments must maintain high strength, ductility and fracture toughness to support applications in aerospace, clean energy, superconducting systems and deep-space exploration. However, traditional alloys often suffer performance degradation at ultralow temperatures because of the long-standing trade-off between strength, ductility and toughness. Although metals may become stronger at lower temperatures, they can also become more brittle and prone to fracture.

Weighted mean FO for the 230 species in our models. Credit: Biology Letters (2026). DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2026.0079 What seabirds eat might seem like a good starting point for identifying species that tend to accumulate plastic in their digestive systems. Yet a recent global analysis suggests that mapping the evolutionary relatives of birds could offer better clues than their diets or feeding methods alone.

Scientists have proposed what they believe is the first way to detect "mirror life," a hypothetical form of life built from molecules that are reversed versions of those found in living organisms on Earth. Researchers from the University of Strathclyde and Durham University have developed a proposed detection technique that uses molecules capable of emitting light with distinct left and right-handed properties. By analyzing these light signals, scientists may eventually be able to distinguish conventional organisms from their mirror-image counterparts. Although mirror life does not currently exist, some experts consider its potential creation a serious biological safety concern. These artificial organisms could behave in unpredictable ways when interacting with Earth's ecosystems and might evade certain natural defenses that protect people, animals, and plants. The likelihood of mirror life emerging is considered low, but its possible consequences could be severe enough to justify developing detection methods in advance.