scientific discovery

Deep below the towering peaks of the Himalayas, one of the most significant geological events in recent history is unfolding. A growing body of scientific evidence suggests that the Indian tectonic plate—the slab of Earth’s crust that supports the Indian subcontinent—is undergoing a rare and dramatic transformation. This event, known as delamination, is literally tearing the plate apart from below, with potential consequences that could reshape the region’s landscape and seismic future.

A team of physicists has made a significant leap in understanding and simulating magnetic structures known as skyrmions—microscopic whirlpools of spinning electrons. These structures have been hailed as a potential foundation for next-generation data storage due to their stability, efficiency, and size. The study, published in Physical Review X on March 11, introduces a new simulation model that bypasses computational limitations and could dramatically accelerate spintronics research.

In a landmark achievement that significantly enhances our understanding of primate biology and evolution, an international team of scientists has published the first-ever complete genome sequences for six species of great apes. This unprecedented effort was led by researchers at Pennsylvania State University, the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), and the University of Washington. The findings, released today (April 9) in the journal Nature, offer deeper insights into the genetic architecture of our closest relatives — and into our own species.

In a breakthrough that reshapes the understanding of immune system dynamics, researchers from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Helmholtz Munich have identified that the human body begins preparing for severe disease scenarios far earlier than previously believed. Even in cases of mild or moderate infections, the body produces a subset of T cells predisposed to exhaustion—a phenomenon previously associated only with chronic infections and tumors.

In an unexpected fusion of fieldwork and laboratory science, researchers at the John Innes Centre have uncovered compelling evidence of ancient and conserved mechanisms behind how plants fall ill — findings that could shape the future of crop disease management and deepen our understanding of plant immunity.

An Australian polar adventurer has safely returned to Earth after completing a historic spaceflight over both the north and south poles. Eric Philips, along with three other private astronauts, splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the Southern California coast on Friday morning (Saturday AEDT), concluding a three-and-a-half-day mission aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule.

A 30-meter sediment core drilled from the depths of the Great Blue Hole in the Caribbean has revealed a detailed archive of the region’s storm history, stretching back nearly 6,000 years. The findings suggest that while the Caribbean has long faced tropical storms, human-driven climate change could be intensifying storm activity at an unprecedented rate.

In a groundbreaking experiment simulating Martian conditions, lichens have demonstrated remarkable resilience, opening new possibilities for understanding survival in extreme extraterrestrial environments. Researchers from Jagiellonian University and the Polish Academy of Sciences revealed that certain lichens remained metabolically active despite being subjected to harsh Martian-like conditions.