Science Alert

Subscribe to Science Alert feed Science Alert
Catch up on the latest science news, from space and technology to life and environmental research- all the discoveries shaping our world today.
Updated: 1 hour 5 min ago

In 2023, Princeton researchers tested radiative cooling, keeping a building 3.9°C cooler

04/09/2026
Researchers tested a building's ability to stay cooler than outside air naturally. A special roof released heat towards the sky, while airflow moved air through openings. This passive system kept the test box significantly cooler than the prevailing outdoor temperature. The experiment demonstrated radiative cooling working with thermal mass and temperature-driven ventilation. This approach offers a way to cool buildings without mechanical systems.

In 2016, conservationists put the bends back into a Lake District river straightened 200 years earlier

04/09/2026
Conservationists undertook an inspiring project to restore the natural meanders of Swindale Beck, which had been straightened for centuries. Within just a few months, the restored gravel beds welcomed back the Atlantic salmon to spawn, while also decreasing flood risks and enhancing drinking water quality for millions. This remarkable recovery fostered a thriving habitat for aquatic insects and river birds, ultimately earning the UK River Prize in 2022.

Amazon River pours 28 billion gallons into Atlantic, reducing salinity 100 miles offshore

03/09/2026
The Amazon River carries twenty percent of Earth's freshwater to the Atlantic Ocean. Its vast drainage basin covers nearly forty percent of South America's landmass. Rainfall and glacial melt from the Andes feed the river's immense flow. Trees in the Amazon basin release significant moisture, contributing to regional rainfall patterns. This massive freshwater discharge influences ocean salinity far offshore and circulates globally.

Meet Aadit Krishna, the 15-year-old student who built a floating device to remove PFAS

03/09/2026
A determined teenager from Union County has innovated a solar-powered floating water purification device called HelioPure. This system targets PFAS chemicals in surface water, utilizing various treatment stages. Recent field trials in North Carolina reported a remarkable 84.8% average removal rate for PFAS contaminants, alongside noticeable reductions in turbidity and dissolved solids. This empowering technology presents an affordable, decentralized solution for critical water treatment needs.

Pages