NASA's IXPE telescope has revealed new details about the white dwarf star EX Hydrae, observing it not just as a point of light but as a structured system. For the first time, scientists measured the height of hot gas above the star, offering a deeper understanding of these extreme cosmic environments and paving the way for new astronomical observations.

A recent study reveals that positive memories, especially during sleep, can weaken the impact of negative ones. Researchers found that by re-associating neutral cues with pleasant images, participants later recalled negative associations less vividly. This gentle crowding out, particularly during sleep's memory processing phase, offers a promising, non-invasive avenue for managing distressing recollections.

A new study suggests a comet exploded in the sky 13,000 years ago. This event caused Earth's sudden cooling, known as the Younger Dryas. Large animals like mammoths vanished. The Clovis people disappeared. Evidence includes melted glass and shocked quartz found in ancient soil. This theory explains the abrupt changes without a ground impact crater.

Astronomers have observed a distant star being torn apart by a supermassive black hole, revealing a surprising wobble in the resulting disc and jets. This phenomenon, matching Einstein's century-old prediction of 'frame dragging,' provides compelling evidence that spinning black holes twist spacetime itself, influencing cosmic events and refining our understanding of galactic evolution.

Yellowstone's volcanic past reveals a dynamic system of repeated caldera-forming eruptions and smaller lava flows, with magma reservoirs assembling and erupting on geologically brief timescales. Beneath the surface, a crystal-rich mush stores melt, capable of rapid renewal. This ancient activity also records Earth's magnetic history, offering crucial global chronological data.

Astronomers have discovered 3I/ATLAS, a fast-moving interstellar object detected in mid-2025. Researchers believe this ancient comet, potentially 8-14 billion years old, originated from the Milky Way's earliest era, predating our Sun. Its unique chemical composition, including iron and nickel, further supports its alien origins, offering a rare glimpse into material forged around ancient stars.

In space, tears don't fall due to the absence of gravity. Instead, surface tension causes them to cling to the eye, creating a physical sensation and potential vision blur. Astronauts manage these tears with absorbent cloths, a process vital for understanding human physiology in microgravity and for future long-duration missions.

Pearls begin as irritants within oysters, which respond by slowly covering the foreign object with layers of nacre. This controlled biological process, influenced by environmental factors and diet, transforms discomfort into a stable, beautiful structure. Cultured pearls follow the same natural oyster response, with quality determined by nacre thickness and lustre, not just size.

Albert Einstein encountered a curious math puzzle involving an old car on a hill. The problem, seemingly simple, highlighted how intuition can be misleading. It demonstrated that faster speeds do not always compensate for slower ones and that averages can obscure critical limitations. This thought experiment, shared through correspondence, underscored the importance of careful examination even of basic questions.

Evidence of a past Martian ice age has been revealed in Coloe Fossae, where long, shallow grooves suggest ice once flowed across the landscape. These features, formed by slow-moving mixtures of ice and rock, indicate glaciers spread into mid-latitudes, offering a glimpse into Mars's icy history as recently as half a million years ago.

Astronomers have directly observed a free-floating planet, comparable in mass to Earth, roaming the Milky Way. Discovered via gravitational microlensing due to its brief light curve, this rogue world is not bound to any star. Its motion suggests ejection from a planetary system, hinting at a potentially vast population of such solitary planets.

AI's rapid rise hides a massive thirst for water and energy. Training complex models like ChatGPT demands immense power, leading to significant water consumption for cooling data centers. Experts propose solutions like efficient cooling, smaller models, and renewable energy to mitigate AI's growing environmental footprint.

Scientists are exploring fungi, specifically mushrooms, to create more efficient and adaptable computers. Unlike rigid silicon machines, fungal networks like mycelium exhibit learning-like behavior by adjusting signal pathways. This biological approach offers a potentially cheaper and more resilient alternative to current complex and costly neuromorphic hardware, hinting at a novel direction for future computing.