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As the military alliance created to counter the Soviet Union expands, it is prioritizing studies on how climate change affects security, cyber attacks and election interference.

As negotiators haggle over a global treaty to curb plastics pollution, a flood of data outlines how a treaty could make a difference.

Family tree of ‘octocorals’ pushes origin of bioluminescence back to 540 million years ago, when the first animal species developed eyes.

The island nation is expanding its territory by dredging up sediment from the ocean floor. But scientists, former government officials and activists say such reclamation can harm marine ecosystems and make the country more vulnerable to rising seas.

Tiny 3D structures made from human stem cells sometimes offer insights that animal models cannot.

The best timepieces tend to be fragile, but a device based on iodine threads the needle between precision and practicality.

The World Health Organization was criticized for being too slow to classify COVID-19 as airborne. Will the new terminology help next time?

Hundreds of genomes shed light on the marriage habits and social norms of the Avar people of central Europe.

Autonomous weapons guided by artificial intelligence are already in use. Researchers, legal experts and ethicists are struggling with what should be allowed on the battlefield.

A cluster of mpox cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo sparks worries of a wider outbreak.

The model organism Caenorhabditis elegans is quick to forget a notable odour — unless it is chilled or given lithium.

Features of a scene such as size and clutter can affect the brain’s sense of how much time has passed while observing it.

The coral reef is experiencing its worst mass bleaching event on record — and warming waters brought on by climate change are to blame.

A declaration signed by dozens of scientists says there is ‘a realistic possibility’ for elements of consciousness in reptiles, insects and molluscs.

Feelings of hunger, nausea and fullness seem to be governed by separate brain circuits, finds a study in mice.

Understanding the volcanic moon’s history could offer fresh insights into conditions on early Earth.

Sheets of gold might find use as catalysts, or in light-sensing devices.

Tens of millions of people in the country’s coastal lands might find their homes below sea level by 2120 owing to sinking and sea-level rise.

Wastewater testing grew tremendously during the pandemic. But is it ready to tackle the opioid crisis, air pollution and antibiotic resistance?

Countries are cracking down on tobacco use and vaping — the laws could save thousands of lives and billions of dollars, say scientists.