From lazy ripples to towering breakers, the mechanics of ocean waves should vary widely from one planet to another, according to a model developed by scientists at MIT and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.

As Earth’s climate systems change, polar sea ice is becoming more granular in structure. University of Utah-led research reveals this type of ice is much less permeable than columnar sea ice, with important implications for geophysical processes. This is because water, heat and nutrients move less readily through granular ice than the ice it is replacing.

In a new study, University of Washington researchers show that an Earth-sized planet likely needs at least 20 to 50% of the water in Earth’s oceans to maintain a critical natural cycle that keeps water on the surface. These new parameters could exclude many exoplanets in the so-called habitable zone.

Astronomers are puzzled by the existence of extremely massive black holes—up to a billion times the mass of the Sun—forming less than a billion years after the Big Bang, far earlier than current theories predict. Standard models of black hole growth cannot explain how they became so large so quickly. New research suggests that energy from decaying dark matter may have altered early galaxies’ chemistry, allowing some to collapse directly into massive black holes instead of forming stars.

Using quantum entanglement, MIT researchers found a way to simultaneously measure multiple physical quantities in a room temperature quantum sensor. The approach could have applications in biomedical sensing, materials characterization, and more.

Penn physicist Patricio Gallardo and collaborators tracked the speeds of distant galaxy clusters to test the strength of gravity across hundreds of millions of light-years. The verdict? Gravity neatly matches the classic equations written by Newton and Einstein. By proving the fundamental laws of physics span these massive cosmic scales, the results leave little doubt that invisible dark matter exists.

A new study co-led by an Oregon Health & Science University researcher describes a breakthrough in microscopy tools that could dramatically expand how cancer biology labs study the inner workings of living cells.

Printed artificial neurons generate realistic brain-like signals that activate living neurons. Device uses flexible, low-cost electronic inks instead of rigid silicon fabrication. Approach could lead to bioelectronics that communicate directly with the brain and energy-efficient, brain-inspired computing.