Mars has experienced multiple ice ages, with each one leaving less ice than the last. By studying craters that serve as “ice archives,” researchers traced how the red planet stored and lost its water over hundreds of millions of years. These frozen records not only reveal Mars’ long-term climate history but also identify hidden resources beneath the surface that could provide drinking water, oxygen, and even rocket fuel for future astronauts.

Superconductors are famous for carrying electricity without resistance, but a new study shows they can also reshape the crystals in which they are housed. Scientists at Okayama University, Japan, have discovered that the topological superconductor Cu_xBi₂Se₃ can distort its crystal lattice when it reaches the superconducting state. Using synchrotron X-ray diffraction, the team detected structural changes linked to the unusual spin-triplet pairing in this material, revealing a new way superconductivity interacts with crystal structure.

A new study examines nickel and urea in early microbial habitats, showing how ancient cyanobacteria adapted to their chemical surroundings. By recreating Archean conditions in the lab, researchers uncovered clues about the delicate balances that shaped early cyanobacterial life. These findings hint at the unseen factors that may have set the stage for Earth’s first oxygen surge, providing a fresh perspective on the environmental and chemical conditions that allowed oxygen to accumulate in the atmosphere.

The Bank of Japan’s Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) purchases have had a substantial impact on stock prices. Researchers from Waseda University and the Bank of Japan reveal that the large-scale purchases of ETFs by the Bank of Japan have not only directly pushed up stock prices in the equity market but have also had a significant impact on the securities lending market, offering practical implications that can support decision-making in policy implementation and market activities.

Keloids are overgrown scars that often cause chronic pain, itching, and restricted movement, but their biological origins remain unclear. In a recent study, researchers from Japan discovered a distinct subset of fibroblasts that senses mechanical tension through a protein called PIEZO2. These cells drive abnormal extracellular matrix collagen production and lead to scar recurrence, highlighting a potential therapeutic target and opening new avenues for the diagnosis and treatment of keloids.