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Science News

Latest science news, discoveries and scientific developments.

OpenAI agent hacked an Australian government healthcare website
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OpenAI agent hacked an Australian government healthcare website

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman spoke to the Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, about the hack while attending the United Nations General Assembly in New YorkSelcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images Australia’s national health website has been hacked by an OpenAI agent. It was able to access non-public files and is the first publicly revealed case of an AI agent breaching the defences of a government portal. Full details of the hack haven’t yet been revealed. But the essence of the incident, as outlined by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who is in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, is that on 18 June, an artificial intelligence agent belonging to OpenAI infiltrated the public-fac...

📅 2026-09-24 08:26:15    •    New Scientist
Archaeological 'breakthrough' could confirm origins of Paris
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Archaeological 'breakthrough' could confirm origins of Paris

An ancient wall discovered in central Paris was hailed as a "major breakthrough" on Wednesday, as the archaeological find may have settled a long-standing debate about the location of the city's original settlement.

📅 2026-09-24 08:19:27    •    Phys.org
More REM sleep linked to lower risk of 83 diseases
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More REM sleep linked to lower risk of 83 diseases

A large study tracking more than 95,000 people suggests that how you sleep may be linked to your risk of developing dozens of diseases. People who spent more time in REM sleep had lower risks of 83 conditions, including dementia, heart failure, and Parkinson’s disease, while more deep sleep was associated with lower risks of conditions such as type 2 diabetes and major depression.

📅 2026-09-24 03:58:30    •    ScienceDaily
GLP-1 weight loss and diabetes drugs linked to nutritional deficiencies in nearly 1 in 6 children
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GLP-1 weight loss and diabetes drugs linked to nutritional deficiencies in nearly 1 in 6 children

Children taking GLP-1 medications (such as Victoza, Saxenda, Trulicity, and Ozempic) for weight loss, prediabetes, or type 2 diabetes may face an overlooked risk: nutritional deficiencies. A new study found that nearly 1 in 6 young patients developed a diagnosed deficiency within a year of starting treatment, with vitamin D deficiency affecting about 12%.

📅 2026-09-24 03:15:18    •    ScienceDaily
Study reveals how communication sequence strengthens green persuasion
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Study reveals how communication sequence strengthens green persuasion

The impact of sustainability messages may depend not only on their content but also on the order in which they are presented. The emotional response created by one message may influence how people interpret the next message about green initiatives.

📅 2026-09-24 03:00:05    •    Phys.org
In House primaries, organized groups may matter more than voters
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In House primaries, organized groups may matter more than voters

In most of the nation's 435 congressional districts, the general election is not much of a contest. With the vast majority of U.S. House seats considered safe for one party or the other, the primary usually determines who goes to Congress—and it is the election Americans know the least about. A new book co-authored by a researcher at the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) of the University of Pennsylvania finds that voters are rarely the most important influence on the outcome.

📅 2026-09-24 02:40:01    •    Phys.org
A broken rib from the world’s largest T. rex hid a 66-million-year-old secret
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A broken rib from the world’s largest T. rex hid a 66-million-year-old secret

A broken rib from Scotty, the largest known T. rex skeleton, contains an extraordinary fossilized network of blood vessels formed while the dinosaur was healing. Scientists used neutron and X-ray imaging to look inside the 66-million-year-old bone without damaging it, revealing details rarely preserved in fossils.

📅 2026-09-24 02:20:36    •    ScienceDaily
Why AI won't fix Britain's supply chains
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Why AI won't fix Britain's supply chains

Businesses hoping AI will solve their supply chain problems risk wasting their investment unless they first fix weaknesses in their data, skills and management, according to new research published in the Benchmarking: An International Journal.

📅 2026-09-24 01:40:02    •    Phys.org
What joining the EU's Erasmus+ program could mean for Canada
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What joining the EU's Erasmus+ program could mean for Canada

In his recent address to the European Parliament, Prime Minister Mark Carney proposed that Canada join Erasmus+, a European Union program that supports education, training, youth and sports.

📅 2026-09-24 01:20:01    •    Phys.org
The “big one” might not come alone: Two major West Coast faults may strike back to back
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The “big one” might not come alone: Two major West Coast faults may strike back to back

The Cascadia subduction zone and northern San Andreas fault may sometimes rupture in rapid succession, according to evidence preserved in 3,100 years of ocean sediments. Researchers identified unusual sediment layers suggesting that earthquakes on the two systems have occurred just minutes to hours apart, including around the massive Cascadia earthquake of 1700. If such synchronization happened again, several major West Coast cities could face emergencies at nearly the same time.

📅 2026-09-24 01:07:40    •    ScienceDaily
Self-driving lab automates semiconductor ink synthesis and thin-film characterization
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Self-driving lab automates semiconductor ink synthesis and thin-film characterization

Developing new functional materials often requires testing numerous material combinations. Conventional experiments reach their limits quickly when many variants must be compared. To overcome this bottleneck, the new Energy Materials Acceleration Platform (E-MAP) at KIT automates key lab steps.

📅 2026-09-24 01:00:02    •    Phys.org
The stories we tell ourselves shape who we are
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The stories we tell ourselves shape who we are

"One way or another, we are living the stories planted knowingly or unknowingly in us early in life, the stories that give our lives meaning."—Ben Okri, A Way of Being Free

📅 2026-09-24 00:40:01    •    Phys.org
Delaying cherry blossom to reduce frost damage
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Delaying cherry blossom to reduce frost damage

Climate change is causing many fruit trees to flower earlier, increasing their exposure to damaging late spring frosts. A study led by the University of Göttingen shows that the plant growth regulator ethephon can delay flowering in Kordia, a sweet cherry variety, potentially protecting blossoms and developing fruitlets from frost. The treatment did not significantly delay flowering in a second sweet cherry variety or two apple varieties, highlighting the importance of crop and cultivar selection. The results are published in BMC Plant Biology.

📅 2026-09-24 00:20:05    •    Phys.org
Crown-of-thorns starfish can help reefs thrive
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Crown-of-thorns starfish can help reefs thrive

Crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) are infamous in the marine world. Their toxin-loaded thorns give them a menacing appearance, and they have a reputation as destroyers of coral reefs. New research from the University of Sydney challenges the perception of COTS as purely destructive. The findings suggest controlled populations can have a positive impact on coral prevalence and diversity.

📅 2026-09-24 00:00:04    •    Phys.org
GenAI use among online adult learners associated with academic performance and technology confidence
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GenAI use among online adult learners associated with academic performance and technology confidence

University of Phoenix scholars have published research examining how nontraditional undergraduate students use generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in online higher education. The study found that more frequent GenAI use was significantly associated with higher academic performance and stronger confidence in technology skills. Lower confidence in reading, writing and math, and greater time demands from work, study or family responsibilities, did not significantly predict use.

📅 2026-09-24 00:00:01    •    Phys.org
How lawyers can better support clients living with dementia
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How lawyers can better support clients living with dementia

Lawyers play a critical role in helping people with dementia plan for the future. A recent study identifies knowledge gaps in the legal profession and key capabilities needed to better support people with dementia.

📅 2026-09-23 23:40:09    •    Phys.org