Advances

A new electrically conductive material could lead to better self-healing soft robots

New work suggests four distinct star system types—and finds our own in the rarest category

It turns out there are two species of mysterious, venomous pygmy lorises

Wall lizards can “size up” invading competitors by smell alone

When you can’t remember a word, it might only feel like it’s on the tip of your tongue

A fish species recognizes its own face digitally edited onto another fish’s body. What does this mean for self-awareness?

Chernobyl’s adaptable canines, sewage sea spray in the U.S., hibernating germs on Everest, and much more in this month’s Quick Hits

A robotic finger’s supersensitive touches could probe inside body parts and circuits

Southern Ocean phytoplankton help to brighten Earth’s clouds

Mistaken fossil identity in India, decrypted letters of an imprisoned Scottish queen, marsupials seeking marsupials Down Under, and more in this month’s Quick Hits

Bird-strike-deterrent window films don’t work if they’re placed on the indoor side

Bacteria with artificial hydrogel skeletons could be used as tiny robots