Scientists say a forgotten particle may explain why the universe exists

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• Scientists discover the hidden “muscles” trees use to straighten themselves

  Researchers at the National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment have identified the cellular motor driving plant proprioception, the internal awareness of physical posture once considered unique to animals. Experiments reveal that opposing dynamic tissues orchestrate these self-correcting movements independently of environmental signals. Insights into these growth mechanics could inform future forestry management and accelerate the breeding of resilient agricultural crops.

  5 min read
• Constructing a Quine from Kleene's Second Recursion Theorem

  Computer scientists are formalizing self-reproducing programs through untyped lambda calculus to bypass the tedious natural-number encodings required by classical computability theory. By shifting the foundational framework away from standard numerical index mappings, this functional methodology clarifies structural mechanics that earlier approaches routinely left obscure. The resulting formulation yields a cleaner, more rigorous perspective on how computational self-reference operates.

  10 min read
• 'Fascinating' rare beetle found in Wales again after 60 years

  Field surveys at the Castlemartin Range in Pembrokeshire confirmed that the Short-Necked Oil Beetle is actively reproducing locally. Experts located larvae distributed across the coastal site following a three-year search, marking a significant milestone for the nation's flagship species recovery programme. Habitat loss had previously pushed the vulnerable insect to the brink, leaving it unrecorded across the UK for decades.

  2 min read