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Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University have created a new artificial photosynthesis system that can generate solar fuel more consistently while eliminating the need for battery based control equipment. The advance comes from integrating a self regulating chemical component directly into the electrolyzer, reducing both system complexity and cost. Like natural…
A dangerous tapeworm that has been spreading across North America has now been detected in the Pacific Northwest, according to new research. Scientists found the parasite, known as Echinococcus multilocularis, in local coyotes, marking the first time it has been identified in a wild host along the contiguous U.S. West…
For thousands of years, bison roamed the Great Plains of North America and were an essential resource for Indigenous hunters. Those hunting traditions continued until the late 1800s, when overhunting drove bison populations to the brink of extinction. Long before that collapse, however, hunters relied on a variety of strategies…
Rice is best known as one of the world’s most important food crops, but scientists have now shown it could also help inspire a new generation of smart materials. Researchers discovered that packed rice grains behave in an unusual way under pressure. When compressed slowly, the grains remain relatively strong.…
NASA has unveiled new details about Artemis III, one of the most ambitious human spaceflight missions planned in decades, while also introducing the four astronauts who will fly the mission and a backup crew member. Scheduled for 2027, Artemis III will carry out a series of complex tests in Earth…
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have uncovered striking differences between the dawn and dusk regions of the ultra-hot exoplanet WASP-121 b. These boundary zones, known as terminators, mark the transition between the planet’s permanent day side and permanent night side. The findings provide the clearest evidence yet…
Artificial intelligence is already playing a major role in helping cosmologists study the universe. Now, new research suggests a machine learning technique called transfer learning could make the search for new physics much faster and less expensive. However, the study also uncovered a surprising downside: AI can sometimes become so…
Limiting long-term global warming to below 1.5°C will require far more than cutting greenhouse gas emissions. According to climate scenarios outlined in the latest Assessment Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the world will also need technologies capable of removing and storing hundreds of billions of tons…
As people grow older, their cells gradually become less efficient at producing energy and responding to changing demands. Scientists have long known that mitochondria, often called the cell’s powerhouses, play a central role in this decline. Now, researchers at the Leibniz Institute on Aging (FLI) in Jena, Germany, have identified…
One of the biggest questions in science is how life first emerged on Earth. Researchers generally agree that the appearance of the first biopolymers and their building blocks marked a critical step in the origin of life (OoL). However, scientists still do not know exactly how a collection of prehistoric…
Cancer cells have a remarkable ability to survive treatments that damage their DNA. One reason is that they rely on sophisticated repair systems that can fix genetic damage that would otherwise kill them. Among the most important of these systems is homologous recombination, a highly accurate DNA repair process that…
MIT engineers are developing a new spacecraft propulsion system that combines the strengths of traditional chemical rockets with the efficiency and precision of electric thrusters. The technology could give small satellites far greater flexibility in space. Instead of relying on separate fuel systems for different types of maneuvers, future spacecraft…
Artificial intelligence systems can write essays, answer questions, and solve complex problems. But new research suggests they may struggle with something humans do every day: staying focused on the task at hand when distractions get in the way. Researchers led by Suketu Patel put several leading AI models through a…
A large international research team led by groups at Harvard Medical School and Princeton University has reached a major neuroscience milestone by publishing a complete map of every connection between neurons in the central nervous system of an adult fruit fly. The achievement gives scientists a new way to examine…
A widely used supplement marketed for joint pain relief may be linked to faster progression of Alzheimer’s disease, according to new research from the University of Florida. The study found that people with mild cognitive impairment who reported taking glucosamine were more likely to progress to dementia than those who…
A new study suggests that the earliest animals on Earth may have unintentionally slowed the rise of biodiversity. According to researchers from the University of Cambridge, the way these ancient organisms reproduced limited competition and kept evolution moving at a remarkably slow pace for millions of years. The findings, published…
Many people assume hearing loss happens gradually and is simply part of getting older. But one of the earliest signs may be something unexpected: a persistent ringing, buzzing, or hissing sound that no one else can hear. Susan Bianco, 87, of Lancaster, first realized her hearing was changing when conversations…
Many people undergoing chemotherapy experience a frustrating side effect often called “chemo brain.” These cognitive changes can include trouble concentrating, memory problems, and difficulty juggling multiple tasks. According to researchers, as many as 80% of chemotherapy patients experience some degree of cancer-related cognitive impairment. Now, a Phase II clinical trial…
A new study suggests that eating more ultra-processed foods could make it harder to stay focused and may contribute to factors linked to dementia, even among people who otherwise follow healthy diets. Researchers from Monash University, the University of São Paulo, and Deakin University analyzed dietary and cognitive data from…
Millions of people worldwide live with obstructive sleep apnea, a common disorder that repeatedly interrupts breathing during sleep. New research in mice suggests that gut microbes and the compounds they produce may play a surprising role in protecting against some of the condition’s most serious consequences, including heart disease. The…
An ultraheavy particle may help explain one of the most puzzling mysteries in modern astrophysics: the origin of the most energetic particles ever detected. Ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays are particles from space that slam into Earth with energies far beyond anything produced by human-built particle accelerators. Among the most extraordinary examples…
The review confirms that tea, particularly green tea, plays a crucial role in preventing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), obesity, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Tea’s neuroprotective effects, ability to reduce muscle loss in seniors, and its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities further highlight its potential health-promoting properties. However,…
A new study led by researchers at Curtin University offers fresh insight into one of Stonehenge’s most enduring mysteries: how a massive stone made its way across Britain to become part of the famous monument. The focus of the research is the Altar Stone, a six-ton sandstone megalith located at…
Chemicals introduced to help repair and protect Earth’s ozone layer may have created an unexpected environmental problem. According to a new study, some of the substances that replaced ozone damaging chemicals are now responsible for spreading large amounts of a persistent “forever chemical” across the globe. Researchers led by Lancaster…
Scientists have identified a previously unknown mechanism that may be helping cancers evade the immune system. The discovery centers on SLAMF6, a molecule found on the surface of immune cells that can prevent T cells from mounting a strong attack against tumors. In experiments involving mice, researchers also developed a…
The largest review ever conducted on opioid pain medications has found that these commonly prescribed drugs often offer only limited, short term relief for acute pain, and in some cases provide no meaningful benefit at all. Researchers from the University of Sydney led the investigation, which examined the effectiveness and…
Is there a massive undiscovered planet on the outer reaches of the Solar System? The idea has been around since before the discovery of Pluto in the 1930s. Labelled as planet X, prominent astronomers had put it forward as an explanation for Uranus’s orbit, which drifts from the path of…
NASA has released a new update on the ongoing air leak issue inside Russia’s Zvezda service module on the International Space Station, where cracks in a transfer tunnel have caused small atmospheric leaks since 2019. The affected area is known as the PrK transfer tunnel. NASA and Roscosmos have been…
A promising experimental compound developed by researchers at ETH Zurich could offer a new way to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. In studies involving mice, the treatment reduced nerve cell loss, helped the animals live longer, and targeted a biological process that existing Alzheimer’s drugs do not address. The…
Whether you’re navigating a job interview, meeting someone for the first time, or responding to an unexpected challenge, success often depends on your ability to adjust your behavior. In some situations, adapting quickly can even be critical for survival. But how does the brain know when it’s time to abandon…
