What’s hiding inside colon cancer could change treatment

Colorectal cancer appears to stand apart from other cancers in a surprising way. New research from the University of East Anglia suggests it carries its own distinct microbial “fingerprint,” a discovery that could reshape how doctors understand and treat the disease. Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer in…

Scientists discover bizarre termite that looks like a tiny sperm whale

High in the treetops of a South American rainforest, scientists have identified a tiny soldier termite with a surprisingly whale-like appearance. The unusual insect caught the attention of an international team of researchers, who were struck by how different it looked from any known species. Named Cryptotermes mobydicki, the termite…

A 200-year-old light trick just transformed quantum encryption

As digital communication accelerates and cyber threats continue to rise, researchers are working to develop more secure ways to transmit information. One of the most promising approaches is quantum cryptography, which uses individual photons to generate encryption keys. A research team from the Faculty of Physics at the University of…

Millions start work too early. This drug helps them stay awake

Far more people work very early morning shifts than overnight schedules, yet many struggle with severe fatigue linked to shift work disorder. This condition can interfere with concentration, job performance, and safety. A new clinical trial led by researchers at Mass General Brigham found that the wake-promoting drug solriamfetol (Sunosi)…

Scientists discover hidden “winds” inside cells that could explain cancer spread

Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University have identified a previously unknown system inside cells that acts like internal “trade winds,” rapidly carrying important proteins to the front edge of the cell. This finding changes how scientists understand cell movement, cancer spread and wound healing. The study, published in Nature…

Scientists just found DNA “supergenes” that speed up evolution

Researchers have uncovered a powerful genetic mechanism that may help explain how some species evolve with surprising speed. Certain sections of DNA, known as “flipped” segments, appear to help fish rapidly adapt to new environments and even split into entirely new species. These genetic features act like evolutionary accelerators, preserving…

How squid survived Earth’s biggest extinction and took over the oceans

Squid and cuttlefish are among the ocean’s most fascinating animals, known for their color-changing skin and jet-like movement. For decades, scientists have tried to understand how these unusual creatures evolved. Progress has been slow because their fossil record is limited and their genomes are complex. Now, new research is finally…

NASA’s asteroid Bennu sample reveals a hidden chemical patchwork

A new study shows that, at an incredibly small scale, the building blocks inside the asteroid Bennu are not evenly mixed. Instead, organic material and minerals are grouped into three clearly different chemical regions. These findings help scientists understand how liquid water once changed the asteroid’s composition over time. Bennu…

Scientists turn MXene into tiny nanoscrolls that supercharge batteries and sensors

Nearly 15 years after discovering MXenes, a versatile class of two-dimensional conductive nanomaterials, researchers at Drexel University have now developed a way to create a one-dimensional version known as MXene nanoscrolls. These ultra-thin structures, about 100 times thinner than a human hair, are even more conductive than their flat counterparts…

This Viagra ingredient just did something remarkable for a deadly childhood disease

Sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra, may offer new hope for people living with Leigh syndrome, a rare and severe childhood disorder. Researchers from Charité — Universitätsmedizin Berlin, working with collaborators from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU), University Hospital Düsseldorf (UKD), and the Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology…

DNA robots could deliver drugs and hunt viruses inside your body

Imagine tiny robots made from DNA moving through the bloodstream, delivering drugs exactly where they are needed and targeting threats such as cancer cells or viruses. These microscopic machines could also assemble ultra-precise data storage systems and computing devices at the nanometer scale. Although the possibilities are remarkable, most DNA…

Hardly anyone uses this surprisingly simple blood pressure fix

A surprisingly small number of people with high blood pressure are using salt substitutes, even though they offer an easy and effective way to cut sodium and improve heart health. That’s the key finding from new preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association’s Hypertension Scientific Sessions 2025, a major…

Your DNA is constantly moving—and it may explain cancer

How does DNA pack the enormous amount of information needed to build a human body? And what happens when that system breaks down? Research led by Jesse Dixon, MD, PhD, explores how DNA is arranged in three dimensions inside cells, revealing that problems with this structure can lead to cancer…

This new “phonon laser” could measure gravity more precisely than ever before

Since their invention in the 1960s, lasers have transformed both science and daily life, powering everything from grocery store scanners to vision-correcting surgery. Traditional lasers work by controlling photons, which are individual particles of light. In recent decades, however, researchers have expanded this idea to other types of particles, including…

These “smart” crystals bend and snap back when hit with light

Researchers at the University of California, Davis have identified a surprising property in a class of materials known as perovskites that could pave the way for a new generation of light-controlled semiconductor devices. Their findings, published March 3 in Advanced Materials, show that halide perovskite crystals can change their shape…

This new test could transform UTI treatment with same-day results

People with urinary tract infections (UTIs) may soon get the right antibiotic much faster, thanks to a new test that delivers results in hours instead of days. Scientists at the University of Reading, working with researchers from the University of Southampton and Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, have developed a…

Coffee at night may increase risky behavior, especially in women

Do you reach for coffee at night to stay awake? New research from The University of Texas at El Paso suggests that habit may come with an unexpected downside. Scientists found that consuming caffeine at night can increase impulsive behavior, raising the likelihood of risky or uncontrolled actions. The findings,…

Kratom cases are exploding across the U.S. and doctors are alarmed

A new University of Virginia Health analysis shows a sharp rise in kratom-related calls to poison centers across the United States. Between 2015 and 2025, reports increased by more than 1,200%, alongside a notable jump in hospitalizations. In 2025, poison centers recorded a peak of 3,434 cases, compared to just…

Scientists say this simple habit may help you lose more weight

Keeping meals similar from day to day and maintaining a steady calorie intake could help people lose more weight, according to research from the American Psychological Association. The study, published in Health Psychology, showed that adults who followed structured eating patterns during a 12-week behavioral weight loss program achieved better…

A surprising new idea about how the Big Bang may have happened

Scientists at the University of Waterloo have proposed a new way to explain how the universe began, offering a fresh perspective on the Big Bang and its earliest moments. Their findings suggest that the universe’s rapid early expansion may have emerged naturally from a deeper and more complete theory known…

Scientists stretched a liquid and it snapped like a solid

In a surprising discovery that could reshape fluid mechanics, researchers at Drexel University have shown that under certain conditions, a simple liquid can behave like a solid and fracture. The study, published in Physical Review Letters, demonstrates that viscous liquids can abruptly snap when stretched with enough force. This finding…

Some dinosaurs could rise up like giants — until they grew too big

Around 66 million years ago, two types of long-necked, four-legged dinosaurs stood out from other sauropods. They had the ability to rise up on their hind legs and stay upright for extended periods. This posture likely helped them reach leaves high in trees and may have made them look larger…

Simple therapies beat drugs for knee arthritis pain relief

A new large-scale analysis has identified knee braces, water therapy, and exercise as the most effective non-drug options for managing knee osteoarthritis. The findings come from a meta-analysis published in the open-access journal PLOS One. Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a widespread and often disabling condition that affects millions of older…

Webb telescope spots mysterious explosion that defies known physics

A Rutgers astrophysicist is helping investigate a strange cosmic event that has left astronomers searching for answers. At the center of the mystery is an unusually powerful explosion in space that lasted far longer than anything previously observed. NASA announced that researchers using the James Webb Space Telescope examined GRB…

Monster black holes are silencing star formation across the universe

Powerful radiation from active supermassive black holes, which are believed to sit at the center of most galaxies, can do more than shape their own surroundings. A new study led by Yongda Zhu at the University of Arizona suggests these black holes can also slow the formation of stars in…

This overlooked hormone could be why your blood pressure won’t drop

The MOMENTUM study revealed that 27 percent of patients with resistant hypertension have hypercortisolism. This finding is important because it shows that excess cortisol is far more common in these patients than researchers and clinicians previously believed. Resistant hypertension occurs when blood pressure remains high even after taking three or…