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Researchers co-led by Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University have identified an enzyme that may help protect the liver from the damage that can occur as the most common form of liver disease becomes more severe. The findings, from a preclinical study published in Nature Metabolism, could eventually support new strategies for…
The European Space Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) made a close pass by Earth on September 28, skimming the outer reaches of the atmosphere and using our planet’s gravity to reshape its path toward Jupiter while consuming very little fuel. The carefully planned gravity assist changed Juice’s direction by…
The Moon no longer generates a global magnetic field, but traces of its ancient magnetism remain locked inside lunar rocks and soil. By studying the magnetic minerals preserved in these materials, scientists can reconstruct how the Moon’s magnetic environment changed over time. Researchers analyzing metallic iron inside impact glass from…
Researchers are using extraordinarily detailed computer simulations to reconstruct one of the most transformative periods in cosmic history: the era when the first stars and galaxies began to emerge. The work is part of the MEGATRON project, led by researchers at the University of Bath in the UK with collaborators…
Mitochondria are often described as the powerhouses of the cell because they produce much of the energy our bodies need to grow, move, repair tissues, and carry out everyday functions. But they do not operate at a constant pace. Instead, mitochondria continuously adjust their activity depending on how much energy…
A molecule made by bacteria in the digestive system may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and accelerate cognitive decline in people with dementia, according to new research. The finding could point scientists toward a potential treatment strategy aimed at lowering Alzheimer’s risk. Nearly a decade ago, a research team…
Researchers have demonstrated for the first time that quantum fluctuations in a vacuum can strengthen superconductivity, opening a new path for controlling unusual states of matter. The study, published in Nature, was led by Profs. Changgan Zeng and Guanghui Cheng of the University of Science and Technology of China of…
Vitamin C can increase the activity of cellular proteins known as TET enzymes, which help regulate whether certain genes are switched on or off. Reduced TET enzyme activity is a common feature in some blood cancers, prompting researchers to investigate whether vitamin C supplements might benefit people at risk of…
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has completed an important series of tests showing that it can keep its gaze extremely steady during observations. From Sept. 15 to 21, engineers tested Roman’s fine-guidance system, which helps the observatory remain precisely locked onto its targets. Then, on Sept. 22, the telescope’s…
Researchers at Oxford Population Health have found that high blood pressure is going undetected or remains poorly controlled in a large share of adults in England. The team examined blood pressure readings taken in clinics as part of Our Future Health, the UK’s largest health research program. Participants joined the…
Researchers have identified what may be the earliest known evidence of an internal animal “GPS” system, offering a possible glimpse into how modern birds, fish, and other creatures evolved the ability to navigate using Earth’s magnetic field. The evidence comes from tiny magnetic fossils dating back 97 million years. They…
Only about 500 million years after the Big Bang, when the universe was roughly 3% of its current age, some of the first stars and galaxies had already begun to shine. Astronomers have generally expected that much of the gas around these young galaxies would still have been nearly pristine,…
Superconductors are among the most remarkable materials in quantum physics. When certain materials are cooled below a specific transition temperature, their electrical resistance disappears. Electricity can then flow through them without losing energy as heat. This happens because electrons form correlated pairs called Cooper pairs. Instead of moving independently, these…
Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Cancer Center have uncovered a previously unknown metabolic vulnerability in the stem cells responsible for high risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). The finding could eventually help scientists develop treatments that more precisely target the cells driving this aggressive blood cancer. The study, published in…
Healthy aging is about staying independent, maintaining mobility and continuing to enjoy everyday activities as you get older. For many people, what matters most is being able to get out of a chair without help, carry shopping home, climb the stairs and recover quickly after illness. One of the most…
Southern California sits on one of the most active and closely watched fault networks in the United States. Earthquakes typically happen where sections of Earth’s crust move against one another, become stuck, and slowly accumulate stress. When that stored energy is finally released, the result can be an earthquake. Two…
A landmark study from QIMR Berghofer has found that even relatively brief periods outdoors during times of weaker sunlight can damage the skin and add to skin cancer risk. The results challenge the long standing assumption that spending time outside early or later in the day is largely harmless. Total…
Over the past decade, scientists have made major progress in creating two-dimensional materials with unusual quantum properties that could eventually support a new generation of technologies. Some of these materials can become superconductors, allowing electricity to flow without energy loss, while others develop charge orders, in which electrons settle into…
Researchers at the University of East Anglia and Oxford BioDynamics have identified a possible biological connection that could help explain why profound exhaustion appears across conditions as different as long Covid and PTSD. The new study, published in the Journal of Translational Medicine, points to striking similarities in the biology…
Scientists have identified two previously unrecognized species of large stick insects in Australia, revealing that even in some of the country’s most closely studied environments, new species are still waiting to be found. A University of Sydney research team reexamined Australian members of the stick insect genus Anchiale and discovered…
A newly developed textile covering helped strawberry plants produce more than three times as much fruit in tunnel field trials, while showing no harmful effects on plant health. Researchers say the technology may also offer a way to reduce water use and reliance on pesticides in strawberry production. The fabric,…
Researchers at the University of Surrey have proposed a new kind of qubit that could help address one of the biggest obstacles in quantum computing: keeping error rates low as systems become larger. The concept uses superfluid helium, a form of helium with unusual quantum properties, to create a qubit…
Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have created a new optical-neural processor that uses light to help identify deepfake videos quickly and accurately. Unlike conventional systems that typically examine videos one after another using digital hardware, the UCLA technology can analyze 15 or more video streams at…
A diet that combines elements of the Mediterranean diet with an eating plan designed to lower blood pressure may help slow some of the structural changes that occur as the brain ages, according to research published online in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. Greater adherence to the MIND…
Atherosclerosis, the gradual buildup of plaque inside arteries that drives most cardiovascular disease, can begin many years before a person notices any symptoms. Now, a large international study suggests that this hidden disease is already present in some young adults who otherwise appear healthy, and that it is considerably more…
A small preliminary study from UC San Francisco adds to mounting evidence that eating fewer ultra-processed foods may help reduce symptoms of depression. Published Sept. 23 in JAMA Psychiatry, the study was funded by the National Institutes of Health. Researchers believe it is the first study to compare depression symptoms…
Mount Sinai researchers have uncovered new details about how APOE4, the strongest known genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, may contribute to brain damage. Two studies published in Cell and Cell Stem Cell show that the gene can damage blood vessels in the brain and encourage the accumulation of abnormal…
When materials undergo major changes, such as water boiling or a magnet losing its magnetism, very different systems can sometimes start behaving according to the same mathematical rules. “Physicists call this trait universality — the messy, microscopic details wash out and only a few essential features survive,” explains Jason Alicea,…
A Johns Hopkins Medicine-led study suggests that the way a patient positions their arm during a blood pressure (BP) check can meaningfully affect the result. Common arm positions used during screenings may make blood pressure appear higher than it actually is, potentially contributing to an incorrect diagnosis of hypertension. In…
A large review led by researchers at King’s College London has found that people who use cannabis are more likely both to commit violent acts and to experience violence themselves. Researchers from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) combined data from 63 studies involving more than 265,000 people.…