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A remarkable set of fossil footprints from northern Kenya is offering scientists a rare glimpse of how an extinct human relative may have moved and interacted about 1.4 million years ago. The tracks, preserved near an ancient lakeshore, appear to record eight Paranthropus boisei individuals occupying the same place at…
Physics allows for black holes far smaller than the enormous objects typically found at the centers of galaxies or created when massive stars collapse. Under the right conditions, microscopic black holes could also form when spacetime enters an unusual critical state and organizes into a repeating, crystal-like pattern. Researchers from…
A combination of omega-3 and low-dose acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) performed about as well as antibiotics in a yearlong study of people with severe periodontitis, raising the possibility of an alternative treatment for some patients. The research was conducted by scientists affiliated with Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital, Guarulhos University (UNG), the…
Scientists used a new error correction strategy to encode 70 logical qubits and tackle a problem considered classically intractable. The quantum computation was completed in about 15 minutes, while leading classical computing methods would require an impractical amount of time to perform the same task. IBM and researchers at the…
Using an in-home HEPA purifier for one month spurs a small but significant improvement in brain function in adults age 40 and older. That’s the result of a new study we co-authored in the journal Scientific Reports. HEPA purifiers – HEPA stands for high efficiency particulate air – remove particulate…
Glacial earthquakes are a special type of earthquake generated in cold, icy regions. First discovered in the northern hemisphere more than 20 years ago, these quakes occur when huge chunks of ice fall from glaciers into the sea. Until now, only a very few have been found in the Antarctic.…
Researchers have uncovered a major temperature imbalance deep inside Mars, with the planet’s southern interior appearing significantly hotter than its northern half. Gravity measurements suggest that the interior beneath Mars’s southern hemisphere is about 200 to 400 degrees Celsius warmer than the north and may be partially molten. The finding…
Nanocrystals have become an important part of modern materials science, with quantum dots helping inspire the 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Yet despite their enormous potential, researchers have only been able to produce these microscopic crystals from a relatively narrow range of materials. Now, chemists at the University of Chicago…
An international research team has identified seven previously undescribed species of Madagascar’s elusive diamond frogs (Rhombophryne), adding new evidence that this unusual amphibian group is far more diverse than scientists once realized. Accurately identifying species and understanding where they live are essential for measuring biodiversity and protecting it. To sort…
For years, archaeologists have debated why some ancient Egyptian princesses were buried with weapons. The bows, arrows, daggers, and maces found in their tombs were often interpreted as ceremonial objects rather than equipment the women had actually used. A new examination of royal mummies from Egypt’s Middle Kingdom now suggests…
Scientists have found a way to grow Spirulina that produces biologically active vitamin B12 at levels comparable to beef, potentially overcoming one of the biggest nutritional limitations of this widely promoted algae. The research, published in the scientific journal Discover Food, was led by Dr. Asaf Tzachor, Founder and Academic…
A new seismic analysis of the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate beneath northern Oregon suggests the subducting slab lies closer to the surface than scientists previously believed. The finding could affect estimates of how strongly the region might shake during a future Cascadia megathrust earthquake. The Juan de Fuca plate…
Two remarkably successful theories explain nearly everything we observe in the universe, from tiny atoms and molecules to planets, stars, and galaxies. Quantum mechanics describes the behavior of matter at very small scales, while Einstein’s theory of gravity explains how stars and black holes move and how the Universe expands.…
Immunotherapies such as CAR T-cell therapy were originally developed mainly to fight cancer. But scientists are now investigating whether these personalized treatments, made from a patient’s own immune cells, could also help treat or even potentially cure autoimmune diseases. Researchers at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin have now tested CAR T-cell…
A very low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet may provide stronger metabolic benefits for people with obesity than either a Mediterranean diet or a low-fat diet, according to a clinical trial published August 27 in the Cell Press journal Cell Metabolism. After four to five months on a ketogenic (or “Keto”) diet, about…
Dogs and humans may share some of the same biological patterns tied to lifespan, according to new research from the Dog Aging Project. The finding could give scientists a useful new way to investigate how aging works in both species. In a study recently published in The Journals of Gerontology,…
Virginia Tech chemist and chemical engineer Guoliang “Greg” Liu and his research team have developed a method for transforming polyvinyl chloride (PVC) into polyalphaolefin, an important ingredient used in lubricants including engine oil. Published Aug. 5 in Nature, the work could offer a way to address two separate environmental problems…
An international team of astrophysicists says the universe is still expanding at an accelerating rate, rejecting recent claims that cosmic expansion may have begun to slow. The researchers challenged a study published last year claiming the growth of the universe is slowing. They argue that the standard interpretation remains intact:…
Long-term use of melatonin, a widely used sleep supplement, was linked to a higher risk of heart failure, hospitalization for heart failure, and death from any cause among people with chronic insomnia, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2025. The findings do not prove…
Researchers at Edith Cowan University (ECU) have identified a potentially important source of low-emission energy beneath Western Australia, where vast iron-rich formations may be capable of generating naturally occurring hydrogen. The findings suggest that the region’s geology could eventually support a new domestic energy source and, if developed at scale,…
Could subtle changes during sleep reveal vulnerability to Alzheimer’s disease years before memory problems become noticeable? Researchers at ULiège, supported by the Stop Alzheimer’s Foundation, are investigating whether the sleeping brain may contain early clues. Scientists from the University of Liège (GIGA Neurosciences) examined sleep patterns in more than 500…
Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have identified a molecular mechanism that appears to restrict the ability of injured neurons to regrow damaged axons. The findings, published in the journal Nature, suggest that blocking a protein known as the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) could promote nerve…
Photoreceptor degeneration is behind several major causes of blindness, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Together, these disorders affect about 200 million people worldwide and rank among the leading causes of visual impairment and blindness. Beyond the profound effects on independence and quality of life, vision loss…
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is now just two days from launch, marking the arrival of the agency’s next flagship astrophysics mission after the James Webb Space Telescope. University of Arizona faculty and students will be watching from Cape Canaveral as Roman begins its journey toward science operations, which…
Walking through the savanna-woodland landscape of Boé National Park, Guinea-Bissau, you might encounter a tree covered in gnarled scars, with an accumulation of rocks surrounding its base. The chimpanzees may have left the area, but you are lucky nonetheless, because you have stumbled upon evidence of a rare — and…
Vanillin, a flavoring chemical commonly used in e-cigarettes, may interfere with normal embryonic development in pregnant women who vape, according to research led by UC Riverside. The findings, published on August 12 in Human Reproduction, offer a possible explanation for previously observed links between vaping, difficulty becoming pregnant, and miscarriage.…
Students who attended public school pre-K went on to perform better academically through high school than children who received family-based childcare, according to new research from Florida International University. The findings come from one of the largest long-term studies of early childhood education outcomes. Led by George Mason University and…
A large survey of plant-based foods and beverages sold in the UK has found that mycotoxins, toxic compounds naturally produced by fungi, are widespread across vegetarian and vegan products. Researchers analyzed 212 plant-based meat alternatives (PMBAs) and plant-based beverages (PBBs) purchased from UK stores. Every product tested contained at least…
For millennia, people have transformed landscapes, forcing wildlife to adjust to cities, farms, roads, and other human activity. But new research suggests animals are responding not only to the environments we build, but also to the simple fact that people are physically nearby. Researchers from UC Santa Barbara, the Smithsonian’s…
Soil supports the food we eat, stores water, carbon and nutrients, and provides habitat for an enormous share of life on Earth. Scientists estimate that more than half of global biodiversity exists below the surface. But soil biodiversity is declining around the world, threatening agriculture, food security and the ability…