Reporting world updates to you
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…
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.…
Astronomers have long relied on brief bursts of gamma rays to identify collisions between neutron stars. These flashes can vanish in less than two seconds. Now, new research suggests that some neutron star mergers may also produce X-ray flashes that remain visible for several minutes. A study published in Science…
Anyone who has ever heated a pot of water knows that temperature depends on more than how hot something gets. Time matters too. Yet marine heatwaves (MHWs) have traditionally been studied as distinct events with clearly defined beginnings and endings. New research led by William & Mary’s VIMS & Batten…
Mulberry has been eaten as food and used in traditional medicine for centuries. Now, researchers are examining whether compounds in the plant can alter the gut microbiota and, in turn, affect metabolism. A review involving scientists from Wroclaw Medical University suggests that the results may depend heavily on the mulberry…
A new study suggests that Jezero Crater’s mysterious “Margin Unit” records a far more complicated history of water than scientists expected, involving ancient lakes, groundwater, and later hydrothermal activity. When NASA’s Perseverance rover arrived at the inner rim of Mars’ Jezero Crater in September 2023, researchers expected to encounter sedimentary…
Galaxies can contain hundreds of billions of stars, but every one of those stars begins with cold, dense gas. Large galaxies, including the Milky Way, are surrounded by an enormous reservoir of this material known as the circumgalactic medium, or CGM. The CGM extends roughly 10-20 times farther than the…
Nearly 2,000 years ago, Pliny the Younger documented what he witnessed when Mt. Vesuvius erupted, burying Pompeii and killing his uncle, Pliny the Elder. His account did more than preserve the story of one of history’s most famous volcanic disasters. It also recorded enough information about when the eruption occurred…
NASA will offer live coverage of preparations, liftoff, and docking for the SpaceX Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station. The broadcasts will be available across several NASA platforms. Viewers can find streaming options at: https://www.nasa.gov/live Crew-13 Launches Oct. 1 Crew-13 is scheduled to lift off at 11:10 a.m. EDT…
New research is reshaping scientists’ understanding of bat evolution, with evidence suggesting that bats most likely originated in Europe during the late Paleocene, roughly 65 to 60 million years ago. For decades, researchers have debated where bats first appeared. Africa, Asia, and North America have all been proposed as possible…
NASA’s Curiosity rover has captured a striking new view of Mars as it passed a major mission milestone: 5,000 Martian days on the Red Planet. While stopped at a sandy ridge nicknamed “Chocolatal,” Curiosity used its navigation cameras to photograph the surrounding landscape at two different times of day. The…
The ocean is filled with sound, and for sharks, those sounds can reveal what is happening well beyond their field of view. Noise produced by prey, predators, and other animals may provide important information about the surrounding environment. Yet scientists have had little direct evidence showing just how far a…
Creatine is widely known for helping support muscle growth and athletic performance, but researchers are increasingly examining whether its benefits extend well beyond the gym. New findings from Texas A&M University suggest creatine may be particularly useful in middle age, when preserving muscle becomes increasingly important. In a 12-week study…