New pill cuts “bad” cholesterol by 60% in major trial

A new experimental pill called enlicitide dramatically lowered levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, often referred to as “bad” cholesterol, by as much as 60%, according to a phase three clinical trial published in The New England Journal of Medicine. If the drug receives approval from the Food and Drug…

New AI tool predicts cancer spread with surprising accuracy

Why do some tumors spread while others remain localized? Scientists still do not fully understand what controls a cancer cell’s ability to metastasize, but answering this question is essential for improving patient care. Researchers at the University of Geneva (UNIGE) studied cells from colon cancer and identified key factors that…

Harvard engineers build chip that can twist and control light in real time

Researchers at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have created a compact device that can actively control the “handedness” of light as it passes through it, also known as optical chirality. This is achieved by slightly rotating two specially engineered photonic crystal layers. The…

Scientists just found a hidden 48-dimensional world in quantum light

Scientists at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, working with collaborators from Huzhou University, have uncovered a surprising feature in one of the most widely used tools in quantum optics. They found that standard methods for producing entangled photons can contain previously unseen topological structures. In their experiments,…

This crocodile ran like a greyhound across prehistoric Britain 200 million years ago

A newly identified crocodylomorph from about 215 million years ago has been discovered in Gloucester, UK, revealing a fast-moving, land-dwelling predator: The animal resembled a reptilian greyhound, with a slender build adapted for speed It has been named Galahadosuchus jonesi in honor of schoolteacher David Rhys Jones Fast Land-Dwelling Crocodile…

Tectonic shift: Earth was already moving 3.5 billion years ago

Earth’s history is recorded in its tectonic plates. Over billions of years, their movement has shaped continents, opened oceans, and created the climates and environments that allowed life to emerge and evolve. Yet one fundamental question has remained unresolved. When did these plates actually begin to move? Did Earth’s outer…

Scientists turn probiotic bacteria into tumor-hunting cancer killers

Cancer affects millions of people worldwide each year, and treating it remains difficult because of how complex the disease can be. New findings published March 17th in the open-access journal PLOS Biology by Tianyu Jiang of Shandong University in Qingdao, China, and colleagues highlight a possible new strategy. The researchers…

These “forever chemicals” could be weakening kids’ bones for life

New research published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society suggests that exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) during early life could influence how children’s bones develop during adolescence. PFAS are man-made chemicals commonly found in water, food, and a wide range of everyday products. Often referred to as…

Men are losing a key chromosome with age and it may be deadly

As men grow older, some of their cells gradually lose the Y chromosome. For a long time, scientists assumed this change would have little impact. The Y chromosome contains relatively few genes beyond those involved in male development, so its absence was not expected to affect overall health. That view…

Huge study finds no evidence cannabis helps anxiety, depression, or PTSD

A major paper published in The Lancet reports that medicinal cannabis does not effectively treat anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The analysis is the largest to date examining both the safety and effectiveness of cannabinoids across a wide range of mental health conditions. These findings arrive at a…

This common vaccine cuts heart risk nearly in half in new study

People living with heart disease who received a shingles vaccine experienced nearly half the rate of serious heart-related events within a year compared with those who were not vaccinated. These findings come from research being presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session (ACC.26). The study reviewed data…

This virus therapy supercharges the immune system against brain cancer

Researchers from Mass General Brigham and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute report that a single dose of an oncolytic virus, a genetically engineered virus designed to infect and kill cancer cells, can draw immune cells deep into brain tumors and keep them active there. Their findings, published in Cell, explain how this…

Closing your eyes to hear better might be a big mistake

When people try to focus on a faint sound, many instinctively shut their eyes. The common belief is that removing visual distractions allows the brain to concentrate more fully on hearing, boosting sensitivity. However, this approach does not always work, especially in environments filled with background noise. A study published…

Astronomers discover nearby galaxy was shattered by cosmic crash

The Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) is one of the Milky Way’s closest galactic neighbors, a compact, gas-rich galaxy that can be seen with the naked eye from the southern hemisphere. It orbits our galaxy along with its larger companion, the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), and all three have been interacting…

Scientists turn CO2 into fuel using breakthrough single-atom catalyst

Every chemical reaction must overcome an energy hurdle before it can occur. Substances need an initial input of energy to start reacting. Sometimes this barrier is small, like lighting a match. In many industrial processes, however, the required energy is much higher, which increases costs. To make reactions easier and…

Gum disease bacterium linked to breast cancer growth and spread

Scientists at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and the Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy have identified a surprising link between oral health and breast cancer. Their research shows that a bacterium commonly associated with gum disease may help initiate breast cancer, accelerate tumor growth, and promote its spread by…

What happens after Ozempic shocked researchers

As injectable GLP-1 medications become more widely used, many people wonder what happens when patients stop taking them outside of controlled clinical trials. A new analysis from Cleveland Clinic, involving nearly 8,000 patients, suggests that stopping drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide does not typically result in major weight regain in…

Scientists thought ravens followed wolves. They were wrong

When a wolf pack brings down prey, ravens are often the first to show up. Even before wolves begin feeding, these birds gather nearby, ready to snatch any scraps that become available. Their timing has long seemed almost uncanny, leading many people to assume that ravens simply follow wolves to…

Ultra-processed foods linked to 67% higher risk of heart attack and stroke

Eating large amounts of ultra-processed foods may significantly increase the risk of serious heart problems, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session (ACC.26). People who consumed more than nine servings per day were 67% more likely to experience major cardiac events compared with those…

Belly fat linked to heart failure risk even in people with normal weight

New research presented at the American Heart Association’s EPI|Lifestyle Scientific Sessions 2026 suggests that fat stored around the waist (central obesity or visceral fat) may raise the risk of heart failure, largely due to inflammation. The conference, held in Boston from March 17 to 20, highlights the latest findings in…

The best strength training plan might be simpler than you think

The first major update to resistance training recommendations in 17 years delivers a straightforward message. Even small amounts of resistance training can improve strength, increase muscle size, enhance power, and support overall physical function. The updated guidance, released by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) as a Position Stand,…

Scientists discover tiny rocket engines inside malaria parasites

The malaria parasite is packed with tiny crystals that spin nonstop, a strange behavior that puzzled scientists for decades. Researchers have now discovered that these crystals are powered by the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide, a reaction similar to the one used in rocket engines. This constant spinning may help the…

Cutting sweet foods doesn’t reduce cravings or improve health

A new clinical trial found that adjusting how sweet a person’s diet is does not affect how much they enjoy sweet foods. Whether people ate more or less sweet-tasting items, their preference for sweetness stayed the same. The study also found no meaningful differences in markers linked to heart disease…

You don’t need to lose weight to reverse prediabetes, study finds

For years, preventing diabetes has been closely tied to one main goal: losing weight. However, new research challenges that long-standing assumption. People diagnosed with prediabetes — a condition affecting up to one in three adults depending on age — have traditionally been advised to eat healthier and shed pounds to…

Wildfires in carbon-rich tropical peatlands hit 2000-year high

A new study has found a sharp and unusual rise in wildfires in tropical peatlands during the 20th century, marking a clear departure from long-term historical patterns. Peatlands are massive underground carbon reservoirs, storing more carbon than all of the world’s forests combined. When these areas burn, they release large…

Scientists recreated a dinosaur nest to solve a 70-million-year-old mystery

How oviraptors, bird-like but flightless dinosaurs, hatched their eggs has long been unclear. Did they depend on heat from their surroundings like crocodiles, or did they warm their eggs directly like birds? A new study in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution explores this question by examining oviraptor nesting behavior and…

The surprising cancer link between cats and humans

The first large-scale analysis of multiple cancer types in cats has uncovered genetic changes that may help guide new treatments for both animals and people. Researchers examined tumors from nearly 500 pet cats across five countries. The work involved scientists from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, the Ontario Veterinary College in…

The surprising cancer link between cats and humans

The first large-scale analysis of multiple cancer types in cats has uncovered genetic changes that may help guide new treatments for both animals and people. Researchers examined tumors from nearly 500 pet cats across five countries. The work involved scientists from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, the Ontario Veterinary College in…