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Birds living in cities appear to react differently to men and women, and scientists are struggling to explain why. An international research team discovered that urban birds, including great tits, house sparrows, and blackbirds, tend to fly away sooner when approached by women than by men. The surprising behavior raises…
Researchers at the University of Oxford have observed virus-like particles assembling themselves one molecule at a time, uncovering the surprisingly simple rules that allow complex biological structures to form with remarkable reliability. The findings, published in Nature, offer a detailed look at a process that scientists have struggled to observe…
Almost a century ago, a breakthrough in microscopy gave scientists an entirely new way to examine the inside of cells. Known as phase contrast, the technique made previously faint or nearly invisible cellular structures much easier to distinguish. Its importance was recognized with a Nobel Prize in 1953. Now, physicists…
Honey bees are proving to be formidable competitors for food in the UK, and scientists have discovered that they frequently use aggression to drive other pollinators away from flowers. New research has documented how honey bees chase, displace, and intimidate rival insects, providing the first detailed evidence of how extensively…
NASA’s Curiosity rover has captured a spectacular new panorama of Mars, providing its clearest look yet at a series of mysterious cliffs shaped by wind. Scientists have been eager to examine these distant formations up close, and the latest images offer an exciting preview of what lies ahead. Taken at…
Americans are getting more calories from their daily coffee, even though the amount they drink has barely changed. Researchers at the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University have identified a surprising reason for the increase: non-dairy creamer, which has overtaken sugar…
Most primates have relatively large brains covered in distinctive folds and grooves. However, common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) are an unusual exception. These small monkeys have brains that are almost entirely smooth, with very little folding. Scientists at the German Primate Center (DPZ), the Leibniz Institute for Primate Research in Göttingen,…
Scientists have identified a natural plant compound that could offer a surprising new approach to fighting rheumatoid arthritis. In experiments with rats, the substance reduced joint swelling, protected cartilage, and calmed harmful immune activity. Researchers also discovered that it works through an unexpected mechanism involving the way the body processes…
A simple procedure that takes about 15 minutes could offer lasting relief to people with carpal tunnel syndrome, a painful condition that can cause numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hands. A new study suggests that the treatment, which uses ultrasound to guide an injection of ordinary saline around a…
An experimental weight-loss drug that has not yet received regulatory approval is already attracting users willing to obtain unapproved versions online. Now, scientists are using artificial intelligence to investigate their experiences, uncovering unexpected symptom reports that differ from those documented in clinical trials. The drug, retatrutide, belongs to a new…
A remarkable rock discovered in Papua New Guinea has revealed an unexpected temperature pattern deep beneath Earth’s surface, challenging scientists’ understanding of how tectonic plates move into the planet’s interior. An international research team led by Göttingen University found that the rock traveled more than 90 kilometers (56 miles) underground…
A massive study involving more than 460,000 Americans is challenging assumptions about ultra-processed foods and colorectal cancer. Researchers found that eating more ultra-processed food (UPF) was not associated with a higher overall incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the findings revealed an important distinction: Some types of ultra-processed foods were…
Scientists have uncovered a surprising way that viruses can interfere with the body’s cells. When too much RNA accumulates inside a cell, it can damage the structures that produce energy, potentially leaving the cell struggling to function normally. A new study led by researchers at the Texas A&M College of…
A mysterious train delay nearly 180 years ago has led scientists to uncover a surprising mistake in the history of space weather. An international research team has solved a 178-year-old mystery involving one of the earliest documented cases of solar activity interfering with electrical technology. The incident dates back to…
A journey to Mars may be less challenging for the human heart than scientists once feared. A new study suggests that astronauts can adapt remarkably well to months of weightlessness, offering encouraging evidence that humans could endure the long trip to the Red Planet and function under its weaker gravity.…
Scientists in Germany have found a way to dramatically reverse the molecular age of human cells, transforming blood cells from an 80-year-old person into stem cells with an age signature of less than 20 years. Researchers at the University Hospital of Bonn and the University of Bonn achieved this remarkable…
A daily strength training routine lasting just four minutes can significantly improve strength, balance, and mobility in older adults, according to new research led by Penn State College of Medicine. The findings suggest that maintaining physical independence with age may require much less exercise than many people assume. Published in…
NASA’s Perseverance rover has officially set a new driving record on another world, traveling farther across an extraterrestrial surface than any vehicle before it. On October 11, its odometer reached 28.10 miles (45.22 kilometers), surpassing the previous record of 28.06 miles (45.16 kilometers) held by NASA’s Opportunity rover, which explored…
A massive asteroid slammed into the North Sea roughly 43 to 46 million years ago, triggering a tsunami more than 100 meters (330 feet) high. Now, after more than two decades of scientific disagreement, researchers have uncovered compelling evidence confirming the ancient collision. The impact created what is now known…
A newly identified freshwater cave snail in China is offering scientists a rare glimpse into the little-known aquatic ecosystems hidden beneath East Asia. Published in the journal Subterranean Biology, the discovery represents an important step forward in understanding the region’s underground wildlife. Until now, no freshwater cave snails had been…
A large study involving approximately 7,500 people suggests that eating a healthy diet may help slow biological aging, and there is no single eating plan that stands above all others. Scientists at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) investigated 10 different dietary patterns, including the Mediterranean, Nordic, plant-based, and…
Statins are among the most important medications for preventing cardiovascular disease. By lowering cholesterol, they have helped save millions of lives and reduce the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes. However, these benefits can come with unwanted effects. Some patients develop muscle pain or weakness, while a small number experience…
An updated hurricane forecast map is making it easier for people to identify areas threatened by storms, but new research reveals a concerning limitation. Even when people can recognize where hurricane watches are in effect, they may not feel more at risk or become more inclined to take precautions. Researchers…
Scientists have measured the amount of helium produced during the Universe’s first five minutes with unprecedented precision, offering a clearer picture of the conditions that existed shortly after the Big Bang. The achievement, made by an international research team that includes scientists from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, represents…
Two extraordinarily rare fossils found in Wyoming have revealed a strange new species of squid relative that lived approximately 160 million years ago, during the Jurassic Period. Named Wyoteuthis linsterorum, the prehistoric creature belonged to an extinct group of marine animals known as belemnites, which were related to modern squid…
A dangerous intestinal infection may soon have a more targeted treatment option. Scientists have identified a natural compound that can kill the bacteria responsible for severe gut infections while leaving much of the beneficial gut microbiome unharmed. The bacterium Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) is naturally found in the intestines of…
Growing older is often associated with memory loss and declining mental abilities. However, scientists are questioning whether these changes tell the whole story. Rather than simply becoming less capable, the brain may be adapting to a new stage of life in which accumulated knowledge, wisdom, and understanding become more important…
Protecting brain cells from destruction remains one of the biggest challenges in treating Alzheimer’s disease and related neurodegenerative conditions. These disorders, known as tauopathies, involve the buildup of abnormal tangles of a protein called tau inside the brain. As the tangles accumulate, nearby neurons begin to die. However, growing evidence…
Some galaxies glow with sweeping spiral arms, while others are shaped by violent collisions, powerful black holes, and explosive bursts of star formation. A newly released collection of 16 images from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and other telescopes reveals the extraordinary diversity of these cosmic structures. Like precious gemstones, galaxies…
Vitamin C plays an important role in keeping the immune system healthy, helping wounds heal, and protecting cells from damage. However, people with precancerous blood disorders and blood cancers often have persistently low vitamin C levels. Researchers have been investigating whether correcting this deficiency could improve their health and treatment…
