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Scientists have identified a brain signal that may help explain why schizophrenia produces such a wide variety of symptoms, including difficulties with perception, movement, and speech. The discovery suggests that problems that appear unrelated could actually stem from a shared disruption in how the brain processes information. Schizophrenia is a…
Sugar substitutes are often promoted as a healthier way to enjoy sweet foods and drinks without consuming as much sugar. However, new research suggests that some of these widely used sweeteners may have an unexpected downside for long-term brain health. A study published in Neurology, the medical journal of the…
A single ancient elephant tooth is offering scientists a remarkable glimpse into a world that existed nearly 700,000 years ago. Found in northern Israel, the fossil has helped researchers reconstruct a surprisingly lush prehistoric landscape filled with forests, rivers, wetlands, and abundant vegetation. This ancient environment supported enormous elephants and…
NASA’s Juno spacecraft has uncovered remarkable new details about how Jupiter withstands the constant stream of high-energy particles flowing from the Sun. The findings reveal that the solar system’s largest planet relies on a much more complex system of plasma waves and shock regions than Earth does. Led by scientists…
Blood pressure readings are typically evaluated based on their average values, but growing evidence suggests that fluctuations throughout the day may be equally important. Rapid or excessive changes in blood pressure can independently increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and brain injury, even when average readings fall within the…
Scientists have pushed X-ray generation beyond a long-accepted limit in laser physics, revealing a surprising quantum effect that conventional theory does not account for. By directing powerful ultraviolet lasers at helium atoms, researchers produced X-rays with substantially higher energies than the standard model predicts. The breakthrough depends on an unusual…
Scientists have gained a clearer understanding of what happens when rocks from space plunge into Earth’s atmosphere and survive the journey to the ground. After examining video recordings and photographs of 75 meteorite falls, researchers identified seven stages that describe how these objects transform into meteorites. Their analysis reveals that…
Scientists have discovered that molten rock deep inside Earth can store far more oxygen than previously believed. The finding challenges long-standing assumptions about magma and raises an intriguing possibility: oxygen released from Earth’s interior may have helped transform the planet’s atmosphere billions of years ago. Through high-pressure experiments and advanced…
Muscles naturally become weaker as we get older, but scientists have discovered that some of the changes associated with aging may actually help protect muscle cells from damage. New research reveals why aging muscles shift toward a different type of muscle fiber and identifies a crucial molecule that could offer…
A single sauna session may trigger a surprising response in the immune system. Researchers in Finland have discovered that spending just 30 minutes in a sauna, with a brief cold shower halfway through, causes white blood cells to surge into the bloodstream. These cells are essential to the body’s defenses,…
Researchers in South Korea have developed a new technology that could lead to smaller, lighter electric vehicle (EV) batteries capable of delivering longer driving ranges on a single charge. Scientists at KAIST have found a way to address a major weakness of anode-free batteries, which eliminate conventional materials such as…
Fire salamanders are among Europe’s most recognizable amphibians, known for their striking black and yellow coloring and the poisonous substances they release to deter predators. Despite their familiar appearance, scientists are still uncovering surprising details about their biology. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies the species as…
Scientists have uncovered evidence of a previously unknown volcanic system that formed roughly 100 million years ago in what is now northwestern Iran. The discovery reveals a missing chapter in the region’s geological history and offers new clues about the powerful tectonic forces that shaped ancient oceans and continents. Mountain…
Scientists at the University of St Andrews have identified a previously unknown process that may help explain how Earth entered past ice ages. Their findings reveal a surprising connection between ice sheets in the Northern Hemisphere and ocean changes near Antarctica, suggesting that cooling in one part of the world…
NASA’s Artemis I mission has provided new insights into how much cosmic radiation astronauts may encounter near the Moon compared with low Earth orbit. Using experimental detectors made from lithium fluoride crystals aboard the Orion spacecraft, researchers have obtained preliminary measurements that reveal unexpected differences in radiation exposure between the…
A new computer model suggests that Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier, often called the “Doomsday Glacier,” could contribute far more to rising sea levels than scientists previously estimated. Developed by researchers at the University of California, Irvine, and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the model predicts that melting from the massive West Antarctic…
A simple daily fiber supplement may offer a surprising new way to relieve knee arthritis pain while improving muscle strength. In a clinical trial led by researchers at the University of Nottingham, people with knee osteoarthritis (OA) who took a prebiotic fiber called inulin experienced significant reductions in pain, improved…
A major new study has uncovered important differences in how the brains of autistic children respond to human faces. Published in Nature Mental Health, the research is among the most extensive investigations yet into how face perception works in autism. Some autistic people tend to look at faces less frequently…
Around 66 million years ago, an asteroid struck Earth and brought the age of the dinosaurs to an end. The mass extinction that followed created opportunities for countless other animals to evolve and spread. Ants were among the groups that eventually became remarkably successful, and scientists have now identified a…
Scientists at McGill University have discovered a surprising ability in immune cells that could reshape our understanding of how the body develops lasting protection against infections. For years, researchers believed that tissue-resident memory T cells, specialized immune cells that remain in the body’s tissues after an infection and respond quickly…
Scientists have uncovered a surprising connection between the bacteria living in the human gut and the speed at which the body ages. Researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa found that certain gut microbes are associated with slower biological aging, while others are linked to faster aging. The study,…
Low testosterone can contribute to several health problems, and an unhealthy diet may make some of those risks even worse. One major concern is metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), a condition that affects approximately 40% of adult men worldwide and has become a significant global health issue. Fatty liver,…
Medications are designed to treat diseases and relieve symptoms, but some can also produce unintended effects that put patients at risk. While side effects are common with many treatments, researchers have identified a particularly concerning possibility involving drugs used to control inflammation. Scientists at the Norwegian University of Science and…
Astronomers have discovered surprising evidence that a scorching planet covered in molten rock may be protected by a reflective layer of clouds that acts like a giant sunscreen. Scientists previously believed that the planet’s extreme conditions would make it nearly impossible for an atmosphere to survive, but new observations suggest…
Scientists have created one of the largest and most detailed simulations of the early universe ever developed, offering a remarkable new way to explore how the cosmos evolved after the Big Bang. Known as “Lumina,” the simulation was built by researchers at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian…
Scientists have developed a new way to control magnetism using light, a breakthrough that could eventually make digital data storage faster, more compact, and more energy-efficient. The research, conducted by engineers at the University of California San Diego, was published in the journal Nature Communications. Modern hard drives and other…
Scientists at the University of Bonn have discovered that spiders experience distinct stages of sleep, including a REM-like state that shares surprising similarities with human sleep. During this stage, the spiders move their eyes and twitch their muscles, behaviors also associated with REM (rapid eye movement) sleep in humans and…
Some people have the brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease but never develop dementia. While others experience worsening memory and thinking problems, these individuals remain mentally sharp despite signs of the disease in their brains. Scientists have long struggled to explain why. Now, researchers at the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience…
Seven studies from Mayo Clinic are revealing new details about senescent cells, often called “zombie” cells because they stop dividing but remain active in the body. These aging cells release inflammatory substances that can contribute to diseases associated with growing older. The research, published in Nature journals, was conducted by…
An archaeological site in the Jordan Valley is rewriting the timeline of early human migration. New research shows that ‘Ubeidiya is at least 1.9 million years old, placing humans in the region hundreds of thousands of years earlier than previously believed. The revised dating makes ‘Ubeidiya, alongside Dmanisi in Georgia,…
