Reporting world updates to you
Some people seem to attract mosquitoes wherever they go, but new research reveals that being a mosquito magnet depends on which species is doing the biting. In a study published in iScience, researchers at Florida International University (FIU) tested how three of the world’s most dangerous mosquito species responded to…
An ancient rodent of extraordinary size has been identified from fossils uncovered in a mine in southern Thailand. The discovery, made by an international team of paleontologists that includes scientists from McGill University, provides new evidence that giant rodents appeared much earlier and in more parts of the world than…
A remarkable fossil discovery in China has revealed an ancient amphibian that lived entirely in the ocean, something no amphibian alive today is known to do. The unusual animal, named Gerrothorax maritimus, had a broad, flattened body protected by bony armor and was roughly the size of a giant salamander.…
The Milky Way is believed to contain billions of planets beyond our solar system. These distant worlds, known as exoplanets, offer astronomers an opportunity to explore other planetary systems, identify potentially habitable environments, and perhaps eventually discover evidence of life elsewhere in the universe. Finding these planets is one challenge.…
Protein is everywhere these days. From breakfast cereals and coffee to bottled water, manufacturers are adding extra protein to an expanding range of everyday products. But while consumers are being encouraged to eat more of it, a major scientific review suggests that cutting back on protein could offer surprising benefits…
A mysterious structure stretching roughly 93 billion miles across space is giving astronomers new clues about the violent events that shape young planetary systems. Known as the “Cat’s Tail,” this enormous cloud of dark material lies about 63 light-years from Earth, in the faint constellation Pictor (which is Latin for…
A fossil dating back more than 450 million years has revealed something scientists almost never find: delicate soft tissues from an animal that lived hundreds of millions of years before dinosaurs appeared. The extraordinarily rare discovery is giving researchers a new understanding of how some of Earth’s earliest marine animals…
Alzheimer’s disease is best known for its effects on memory and thinking, but new research suggests that some symptoms may develop in a surprising place: outside the brain. Scientists at the University of Central Florida (UCF) have discovered that genetic mutations associated with Alzheimer’s can interfere with the nerves that…
After more than 40 years of searching, physicists at CERN have reached a major milestone in their hunt for one of the rarest known particle decays. Researchers working with the LHCb experiment have detected evidence of a process expected to occur only once in approximately 10 billion beauty particle decays.…
A first taste of black coffee can be surprisingly unpleasant. Its sharp bitterness is the kind of flavor our brains are naturally inclined to avoid. Yet millions of people eventually come to enjoy that same taste, often looking forward to their morning cup. What changes? Scientists at UC San Francisco…
A widely available nutritional supplement derived from vitamin B5 may offer a promising new approach to treating psoriasis, according to research from China. Scientists found that pantethine can calm immune cells involved in autoimmune inflammation, preventing psoriasis from developing in mice and improving symptoms in a small human clinical trial.…
Eating more plants is widely associated with better health, but scientists are still uncovering exactly why. New research suggests that fiber is only part of the story. Certain plant proteins that resist digestion may also play a surprisingly important role in shaping gut bacteria and determining whether they produce beneficial…
Scientists have demonstrated an extraordinary form of quantum matter that combines two properties that seem incompatible. Known as a supersolid, this unusual state has the orderly structure of a crystal while also displaying the frictionless flow associated with a special kind of liquid. Even more remarkably, researchers have now observed…
Tick-borne illnesses are becoming increasingly common across the United States, and Lyme disease remains the most frequently reported. Nearly 500,000 Americans are diagnosed each year. The infection is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which typically reaches humans through the bite of an infected blacklegged tick. Antibiotics can treat Lyme…
For some breast cancer survivors, the effects of treatment can linger long after their cancer care ends. Memory lapses, difficulty concentrating, and persistent exhaustion can interfere with everyday life, sometimes for years. Now, researchers at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have found promising early evidence that a supplement…
For the first time, a robot has successfully assembled part of a structure in space without astronauts, demonstrating a technology that could dramatically change how large spacecraft and scientific instruments are built. The robotic system was developed by researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) with funding from the…
NASA has revealed new details about its accelerated effort to return American astronauts to the Moon in 2028. The updated strategy includes testing two competing lunar landers, streamlining rocket preparations, and introducing a lighter spacesuit to help make the first moonwalks possible sooner. During an October 23 briefing, NASA Administrator…
A common class of drugs used to treat osteoporosis may have an unexpected benefit: lowering the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. In a study involving more than 120,000 older adults, researchers at the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed) found that patients taking certain medications to strengthen…
Scientists have uncovered a remarkable collection of DNA hidden within the Shroud of Turin, revealing a surprisingly complex biological history behind one of the world’s most mysterious and controversial religious artifacts. The genetic evidence includes traces of humans, bacteria, fungi, plants, animals, and even Mediterranean red coral, offering new clues…
Researchers have identified a protein that may play an important role in Type 2 diabetes by interfering with the body’s ability to respond to insulin. The discovery could provide a promising new target for treatments designed to improve blood sugar control. The protein, known as Miro1, was found at higher…
Far below the ocean’s surface, a constant snowfall drifts through the darkness. But unlike the frozen flakes that fall from the sky, this underwater snow consists of tiny clumps of waste, dead organisms, and other debris. Known as marine snow, these particles contain everything from mucus and animal feces to…
A tiny fish with brilliant orange markings has been discovered in the Brazilian Amazon, but scientists warn that the newly identified species may already be at risk of extinction. Found in a handful of forest pools threatened by human activity, the colorful fish has prompted researchers to call for urgent…
Scientists at UC San Francisco have developed a new type of immune cell therapy that activates only after entering the brain, allowing it to attack cancer while remaining inactive elsewhere in the body. In experiments involving mice, the engineered cells successfully eliminated diffuse midline glioma (DMG), an aggressive childhood brain…
An extraordinary collection of fossils in central Colombia is revealing a surprising chapter in Earth’s evolutionary history. Researchers have uncovered evidence of a time when ancient animal groups that were approaching extinction lived alongside newer groups that would eventually flourish. The discovery suggests that major evolutionary transitions can occur without…
More than 100 years after Albert Einstein developed his theory of gravity, physicists have uncovered a surprising possibility hidden within his equations. Their work suggests that gravitational fields can undergo a process in which their underlying structures break and reconnect, allowing energy to flow from gravity into matter. The phenomenon,…
A 24-hour fast may help prepare the intestines to recover from radiation damage, but scientists have discovered that a particular gut bacterium plays a crucial role in making this possible. New preclinical research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reveals how fasting and beneficial microbes work together…
MIT researchers have developed a new technique that allows them to transform immune cells into cancer fighters directly inside the body, potentially making advanced treatments for cancer and autoimmune diseases much easier to produce and administer. The method focuses on natural killer (NK) cells, a type of immune cell that…
A nuclear explosion could potentially protect Earth from an incoming asteroid by releasing powerful X-rays that heat its surface and push it onto a safer trajectory. However, new research suggests that the success of such a mission could depend heavily on which side of the asteroid receives the blast. Unlike…
Men with very low testosterone levels may face an increased risk of developing cancer and dying from the disease later in life, according to a major international study. The findings suggest that testosterone levels could provide an early clue to future health risks, potentially years or even decades before cancer…
A remarkable discovery in a nearly 2,800-year-old Siberian tomb has provided the oldest directly dated archaeological evidence that people used cannabis for its intoxicating effects. By examining ancient cannabis seeds and chemical traces preserved in human hair, researchers have uncovered new clues about the role of the plant in prehistoric…
