Reporting world updates to you
The fairy tale of the princess and the pea tells of a young royal so sensitive she could detect a tiny pea hidden beneath many mattresses. In biology, something similar happens when a cell senses conditions far beyond what it directly touches. Until recently, this remarkable ability was mostly linked…
Researchers at the University of Missouri are developing a new way to determine which cancer patients are most likely to benefit from targeted therapies by illuminating tumors in medical scans. Barry Edwards, an associate professor of biochemistry in the School of Medicine, recently designed a very small antibody that seeks…
Melatonin has quickly become one of the most widely used sleep aids for children around the world. Its popularity is largely driven by the belief that it is a natural and easily accessible solution for insomnia. However, new research suggests that its rapid growth in use has moved faster than…
An international team of astronomers, including researchers from the University of Toronto, has identified the brightest Fast Radio Burst (FRB) ever observed and traced its origin to a nearby galaxy using a coordinated network of radio telescopes. FRBs are among the most puzzling phenomena in astronomy, but locating where they…
Researchers at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) have discovered new clues suggesting that water once moved beneath the surface of Mars. The findings indicate that the Red Planet may have remained capable of supporting life for much longer than scientists once believed. The research, published in the Journal of…
Findings from a large study led by Mass General Brigham suggest scientists should continue investigating whether vitamin D supplements could influence long COVID. The research showed that taking high doses of vitamin D3 did not make COVID-19 infections less severe, but it may have a possible connection to long COVID…
Sharp increases in food prices during economic crises tend to hit certain groups the hardest. Urban residents and families with lower levels of education are often especially vulnerable. These price shocks can lead to long term health problems, including stunted growth in children. Researchers at the University of Bonn recently…
In regions where freshwater supplies are limited, farmers sometimes rely on treated wastewater to water their crops. While this practice helps conserve scarce water resources, it has raised concerns among regulators and consumers. Wastewater can contain trace amounts of various substances, including psychoactive medications commonly used to treat mental health…
New research published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society suggests that a father’s nicotine exposure could influence how his offspring process sugar. In a mouse study, scientists found that paternal nicotine intake led to metabolic changes in the next generation. These alterations may affect how the body handles glucose…
Researchers at Houston Methodist have discovered that a protein tied to neurodegenerative conditions such as dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) also helps control a critical DNA repair process. This repair system, known as DNA mismatch repair, corrects mistakes that occur when cells copy genetic material. The discovery suggests that…
Researchers have identified previously unknown DNA-binding proteins in some of the most extreme places on Earth and demonstrated that they can enhance rapid medical tests used to detect infectious diseases. The international team was led by Durham University and included collaborators in Iceland, Norway, and Poland. The scientists examined genetic…
A research team led by Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) scientist David Reverter has identified the molecular mechanism that regulates bacterial cell division. The discovery reveals how the MraZ protein binds to the dcw gene cluster to control this process. The findings were published in Nature Communications. Cell division is…
Mars looks very different today than it did billions of years ago. Scientists believe the planet once had flowing water, a thicker atmosphere, and a much warmer climate. Now the Red Planet is frigid, dry, and surrounded by only a thin layer of air. Researchers think the biggest reason for…
A rugged Martian landscape that resembles a giant spiderweb when seen from orbit may hold important evidence about the history of water on ancient Mars. For roughly six months, NASA’s Curiosity rover has been studying an area covered with geological features known as boxwork. These formations appear as narrow ridges…
Members of the arachnid class — think spiders, scorpions and harvestmen (daddy long legs) — often trigger feelings of fear or disgust. Despite this reaction, these animals play an essential role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. As global biodiversity declines, including what some researchers describe as an “insect apocalypse,” two ecologists…
Researchers at the University of Maryland have developed Smart Underwear, the first wearable device designed specifically to measure human flatulence. The small sensor tracks hydrogen in flatus, allowing scientists to reexamine long held assumptions about how often people pass gas. The technology also offers a new way to observe gut…
New research suggests human hair does not grow by being pushed out from the root as long believed. Instead, scientists found that hair is pulled upward by forces created by a hidden network of moving cells within the follicle. The discovery challenges decades of biology textbook explanations and could influence…
Far beneath the surface of the Greenland ice sheet, scientists have identified enormous swirling structures that resemble rising plumes. These strange formations have puzzled researchers for more than a decade. Now, scientists from the University of Bergen (UiB) believe they have finally uncovered an explanation by using mathematical models similar…
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have created a new technique that uses light instead of toxic chemicals to change complex drug molecules. The discovery could speed up drug development and make the process of designing medicines more efficient. The study, published on March 12 in Nature Synthesis, introduces what…
Most people are familiar with the idea of deep space, but scientists also study something called deep time. Advances in genetics now allow researchers to trace biological changes far deeper into the past than previously possible. Even with these powerful tools, many questions remain unanswered. One long standing puzzle has…
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a widespread digestive condition that affects the gastrointestinal tract. It occurs more frequently in women and commonly causes symptoms such as abdominal pain, constipation, or diarrhea. The exact cause of IBS remains uncertain. However, scientists believe that conditions inside the intestine, including the gut microbiota…
Researchers have given a newly identified Australian tree species an unusual nickname. Scientists call it the “zombie” tree because, although some individuals are still alive, the species is unable to grow and reproduce normally without major intervention. Professor Rod Fensham, a botanist at the University of Queensland, said urgent action…
Tiny fragments of plastic known as microplastics may be contributing to neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. A new study outlines five biological mechanisms through which these particles may trigger inflammation and damage in the brain. Dementia already affects more than 57 million people worldwide, and the number…
Researchers at the Federal University of Technology Owerri in Nigeria have identified a promising strategy for reducing pollution from diesel engines without hurting their performance. By analyzing studies from around the world, the team examined a technology known as Water-in-Diesel Emulsion (WiDE). Their findings suggest that adding small amounts of…
Astronomers have uncovered signs that our Sun may have taken part in a large-scale movement of similar stars that left the inner regions of the Milky Way about 4 to 6 billion years ago. To investigate this possibility, researchers compiled and analyzed an exceptionally precise catalog of stars using observations…
Researchers from Flinders University and Flinders Medical Centre have identified an important connection between two common types of bowel polyps and a greater risk of cancer. Their findings appear in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology (CGH). Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, is a major health concern. In…
Serious cases of COVID-19 and influenza may do more than cause short term illness. New research from UVA Health’s Beirne B. Carter Center for Immunology Research and the UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center suggests that severe viral infections can create conditions in the lungs that help cancer develop and progress more…
In medieval Denmark, burial location often reflected a person’s wealth and status. Christians could pay for prestigious graves, and the closer a grave was to the church, the more expensive it typically was. Researchers used this system of burial placement to explore whether illness affected social status after death. They…
Gold cannot form until certain unstable atomic nuclei break apart. Exactly how those nuclear transformations unfold has long been difficult to determine. Now, nuclear physicists at the University of Tennessee (UT) report three discoveries in a single study that clarify important parts of this process. Their findings could help researchers…
As artificial intelligence systems began scoring extremely high on long used academic benchmarks, researchers noticed a growing issue. The tests that once challenged machines were no longer difficult enough. Well known evaluations such as the Massive Multitask Language Understanding (MMLU) exam, which had previously been seen as demanding, now fail…
