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Popular medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound may offer an unexpected benefit beyond helping people lose weight and manage diabetes. New research involving more than 110,000 women found that those taking GLP-1 drugs, a category that includes semaglutide-based medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, were significantly less likely to…
Researchers at Tokyo Metropolitan University have used simulations to show that a small, newly developed X-ray telescope could help create a chemical map of the entire lunar surface. Such a map would be a major step toward understanding how the Moon formed, changed, and evolved over time. Their detailed modeling,…
Many of the most promising quantum technologies, including advanced sensors and future quantum computers, depend on a phenomenon known as entanglement, where particles become deeply connected and influence one another in ways that cannot be explained by classical physics. Creating the complex entangled states needed for these technologies has traditionally…
The use of dietary supplements has increased sharply in recent years. Vitamins, minerals and other nutritional products are often marketed as simple ways to boost energy, support immunity, protect brain health or even promote longevity. For many people, taking supplements can feel like a sensible, proactive health habit. But this…
Environmental and public health researchers are warning that a little-known group of microbes could become a much bigger threat to human health. These organisms, known as free living amoebae, are found in water and soil, but scientists say some species are becoming increasingly concerning as the world warms and water…
A new type of universal coronavirus vaccine has passed its first human clinical trial, marking an important step toward broader protection against future virus outbreaks. Developed by researchers at the University of Cambridge and the university spinout company DIOSynVax (DVX) Ltd, the experimental vaccine was found to be safe and…
More than one-quarter of people with Type 2 diabetes now use GLP-1 receptor agonists, a class of medications that includes Ozempic. But new research from Stanford Medicine and international collaborators suggests these widely prescribed drugs may be less effective for some patients because of their genetics. The study found that…
Octopuses have long been known for their remarkable intelligence. One famous example was Inky, the octopus that escaped from New Zealand’s National Aquarium in 2016 by squeezing through a drainpipe and making its way back to the ocean. Now, researchers at Dartmouth have uncovered another impressive ability. A new study…
Astronomers from the University of Oxford and the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute) have outlined a new strategy for uncovering one of the universe’s most elusive objects: tightly bound pairs of supermassive black holes. These giant black hole duos are expected to form naturally after galaxies…
Many stars are born inside vast clouds of gas and dust in space. As parts of these clouds collapse under gravity, they create dense regions known as molecular cloud cores where new stars begin to take shape. Star formation often occurs in groups rather than in isolation. In some cases,…
For decades, cobalt has been considered one of the best understood magnetic metals. Its crystal structure and basic properties have been studied extensively, leading scientists to believe there were few surprises left to uncover. But new research has revealed that this familiar element harbors an unexpectedly complex quantum landscape hidden…
Mangroves are among the world’s most effective natural carbon stores, but new research suggests their ability to lock away carbon could weaken as sea levels continue to rise. These salt-tolerant coastal forests occupy less than 1% of Earth’s surface, yet they hold roughly 15% of all carbon stored in ocean…
When a major oil spill occurs at sea, emergency crews often face a difficult choice. They can allow the oil to spread across the water, threatening coastlines and marine life, or they can set it on fire. Burning the oil, a technique known as an in situ burn, can prevent…
You might think a honey bee foraging in your garden and a browser window running ChatGPT have nothing in common. But recent scientific research has been seriously considering the possibility that either, or both, might be conscious. There are many different ways of studying consciousness. One of the most common…
Collagen supplements have become one of the most popular products in the wellness industry, promoted for everything from younger-looking skin to stronger joints and better athletic performance. Now, the largest review of research conducted so far suggests that some of those claims are backed by evidence, while others are not.…
Researchers have identified a massive hidden geological feature beneath the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, revealing a previously unrecognized connection between some of the continent’s largest buried landscapes. The newly recognized structure consists of a network of enormous basins concealed beneath ice that exceeds three kilometers (nearly two miles) in thickness…
For decades, ultrafast lasers have been among the most powerful tools in modern optics. Their pulses last just a few hundred femtoseconds, or quadrillionths of a second, enabling technologies ranging from precision manufacturing and eye surgery to optical frequency combs, the Nobel Prize-winning innovation that powers the world’s most accurate…
For thousands of years, people have used salt to flavor and preserve food. While it remains a staple in kitchens around the world, consuming too much salt can increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, and even faster cognitive decline. To help reduce these risks, the…
For a long time, the likelihood of surviving pancreatic cancer has been extremely low. For patients who were diagnosed with metastatic pancreatic cancer between 2015 and 2021, about 97% died within five years of their diagnosis. Pancreatic cancer is so deadly in part because there are no effective screening tests,…
Scientists have uncovered hidden fossil insects inside pieces of amber that once belonged to the famed German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Using advanced imaging technology, researchers were able to reveal creatures that had remained trapped inside the fossilized tree resin for tens of millions of years. Goethe’s amber collection,…
Imagine a train sitting at a station. Passengers have boarded, conductors have checked tickets, and everything appears ready to go. But if the engineer’s watch has stopped working, the train never departs. The doors stay open, the whistle never blows, and the journey never begins. A similar problem can occur…
Beluga whales are among the most challenging marine mammals to study. Much of their lives are spent beneath Arctic waters and sea ice, making direct observation difficult. Now, a long-term DNA study has provided rare insight into how a population of belugas in Bristol Bay, Alaska, forms family connections and…
Scientists have uncovered a new way to control an unusual quantum phenomenon that could one day help power electronic devices without batteries. An international research team led by Professor Dongchen Qi from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) School of Chemistry and Physics and Professor Xiao Renshaw Wang from Nanyang…
Scientists have uncovered a surprising new way the immune system fights cancer, overturning a core belief that has guided immunology for decades. The research found that when cancer cells shut down a key immune-recognition molecule called MHC I—a common trick used to hide from “killer” T cells—they can actually become…
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has captured the first mid-infrared chemical fingerprint of an interstellar object, providing new insights into the composition of comet 3I/ATLAS as it traveled away from the Sun. The findings were recently published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. Researchers used Webb’s MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument) during two…
June offers plenty for skywatchers, including a close meeting between Venus and Jupiter, a rare event where the Moon passes in front of Venus, the arrival of astronomical summer, and the return of some favorite deep-sky targets. Skywatching Highlights June 9: Venus and Jupiter conjunction June 11-15: Mercury joins Venus…
When a nuclear weapon detonates or a serious reactor accident occurs, an immense burst of energy is released in less than a millionth of a second. The extreme heat instantly vaporizes nearby air and materials, creating a brilliant, expanding cloud of gas and plasma. As this nuclear fireball grows, it…
Popular GLP-1 drugs including Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound have already transformed the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Now, new research suggests these medications may also help prevent and treat addiction across a broad range of substances. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found…
A newly developed pill could offer a fresh approach to treating type 2 diabetes and obesity. Early research suggests it may help lower blood sugar and increase fat burning without reducing appetite or causing muscle loss, two common concerns associated with some current weight loss medications. The findings, published in…
Scientists have identified a specific brain circuit that appears to play a major role in anxiety, depression-like behaviors, and social withdrawal. Even more striking, they found that restoring balance within this circuit was enough to reverse several of these behaviors in mice. The research was led by Juan Lerma and…
