Reporting world updates to you
Is there a massive undiscovered planet on the outer reaches of the Solar System? The idea has been around since before the discovery of Pluto in the 1930s. Labelled as planet X, prominent astronomers had put it forward as an explanation for Uranus’s orbit, which drifts from the path of…
NASA has released a new update on the ongoing air leak issue inside Russia’s Zvezda service module on the International Space Station, where cracks in a transfer tunnel have caused small atmospheric leaks since 2019. The affected area is known as the PrK transfer tunnel. NASA and Roscosmos have been…
A promising experimental compound developed by researchers at ETH Zurich could offer a new way to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. In studies involving mice, the treatment reduced nerve cell loss, helped the animals live longer, and targeted a biological process that existing Alzheimer’s drugs do not address. The…
Whether you’re navigating a job interview, meeting someone for the first time, or responding to an unexpected challenge, success often depends on your ability to adjust your behavior. In some situations, adapting quickly can even be critical for survival. But how does the brain know when it’s time to abandon…
Few ideas in modern science have reshaped our understanding of reality more profoundly than space-time — the interwoven fabric of space and time at the heart of Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity. Space-time is frequently described as the “fabric of reality.” In some accounts, this fabric is referred to as…
Heat is something we encounter every day. A steaming cup of coffee gradually cools, a laptop warms up during use, and sunlight heats the Earth’s surface. Yet when heat is examined at distances far smaller than the width of a human hair, it can behave in unexpected ways. Researchers from…
For decades, small grooves on ancient human teeth were thought to be evidence of deliberate tool use – people cleaning their teeth with sticks or fibers, or easing gum pain with makeshift “toothpicks.” Some researchers even called it the oldest human habit. But our new findings, published in the American…
For more than 30 years, a remarkable collection of helmets recovered from the waters off Spain was believed to date back to Roman times. New research has now overturned that assumption, revealing that the artifacts are actually medieval and provide rare insight into the movement of weapons, trade, and military…
South Australia is home to a booming koala population, but researchers warn that this apparent conservation success could eventually turn into a serious problem. A new study has provided the first comprehensive estimate of koala numbers in the region and identified a humane, cost effective strategy to keep the population…
New research from Edith Cowan University (ECU) and the Danish Cancer Research Institute (DCRI) suggests that the source of nitrate in a person’s diet may play an important role in dementia risk. In a large study that followed more than 54,000 Danish adults for up to 27 years, researchers examined…
Large international studies have found that the kidney disease drug finerenone may benefit far more patients than current treatment guidelines recommend. Researchers reported that the medication helps protect kidney function, lowers the risk of cardiovascular complications, and improves survival in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The benefits were seen…
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common type of hair loss, affecting millions of men and women around the world. It is often known as male or female pattern hair loss, and it usually develops gradually as hair follicles shrink over time. As follicles become smaller, they produce thinner, shorter…
A century old idea from Erwin Schrödinger has taken a major step forward, thanks to new research into how humans perceive differences between colors. A team led by Los Alamos scientist Roxana Bujack used geometry to build a mathematical definition of color perception based on hue, saturation, and lightness. Their…
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…
Researchers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities have demonstrated an unexpected new way to change how a metal behaves electronically. By carefully engineering the atomic interactions where two materials come into contact, the team was able to significantly alter the properties of a metallic material. The findings, published in…
NASA has successfully completed the primary phase of an experimental communications mission designed to help spacecraft connect through multiple satellite networks. Following the achievement of its core goals, the agency is extending the project to explore new partnerships and demonstrate additional capabilities through April 2027. Known as the Polylingual Experimental…
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.…
