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Is consciousness simply created by the brain, or could it be a deeper feature of reality itself? That question is at the center of a presentation by Christof Koch, a leading figure in modern neuroscience, at the 15th “Behind and Beyond the Brain” Symposium organized by the Bial Foundation, taking…
For years, scientists believed the answer centered almost entirely on neurons, the brain’s primary signaling cells. But new research is challenging that idea, pointing to a more complex system involving other types of brain cells. A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on April 6,…
Researchers have identified four previously unknown tarantula species in the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa, and they turned out to be far more unusual than expected. “Based on both morphological and molecular data, they are so distinct from their closest relatives that we had to establish an entirely…
There is growing demand for treatments that can safely prevent and reverse bone loss over time. Osteoporosis, a condition that weakens bones and makes them more likely to break, affects about six million people in Germany alone, most of them women. It is especially common with aging and after menopause,…
Researchers led by the University of Warwick have introduced the first unified approach for identifying “spacetime fluctuations” — tiny, random distortions in the structure of spacetime that appear in many efforts to link quantum physics with gravity. These minute variations were first proposed by physicist John Wheeler and are expected…
Imagine setting up an elaborate chain of dominoes, where each piece must strike the next in perfect sequence to create a satisfying final outcome. Quantum circuits operate in a similar way. They consist of many small steps, called (“operations”), that work together to process information in a highly coordinated manner.…
Artificial intelligence is consuming enormous amounts of electricity in the United States. According to the International Energy Agency, AI systems and data centers used about 415 terawatt hours of power in 2024. That accounts for more than 10% of the country’s total electricity production, and demand is projected to double…
Despite the enormous variety of languages spoken around the world, certain grammatical patterns keep showing up. A new study finds that about one-third of long-standing “linguistic universals” are backed by strong statistical evidence when tested using modern evolutionary methods. An international research team led by Annemarie Verkerk (Saarland University) and…
A team of researchers in Canada has identified a new way to slow the growth of glioblastoma, the most aggressive and currently incurable type of brain cancer, and they have also pointed to an existing drug that could potentially be used to treat it. The study reveals that some brain…
Aging takes a serious toll on the hippocampus, the part of the brain that plays a central role in learning and memory. Scientists at UC San Francisco have now pinpointed a protein that appears to drive much of this decline. FTL1 Emerges as a Key Driver of Brain Aging To…
Researchers from the Faculty of Physics at the University of Warsaw, working with teams from the Łódź University of Technology, the Warsaw University of Technology, and the Polish Academy of Sciences, have created a structure capable of trapping infrared light in a layer just 40 nanometers thick. Their approach relies…
Mars is often portrayed as a dry, lifeless desert, but it is far more active than it appears. Its thin atmosphere and dusty terrain create an environment where constant motion generates electrical energy. Dust storms and spinning dust devils sweep across the surface, continually reshaping the landscape and driving processes…
A major new research effort is set to shed light on a remarkable Roman discovery in Frankfurt, Germany. The German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF) have jointly awarded more than €1 million to support the study of a large Roman sanctuary in the ancient city…
A new type of artificial saliva, delivered as a mouthwash and made using a lab-modified sugarcane protein called CANECPI-5, could help protect the teeth of patients with head and neck cancer. These patients often undergo radiotherapy near the mouth, which can damage salivary glands and reduce saliva production. Because saliva…
Grocery stores can appear well stocked even when the systems behind them are under pressure. Fresh produce may be neatly arranged, and refrigerated items fully in place. On the surface, everything looks normal. But that appearance can be misleading. Today, food moves through supply chains only when it is recognized…
Scientists have identified a set of biological markers that could significantly improve how gastrointestinal diseases (GIDs) are detected and treated. These conditions include gastric cancer (GC), colorectal cancer (CRC), and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Their findings show that specific gut bacteria and chemical compounds, known as metabolites, are closely linked…
Scientists have taken an important step toward next-generation energy technology by developing a proof-of-concept quantum battery that can charge, store, and release energy. This early prototype represents the closest progress so far toward building a fully functional quantum battery. Unlike conventional batteries that depend on chemical reactions, quantum batteries rely…
A new study offers one of the clearest pictures yet of what happens as Arctic permafrost thaws. Led by geoscientist Michael Rawlins at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the research provides detailed insight into how warming temperatures are reshaping water systems and releasing long-frozen carbon. The team examined a region…
LOS ANGELES — People may assume that if they drink lightly during the week or month, heavy drinking on the occasional Friday or Saturday may not cause their liver harm. New research suggests otherwise, according to a Keck Medicine of USC study published today in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Researchers discovered that people with metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), the most common…
Climate change is affecting the United States in very different ways depending on the region, according to a study published in PLOS Climate. Researchers María Dolores Gadea Rivas of the University of Zaragoza, Spain and Jesús Gonzalo of University Carlos III, Spain found that warming patterns vary widely across the…
Imagine a star-shaped cell in the brain, reaching out with long, thin extensions to surround nearby neurons. This cell is called an astrocyte. For years, scientists believed astrocytes mainly acted as caretakers, helping hold neurons together and keeping brain circuits running smoothly. New research is now challenging that idea. These…
Discovered in 2011, MXenes are a fast-expanding family of ultra-thin inorganic materials. They are made from stacked layers of transition metals combined with carbon or nitrogen, with atoms attached to their outer surfaces. These surface atoms are not just decorative. They play a central role in how the material behaves.…
A new study suggests that aging stars may be wiping out the giant planets that orbit closest to them. The research, led by astronomers at UCL (University College London) and the University of Warwick, provides fresh evidence that these planets can be pulled inward and destroyed as their host stars…
A group of undergraduate students at the University of Chicago has identified one of the oldest known stars in the universe using data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). The star did not originate in our galaxy. Instead, it formed in a nearby companion galaxy and later moved into…
A new medication has been found to significantly reduce blood pressure in people whose levels remain dangerously high even after taking multiple existing drugs. The findings come from a Phase III clinical trial led by a professor at UCL. High blood pressure (hypertension) affects about 1.3 billion people worldwide. In…
Meteor strikes may have done more than reshape Earth’s surface. New research suggests they could have created the hot, chemically rich environments needed for life to begin. “No one knows, from a scientific perspective, how life could have been formed from an early Earth that had no life,” said Shea…
Saturn’s magnetic field does not form a balanced, symmetrical bubble like Earth’s. Instead, it is noticeably uneven, according to new research involving scientists from University College London (UCL). The study suggests this distortion is caused by the planet’s rapid rotation along with the large amount of material it drags through…
After a long day of teaching, Rudy Lerosey-Aubril turned to a familiar task: preparing a Cambrian arthropod fossil for study. At first glance, the specimen looked typical for its age. But as he carefully removed surrounding material, something unusual appeared. Instead of an antenna, there was a claw. “Claws are…
“What should I eat?” is one of the most common questions people with inflammatory bowel disease ask their doctors. It is also one of the hardest to answer. Inflammatory bowel disease, which includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, has not been studied extensively when it comes to diet. Large, well-controlled…
A new study shows that gene therapy can significantly improve hearing in people born with congenital deafness or severe hearing loss. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet, working with hospitals and universities in China, treated ten patients and saw hearing improve in every case. The therapy was also well-tolerated. The findings were…
