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Scientists have developed a new way to control quantum systems that can make their behavior appear more consistent with time moving backward rather than forward. The research, published in Physical Review X, introduces quantum control protocols that reshape a system’s “arrow of time,” the concept that time naturally moves in…
Scientists have uncovered evidence that could change how doctors think about a common form of stroke and why standard preventive treatments often fail. New research suggests that lacunar ischemic stroke is not primarily caused by fatty plaque building up inside arteries, as many have assumed. Instead, the strongest link appears…
Primordial black holes have remained one of astronomy’s most intriguing ideas for decades. Now, researchers at the University of Miami believe a recent gravitational wave detection may bring scientists closer to confirming that these ancient objects are real, a breakthrough that could also help solve the enduring mystery of dark…
Bumble bees have demonstrated an impressive ability that scientists once believed was limited to humans and other animals with much larger brains. In a new study, the insects successfully completed a completely unfamiliar object manipulation task despite never being taught how to solve it. The findings challenge a long-standing belief…
Modern weight loss medications have transformed obesity treatment, helping many people lose significant amounts of weight. But these drugs often come with an important drawback: They can also reduce muscle mass. Now, researchers have uncovered a biological mechanism that may one day help address that challenge while also boosting the…
Excessive blood loss is the leading cause of death from combat injuries, making rapid bleeding control one of the biggest challenges in battlefield medicine. Researchers at KAIST, including an Army Major, have developed a next generation spray-on powder that can stop severe bleeding in about one second. The innovation could…
A leading climate scientist is pushing back against what he describes as “demonstrably incorrect” claims in a major US government climate report, arguing that it misrepresented his research and understated the role of human activity in global warming. Prof Benjamin Santer, an Honorary Professor at the University of East Anglia…
A team of physicists has overcome a major obstacle in quantum computing by dramatically increasing the lifetime of magnons, tiny magnetic waves that can carry quantum information. The researchers extended their lifespan from just a few hundred nanoseconds to as long as 18 microseconds, nearly 100 times longer than previously…
Scientists at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) have taken a new look at Earth’s violent beginnings and found that ancient asteroid impacts may have played a key role in making the planet habitable. Their computer models suggest that repeated collisions did far more than reshape the young Earth’s surface. They also…
Scientists at the University of Glasgow are celebrating the release of a massive new catalog of gravitational wave detections that marks another major step forward for gravitational wave astronomy. The newly published Gravitational Wave Transient Catalogue-5.0 (GWTC-5) has been released online, with companion research papers submitted to Astrophysical Journal and…
Water has been studied more than almost any other substance, yet scientists have long debated a surprisingly simple question: What happens to its chemistry when it is squeezed into spaces only a few molecules wide? Those tiny spaces exist throughout nature and technology, including nanoscale pores, membranes, and biological channels.…
Researchers at McGill University have developed a new quantum device that generates tiny sound-like particles called phonons at temperatures just above absolute zero. The advance could help pave the way for phonon lasers, a technology with potential uses in communications, medical diagnostics, and advanced sensing. “Modern communication is largely based…
A new study from the University of Warwick suggests that the rhythm of human laughter has remained surprisingly consistent for at least 15 million years. By comparing the laughter of humans and other great apes, researchers uncovered evidence that this ancient vocal pattern may offer valuable clues about how human…
Nearly half of Americans with kidney failure who are referred for a kidney transplant never begin the evaluation process required to be considered for a donor organ, according to a new nationwide study. Even more striking, fewer than one in five complete the evaluation and secure a place on the…
New research from a Virginia Tech neuroscientist at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC is raising questions about a long-standing approach to studying chronic neurological conditions such as dystonia, ataxia, and tremor. These disorders originate from problems in the cerebellum, a region of the brain involved in coordinating movement.…
Modern neuroscience and psychoanalysis may have far more in common than many people realize, according to a new paper published in the neurocognitive journal Entropy. The researchers argue that today’s leading model of brain function shares striking similarities with ideas that originated with Sigmund Freud and have been developed by…
Researchers have found another clue that diet may influence how the brain ages. In a study of more than 2,000 older adults in Japan, people with lower levels of vitamin C in their blood tended to have less gray matter and weaker connections within an important brain network involved in…
Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have identified a crucial missing piece in the long standing mystery of how melanoma tumors avoid death and continue growing. Writing this week in Science, Jonathan Alder, Ph.D., and colleagues describe a combination of genetic changes that allows melanoma cells to…
Scientists have uncovered a previously unknown way that sea anemones defend themselves against viruses, revealing that the evolution of animal immune systems may be far more diverse than previously believed. The newly identified defense relies on a protein that closely resembles one of the most important antiviral proteins in humans,…
Alzheimer’s disease is marked by the buildup of a toxic protein called Tau, which damages and eventually kills brain cells. As this harmful protein moves into new areas of the brain, the disease progresses, leading to worsening memory loss and cognitive decline. Now, researchers have uncovered an unexpected player in…
Creatine is one of the world’s most popular sports supplements, widely used to improve strength and muscle performance. Now, researchers are exploring whether it could have benefits far beyond the gym. A new systematic review published in Brain Medicine examined whether creatine might help relieve depression by supporting the brain’s…
Researchers at the University of Oxford have created a new calculator that estimates a person’s individual risk of developing serious muscle disorders while taking statins. The tool is designed to help patients and doctors make more informed decisions about these commonly prescribed cholesterol lowering medications, which are widely used to…
A long-running debate about a mysterious crater hidden beneath the North Sea has finally been settled. Researchers have confirmed that the Silverpit Crater was created when an asteroid or comet slammed into the region roughly 43 to 46 million years ago. The finding resolves a scientific argument that has lasted…
That question is at the center of a new paper published in Nature Astronomy, where researchers examine the often-overlooked problem of “false negatives” in the search for extraterrestrial life. These are cases in which life exists, or once existed, but scientists fail to detect it. “We are currently investing a…
Researchers led by the Institute of Cosmos Sciences of the University of Barcelona (ICCUB) have developed a new technique that could greatly improve how scientists study the expansion of the Universe and investigate the mysterious force known as dark energy. Published in Nature Astronomy, the research introduces a framework called…
A study published in Oncotarget is highlighting a promising new approach to fighting pancreatic cancer. The paper, titled “The anticancer effects of PCAIs in pancreatic cancer cells involve MAPK and PI3K/AKT pathways hyperactivation,” was led by first author Kweku Ofosu-Asante and corresponding author Nazarius S. Lamango of the Florida A&M…
Americans spend more than $1 billion each year on fish oil supplements, largely because of claims that the omega-3 fatty acids they contain can support brain health. These essential nutrients help build and maintain the connections between brain cells that are important for thinking and memory. But new research from…
Researchers led by Daan van der Vliet, working with teams from the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Leiden University, and Utrecht University, have identified a biological process that may help explain why multiple sclerosis (MS) becomes especially severe in some patients. Examining brain tissue from people with rapidly progressing MS, they…
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have discovered that the human brain can continue performing surprisingly advanced language tasks even when a person is fully unconscious under general anesthesia. The findings, published in Nature, challenge long held assumptions about the relationship between consciousness and cognition. They also offer new insights…
Researchers have uncovered an unexpected natural ally that could help farmers tackle one of agriculture’s fastest growing challenges: salty soil. A team including scientists from the University of East Anglia (UEA), led by Chinese researcher Dr. Yanfen Zheng, found that naturally occurring soil bacteria can significantly improve plants’ ability to…
