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Even when a person is fully unconscious under general anesthesia, their brain may still be doing something remarkable: processing language, recognizing patterns, and even anticipating which words will come next. Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have discovered that the brain retains surprisingly sophisticated abilities during anesthesia, despite the absence…
Nearly five decades of satellite observations reveal a troubling transformation in the Arctic, where sea ice is shrinking in both summer and winter, and much of the remaining ice is becoming younger and thinner. The Arctic Ocean is covered by a vast expanse of frozen seawater that expands and contracts…
That late-night snack might have consequences beyond extra calories. Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) have found that eating late in the evening is associated with a significantly higher risk of liver disease, suggesting that when you eat could be an important factor in protecting your liver. The…
Scientists have uncovered a promising new way to protect some of the world’s most important food crops from a destructive fungus that threatens global food security. By engineering the natural immune defenses of plants, researchers have developed an experimental approach that could eventually help wheat, rice, and barley resist fungal…
Some cancers grow faster, spread more aggressively, and respond less effectively to treatment than others. Researchers at Virginia Tech are uncovering surprising reasons behind these differences, including how abnormal cancer cells recruit healthy tissue to support tumor growth and why the size of certain cancer cells could help predict their…
An unusually detailed examination of an Alzheimer’s patient’s brain has revealed striking differences between regions where treatment successfully removed harmful amyloid plaques and areas where those plaques remained. The regions cleared of amyloid showed little or no buildup of tau tangles, another protein abnormality strongly associated with brain cell damage…
Strokes are becoming increasingly common among younger adults, challenging the long-held belief that they primarily affect older people. A study examining nearly three decades of medical data found that stroke rates among adults ages 20 to 54 nearly doubled, even as the chances of surviving a stroke improved. The findings,…
A large study led by Rutgers researchers has identified a possible vision risk associated with widely used diabetes and weight loss medications, including Ozempic and Wegovy. The findings suggest that people taking these drugs may face a slightly higher risk of developing a rare eye condition that can cause sudden…
Aging may begin to affect your physical abilities earlier than you expect. A remarkable 47-year Swedish study found that fitness, muscle endurance, and physical performance generally begin declining around age 35, even among people who remain active. But the findings also offer an encouraging message. Although exercise cannot completely prevent…
New research suggests that Australia’s Indigenous population before European colonization was far larger than historical estimates have indicated. Scientists now estimate that approximately 2.22 million Indigenous people lived across the continent before the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788, potentially up to seven times the number suggested by some…
A dinosaur fossil that spent nearly a century overlooked in a museum collection has turned out to belong to an entirely new species of prehistoric predator. About the size of a large tiger and armed with enormous curved claws, the animal roamed what is now Britain approximately 120 million years…
Cancer rates are increasing among adults of different ages in England, but a new study has uncovered a particularly concerning pattern among younger people. Rates of bowel and ovarian cancer have risen among younger adults (under 50), while the same increases have not been observed in older age groups. The…
Finishing a tough workout always feels good. That is, until a few hours later when those uncomfortable muscle aches start setting in. This discomfort can linger for days – making easy, everyday tasks a challenge. In search of relief, some recreational gym-goers are adopting the kind of recovery techniques once…
Two brothers named Gary and Shaggy have helped Cornell University researchers make a rare genetic discovery. In a study published in Scientific Reports, scientists reported the first molecular characterization of Marfan syndrome in domestic cats, a condition primarily recognized in humans. Gary and Shaggy first stood out as kittens because…
How much energy your body needs to move as an adult could be influenced by how active you were during childhood. A new study led by researchers at Penn State suggests that physical activity early in life may have lasting effects on movement efficiency. Using birds as a model, the…
For decades, researchers have invested billions of dollars in Alzheimer’s treatments designed to target amyloid beta, a peptide that forms harmful deposits in the brain. But a biochemist at the University of California, Santa Cruz, believes scientists may have overlooked another potential contributor to the disease: a smaller, closely related…
Scientists investigating why the Moon’s two sides look so different have uncovered new evidence that could help explain this long-standing mystery. A research team led by Professor Hejiu Hui of Nanjing University analyzed lunar rocks collected by China’s Chang’e-6 (CE6) mission and found clues suggesting that enormous movements of molten…
Researchers led by Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University have discovered a protein that may allow harmful aging cells to escape detection by the immune system. By helping these cells remain in the body instead of being cleared away, the protein could contribute to their accumulation and the development of health problems…
A colossal prehistoric snake that lived in India about 47 million years ago may have been one of the largest snakes ever to exist. Known as Vasuki indicus, the ancient reptile could have reached an extraordinary 15.2 meters (50 feet) in length, putting it in the same league as Titanoboa,…
A minimally invasive procedure that targets abnormal blood vessels in the knee could provide lasting relief for people struggling with osteoarthritis, offering a potential alternative to joint replacement surgery. In a study involving 194 patients, researchers found that a treatment using tiny particles that dissolve within hours was associated with…
Even when artificial intelligence behaves exactly like a human, people are reluctant to consider it conscious, according to a new study from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU). As artificial intelligence becomes more advanced, reports of AI systems misleading users, working together, or appearing to pursue independent goals are becoming…
A scorching hot planet nearly 320 light-years from Earth has provided the first direct evidence for a fundamental assumption about how planets form. Astronomers discovered that WASP-189b shares an important chemical characteristic with its host star, supporting a long-standing idea that also helps scientists investigate potentially habitable worlds. The breakthrough…
Scientists have uncovered thousands of previously overlooked chemical reactions that could help improve the conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into valuable fuels and industrial chemicals. By combining machine learning with advanced computer simulations, researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) identified 9,389 individual reactions occurring on a copper catalyst,…
Africa boasts up to 25% of Earth’s animal and plant species. This diversity is driven by diverse habitats: harsh deserts, vast grasslands, dense forests, towering mountains, lush coastlines and teeming seas. It is also due to deep evolutionary roots, as many animal and plant groups originated here in the distant…
A massive galaxy cluster dating back to an era when such enormous structures were only beginning to take shape is challenging scientists’ understanding of how the universe evolved. New observations from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) reveal that the cluster contains an unusually dense concentration of matter, suggesting that…
Cells rely on a natural cleanup system to prevent damaged materials from accumulating inside them. Known as autophagy, this process collects defective proteins and other cellular waste, packages them into specialized compartments, and breaks them down into basic molecular components that can be reused. This recycling system helps protect cells…
A furry predator that lived 165 million years ago is offering scientists an unexpected glimpse into the evolution of mammals. Known as Megacauda sungei, this ancient hunter measured only about half a meter (20 inches) from nose to tail, yet it was remarkably large compared with most of its Jurassic…
Scientists have reconstructed a remarkably detailed family tree of cells in a developing mouse embryo, tracing their origins back to the moment a fertilized egg first divided into two cells. Using an innovative DNA recording technology, the researchers followed how those early cells multiplied, developed specialized roles, and eventually helped…
A particle does not have to pass through a magnetic field to be influenced by it. That surprising feature of quantum physics has now been recreated by researchers at the University of Oxford, who used a hybrid quantum computer to demonstrate how an invisible magnetic influence can bring a simulated…
Feeling overwhelmed by stress or struggling to adjust when things go wrong? Everyday habits such as eating a nutritious breakfast, getting regular exercise, and sleeping enough may play an important role in how well your mind handles difficult situations. New research from Binghamton University suggests that these healthy routines are…