One of Earth’s most powerful supervolcanoes is refilling with fresh magma

One of Earth’s most powerful supervolcanoes is slowly refilling its enormous underground magma reservoir, thousands of years after producing one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recent geological history. Scientists at Kobe University have discovered evidence that fresh magma is accumulating beneath Japan’s Kikai caldera, which unleashed a catastrophic eruption…

Dental implants can hijack your immune system, scientists discover

For tens of millions of people, dental implants have provided a way to replace missing teeth with a full set of fixed, functional teeth rather than removable dentures. However, an estimated 10% to 20% of implant patients eventually develop peri-implantitis, a serious infection that damages the surrounding jawbone. Antibiotics frequently…

Breakthrough PTSD treatment achieves 68% remission rate in clinical trial

A new approach to treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has received FDA clearance, offering a personalized alternative for people who have not found sufficient relief through existing treatments. Developed by California-based Wave Neuroscience in collaboration with researchers at the Texas A&M Health Institute of Biosciences and Technology, the technology uses…

MIT scientists build a tiny robot that swims using living muscle cells

A swimming robot does not necessarily need a bulky motor or powerful mechanical parts to move through water. MIT researchers have demonstrated that a single, carefully engineered layer of living muscle cells can generate enough force to propel a tiny robot forward. The engineers developed an extremely thin swimming robot…

A tiny defect in a crystal reveals a big quantum surprise

When light strikes a tiny imperfection inside a material such as diamond or silicon carbide, it can transfer energy to electrons and push them into an excited state. These imperfections, known as spin defects, could become valuable building blocks for future quantum technologies, including quantum sensors. Because they can function…

Scientists discover a surprising double benefit of exercise for Parkinson’s

People with Parkinson’s disease who are more physically active may experience slower declines in memory, thinking, and movement, according to a new study published October 7, 2026, in Neurology, the official medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The findings suggest that staying active could offer two important advantages…

Nearly 20% of Switzerland’s glacier ice has vanished in just five years

Switzerland’s glaciers lost more than 5% of their total ice volume in 2026, marking another devastating year for the country’s rapidly shrinking glaciers. Although the melting did not quite match the record losses of 2022, glaciers thinned by an average of 2.5 to 4 meters. In some areas, the lower…

Scientists discover a hidden messaging system deep inside the brain

Deep within the brainstem is a tiny group of nerve cells that plays an outsized role in how the brain functions. This region, called the locus coeruleus (LC), gets its name from the Latin words for “blue place.” Although it contains only a small fraction of the brain’s neurons, it…

40 years later, Chernobyl's nuclear fallout is not what scientists expected

Four decades after the Chernobyl (known today as Chornobyl) nuclear disaster, microscopic radioactive particles remain scattered throughout the surrounding soil. The explosions that devastated the reactor released enormous quantities of debris, leaving behind contamination that continues to pose serious health risks. Even after 40 years, particles measuring just 8 to…

Nearly 3,000 exploding stars challenge our understanding of the Universe

The largest collection of exploding white dwarf stars ever compiled is providing fresh evidence that dark energy, the mysterious force responsible for the Universe’s accelerating expansion, may change over time. The findings challenge a central assumption of modern cosmology and could help scientists better understand how the Universe evolves. An…

Cambridge scientists create a $10 chip that could put a medical lab on your wrist

A new optical sensor costing just $10 could bring laboratory-level precision to wearable health monitors, potentially allowing people to track blood glucose without needles. The technology could also transform food testing, industrial quality control, and environmental monitoring. Researchers at the University of Cambridge and GlitterinTech (a start-up founded by the…

Scientists discover a hidden immune weapon against deadly lung cancer

Scientists have identified a previously overlooked type of immune cell that can detect and destroy small cell lung cancer, the most aggressive form of lung cancer worldwide. The discovery, reported in the journal Cancer Cell by researchers at WEHI, revealed that patients with greater numbers of these specialized immune cells…

Millions take fish oil for brain health. A two-year study found no benefit

Millions of Americans take fish oil supplements in hopes of protecting their memory and keeping their brains healthy as they age. These products have become a major business, with Americans spending more than $1 billion each year on supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids. These essential nutrients help build and maintain…

Birds are more afraid of women than men. Scientists have no idea why

Birds living in cities appear to react differently to men and women, and scientists are struggling to explain why. An international research team discovered that urban birds, including great tits, house sparrows, and blackbirds, tend to fly away sooner when approached by women than by men. The surprising behavior raises…

Oxford scientists discover how viruses build themselves without a blueprint

Researchers at the University of Oxford have observed virus-like particles assembling themselves one molecule at a time, uncovering the surprisingly simple rules that allow complex biological structures to form with remarkable reliability. The findings, published in Nature, offer a detailed look at a process that scientists have struggled to observe…

A revolutionary new microscope could reveal the hidden machinery of life

Almost a century ago, a breakthrough in microscopy gave scientists an entirely new way to examine the inside of cells. Known as phase contrast, the technique made previously faint or nearly invisible cellular structures much easier to distinguish. Its importance was recognized with a Nobel Prize in 1953. Now, physicists…

Honey bees are bullying other bees, scientists discover

Honey bees are proving to be formidable competitors for food in the UK, and scientists have discovered that they frequently use aggression to drive other pollinators away from flowers. New research has documented how honey bees chase, displace, and intimidate rival insects, providing the first detailed evidence of how extensively…

Coffee calories have jumped nearly 40%. Sugar isn't the biggest culprit

Americans are getting more calories from their daily coffee, even though the amount they drink has barely changed. Researchers at the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University have identified a surprising reason for the increase: non-dairy creamer, which has overtaken sugar…

Scientists discover a surprising secret behind the human brain’s wrinkles

Most primates have relatively large brains covered in distinctive folds and grooves. However, common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) are an unusual exception. These small monkeys have brains that are almost entirely smooth, with very little folding. Scientists at the German Primate Center (DPZ), the Leibniz Institute for Primate Research in Göttingen,…

Natural compound could fight rheumatoid arthritis at its source

Scientists have identified a natural plant compound that could offer a surprising new approach to fighting rheumatoid arthritis. In experiments with rats, the substance reduced joint swelling, protected cartilage, and calmed harmful immune activity. Researchers also discovered that it works through an unexpected mechanism involving the way the body processes…

A simple 15-minute treatment could help patients avoid carpal tunnel surgery

A simple procedure that takes about 15 minutes could offer lasting relief to people with carpal tunnel syndrome, a painful condition that can cause numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hands. A new study suggests that the treatment, which uses ultrasound to guide an injection of ordinary saline around a…

People are taking an unapproved weight-loss drug. AI found something surprising

An experimental weight-loss drug that has not yet received regulatory approval is already attracting users willing to obtain unapproved versions online. Now, scientists are using artificial intelligence to investigate their experiences, uncovering unexpected symptom reports that differ from those documented in clinical trials. The drug, retatrutide, belongs to a new…

A rock plunged 90 kilometers into Earth and revealed something unexpected

A remarkable rock discovered in Papua New Guinea has revealed an unexpected temperature pattern deep beneath Earth’s surface, challenging scientists’ understanding of how tectonic plates move into the planet’s interior. An international research team led by Göttingen University found that the rock traveled more than 90 kilometers (56 miles) underground…

Massive study of 460,000 people challenges ultra-processed food cancer fears

A massive study involving more than 460,000 Americans is challenging assumptions about ultra-processed foods and colorectal cancer. Researchers found that eating more ultra-processed food (UPF) was not associated with a higher overall incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the findings revealed an important distinction: Some types of ultra-processed foods were…

Too much RNA can starve cells of energy, scientists discover

Scientists have uncovered a surprising way that viruses can interfere with the body’s cells. When too much RNA accumulates inside a cell, it can damage the structures that produce energy, potentially leaving the cell struggling to function normally. A new study led by researchers at the Texas A&M College of…

A train was delayed by a solar storm. But something didn't add up.

A mysterious train delay nearly 180 years ago has led scientists to uncover a surprising mistake in the history of space weather. An international research team has solved a 178-year-old mystery involving one of the earliest documented cases of solar activity interfering with electrical technology. The incident dates back to…

Astronauts’ hearts just passed a surprising test for Mars

A journey to Mars may be less challenging for the human heart than scientists once feared. A new study suggests that astronauts can adapt remarkably well to months of weightlessness, offering encouraging evidence that humans could endure the long trip to the Red Planet and function under its weaker gravity.…

Rejuvenation breakthrough: Scientists reverse 60 years of aging in human cells

Scientists in Germany have found a way to dramatically reverse the molecular age of human cells, transforming blood cells from an 80-year-old person into stem cells with an age signature of less than 20 years. Researchers at the University Hospital of Bonn and the University of Bonn achieved this remarkable…

Just 4 minutes a day can dramatically improve strength after 65

A daily strength training routine lasting just four minutes can significantly improve strength, balance, and mobility in older adults, according to new research led by Penn State College of Medicine. The findings suggest that maintaining physical independence with age may require much less exercise than many people assume. Published in…