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A new fossil discovery is bringing fresh insight into one of the most remarkable survival stories in Earth’s history while also resolving a scientific mystery that has puzzled researchers for decades. Lystrosaurus, a tough, plant-eating ancestor of mammals, became one of the dominant species after the End-Permian Mass Extinction around…
Scientists have reported a major experimental advance in understanding how some of the rarest elements in the universe are formed. These unusual atoms, known as p-nuclei, are proton-rich isotopes heavier than iron that have long puzzled researchers. The new study, led by Artemis Tsantiri, who conducted the work as a…
A new study from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is reshaping a decades-old belief about the disappearance of Hawaiʻi’s native waterbirds. Researchers report that there is no scientific evidence showing Indigenous People hunted these species to extinction. Published in the journal Ecosphere, the study disputes this widely accepted narrative…
Bread has long been a dietary cornerstone, sustaining societies for generations. It is deeply woven into everyday life. But with obesity rates continuing to climb, researchers are beginning to question whether this reliance on staple carbohydrates still makes sense in modern diets. Obesity increases the risk of many lifestyle-related diseases,…
Researchers have found a way to make the immune system’s T cells far more effective at attacking cancer. By blocking a protein known as Ant2, they were able to change how these cells produce and use energy, essentially rewiring their internal power supply. This transformation makes T cells more active,…
Feeling lonely may affect how well older adults remember things, but it does not appear to make memory decline happen faster over time. This conclusion comes from a large European study that followed more than 10,000 people over a seven-year period. At the start of the study, participants who reported…
An international team of scientists has taken a closer look at how memory works in quantum systems and uncovered a surprising result. Their research shows that a quantum process can seem completely memoryless when viewed one way, yet still retain memory when examined from another angle. This unexpected finding opens…
The Colorado River and its network of tributaries supply water to seven U.S. states and Mexico, supporting drinking water, farming, and hydropower. A large share of that water begins as snow in the mountains, building up during winter before melting in spring. Each year in early April, water managers analyze…
Mitochondria are often called the power plants of the cell because they produce the energy cells need to function. To support this role, they carry their own genetic material, known as mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Each cell holds hundreds to thousands of copies of mtDNA. These copies are grouped into compact…
Living with other people may be subtly influencing your gut bacteria, according to new research from the University of East Anglia. A study of small island birds found that individuals share more gut microbes with those they interact with most often. Researchers say this same effect is very likely happening…
If you’re a parent or live with a condition that makes frequent bathroom trips unavoidable, you’ve likely figured out which public restrooms are usable and which ones to avoid. Still, there are moments when you have no choice but to use a facility that looks far from clean. In that…
New research has delivered a stark warning about a major change in Africa’s forests. Once a crucial part of the fight against climate change, these forests are now releasing more carbon than they absorb. The findings come from an international study published in Scientific Reports, led by scientists from the…
Periodontitis is a common condition that can affect much more than just oral health. Scientists at Fraunhofer have discovered a compound that specifically blocks the bacteria responsible for this disease while leaving the rest of the oral microbiome intact. This innovation has since been developed into a range of oral…
New findings presented at this year’s European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Istanbul, Turkey (May 12-15) highlight clear differences in how obesity affects men and women. The research shows that risks related to heart health, metabolism, and inflammation do not develop in the same way across sexes. These insights could…
Gray whales are known for their long migration between food-rich Arctic waters and the warm lagoons of Baja Mexico. But as climate change alters ocean conditions, some whales are behaving in unexpected ways. In recent years, a number of gray whales have been spotted feeding in unfamiliar areas, including the…
Light plays a major role in how plants grow, but scientists are still uncovering exactly how it works. Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University have now identified a previously unknown mechanism that helps explain how light influences plant development. The research team, led by Professor Kouichi Soga of the Graduate School…
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have introduced a new theoretical design for quantum systems based on what they call “giant superatoms.” This concept offers a fresh way to protect, control, and share quantum information, potentially bringing scientists closer to building large-scale quantum computers. Quantum computers are expected…
What influences how long we live, and how much of that is written in our genes? For many years, scientists believed genetics played only a modest role. Earlier estimates suggested that inherited factors explained about 20 to 25 percent of lifespan differences, and some large studies even placed the number…
Astronomers have captured one of the clearest views yet of a “reborn” black hole in action, revealing a dramatic outburst that has been compared to a “cosmic volcano” spreading across nearly one million light-years of space. The discovery centers on the galaxy J1007+3540, where scientists observed a supermassive black hole…
A new clinical trial led by researchers at Queen Mary University of London suggests that a single injection given every six months may significantly lower blood pressure over time. The findings, published in JAMA, point to a long-lasting treatment option that could improve how hypertension is managed. The global study,…
Scientists at Stanford Medicine have identified a naturally occurring molecule that appears to mimic some of the weight loss effects of semaglutide, the drug widely known as Ozempic. In animal studies, the molecule reduced appetite and body weight while avoiding several common side effects such as nausea, constipation, and muscle…
More than one in four people with Type 2 diabetes use GLP-1 receptor agonists, a class of widely prescribed medications. However, new research from Stanford Medicine and international collaborators suggests these drugs may be less effective for some individuals due to genetic differences. About 10% of the population carries certain…
A new study of Neanderthal remains from a cave in Belgium is shedding light on a disturbing aspect of prehistoric life. Researchers analyzing human bones from the Troisième caverne of Goyet (Belgium) found evidence that Neanderthals engaged in selective cannibalism between 41,000 and 45,000 years ago. The remains show that…
The first-ever published research on Tinshemet Cave is changing how scientists understand the relationship between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens. Evidence from the site shows that these groups did more than simply live at the same time in the mid-Middle Paleolithic Levant. They interacted directly, sharing tools, ways of life, and…
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, about 2.3 million women were diagnosed with the disease in 2022, and roughly 670,000 died from it. While treatments have improved in recent years, some forms of breast cancer are especially aggressive and…
Viruses are highly effective at entering human cells, largely because of specialized proteins that cover their outer surfaces. These proteins are key targets in vaccine development. To study them, scientists typically create lab versions to see how the immune system might respond. However, these simplified versions often leave out important…
Mars is a harsh and unforgiving world. Any life that may have existed there in the past, or could exist today or in the future, would need to survive intense environmental stress. Two major threats stand out. One is the powerful shock waves generated when meteorites slam into the planet’s…
An international team of astronomers has delivered one of the clearest measurements yet of how quickly the nearby Universe is expanding. Instead of resolving a long-standing issue, the new result makes the problem even more difficult to ignore. The collaboration includes John Blakeslee of NSF NOIRLab, which is funded by…
When people gain weight during life can play a major role in their health decades later. A large study of more than 600,000 individuals from Lund University in Sweden examined how weight changes between ages 17 and 60 relate to the risk of dying from different diseases. The findings point…
Maintaining a healthy weight may depend not only on food choices but also on meal timing. A study published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity found that two habits are linked to a lower body mass index (BMI) over time: extending the overnight fasting period and…
