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Muscles naturally become weaker as we get older, but scientists have discovered that some of the changes associated with aging may actually help protect muscle cells from damage. New research reveals why aging muscles shift toward a different type of muscle fiber and identifies a crucial molecule that could offer…
A single sauna session may trigger a surprising response in the immune system. Researchers in Finland have discovered that spending just 30 minutes in a sauna, with a brief cold shower halfway through, causes white blood cells to surge into the bloodstream. These cells are essential to the body’s defenses,…
Researchers in South Korea have developed a new technology that could lead to smaller, lighter electric vehicle (EV) batteries capable of delivering longer driving ranges on a single charge. Scientists at KAIST have found a way to address a major weakness of anode-free batteries, which eliminate conventional materials such as…
Fire salamanders are among Europe’s most recognizable amphibians, known for their striking black and yellow coloring and the poisonous substances they release to deter predators. Despite their familiar appearance, scientists are still uncovering surprising details about their biology. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies the species as…
Scientists have uncovered evidence of a previously unknown volcanic system that formed roughly 100 million years ago in what is now northwestern Iran. The discovery reveals a missing chapter in the region’s geological history and offers new clues about the powerful tectonic forces that shaped ancient oceans and continents. Mountain…
Scientists at the University of St Andrews have identified a previously unknown process that may help explain how Earth entered past ice ages. Their findings reveal a surprising connection between ice sheets in the Northern Hemisphere and ocean changes near Antarctica, suggesting that cooling in one part of the world…
NASA’s Artemis I mission has provided new insights into how much cosmic radiation astronauts may encounter near the Moon compared with low Earth orbit. Using experimental detectors made from lithium fluoride crystals aboard the Orion spacecraft, researchers have obtained preliminary measurements that reveal unexpected differences in radiation exposure between the…
A new computer model suggests that Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier, often called the “Doomsday Glacier,” could contribute far more to rising sea levels than scientists previously estimated. Developed by researchers at the University of California, Irvine, and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the model predicts that melting from the massive West Antarctic…
A simple daily fiber supplement may offer a surprising new way to relieve knee arthritis pain while improving muscle strength. In a clinical trial led by researchers at the University of Nottingham, people with knee osteoarthritis (OA) who took a prebiotic fiber called inulin experienced significant reductions in pain, improved…
A major new study has uncovered important differences in how the brains of autistic children respond to human faces. Published in Nature Mental Health, the research is among the most extensive investigations yet into how face perception works in autism. Some autistic people tend to look at faces less frequently…
Around 66 million years ago, an asteroid struck Earth and brought the age of the dinosaurs to an end. The mass extinction that followed created opportunities for countless other animals to evolve and spread. Ants were among the groups that eventually became remarkably successful, and scientists have now identified a…
Scientists at McGill University have discovered a surprising ability in immune cells that could reshape our understanding of how the body develops lasting protection against infections. For years, researchers believed that tissue-resident memory T cells, specialized immune cells that remain in the body’s tissues after an infection and respond quickly…
Scientists have uncovered a surprising connection between the bacteria living in the human gut and the speed at which the body ages. Researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa found that certain gut microbes are associated with slower biological aging, while others are linked to faster aging. The study,…
Low testosterone can contribute to several health problems, and an unhealthy diet may make some of those risks even worse. One major concern is metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), a condition that affects approximately 40% of adult men worldwide and has become a significant global health issue. Fatty liver,…
Medications are designed to treat diseases and relieve symptoms, but some can also produce unintended effects that put patients at risk. While side effects are common with many treatments, researchers have identified a particularly concerning possibility involving drugs used to control inflammation. Scientists at the Norwegian University of Science and…
Astronomers have discovered surprising evidence that a scorching planet covered in molten rock may be protected by a reflective layer of clouds that acts like a giant sunscreen. Scientists previously believed that the planet’s extreme conditions would make it nearly impossible for an atmosphere to survive, but new observations suggest…
Scientists have created one of the largest and most detailed simulations of the early universe ever developed, offering a remarkable new way to explore how the cosmos evolved after the Big Bang. Known as “Lumina,” the simulation was built by researchers at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian…
Scientists have developed a new way to control magnetism using light, a breakthrough that could eventually make digital data storage faster, more compact, and more energy-efficient. The research, conducted by engineers at the University of California San Diego, was published in the journal Nature Communications. Modern hard drives and other…
Scientists at the University of Bonn have discovered that spiders experience distinct stages of sleep, including a REM-like state that shares surprising similarities with human sleep. During this stage, the spiders move their eyes and twitch their muscles, behaviors also associated with REM (rapid eye movement) sleep in humans and…
Some people have the brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease but never develop dementia. While others experience worsening memory and thinking problems, these individuals remain mentally sharp despite signs of the disease in their brains. Scientists have long struggled to explain why. Now, researchers at the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience…
Seven studies from Mayo Clinic are revealing new details about senescent cells, often called “zombie” cells because they stop dividing but remain active in the body. These aging cells release inflammatory substances that can contribute to diseases associated with growing older. The research, published in Nature journals, was conducted by…
An archaeological site in the Jordan Valley is rewriting the timeline of early human migration. New research shows that ‘Ubeidiya is at least 1.9 million years old, placing humans in the region hundreds of thousands of years earlier than previously believed. The revised dating makes ‘Ubeidiya, alongside Dmanisi in Georgia,…
New research suggests that exercising just once or twice a week may be enough to maintain some of the blood pressure benefits gained from regular physical activity, at least over a short period. However, people who continue exercising three times weekly may experience larger and more sustained improvements. The findings,…
Scientists from the University of Oxford, Newcastle University, and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have uncovered a previously unexplained cause of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The discovery could change how doctors understand, diagnose, and treat certain forms of the condition. The findings indicate that IBD is not simply one…
Exercise does more than make the heart stronger. New research suggests it also physically reshapes the nerves that control the heart, revealing an unexpected difference between the left and right sides of the body. Scientists at the University of Bristol (UK) discovered that moderate aerobic exercise changes the structure of…
An international research team has revisited one of the oldest precisely dated records of a total solar eclipse, uncovering new details about how Earth’s rotation has changed over thousands of years. By combining historical geography with modern astronomical calculations, the scientists reconstructed an eclipse that occurred in 709 BCE and…
Scientists exploring the forests of Yunnan, China, have discovered an extraordinary giant fungus that is challenging previous assumptions about how large certain fungi can grow. The newly identified species, Dianjunus rex, produces upright reproductive structures that can reach 50 cm (20 inches) in height and weigh as much as 2.2…
Scientists have developed and tested the first three-dimensional thermal invisibility cloak, a device that can conceal objects from infrared cameras while protecting them from extreme temperatures. The breakthrough could lead to new ways to cool microchips, safeguard delicate electronics, and prevent equipment from being detected through its thermal signature. The…
Tiny magnetic structures called skyrmions could help pave the way for a new generation of computers that process information more like the human brain while using far less electricity. Although most people have never heard of skyrmions, these microscopic magnetic vortices may eventually play an important role in how computers…
A shipwreck off the coast of Turkey is the oldest shipwreck in the world, our team of archaeologists believes. There’s little left of the ship itself but based on clues from its cargo – including pottery vessels – a research team I was part of has tentatively dated the wreck…
