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Scientists have proposed a surprising new explanation for why the universe exists, and it centers on a mysterious particle that physicists have largely overlooked for decades. Their theory suggests this forgotten particle may have played a crucial role in shaping the early cosmos and allowing matter to survive after the…
Trees have a remarkable ability to sense their own shape and adjust their growth to stay upright. This awareness of body position, known as proprioception, was once thought to exist only in animals. However, in 2012, researchers working with INRAE demonstrated that plants also possess this ability (Bastien R. et…
Heart disease linked to high cholesterol continues to be the leading cause of death worldwide. Although doctors have more treatment options than ever, many people still struggle to lower their cholesterol to safe levels. Others experience side effects that make existing medications difficult to take. Researchers at the University of…
For nearly two decades, scientists have known that a common gut bacterium can produce a toxin that damages the colon and helps drive the formation of tumors. What they could not explain was how the toxin first attaches to intestinal cells and begins its attack. Now, researchers have uncovered that…
In the hills of north-west Morocco, overlooking the river that gives the site its name, research at Oued Beht is bringing to light a previously unknown chapter of the region’s past. The discovery of a substantial built structure suggests that, during the second millennium BC, communities in north-west Africa were…
Scientists have uncovered an unexpected way certain metals can withstand extreme cold without becoming dangerously brittle. The discovery challenges long-standing ideas about how metals behave at extremely low temperatures and could help engineers develop tougher materials for some of the harshest environments imaginable. The findings, published October 14 in Nature,…
A small, circular hole in a 75,000-year-old Neanderthal shoulder blade may reveal one of the earliest known cases of deadly violence involving a wooden spear. The remarkable discovery, made in a cave in Iraqi Kurdistan, suggests that the individual was struck by a sharpened wooden weapon that passed through the…
Scientists at Gladstone Institutes have discovered an unusual bacterial immune system that operates in almost the opposite way of previously known defenses. The surprising mechanism allows bacteria to activate a deadly self-destruct process when viruses attack, potentially offering new ideas for developing medical treatments and gene-editing technologies. The findings, published…
Scientists at Johns Hopkins University have uncovered a surprising role for a vitamin A derivative in the development of human vision. Their research reveals how this molecule works alongside thyroid hormones to help form the part of the eye responsible for our sharpest sight, challenging a scientific explanation that has…
New findings from the STAR experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) suggest that scientists can recreate an extraordinary form of matter from the earliest moments of the universe using surprisingly small atomic collisions. By smashing oxygen nuclei together at nearly the speed of light, researchers have uncovered strong…
A simple blood test could help identify people at increased risk of Alzheimer’s-related cognitive decline years before they experience any noticeable problems with memory or thinking. In a large international study, researchers found that older adults with very high levels of a particular blood biomarker faced a 38% chance of…
A carefully structured combination of diet and exercise may offer a powerful way to put type 2 diabetes into remission in younger adults. In a new clinical trial, more than half of participants who followed an intensive lifestyle program achieved remission within just six months, compared with only 4% of…
What if time is not a fundamental part of the universe, but something that emerges from the changes taking place inside it? A physicist at the University of Birmingham has created a miniature universe in the laboratory that offers a surprising new way to investigate this possibility. Using thousands of…
Why did crocodiles survive the asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago? New research suggests that their preference for warm environments may have given them a crucial advantage during one of Earth’s greatest mass extinctions. Scientists led by UCL (University College London) found that crocodiles and…
Finding the shortest route between two locations is something navigation apps like Google Maps do every day. Behind the scenes, sophisticated algorithms analyze networks of roads and intersections to identify efficient paths. But what if a computer needed to calculate the shortest distance between every possible pair of locations in…
A surprising discovery made with NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope is challenging a leading explanation for how the early universe emerged from darkness. The findings suggest that powerful explosions from dying stars may have actually interfered with a process scientists once believed they helped drive. An international research team, including astronomers…
Not every snakebite injects venom. When venom enters the body, however, it can cause snake envenoming. This is a potentially fatal condition and it mostly affects poor rural communities across tropical and subtropical regions who don’t have easy access to medical care. As researchers with decades of combined experience in…
Some childhood cancers may be far more dangerous than their initial risk classification suggests. Scientists have discovered that certain tumors considered less threatening can contain hidden populations of highly aggressive cancer cells, potentially explaining why some children experience devastating outcomes despite lacking the usual genetic warning signs. The discovery could…
NASA astronaut Anil Menon and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Joshua Kutryk have completed a 7-hour, 11-minute spacewalk outside the International Space Station, marking another important step in a major upgrade to the orbiting laboratory’s power system. The astronauts finished their work at 3:08 p.m. EDT. During the spacewalk, Menon…
Global warming has accelerated sharply over the past decade, with Earth heating up faster than at any point since modern temperature records began in 1880. A new study from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) provides the first statistically significant evidence that the pace of global warming has…
A star system just 16 light-years from Earth has puzzled astronomers for more than 170 years. Now, researchers have uncovered a surprising explanation for a signal that once suggested a giant planet was hiding there. Although the discovery rules out certain massive planets, it also helps narrow the search for…
At first glance it looks exactly like a seahorse. It has the same horse-shaped head tilted down from the body, the same curled and grasping tail, and in the males a fully enclosed pouch for brooding the young. But this little fish, no longer than your thumb, is not a…
For people living with chronic back pain, even a simple movement can trigger a sudden surge of pain. Now, scientists have discovered that these painful episodes activate a surprising part of the brain, one closely connected to our sense of identity and how we think about ourselves. Researchers at UC…
Scientists have identified a brain signal that may help explain why schizophrenia produces such a wide variety of symptoms, including difficulties with perception, movement, and speech. The discovery suggests that problems that appear unrelated could actually stem from a shared disruption in how the brain processes information. Schizophrenia is a…
Sugar substitutes are often promoted as a healthier way to enjoy sweet foods and drinks without consuming as much sugar. However, new research suggests that some of these widely used sweeteners may have an unexpected downside for long-term brain health. A study published in Neurology, the medical journal of the…
A single ancient elephant tooth is offering scientists a remarkable glimpse into a world that existed nearly 700,000 years ago. Found in northern Israel, the fossil has helped researchers reconstruct a surprisingly lush prehistoric landscape filled with forests, rivers, wetlands, and abundant vegetation. This ancient environment supported enormous elephants and…
NASA’s Juno spacecraft has uncovered remarkable new details about how Jupiter withstands the constant stream of high-energy particles flowing from the Sun. The findings reveal that the solar system’s largest planet relies on a much more complex system of plasma waves and shock regions than Earth does. Led by scientists…
Mathematicians are raising a major challenge to one of modern cosmology’s most widely accepted explanations: the idea that dark energy is driving the accelerating expansion of the universe. A study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society A presents mathematical findings that researchers at the University of California, Davis, say…
Could the amount of daylight you get each day offer clues about your risk of developing dementia? A large new study suggests that exposure to brighter daytime light is associated with a lower likelihood of developing the condition. The findings, published in General Psychiatry, point to daytime light exposure as…
Cranberry juice may offer an unexpected benefit for your teeth. New research suggests that pure, unsweetened cranberry juice can slow the growth of dental plaque and reduce the production of acids that contribute to tooth decay. Cranberries are a familiar part of holiday celebrations. They appear in sauces, salads, and…
