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The chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis), commonly called Bd, is widely recognized as a major factor behind the worldwide decline of amphibians. Scientists have identified multiple genetic variants of this disease causing fungus across different regions. Together, these strains have already contributed to population crashes in at least 500 species of…
Researchers at Tokyo Metropolitan University set out to understand how polymer-coated fertilizer (PCF) used on farmland eventually reaches beaches and ocean waters. By examining PCF debris collected from shorelines across Japan, they found that very little fertilizer plastic returns to land through rivers. Only about 0.2% of the PCFs applied…
A new study suggests that autistic and non-autistic people use their faces to show emotions in different ways. These differences may help explain why emotional expressions are sometimes misunderstood between the two groups. Researchers at the University of Birmingham carried out a large-scale project to map facial expressions linked to…
An updated Cochrane review reports that there is still no clear proof that cannabis-based medicines effectively relieve chronic neuropathic pain. Despite growing interest in these treatments, the latest evidence does not show reliable pain reduction compared with placebo. Chronic neuropathic pain develops when nerves are damaged, often leading to persistent…
“The brain is an exquisite sensor of what’s going on in your body,” says Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Assistant Professor Jeremy Borniger. “But it requires balance. Neurons need to be active or inactive at the right times. If that rhythm goes out of sync even a little bit, it can…
Using a solid electrolyte instead of a liquid one inside a battery could enable rechargeable lithium metal batteries that are safer, store much more energy, and recharge far faster than today’s lithium-ion batteries. This idea has attracted scientists and engineers for decades. However, progress has been limited by a critical…
Social media and news feeds are filled with unverified claims about a possible connection between acetaminophen and autism in children. But medical experts say the far more serious and well-documented concern is something else entirely: overdose from the widely used pain and fever medication. Acetaminophen poisoning is one of the…
Astronomers in Europe have identified an unexpected feature hidden inside the famous Ring Nebula. The discovery was made by a team led by researchers at UCL (University College London) and Cardiff University, who found a narrow, bar shaped cloud made of iron deep within the nebula. The iron cloud is…
In a new study, terrestrial bacteria-infecting viruses were still able to infect their E. coli hosts in near-weightless “microgravity” conditions aboard the International Space Station, but the dynamics of virus-bacteria interactions differed from those observed on Earth. Phil Huss of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, U.S.A., and colleagues present these findings…
At a glance, the 400 acres of soybeans on the Preston family’s dairy farm in southern Michigan appear no different from any other field in the region. But this crop is far from ordinary. The soybeans are part of a research-driven collaboration with Michigan State University that is saving the…
A long-running Swedish study conducted at Karolinska Institutet has followed people for 47 years to examine how fitness, strength, and muscle endurance evolve during adulthood. The findings show that physical performance begins to decline around age 35. At the same time, the research makes it clear that starting to exercise…
Scientists are raising new concerns after a study found that microplastics are interfering with the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide, a process that plays a vital role in regulating Earth’s temperature. Microplastics are tiny plastic particles measuring less than five millimeters. Over time, they have spread across nearly every…
Engineers have taken a major step toward producing the smallest earthquakes ever created, shrinking seismic-style vibrations down to the scale of a microchip. The breakthrough centers on a device called a surface acoustic wave phonon laser. The technology could eventually enable more advanced chips for smartphones and other wireless electronics,…
Thyme extract is often described as a powerful natural remedy because of its wide range of health effects. This reputation comes from several biologically active compounds — thymol, carvacrol, rosmarinic acid, and caffeic acid — that are known to support immune function while also offering anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant benefits.…
For the first time, scientists have applied machine learning, a form of artificial intelligence (AI), to identify the factors most closely linked to cancer survival in nearly every country across the globe. The research, publishedin the leading cancer journal Annals of Oncology, goes beyond broad comparisons to show which specific…
By closely tracking swarms of extremely small earthquakes, scientists are gaining new insight into a dangerous and complicated region off the Northern California coast. This area marks the meeting point of the San Andreas fault and the Cascadia subduction zone, a place capable of producing powerful and destructive earthquakes. The…
For a long time, endocrinologist Leigh Perreault, MD, felt uneasy about how weight management was handled in routine medical care. Too often, patients were sent home with the same advice to eat better and exercise more, even when it clearly was not enough. “There was a moment I put my…
The first-ever academic review focused on bamboo as a food has uncovered a wide range of possible health benefits. Researchers found evidence suggesting bamboo consumption may help regulate blood sugar, reduce inflammation, support digestive health, and provide antioxidant effects. Bamboo is known as the fastest growing plant on the planet,…
Spending more than 10 hours a week playing video games may begin to affect young people’s eating habits, sleep quality, and body weight, according to new research led by Curtin University and published in Nutrition. The study surveyed 317 students from five universities across Australia. Participants had a median age…
When people talk face to face, nearly half of their attention is drawn to the movement of the lips. Despite this, robots still have great difficulty moving their mouths in a convincing way. Even the most advanced humanoid machines often rely on stiff, exaggerated mouth motions that resemble a puppet,…
New research from Nagoya University in Japan has identified a previously overlooked risk associated with widely used eye ointments. The study shows that petrolatum-based eye ointments can cause a popular glaucoma implant to swell and, in some cases, rupture. Using both patient cases and laboratory testing, the researchers demonstrated that…
Adolescence is a defining stage not only for social and physical growth, but also for how the brain develops. During this time, advanced mental abilities such as planning, reasoning, and decision-making continue to mature. Even so, scientists still lack a complete understanding of how the brain’s complex networks are shaped…
Researchers at the Princeton University Branch of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research have uncovered new ways a vitamin A-derived molecule can interfere with the immune system’s ability to fight cancer. The molecule, known as all-trans retinoic acid, was found to weaken natural anti-cancer immune responses and, under certain conditions,…
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 mission has successfully concluded with a safe splashdown in the Pacific Ocean early Thursday morning, just off the coast of San Diego. The landing brought to a close a mission that lasted more than five months aboard the International Space Station. The returning crew included NASA astronauts…
Scientists at the University of New Mexico have uncovered an unexpected connection between the immune system and brain health. Their research shows that OTULIN, an enzyme known for regulating immune activity, also plays a major role in producing tau, a protein closely tied to Alzheimer’s disease, other neurodegenerative disorders, brain…
A chemical known for its danger to humans may have played an unexpected role in the earliest steps toward life on Earth. Hydrogen cyanide, which is highly poisonous, can freeze into crystals at low temperatures. Computer simulations published in ACS Central Science suggest that certain surfaces on these crystals are…
Since the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) began scientific operations, astronomers have been intrigued by strange red dots appearing in its images of the distant universe. Scientists from the University of Copenhagen have now identified what these objects are, uncovering extreme cosmic activity hidden inside dense clouds of ionized gas.…
Longer lives across species: Limiting reproduction is linked to longer lifespans in many mammals, boosting life expectancy by about ten percent on average and sometimes even more. Different biology for males and females: Males live longer only when castration removes testosterone, while females gain longevity from any form of reproductive…
Where did cannabis compounds like THC, CBD, and CBC come from? Scientists at Wageningen University & Research have now provided the first experimental proof showing how cannabis developed the ability to make these well-known cannabinoids. Along the way, the team also created enzymes that could be useful for producing cannabinoids…
Tryptophan is widely known for its connection to sleep, but its importance goes much further. The compounds produced from tryptophan help build proteins, generate cellular energy (NAD+), and create essential brain chemicals such as serotonin and melatonin. Together, these processes support mood, learning, and healthy sleep patterns. As the brain…
