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When ice turns into water, the change happens almost instantly. As soon as the temperature reaches the melting point, the rigid structure of ice collapses into liquid water. This rapid switch from solid to liquid is typical for familiar three-dimensional materials. Extremely thin materials behave very differently. Instead of melting…
One of astronomy’s longest standing puzzles has been understanding how black holes grew so large in such a short span of cosmic time. Scientists have long known that supermassive black holes existed surprisingly early in the universe, but how they reached those enormous sizes remained unclear. Now, researchers at Ireland’s…
First observed in the early 1800s, the Helix Nebula has become one of the most recognizable planetary nebulas in the sky thanks to its bold, ring-like appearance. As one of the closest planetary nebulas to Earth, it offers astronomers a rare opportunity to closely examine the final stages of a…
Researchers at the University of Basel and the Laboratoire Kastler Brossel have shown that quantum entanglement can be used to measure several physical quantities at the same time with greater accuracy than traditional methods allow. Entanglement is often described as one of the most mysterious effects in quantum physics. When…
Adding a log to a glowing fireplace on a cold winter night often feels comforting and harmless. However, new research from Northwestern University shows that burning wood inside homes plays a much larger role in winter air pollution across the United States than many people realize. The study found that…
Scientists have successfully reconstructed the genome of Treponema pallidum from human remains that are about 5,500 years old, discovered in the Sabana de Bogotá region of Colombia. This bacterium is responsible for several serious infectious diseases today, including syphilis. The findings, published in the journal Science, significantly expand what researchers…
Scientists have created a new way to predict how cancer cells evolve as they gain or lose entire chromosomes. These large chromosome changes can quickly reshape tumors, helping them grow, adapt to stress, and resist treatment. A new tool called ALFA-K reveals which chromosome changes help cancer cells thrive and…
Alzheimer’s disease is known for one devastating effect above all others. It steadily destroys brain cells and the connections between them, breaking down the neural networks that allow us to store and recall memories. What remains far less certain is how this destruction begins. One leading explanation focuses on amyloid…
Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine have identified a chain reaction within the immune system that may help explain why people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) face a much greater risk of colorectal cancer. The preclinical findings show how signals in the gut can trigger a surge of white blood cells…
A long-standing mystery surrounding a Roman-era skeleton discovered in southern England may finally be close to an answer. Earlier studies suggested the young woman, known as the Beachy Head Woman, may have had recent ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa or the Mediterranean. New genetic research now points in a different direction,…
Can generative artificial intelligence systems like ChatGPT genuinely create original ideas? A new study led by Professor Karim Jerbi from the Department of Psychology at the Université de Montréal, with participation from renowned AI researcher Yoshua Bengio, takes on that question at an unprecedented scale. The research is the largest…
More than 10,000 years ago, people living in the southwestern United States carried a wild ancestor of the modern potato across long distances. According to a study published January 21, 2026 in the open-access journal PLOS One, this movement likely helped the plant spread beyond its original habitat. The research…
Scientists at the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science, along with their collaborators, have developed a technique for building three dimensional nanoscale devices directly from single crystal materials. The method relies on a focused ion beam instrument that can precisely remove material at extremely small scales. Using this approach, the…
A new study published in Nature Ecology and Evolution shows that tropical forests across the Amazon and Andes have experienced major changes in tree diversity in recent decades as global environmental conditions continue to shift. The research was led by Dr. Belen Fadrique of the University of Liverpool and is…
Environmental and public health researchers are drawing attention to a little-known group of pathogens that may pose a rising global danger: free living amoebae. In a new perspective published in Biocontaminant, the team explains that these microscopic organisms are gaining ground worldwide, driven by climate change, deteriorating water systems, and…
Singapore ranks among the countries with the longest life expectancy in the world. Even so, many people spend close to their final ten years coping with poor health. Researchers at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine) are working to change that reality by…
One year into President Donald J. Trump’s second term, NASA reports measurable gains across human spaceflight, scientific research, aeronautics, and advanced technology development. Agency officials say these achievements signal the early stages of a renewed period of American leadership in space, supported by defined national priorities and major investment through…
Thousands of discarded human-made objects are circling Earth, and when pieces of that space debris fall back to the surface, they can pose risks to people on the ground. To help identify where debris may come down, a scientist at Johns Hopkins University has contributed to a new approach that…
Astronomers have identified powerful winds of vaporized metals inside a vast cloud that blocked the light of a distant star for almost nine months. The finding was made using the Gemini South telescope in Chile, one half of the International Gemini Observatory, which is partly funded by the U.S. National…
A new study suggests that long-term inflammation may physically change the colon in ways that promote early-onset colorectal cancer (CRC). Researchers found that chronic inflammation can increase the stiffness of colon tissue, potentially creating conditions that help cancer develop and spread. The findings, published in Advanced Science, point to new…
As people grow older, the immune system often becomes less balanced and more prone to dysfunction. This shift can leave older adults more vulnerable to serious conditions such as sepsis. New research from scientists at the University of Minnesota sheds light on why this happens, showing how certain immune cells…
People with spinal cord injuries often lose the ability to move their arms or legs. In many cases, the nerves in the limbs remain healthy, and the brain continues to function normally. The loss of movement happens because damage to the spinal cord blocks signals traveling between the brain and…
“They’re very destructive when there’s a lot of them, but one-on-one, what’s not to love?” says Arianne Cease. She is referring to locusts. Cease leads Arizona State University’s Global Locust Initiative, where she studies how locusts behave and how their destructive swarms can be controlled. While her research focuses on…
Children who show ADHD traits at age 10 are more likely to experience physical health problems and health-related disability by age 46, according to a study led by researchers at University College London (UCL) and the University of Liverpool. The researchers say the results likely reflect a broad mix of…
Many common products, including plastics and detergents, rely on chemical reactions that depend on catalysts made from precious metals such as platinum. These metals are effective but costly and limited in supply. For years, scientists have been searching for alternatives that are cheaper and more sustainable. One promising option is…
Astronomers at the International Centre of Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) have produced the largest low-frequency radio color image of the Milky Way ever assembled. The new image presents an extraordinary view of our galaxy as seen from the Southern Hemisphere, revealing the Milky Way across a broad range of radio…
An international team of astronomers led by researchers from Waseda University and Tohoku University has identified an unusual quasar in the early Universe that contains one of the fastest-growing supermassive black holes known for its size. Data from the Subaru Telescope show a surprising mix of traits. The quasar is…
Could this discovery change how cancer is treated in the future? In laboratory studies, the answer appears promising. An international team of scientists has uncovered a key biological process that helps pancreatic cancer grow and evade the immune system. By disrupting this process, researchers were able to dramatically shrink tumors…
New research suggests that the giant ancestors of modern kangaroos may not have been as limited in their movement as once believed. Some of these prehistoric species are thought to have weighed up to 250 kilograms, yet a study published in Scientific Reports indicates they may have been capable of…
Chemotherapy is widely known to damage the lining of the intestines. While this effect is often treated as a localized problem, the consequences extend beyond the digestive tract. When the intestinal lining is injured, the availability of nutrients inside the gut changes, forcing resident bacteria to adapt to a new…
