Reporting world updates to you
A major international study led by UCL researchers has found that combining two cancer drugs could substantially slow the progression of a severe and often deadly form of prostate cancer in men with specific genetic mutations. Published in Nature Medicine, the Phase III AMPLITUDE trial tested whether adding niraparib, a…
Protecting your brain’s energy and keeping your mind sharp might start with what’s on your plate. Foods such as fish and seafood, meat, non-starchy vegetables, berries, nuts, seeds, eggs, and even full-fat dairy may play a key role in maintaining cognitive health. Exploring the Power of the Ketogenic Diet At…
A newly developed method that improves the accuracy of ankle blood pressure measurements could transform care for people who are unable to have their blood pressure taken from the arm. Researchers from the University of Exeter Medical School, in a study published in BMJ Open and funded by the National…
When arranged in just the right ways, two-dimensional materials can display unusual and valuable quantum effects such as superconductivity and exotic types of magnetism. Understanding why these effects arise, and how to control them, remains one of the biggest challenges for physicists and engineers. A new study published in Nature…
Many women going through menopause report experiencing what they describe as “brain fog,” a mix of forgetfulness, reduced focus, and mental fatigue. These symptoms are thought to stem in part from hormonal fluctuations that occur during this transition. To better understand the connection, researchers conducted a review of existing studies…
An idea once dismissed as science fiction — cooling Earth by scattering sunlight-reflecting particles into the upper atmosphere — is now being taken seriously by researchers. This proposed technique, called stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI), aims to offset global warming by mimicking the cooling effect of volcanic eruptions. Hundreds of scientific…
It may sound unbelievable, but crystals made of rotating particles are real. A group of physicists from Aachen, Düsseldorf, Mainz, and Wayne State University (Detroit, USA) has explored these unusual materials and their remarkable behavior. These crystals can easily split into separate fragments, form unusual grain boundaries, and display controllable…
Researchers discovered that avian influenza (H5N1) can survive in raw milk cheese made from contaminated milk, even after the 60-day aging process required by the FDA. However, highly acidic cheeses like feta showed no signs of the virus, suggesting acidity plays a crucial protective role. Animal tests revealed that while…
By the time most people begin seeking help for multiple sclerosis (MS), the disease has already been quietly injuring the brain for years. Until recently, scientists were uncertain which cells were affected first or when the damage actually started. Tracking the Disease’s Earliest Attacks Researchers at UC San Francisco have…
The rapid loss of sea ice in the Arctic Ocean is often seen as an environmental catastrophe. Yet researchers have found that the same melting process could help sustain life in unexpected ways. As the ice retreats, it creates conditions that encourage the growth of algae, the foundation of the…
For decades, doctors have depended on indicators such as body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio to gauge a person’s risk for chronic disease. But researchers are now turning their attention to a different, often-overlooked measurement: neck circumference. While a thick neck may suggest physical power, like that of athletes…
A tight work deadline, a clogged toilet, or a disagreement with a loved one can make an ordinary day feel overwhelming. When several of these small frustrations build up, stress can quickly escalate. But according to new research that includes scientists from Penn State, simply feeling more in control might…
An international team of scientists has analyzed brain scans from around 30,000 participants and found striking connections between the frequent consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and measurable differences in brain structure. These differences could be part of a feedback loop that promotes overeating and food addiction. “Our findings suggest that…
Scientists have developed a promising cancer therapy that uses LED light and ultra-thin flakes of tin to eliminate cancer cells while protecting healthy tissue. Unlike traditional chemotherapy and other invasive treatments, this new method avoids the painful side effects patients often endure. The breakthrough comes from a partnership between The…
A major clinical study by the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group (ECOG-ACRIN) has found that an immune-based cancer drug may help reduce the spread of Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare but aggressive type of skin cancer, when used soon after surgery. The phase 3 STAMP trial (EA6174) tested pembrolizumab, a therapy…
People who had lost their sight have regained the ability to read after receiving an innovative electronic eye implant paired with augmented-reality glasses, according to a clinical trial involving researchers from UCL (University College London) and Moorfields Eye Hospital. Published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the European trial…
People who had lost their sight have regained the ability to read after receiving an innovative electronic eye implant paired with augmented-reality glasses, according to a clinical trial involving researchers from UCL (University College London) and Moorfields Eye Hospital. Published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the European trial…
Running offers a wide range of advantages for both body and mind. It can protect against disease, improve mood, and even slow down the body’s natural aging process. Yet about 31% of adults still don’t get enough physical activity, including running. The most common reason people give is simple —…
Since 2015, dermatologists have advised many patients with a history of skin cancer to consider taking nicotinamide, a form of vitamin B3. That recommendation was based on a clinical trial involving 386 participants, which found that those who took nicotinamide developed fewer new cases of skin cancer compared with those…
Scientists believe that the remarkable longevity of naked mole-rats may be tied to subtle changes in just four amino acids. A recent study found that small evolutionary mutations in cGAS — an enzyme in the innate immune system that detects DNA and triggers immune defenses — could make these animals…
A research group led by the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity (Doherty Institute) has uncovered new details about how lymph nodes help the body fight persistent infections and cancer by coordinating key immune cell activity. Published in two Nature Immunology papers, the findings show that lymph nodes create…
People living with knee osteoarthritis may find the greatest relief from aerobic activities such as walking, cycling, or swimming, according to a new study published in The BMJ. Researchers found that these forms of exercise were the most effective for easing pain, improving movement, and enhancing overall quality of life.…
Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, working with the genetic testing company 23andMe, have pinpointed regions of the human genome linked to cannabis use. Their discoveries reveal new genetic connections to psychiatric, cognitive, and physical health, offering insights that could eventually guide prevention and treatment…
Iron-deficiency anemia is a widespread health problem that often leads to fatigue, headaches, or even cravings for ice. Traditional oral iron supplements can help, but they often leave behind unabsorbed iron that irritates the digestive tract and triggers inflammation. Researchers reporting in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces have developed a…
Genetic mutations that can cause disease become increasingly common in sperm as men grow older, and new evidence suggests this happens because certain DNA changes are actually favored during sperm production, according to new research. In a major study published on October 8 in Nature, scientists from the Wellcome Sanger…
A group of chemists, microbiologists, and ecologists has developed a molecular probe (a molecule designed to detect e.g. proteins or DNA inside an organism) that glows when a sugar is broken down. Writing in the journal JACS, the researchers describe how this innovation makes it possible to observe the microscopic…
Men whose prostate cancer returns after surgery or radiation therapy may soon benefit from a powerful new treatment that has been shown in clinical trials to reduce the risk of death by more than 40%. Researchers tested a therapy that combines enzalutamide, an existing cancer drug, with standard hormone therapy.…
People with advanced lung or skin cancer who received a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine within 100 days of beginning immunotherapy lived considerably longer than those who did not, according to new research. Scientists from the University of Florida and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center describe this as a…
Scientists at The University of Western Australia’s node of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) have made a remarkable discovery: a massive structure stretching about 185,000 light-years between two galaxies, NGC 4532 and DDO 137, located some 53 million light-years from Earth. According to a study published in…
Scientists have recently captured a rare look at the harsh winter conditions swirling above Mars’ north pole. Inside the planet’s polar vortex, temperatures drop dramatically — much colder than the air outside — and the continuous darkness of the long Martian winter allows ozone levels in the atmosphere to rise…
