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In everyday physics, transport describes how things move from one place to another. Electric charge flows through wires, heat spreads through metal, and water travels through pipes. In each case, scientists can measure how easily charge, energy, or mass moves through a material. Under normal conditions, that movement is slowed…
A new study by mathematicians at Freie Universität Berlin shows that planar tiling, also known as tessellation, is far more than a decorative technique. Tessellations cover a surface with one or more geometric shapes without gaps or overlaps, and the researchers demonstrate that these structures can serve as precise tools…
Young star systems are chaotic environments where space rocks constantly collide. Asteroids, comets, and larger bodies crash into one another, sometimes sticking together and slowly transforming clouds of dust and ice into planets and moons. Although small impacts are common, the largest collisions are thought to be extremely rare during…
A new real-world comparison finds that bariatric surgery leads to dramatically more weight loss than popular injectable medications. After two years, people who underwent sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass lost about five times more weight than those using weekly GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide or tirzepatide,* according to research…
A research team in Japan has successfully recreated key human neural circuits in the laboratory using tiny, multi region brain models called assembloids. These structures are grown from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells and are designed to mimic how different parts of the human brain connect and communicate. Using this…
Scientists have, for the first time, rebuilt ancient genomes of Human betaherpesvirus 6A and 6B (HHV-6A/B) using DNA from archaeological human remains that are more than 2,000 years old. The research, led by teams at the University of Vienna and the University of Tartu (Estonia) and published in Science Advances,…
Researchers from Brazil and Portugal have created a new magnetic nanocomposite designed to attack bone cancer while also supporting bone repair. The work, published in Magnetic Medicine, describes a core — shell structure made from iron oxide nanoparticles wrapped in a thin coating of bioactive glass. This design allows the…
Cancer cases are exploding worldwide — and nearly half of the deaths could be prevented with better prevention, early detection, and access to care. New cancer cases worldwide have more than doubled since 1990, reaching 18.5 million in 2023. Over the same period, annual cancer deaths rose by 74 percent…
Scientists have long understood that plants take in air through tiny openings on their leaves known as stomata. These microscopic pores act like adjustable valves, letting carbon dioxide enter the leaf for photosynthesis while allowing water vapor to escape into the air. Until now, closely tracking this balancing act as…
As wildfires move across forests, grasslands, and peatlands, they release large amounts of gases and particles into the air. Scientists now say the pollution from these fires may have been underestimated. A study published in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology reports that wildfires and prescribed burns (i.e., wildland fires) around…
Sleeping in on weekends to make up for lost sleep during the week may offer mental health benefits for teenagers and young adults, according to new research from the University of Oregon and the State University of New York Upstate Medical University. The study found that people ages 16 to…
New archaeological research is reshaping our understanding of when domestic dogs first developed the wide range of shapes and sizes seen today. The study shows that dogs began to vary in form far earlier than scientists once believed, with clear signs of diversity appearing at least 11,000 years ago. Using…
On December 6, 2025, a powerful 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Alaska. While quakes of that size draw attention, earthquakes occur far more often than many people realize. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimates that roughly 55 earthquakes happen every day worldwide, adding up to about 20,000 each year. Typically,…
There is a new reason to take daily tooth brushing seriously. Researchers in South Korea have found strong evidence that bacteria from the mouth can move into the gut and influence brain cells, potentially playing a role in the development of Parkinson’s disease. The study was carried out by a…
Scientists at the University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum recently uncovered a mistake that dates back decades involving a poison frog specimen from Peru. The frog had been incorrectly identified and designated as a holotype, which is the single preserved specimen used to officially define a species.…
An international research team that includes scientists from the UAB has published a new review in Nature Photonics examining a fast-growing field known as quantum structured light. This approach is reshaping how information can be transmitted, measured, and processed by merging quantum information science with carefully engineered patterns of light…
For nearly a year, a research team led by the SETI Institute closely followed the pulsar PSR J0332+5434 (also called B0329+54). Their goal was to understand how the pulsar’s radio signal appears to “twinkle” as it travels through clouds of gas on its way to Earth. Using the Allen Telescope…
Living systems pay energetic costs that traditional mechanical physics does not account for. One clear example is the energy needed to keep certain biochemical processes running, such as those involved in photosynthesis, while actively preventing other chemical reactions from taking place. In classical mechanics, if nothing moves, no work is…
An international research team has discovered two previously unknown viruses in short-finned pilot whales and orcas from the Caribbean region of the North Atlantic Ocean. The group includes students and senior scientists from Arizona State University (ASU), Coastal Carolina University, The University of the South in the US, as well…
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Michigan have built the smallest fully programmable autonomous robots ever created. These microscopic machines can swim through liquid, sense their surroundings, respond on their own, operate for months at a time, and cost about one penny each to produce. Each…
Scientists at USF Health are making major progress in understanding how new opioid compounds interact with the body to relieve pain. Their work is raising optimism that future pain medications could deliver relief without the life-threatening side effects associated with today’s opioids. Their latest findings were published December 17 in…
Ever since humans first walked on the Moon, space agencies around the world have treated the idea of living beyond Earth as a major long term goal. Of the destinations we can realistically reach, Mars stands out as the leading candidate. Its dramatic terrain and a few familiar traits make…
Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects about 2.3 million people worldwide. In roughly 80% of cases, the disease involves inflammation in the cerebellum, a region of the brain essential for balance and coordinated movement. Damage in this area can trigger tremors, unsteady motion, and difficulty controlling muscles. Over time, these symptoms often…
Storing quantum information is essential for the future of both quantum computing and a global quantum internet. Today’s quantum communication systems struggle with signal loss over long distances, which limits how far quantum information can travel. Quantum memories help solve this problem by making quantum repeaters possible, allowing information to…
Researchers have found that a pair of existing drugs is far more effective when used together than when either is taken alone. The findings point to a practical and potentially fast route toward a long-awaited treatment for liver fibrosis. Liver fibrosis is a common but often overlooked condition that affects…
A satellite designed to measure the height of the ocean surface was in the right place at the right time when a powerful earthquake off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula sent a tsunami across the Pacific in late July. The spacecraft, known as the Surface Water Ocean Topography or SWOT satellite, recorded…
How efficiently viruses move between cells plays a major role in how dangerous an infection becomes. In a study published in Science Bulletin, scientists from Peking University Health Science Center and the Harbin Veterinary Research Institute uncovered a previously unknown route that helps viruses spread faster and more aggressively. The…
For many years, doctors questioned whether a commonly prescribed antiviral drug for children with the flu was responsible for serious neuropsychiatric symptoms, or whether those effects were actually caused by the infection itself. Reports of seizures, confusion, and hallucinations fueled uncertainty among medical professionals and families alike. New research from…
Some people who perform at the highest levels carry a private fear that clashes with their outward success. Despite strong résumés and long lists of achievements, they worry that others will eventually realize they do not truly belong. In their own minds, top grades, prestigious awards, and competitive research funding…
Numbers are often used in health messaging to guide behavior and spark motivation. But not every number that circulates widely is grounded in solid science. One claim in particular has gained traction over the years. It suggests that people make more than 200 food-related decisions every day without realizing it.…
