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Ant societies behave like tightly integrated “superorganisms,” where thousands of individuals work together in a way that resembles the coordinated activity of cells in a body. Researchers at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) have found that terminally ill ant brood release a distinctive odor, similar to the…
A multinational group of scientists has identified a previously unknown tubular structure within Profftella, a symbiotic bacterium linked to a major pest that affects citrus crops around the world. The finding was made possible through advanced microscopy techniques and could influence future approaches to pest management as well as research…
Researchers have pinpointed specific areas of the human genome that are unusually susceptible to genetic changes. These altered segments can be inherited by future generations and have important implications for how scientists investigate genetics and disease. The vulnerable regions sit at the beginning of genes, known as transcription start sites.…
A large laboratory investigation of human-made chemicals has revealed 168 substances that are harmful to bacteria normally found in a healthy human gut. These chemicals interfere with the growth of microbes considered essential for maintaining good health. Many of the substances identified in the study are expected to enter the…
Over the last 70 years, hydralazine has been an indispensable tool in medicine — a front-line defense against life-threatening high blood pressure, especially during pregnancy. But despite its essential role, a fundamental mystery has persisted: no one knew its “mechanism of action” — essentially how it works at a molecular…
A recent cover article in Aging-US, titled “Sex-specific longitudinal reversal of aging in old frail mice,” highlights a promising new direction in longevity research. The work, led by first author Cameron Kato along with corresponding author and Aging-US Editorial Board Member Irina M. Conboy at the University of California, Berkeley,…
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly one in seven people across the globe lived with a mental illness in 2021, with anxiety disorders and depression occurring most frequently. These conditions often stem from a mix of influences, and genetics play a major part in shaping a person’s risk.…
Patients living with major depressive disorder, including those who have not improved with commonly prescribed antidepressants, may benefit from short-term nitrous oxide treatment, according to a large meta-analysis led by the University of Birmingham. The paper, published in eBioMedicine on November 30, reviewed the strongest available clinical data to explore…
A research team from the University of Vienna and the Alfred Wegener Institute in Bremerhaven has uncovered how the eyes of adult marine bristleworms continue to increase in size throughout their entire lifespan. The work shows that this constant growth is powered by a ring of neural stem cells that…
In the center of the ancient Roman city of Gabii, located about 11 miles east of modern Rome, a research team led by University of Missouri professor Marcello Mogetta has uncovered an extraordinary find: a huge stone-lined basin with portions cut directly into the natural bedrock. Dating to around 250…
White dwarfs are the dense remnants left behind after a star stops producing energy through nuclear fusion, a stage our own sun will reach far in the future. These stellar remnants behave in unusual ways, since their internal structure makes them shrink as they gain mass, which is why they…
Around 12,000 years ago, the last Ice Age drew to a close. Global temperatures rose, the early Holocene began, and human communities gradually shifted toward more permanent settlements. A new study published in Nature Geoscience highlights how the Southern Ocean around Antarctica helped drive this major climate transition. The research…
Researchers at the University of California, Irvine have identified a previously unobserved form of quantum matter. According to the team, this state arises inside a specially engineered material that may one day support self-charging computers and technologies capable of operating in the harsh environment of deep space. “It’s a new…
During the warm months, Lake Erie becomes an ideal setting for cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, to grow rapidly. Under these conditions, the algae can form large blooms that release toxins at levels capable of harming both wildlife and people. Researchers at the University of Michigan have now pinpointed…
An analysis of records from seven outpatient centers in the New York region found that 20 to 24% of all breast cancers diagnosed over an 11-year span occurred in women between 18 and 49 years old. These findings are being presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of…
Cells frequently encounter conditions that can damage them or even lead to cell death. To keep functioning, they must rapidly adjust which genes are active so they can protect themselves. Cancer cells face even more intense challenges because the environment around a tumor is often harsh and unstable. Despite this,…
In today’s world, many people are paying closer attention to their health and daily routines, with fitness habits and calorie-tracking apps becoming increasingly common. As part of this trend, more individuals are trying to include nutrient-dense foods such as fruits and vegetables in their diets. However, these foods can sometimes…
The first-ever measurements of the ethanol content of fruits available to chimpanzees in their native African habitat show that the animals could easily consume the equivalent of more than two standard alcoholic drinks each day, according to researchers at the University of California, Berkeley. It is still unknown whether chimpanzees…
Engineers have achieved a significant advance in the international effort to create energy storage technologies that combine rapid charging with strong power output, paving the way for next-generation systems in electric transportation, grid support and everyday electronics. According to findings published in Nature Communications, the researchers have developed a new…
Quantum computing is often described as a future technology capable of handling problems that traditional computers cannot touch. Researchers expect major breakthroughs in physics, medical research, cryptography and several other fields as these machines mature. As competition intensifies to create the first reliable, large-scale commercial quantum computer, a critical issue…
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine report that they have successfully used a “zap-and-freeze” method to capture rapid communication between brain cells in living tissue from both mice and humans. The approach allowed them to observe interactions that normally happen too quickly to track. According to the team, the findings, published…
Neuroscientists at the University of Cambridge report that the human brain moves through five “major epochs” as it rewires itself from early development to late old age. Each stage reflects a different way the brain supports thinking, learning, and behavior as we grow, mature, and eventually experience age-related decline. A…
Two decades of satellite and GPS data show the Thwaites Eastern Ice Shelf slowly losing its grip on a crucial stabilizing point as fractures multiply and ice speeds up. Scientists warn this pattern could spread to other vulnerable Antarctic shelves. Source link
In September 2021, a team of specialists traveled to one of the least-documented areas of the Bolivian Amazon: the Great Tectonic Lakes of Exaltación in the department of Beni. The expedition, organized by the Grupo de Trabajo para los Llanos de Moxos (GTLM), brought together experts from the Wildlife Conservation…
In the remote Western Desert of Egypt, where striking layers of red sandstone and green shale rise above the dry plains surrounding Kharga Oasis, researchers have uncovered a fossil that significantly shifts current views on how crocodiles evolved. The study, reported in The Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, was…
Despite major progress in medicine, infections caused by viruses and bacteria continue to rank among the leading causes of death worldwide. This has raised new scientific interest in understanding whether certain nutrients might influence the body’s defense system. A team led by Ina Bergheim from the Department of Nutritional Sciences…
Soybean oil is the most commonly used cooking oil in the United States and appears in a wide range of processed foods. Research is now shedding light on how this highly consumed ingredient contributes to obesity in mice. In a University of California, Riverside experiment, most mice fed a high-fat…
Sunlight plays an important role in human health because it helps the body synthesize essential nutrients such as vitamin D. At the same time, spending too long in the sun can greatly increase the likelihood of developing skin cancer. In a new study in Nature Communications, scientists at the University…
The first Bible to include a map of the Holy Land appeared in 1525, exactly 500 years ago. The map had a major flaw: it was printed the wrong way round, showing the Mediterranean to the East. Despite this error, a new Cambridge study explains that the map’s appearance in…
A new study published November 26, 2025 in the open-access journal PLOS One reports that the well-known stone figures of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) were created by many separate carving groups. The research team, led by Carl Philipp Lipo of Binghamton University, New York and colleagues, examined how these communities…
