Reporting world updates to you
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…
A new analysis led by researchers at University College London suggests that Alzheimer’s disease may depend far more on one gene than previously recognized. The study estimates that more than 90% of Alzheimer’s cases might not develop without the influence of a single gene called APOE. The researchers also found…
A new study led by Washington State University researchers in Guatemala found that drinking water sources widely believed to be clean and safe often contain harmful bacteria. The research focused on Guatemala’s Western Highlands, where scientists compared what people think about their drinking water with what laboratory testing actually revealed.…
A new study led by psychologists at UNSW Sydney offers the clearest evidence so far that hearing voices in schizophrenia may arise from a breakdown in how the brain recognizes its own inner voice. The research suggests that the brain may be misidentifying internally generated thoughts as sounds coming from…
A newly published study in Nature describes the discovery of the first known Paranthropus fossil from Ethiopia’s Afar region, uncovered about 1000 km north of where this ancient hominin had previously been found. The research team was led by University of Chicago paleoanthropologist Professor Zeresenay Alemseged. The find provides important…
Scientists studying rare rocks buried deep beneath central Australia have uncovered how one of the world’s most promising new sources of niobium came to be. Niobium is a critical metal used to strengthen steel and support clean energy technologies, and its origins are tied to dramatic geological events that unfolded…
A new study from geophysicists at Washington State University sheds light on how nutrients could travel from the surface of Europa into the moon’s hidden ocean. Europa, one of Jupiter’s largest moons, is considered one of the most promising places in the solar system to search for extraterrestrial life. For…
Organic chemistry relies on long established rules that describe how atoms connect, how chemical bonds form, and how molecules take shape. These principles guide how scientists understand reactions and predict molecular behavior. While many of these rules are treated as fixed truths, researchers at UCLA are showing that chemistry has…
Humans appear to be much closer to animals like meerkats and beavers than to most other primates when it comes to exclusive mating, according to new research from the University of Cambridge. The study presents a comparative ranking that measures levels of monogamy across a range of mammal species, including…
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is among the most aggressive forms of breast cancer and is especially difficult to treat. It grows rapidly, spreads early, and lacks the hormone receptors that allow many other breast cancers to be treated with targeted drugs. While some patients initially respond to therapy, the disease…
The risk of cardiovascular disease rises steadily the longer a person lives with type 2 diabetes. A new study from Karolinska Institutet, published in the journal Diabetes, suggests that changes in red blood cells may help explain this growing danger. The researchers also point to a specific molecule that could…
Researchers at Sinai Health have identified a blood test that can signal the risk of Crohn’s disease years before symptoms begin. The discovery points to the possibility of diagnosing the condition earlier than ever before and may eventually help doctors intervene before lasting damage occurs. The blood test focuses on…
