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A rugged Martian landscape that resembles a giant spiderweb when seen from orbit may hold important evidence about the history of water on ancient Mars. For roughly six months, NASA’s Curiosity rover has been studying an area covered with geological features known as boxwork. These formations appear as narrow ridges…
Members of the arachnid class — think spiders, scorpions and harvestmen (daddy long legs) — often trigger feelings of fear or disgust. Despite this reaction, these animals play an essential role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. As global biodiversity declines, including what some researchers describe as an “insect apocalypse,” two ecologists…
Researchers at the University of Maryland have developed Smart Underwear, the first wearable device designed specifically to measure human flatulence. The small sensor tracks hydrogen in flatus, allowing scientists to reexamine long held assumptions about how often people pass gas. The technology also offers a new way to observe gut…
New research suggests human hair does not grow by being pushed out from the root as long believed. Instead, scientists found that hair is pulled upward by forces created by a hidden network of moving cells within the follicle. The discovery challenges decades of biology textbook explanations and could influence…
Far beneath the surface of the Greenland ice sheet, scientists have identified enormous swirling structures that resemble rising plumes. These strange formations have puzzled researchers for more than a decade. Now, scientists from the University of Bergen (UiB) believe they have finally uncovered an explanation by using mathematical models similar…
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have created a new technique that uses light instead of toxic chemicals to change complex drug molecules. The discovery could speed up drug development and make the process of designing medicines more efficient. The study, published on March 12 in Nature Synthesis, introduces what…
Most people are familiar with the idea of deep space, but scientists also study something called deep time. Advances in genetics now allow researchers to trace biological changes far deeper into the past than previously possible. Even with these powerful tools, many questions remain unanswered. One long standing puzzle has…
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a widespread digestive condition that affects the gastrointestinal tract. It occurs more frequently in women and commonly causes symptoms such as abdominal pain, constipation, or diarrhea. The exact cause of IBS remains uncertain. However, scientists believe that conditions inside the intestine, including the gut microbiota…
Researchers have given a newly identified Australian tree species an unusual nickname. Scientists call it the “zombie” tree because, although some individuals are still alive, the species is unable to grow and reproduce normally without major intervention. Professor Rod Fensham, a botanist at the University of Queensland, said urgent action…
Tiny fragments of plastic known as microplastics may be contributing to neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. A new study outlines five biological mechanisms through which these particles may trigger inflammation and damage in the brain. Dementia already affects more than 57 million people worldwide, and the number…
Researchers at the Federal University of Technology Owerri in Nigeria have identified a promising strategy for reducing pollution from diesel engines without hurting their performance. By analyzing studies from around the world, the team examined a technology known as Water-in-Diesel Emulsion (WiDE). Their findings suggest that adding small amounts of…
Astronomers have uncovered signs that our Sun may have taken part in a large-scale movement of similar stars that left the inner regions of the Milky Way about 4 to 6 billion years ago. To investigate this possibility, researchers compiled and analyzed an exceptionally precise catalog of stars using observations…
Researchers from Flinders University and Flinders Medical Centre have identified an important connection between two common types of bowel polyps and a greater risk of cancer. Their findings appear in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology (CGH). Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, is a major health concern. In…
Serious cases of COVID-19 and influenza may do more than cause short term illness. New research from UVA Health’s Beirne B. Carter Center for Immunology Research and the UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center suggests that severe viral infections can create conditions in the lungs that help cancer develop and progress more…
In medieval Denmark, burial location often reflected a person’s wealth and status. Christians could pay for prestigious graves, and the closer a grave was to the church, the more expensive it typically was. Researchers used this system of burial placement to explore whether illness affected social status after death. They…
Gold cannot form until certain unstable atomic nuclei break apart. Exactly how those nuclear transformations unfold has long been difficult to determine. Now, nuclear physicists at the University of Tennessee (UT) report three discoveries in a single study that clarify important parts of this process. Their findings could help researchers…
As artificial intelligence systems began scoring extremely high on long used academic benchmarks, researchers noticed a growing issue. The tests that once challenged machines were no longer difficult enough. Well known evaluations such as the Massive Multitask Language Understanding (MMLU) exam, which had previously been seen as demanding, now fail…
New research from Arizona State University shows that bacteria can travel in unexpected ways even when their usual propulsion system fails. Normally, bacteria move using flagella, slender, whip-like structures that spin to push the cells forward. The new studies reveal that microbes can still spread across surfaces without these structures.…
Tungsten carbide-cobalt (WC-Co) is widely valued for its extreme hardness, but that same strength also makes it very difficult to shape and manufacture. Current production methods consume large amounts of costly material while delivering relatively modest yields. As a result, researchers have been searching for a more efficient and economical…
Japanese red elder plants protect their own survival by dropping fruits that contain Heterhelus beetle larvae. Surprisingly, this action also allows the larvae to survive. A study from Kobe University suggests this unusual interaction reshapes how scientists understand the balance between plants and the insects that pollinate them. In some…
Researchers at Trinity College Dublin report that they have uncovered what appears to be a “universal thermal performance curve” (UTPC) that applies across the entire tree of life. According to the team, this pattern governs how organisms respond to changes in temperature. The findings suggest that this rule effectively “shackles…
Scientists have found the strongest evidence yet that a black hole and a neutron star collided while moving along an oval shaped orbit instead of the near perfect circles scientists usually expect before such mergers. The discovery challenges long standing ideas about how these extreme cosmic pairs form and evolve.…
Scientists at the University of Oxford say ultrasonic sound devices might one day help reduce the number of hedgehogs killed by cars. Their idea stems from new research published March 11 in Biology Letters showing for the first time that hedgehogs are capable of hearing high-frequency ultrasound. The European hedgehog…
A new study from the University of Oxford, published March 11, finds that sudden cold spells and heavy rainfall can slow growth and reduce survival chances for young great tits in the UK. The research also suggests that birds that begin breeding earlier in the season may avoid many of…
Most cancer treatments attack rapidly dividing cells, but they often harm healthy cells as well. This damage can lead to serious side effects. Researchers are working to design therapies that strike cancer cells more precisely while leaving normal tissues unharmed. An international research team led by the Universities of Geneva…
Researchers may have identified a promising new approach to diagnosing and treating major depression at its earliest stage, potentially improving the chances of recovery for many patients. Scientists at the University of Queensland partnered with researchers from the University of Minnesota to examine levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) – known…
Alzheimer’s disease affects an estimated 7.2 million Americans age 65 and older, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Current diagnostic tests typically measure the levels of two proteins — amyloid beta (Aβ) and phosphorylated tau (p-tau) — in blood or spinal fluid. While these biomarkers are widely used, they may not…
As NASA prepares for the Artemis II mission and a renewed push to explore the Moon, scientists are thinking about a practical challenge for future astronauts: what they will eat. New research from The University of Texas at Austin suggests that chickpeas could be part of the answer. In a…
Curtin University scientists have developed a new technique to explore the deep history of Australia’s landscapes. The approach could help researchers understand how the environment responds to geological activity and climate shifts, while also offering clues about where valuable mineral deposits may be located. The international research team was led…
Scientists are uncovering new details about some of the earliest fish to inhabit Earth more than 400 million years ago. Fresh analyses from two separate studies are helping researchers better understand ancient lungfish, a group that represents the closest living relatives of land vertebrates. The discoveries come from work led…
