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Nearly half a century ago, a small earthquake beneath northern Utah left seismologists puzzled. The event seemed to originate far deeper than earthquakes were thought capable of occurring beneath a continent. Now, new research from the University of Utah has confirmed that the unusual quake was real and part of…
An international team of scientists has found evidence that autism may include at least two distinct biological subtypes, each defined by a different pattern of communication across the brain. One subtype is marked by unusually high levels of connectivity between brain regions, while the other shows reduced connectivity. The discovery…
Researchers from Columbia University and University Hospital Tübingen have discovered a protein that appears to play a major role in weakening CAR T cells over time. By disabling the protein, known as NFIL3, the scientists found that these engineered immune cells remained active longer and were better able to attack…
Scientists have uncovered a surprising connection between a baby’s earliest biological programming, the gut microbiome, and later brain development. The findings, published in Cell Press Blue, suggest that epigenetic changes present at birth can influence how gut bacteria develop during infancy. The study also found links between specific epigenetic patterns,…
For centuries, forests have followed a remarkably consistent rhythm. Beneath the trees, roots and microscopic organisms steadily release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as they break down organic material and fuel plant growth. Scientists call this process soil respiration, and it represents one of the largest carbon flows on Earth.…
Every year, millions of people visiting Grand Canyon National Park stop at one of the park’s water stations. Some are standing on the rim, seeing the canyon for the first time and topping off a water bottle before continuing their trip. Others are far below, hiking through extreme heat, refilling…
A strange blood-feeding fly appears to reduce its visual sensitivity after locating a host and giving up flight for good, according to new research. Known as deer keds, these biting flies are found throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. As adults, they use both flight and vision to search…
Astronomers have traced a mysterious type of repeating cosmic signal to an unusual pair of stars, providing the strongest evidence yet for the source of one of astronomy’s most puzzling phenomena. The discovery was made by an international research team led by scientists at the University of Sydney using CSIRO’s…
Why do we decide to approach other people? According to new research from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the answer may begin unfolding in the brain several seconds before any movement takes place. The study found that social behavior is preceded by a distinctive pattern of activity that spreads across…
For years, the common assumption has been simple: eating less fat may help lower cancer risk. New research suggests the picture is much more complicated. Scientists report that when it comes to pancreatic cancer, the specific type of fat in the diet may be more important than the total amount…
Researchers at the University of Birmingham have developed a new low-temperature approach to hydrogen production that could make the clean fuel cheaper and more practical to generate. The technique could be used both in large centralized facilities and in smaller local systems that take advantage of waste heat from major…
Scientists at Monash University have created a tiny new circuit that can generate, direct, and read information carried by light, all within a single chip. The advance marks a significant milestone for a growing area of research known as “valleytronics,” which could help drive future breakthroughs in faster computing, lower…
Kitchen sponges are a staple in most homes, but they may also be an overlooked source of microplastic pollution. A new study led by researchers at the University of Bonn examined how many tiny plastic particles are released from sponges during everyday dishwashing and what impact those particles have on…
A minor injury, a serious infection, or even the flu can send the body down very different paths. Some people recover quickly, while others become severely ill or die. Scientists call this path a disease trajectory, and it can be shaped by many factors, including age, sex, health history, and…
People at high risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may be able to postpone the disease for years with early treatment, according to new research from King’s College London. The study found that a one year course of the biologic drug abatacept significantly delayed the onset of rheumatoid arthritis, with…
For more than a century, biology has been guided by the principles of inheritance first described by Gregor Mendel through his famous pea plant experiments. While those rules explain how many genetic traits are passed from parents to offspring, scientists have also known that DNA sequences are not the whole…
NASA’s X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft is approaching one of the most important stages of its development. The experimental X-plane is set to begin a new series of test flights that will include its first trip beyond the speed of sound, along with several other key objectives for the mission.…
A striking new image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope highlights Messier 88 (M88), a spiral galaxy embarking on a journey that will unfold over hundreds of millions of years. Also known as NGC 4501, M88 lies about 63 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Coma Berenices (Berenice’s Hair).…
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is expected to dramatically expand the search for planets beyond our solar system, known as exoplanets. Scientists estimate the mission could uncover about 100,000 previously unknown worlds, a remarkable increase compared to the nearly 6,300 exoplanets discovered so far through NASA missions and other…
Researchers at Mass General Brigham have uncovered evidence that the thymus, a small immune system organ long thought to lose its importance after childhood, may play a major role in adult health. Two new studies found that adults with healthier thymuses were more likely to live longer and less likely…
A conservation approach once praised as a global model for helping people and predators coexist may be losing ground because of a lack of long-term government support, according to new research. In 2015, Sweden drew international attention when researchers reported that its Conservation Performance Payment (CPP) program, the oldest initiative…
Creating nearly invisible wearable technologies such as smart contact lenses and ultrathin augmented reality (AR) glasses will require a radical redesign of conventional optical components. Instead of relying on bulky lenses and hardware, researchers are exploring materials that can manipulate light at the atomic scale. A team from XPANCEO, working…
The brain has its own built in immune defenses that help detect threats and protect nerve cells. But growing evidence suggests that in Alzheimer’s disease, these immune cells become stuck in a state of chronic activation. Instead of helping, they trigger ongoing inflammation that can damage the connections between brain…
Cancer becomes more common with age and is often harder to treat in older adults. Yet most cancer studies in mice do not reflect that reality. Fewer than 10% of mouse experiments use aged animals, with researchers typically relying on mice that roughly correspond to humans in their early 20s.…
Humans often organize their relationships into layers, spending the most time with a small group of close friends and family while maintaining weaker connections with a larger number of acquaintances. A new international study suggests that this pattern is not unique to people. Researchers from Utrecht University and Universidad Carlos…
According to the United Nations, 2.2 billion people still do not have access to safely managed drinking water. To help meet growing demand, many regions, from California to parts of the Middle East, rely on desalination plants that convert seawater into fresh water. Traditional desalination methods such as reverse osmosis…
Detecting light and radiation is essential across the electromagnetic spectrum, but some regions remain especially challenging. One of those is the terahertz (THz) range, which sits between microwaves and infrared light. Existing detectors for these frequencies are often slow, lack sensitivity, or depend on large, costly equipment that frequently requires…
Scientists have uncovered evidence that tiny microbes living inside fish may be helping drive important processes that affect the world’s oceans. The research, led by former University of Miami graduate student Anthony Bonacolta, suggests that gut bacteria and marine fish work together to produce calcium carbonate, a mineral that plays…
How pigeons can travel hundreds of miles and still find their way home has puzzled scientists for decades. New research suggests the answer may lie in an unexpected place: the liver. According to a study published in Science, pigeons may use specialized immune cells in their livers to detect Earth’s…
More than one billion people worldwide now live with obesity, a condition that raises the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and several types of cancer. Yet losing weight and keeping it off can be extremely difficult. The body does not simply respond to fewer calories in a straightforward way. Signals…
