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Anastasios (Andy) Tzanidakis was reviewing archived telescope observations from 2020 when he noticed something unusual. A seemingly ordinary star called Gaia20ehk was behaving in a way astronomers rarely see. Located about 11,000 light years from Earth near the constellation Pupis, Gaia20ehk is a stable “main sequence” star similar to our…
For many years, astronomers have relied on distant supernovae as cosmic beacons to study the universe and test the laws of physics. But while analyzing one particular stellar explosion, Joseph Farah, a fifth year graduate student at UC Santa Barbara, noticed something entirely unexpected. The supernova appeared to produce a…
On April 20, 2023, local fishermen accidentally caught a juvenile great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) off the coast of the eastern peninsula. The young shark measured about 210 cm in length and weighed roughly 80-90 kg. Encounters like this are extremely uncommon in the region, prompting scientists to take a…
A scientist from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in Cambridge, England has identified seven previously unknown species of a distinctive frog-like insect. The insects belong to the genus Batracomorphus, a group of leafhoppers. Dr. Alvin Helden discovered the new species while conducting fieldwork in the tropical rainforest of Uganda. The name…
Scientists in Leiden have developed a new antibiotic called EVG7 that can combat the dangerous gut bacterium C. difficile using only a very small dose. The treatment also appears to greatly reduce the chances that the infection will return, a common problem with current antibiotics. The findings were reported in…
Many high school students find it hard to fall asleep early, which makes waking up for early morning classes a challenge. The reason lies in biology. During adolescence, the body’s internal clock naturally shifts later, meaning teenagers tend to feel alert later at night than adults do. Because of this…
The human body produces a molecule from vitamin B5 that plays a central role in metabolism, the network of chemical reactions that keeps cells alive and functioning. If the body cannot produce this molecule properly, the consequences can be widespread. Problems with its production can disrupt many organ systems and…
The newest class of Alzheimer’s disease medications is the first to show that it can slow the disease itself. These treatments typically allow patients to remain independent for about 10 additional months. Known as monoclonal antibodies, the drugs work by lowering levels of amyloid, a harmful protein that accumulates in…
A medication called sulthiame may help people with obstructive sleep apnea breathe more easily during the night and sleep better overall. The findings come from a European clinical trial in which the University of Gothenburg played an important role. Researchers say the results raise the possibility of a drug treatment…
An international team of scientists has uncovered a surprising molecular strategy used by a rare group of land plants. The finding could one day help researchers redesign important crops such as wheat and rice so they convert sunlight into food far more efficiently. The research was led by scientists at…
Rising ocean temperatures driven by marine heat waves and climate change are reaching deep waters, raising concerns about disruptions to the ocean’s fragile chemical and biological systems. But new research suggests that a key marine microbe, Nitrosopumilus maritimus, may already be adjusting to warmer and more nutrient-poor conditions. Scientists believe…
A long running scientific dispute about the origin of the Silverpit Crater beneath the southern North Sea has now been settled. New research shows that the structure formed when an asteroid or comet struck the region roughly 43 to 46 million years ago. The investigation was led by Dr. Uisdean…
Smoking cannabis may do more than make memories fuzzy. It may actually alter how memories form and are recalled. A new study from Washington State University found that people who consumed THC were more likely to recall words that were never shown to them and had more trouble completing everyday…
For more than ten years, Evan Economo’s lab has relied on micro CT scanners to image insect specimens. These X ray scans allow scientists to examine the physical structure and form of insects, an area of research known as morphology. Although the technique provides extremely detailed 3D data, it is…
A daily fish oil supplement may help lower the risk of serious cardiovascular complications in people undergoing dialysis for kidney failure. The finding comes from a large international clinical trial jointly led in Australia by Monash Health and the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash University. The research, known as…
Yet Hamilton’s reputation during his lifetime was built on work he completed much earlier. In the 1820s and early 1830s, while still in his twenties, he created powerful new mathematical methods for analyzing the paths of light rays (or “geometric optics”) and the motion of physical objects (“mechanics”). One particularly…
Over the next decade, a large amount of aluminum from vehicle body panels is expected to enter recycling and salvage systems. Much of this material cannot currently be reused in critical automotive components because contamination makes it too impure. That limitation has reduced its value. Researchers at the Department of…
The human body depends on carefully organized genetic instructions that guide how cells grow and function. Cancer can begin when those instructions become disrupted. Over time, cells may accumulate genetic mistakes that allow them to escape the normal controls that limit growth and division. One of the earliest warning signs…
Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University have developed a new molecule that may open the door to treating difficult cases of triple-negative breast cancer, a particularly aggressive form of the disease that currently has few effective treatment options. In a study published in the journal Cell Reports Medicine, the…
Researchers have identified a 90 million year old fossil that helps solve a long standing mystery about a strange group of prehistoric animals. The discovery was led by University of Minnesota Twin Cities scientist Peter Makovicky along with Argentine paleontologist Sebastian Apesteguía. Their findings, published in the peer reviewed journal…
A new study published in Nature Communications reports the detection of an iron sulfate on Mars that may represent a previously unknown mineral. Sulfur is abundant on Mars and commonly combines with other elements to create sulfate minerals. On Earth, most sulfates dissolve easily in rainwater. Mars, however, is extremely…
Imagine removing everything from the deepest regions of cosmic voids. Take away ordinary matter, neutrinos, dark matter, cosmic rays, and radiation. What remains appears to be nothing but empty space. It may sound contradictory, but these enormous voids are filled with the vacuum of spacetime. And importantly, that vacuum is…
Seeing blood in urine is often the first clue that something is wrong. For many people, noticing this symptom prompts a medical visit that can lead to an early diagnosis of bladder cancer. However, for people with colorblindness, detecting that warning sign may be far more difficult. Because many forms…
Centromeres serve the same fundamental purpose across nearly all forms of life. These regions of DNA ensure that chromosomes are properly separated when cells divide. Despite this shared role, centromeres vary dramatically in their structure. Some organisms have large stretches of repetitive DNA, while yeast uses extremely small and simple…
A new statewide spatial analysis of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) has revealed major differences in how the condition affects people living in rural parts of Maryland. The findings highlight how access to healthcare can strongly influence health outcomes, offering a clear example of challenges that many rural communities…
NASA’s DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) mission did more than alter the motion of a small asteroid. New research shows the spacecraft’s deliberate collision with the asteroid moonlet Dimorphos in September 2022 also slightly changed the path of the entire asteroid system around the Sun. The finding provides strong evidence…
Global warming has been increasing at a faster pace since about 2015, according to a new study from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). By adjusting global temperature records to remove known natural influences, researchers were able to identify a statistically significant rise in the rate of warming…
A new study published in Nature Communications has revealed that more than 200 metabolic enzymes can be found directly on human DNA. Many of these enzymes are typically known for producing energy in mitochondria, yet researchers discovered them sitting on chromatin inside the cell nucleus. The study shows that different…
Evolution is nature’s way of engineering biological systems. Inside cells, many variations of DNA, RNA, and proteins arise, and natural selection favors the organisms that function most effectively. Humans began harnessing this process long ago. Early farmers influenced evolution by choosing which crops and livestock reproduced, allowing the most productive…
Advice about staying healthy often centers on regular exercise and limiting fatty foods. Physical activity helps people shed excess weight, build muscle, and strengthen the heart. It also improves the body’s ability to absorb and use oxygen to produce energy, which is considered one of the most reliable indicators of…
