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Scientists at Duke-NUS Medical School and partner institutions assembled one of the most complete single-cell maps of the developing human brain. The atlas identifies nearly every cell type, records their genetic signatures, and shows how these cells grow and interact. It also compares leading laboratory methods for producing high-quality neurons,…
Mitochondria are tiny structures inside cells that generate the energy required for the body to move, grow, and maintain health. Because energy needs change continuously, mitochondria must constantly fine-tune their activity to keep up. This adaptability depends in part on the nutrients available to the cell. Yet until recently, scientists…
For billions of years, bacteria have fought an unending battle with viruses, developing a wide range of survival strategies. Now, scientists say these age-old microbial defenses could inspire new antiviral tools for humans. Thomas Wood, a professor of chemical engineering at Penn State, and his team have uncovered a long-overlooked…
Bamboo-based tissue paper from China has become a popular option among consumers seeking eco-friendly products. Yet new research indicates that these bamboo paper goods may not be as sustainable as many believe. In fact, when compared with tissue produced in North America, some bamboo varieties may have a larger environmental…
The Sahara Desert is known as one of the driest places on Earth, receiving only about 3 inches of precipitation each year — roughly one-tenth of what falls in Chicago. However, new research from the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) suggests that this could change dramatically within the next few…
Although we rarely notice from Earth, the Sun is continuously hurling enormous clouds of charged plasma into space. These events, known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs), often occur alongside sudden bursts of light called solar flares. When particularly strong, CMEs can stretch far enough to disturb Earth’s magnetic field, producing…
Scientists from the University of East Anglia and Oxford BioDynamics have created a highly accurate blood test capable of diagnosing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, also known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS). The condition, which causes long-term and often debilitating exhaustion, affects millions of people around the world, including more than 400,000 individuals…
Alzheimer’s disease often throws a person’s daily patterns into disarray. Difficulty sleeping through the night, restless tossing, and frequent daytime naps are common early warning signs. In later stages, patients often experience “sundowning,” a period of increased confusion and agitation that tends to occur later in the day. These patterns…
Scientists have uncovered a breakthrough in the fight against a rare genetic condition that causes children to age much faster than normal. The discovery involves “longevity genes” found in people who live exceptionally long lives, often beyond 100 years. Researchers from the University of Bristol and IRCCS MultiMedica found that…
Over a few million years, the spider Dysdera tilosensis (a species found only in the Canary Islands) has accomplished something extraordinary: it has cut its genome size nearly in half while adapting to its island environment. Despite this dramatic reduction, the genome of this species is not only more compact…
Scientists at the University of California, Davis report the discovery of a previously unrecognized trapdoor spider that lives in California’s coastal sand dunes. The species, named Aptostichus ramirezae, is closely related to Aptostichus simus, which occurs along the shoreline from Monterey to Baja California, Mexico. Findings published in the journal…
Earth’s oceans hold extraordinary biodiversity, yet only a small portion of an estimated two million marine species have been formally identified and described. One of the biggest hurdles in ocean science is the lengthy delay — sometimes lasting decades — between when a species is first discovered and when it…
Two Irish scientists have created a groundbreaking method for recovering fingerprints from fired bullet casings — something long believed to be impossible. Dr. Eithne Dempsey and her former PhD student, Dr. Colm McKeever, from the Department of Chemistry at Maynooth University in Ireland, have designed a novel electrochemical process that…
Self-reported cognitive disability among U.S. adults increased from 5.3% to 7.4% over the past decade. Rates nearly doubled for younger adults ages 18 to 39. The steepest increases occurred among people with lower incomes and less education. American Indian and Alaska Native adults reported the highest overall rates. Researchers urge…
The question of whether spacetime truly exists should not be particularly controversial or even conceptually difficult once we understand what is meant by “spacetime,” “events,” and “instants.” Believing that spacetime is a real, physical entity is no more defensible than believing in the old idea of a celestial sphere. Both…
Astronomers have produced the first three-dimensional map of a planet outside our solar system, revealing distinct temperature regions, including one so hot that water vapor breaks apart. The findings appear in Nature Astronomy, published October 28, 2025. Led by researchers at the University of Maryland and Cornell University, the study…
High-order harmonic generation (HHG) is a process that transforms light into much higher frequencies, allowing scientists to explore areas of the electromagnetic spectrum that are otherwise difficult to reach. However, generating terahertz (THz) frequencies using HHG has remained a major obstacle because most materials are too symmetrical to support this…
“If we’re going to build a circular, sustainable economy, the chemical industry is a big, complex problem that we must address,” said Professor Erwin Reisner from Cambridge’s Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, who led the research. “We’ve got to come up with ways to de-fossilize this important sector, which produces…
For most of Earth’s history, scientists have viewed the slow breakdown of silicate rocks as the planet’s main natural thermostat. In this process, rainwater absorbs carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air, lands on exposed rocks, and gradually dissolves them. The carbon and calcium released eventually flow into the oceans, where…
The arrival of oxygen in Earth’s atmosphere marked a defining moment in the planet’s history, transforming it into a world capable of supporting complex life. This major shift, known as the Great Oxidation Event (GOE), took place approximately 2.1 to 2.4 billion years ago. However, oxygenic photosynthesis — produced by…
Could everything we thought we knew about T. rex growth be wrong? A remarkably complete tyrannosaur skeleton has brought new clarity to one of paleontology’s longest debates: whether Nanotyrannus was its own species or merely a young Tyrannosaurus rex. The fossil comes from the famous “Dueling Dinosaurs” discovery in Montana,…
After nearly a quarter century of investigation, scientists have solved a remarkable mystery. Europe’s largest bat doesn’t merely snack on small birds — it hunts and captures them more than a kilometer above the ground and consumes them while still in flight. An international research team has uncovered how this…
Plankton are the unseen drivers of life on Earth. These microscopic organisms produce a large share of the planet’s oxygen and form the base of the ocean food chain. They are also astonishingly diverse, with tens of thousands of species already identified and many more waiting to be discovered. Among…
A new study in Nature Microbiology analyzes soils collected across Kansas to test the role of “legacy effects,” which refers to how soils at a given site are shaped by microbes that have adapted to the local climate over many years. “The bacteria and fungi and other organisms living in…
Disrupting communication between the body’s internal clock and the brain could help limit neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease, according to new research from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis (WashU Medicine). The study, published in Nature Aging, explored how changes in the circadian system affect brain health and memory…
Forget the old idea that physical activity drains your supply of heartbeats. New research from Australia shows that people who are physically fit actually use fewer heartbeats each day, which may help them live longer. According to the study, athletes had an average heart rate of 68 beats per minute…
More time using electronic devices or watching TV among children and young adults was linked with higher cardiometabolic disease risk, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol and insulin resistance, based on data from more than 1,000 participants in Denmark. The association between screen time and cardiometabolic risks was strongest in…
For nearly 100 years, scientists have been intrigued by the fossils of Paranthropus robustus, a sturdy, distant cousin of early humans. This upright-walking hominin was built for chewing tough foods, equipped with powerful jaws and large teeth coated in thick enamel. Researchers believe it lived in southern Africa between 2.25…
Scientists in Japan have discovered Physalia mikazuki, a previously unknown species of Portuguese man-of-war, in northern waters for the first time. DNA and anatomical analysis confirmed it as distinct from tropical relatives. Ocean simulations suggest warming currents transported it northward, offering new clues about changing ecosystems. The find underscores both…
Researchers from Aarhus University and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) have found that small bats can rival lions in hunting efficiency, and sometimes even surpass them. To observe how fringe-lipped bats (Trachops cirrhosus), tiny meat-eaters native to Panama’s forests, hunt in their natural environment, scientists fitted 20 individuals with…
