Reporting world updates to you
Eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains is widely recommended to improve health and reduce the risk of cancer and other diseases. But new findings from USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of Keck Medicine of USC, suggest there may be an unexpected risk for a specific group. Research…
New research led by the University of Warwick shows that forests were already growing across Doggerland, a now-submerged landmass beneath the North Sea, far earlier than scientists once believed. The findings indicate this lost landscape may have served as a welcoming refuge for plants, animals, and possibly humans long before…
Most glaciers around the world are shrinking as temperatures rise. But a smaller group behaves in a very different way, and their actions can be far more dangerous. An international team of scientists led by the University of Portsmouth has completed a large global study of these so-called surging glaciers.…
Measuring low-frequency electric fields with high precision is still a major scientific challenge. Existing sensing technologies often fall short when trying to achieve three key goals at once: accurate calibration, compact size, and the ability to determine both the strength and direction of a field. Rydberg atoms have emerged as…
Scientists have uncovered new details about how bacteria share genes, including those that drive antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a growing global health threat. The findings come from researchers at the John Innes Centre, who studied unusual particles known as gene transfer agents (GTAs). GTAs resemble bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria), but…
Sparkling water may play a small role in weight management by slightly increasing blood glucose uptake and metabolism, which is the process the body uses to convert energy. However, the effect appears to be minimal. A brief analysis published in BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health concludes that carbonated water alone…
Scientists have discovered how a naturally occurring hormone can reverse obesity in mice, and the answer lies in the brain. Researchers at the University of Oklahoma found that the hormone works by sending signals to a brain region that helps control metabolism and appetite. This is the same general area…
Researchers in Brazil are advancing a promising form of cancer immunotherapy by making natural killer (NK) cells more powerful and precise. In a recent study, scientists at the Ribeirão Preto Blood Center and the Center for Cell-Based Therapy (CTC) used the NK-92 cell line to test new designs of chimeric…
As people get older, their blood and immune systems gradually lose strength. A major reason is the decline of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which are responsible for producing all types of blood cells. Under healthy conditions, these stem cells can renew themselves and create a balanced mix of blood cells.…
UCLA scientists have uncovered a harmful group of immune cells that quietly builds up in aging tissues and in the livers of people with fatty liver disease. When these cells were removed in mice, inflammation dropped sharply and liver damage was reversed, even though the animals continued eating an unhealthy…
The 1987 Montreal Protocol is often described as the most successful environmental treaty ever created. It has led to a steady global phaseout of chemicals that once damaged the ozone layer and increased risks such as skin cancer. Research led by MIT has shown that cutting these ozone-depleting substances is…
Airlines have strict rules about where you can pack your laptop, and lithium-ion batteries are the reason. These batteries, which power everything from phones to electric cars, can pose a fire risk under certain conditions. The danger comes from lithium itself. This lightweight metal is highly reactive, meaning it can…
A new large-scale study led by researchers at Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University is raising questions about the long-term safety of some medications commonly used to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The findings suggest that certain drugs, including antidepressants, may be linked to a small but measurable increase in the risk…
The world’s oceans may be playing a larger role in climate change than scientists once realized, quietly boosting global warming through processes that are only now coming into focus. A new study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals an important driver of methane production…
Recent research from Mass General Brigham suggests that aiming for more aggressive blood pressure control could provide greater health benefits than previously believed. The findings indicate that the advantages of lowering blood pressure more intensively may outweigh concerns about overtreating patients with hypertension. The results come from a simulation study…
A new clinical trial led by the Garvan Institute of Medical Research suggests that metformin, a widely used and inexpensive drug for type 2 diabetes, could help people with type 1 diabetes reduce how much insulin they need. The findings point to a potential new way to manage the condition…
A long-running scientific debate may finally be nearing its end. New research involving the University of Nebraska State Museum’s Ashley Poust provides strong evidence that Nanotyrannus, often described as a smaller version of Tyrannosaurus rex, was in fact a real and separate species. The research team, led by Christopher Griffin…
“You want to stick your finger in a dinosaur brain?” asked Simba Srivastava. Inside a paleobiology lab lined with cabinets of ancient fossils, the Virginia Tech undergraduate held up a rough, pitted skull. “This is a uniquely sucky specimen,” said Srivastava. “It’s so bad. Like, if you saw a human…
Dr. David Schwimmer, a leading authority on the massive North American crocodilian genus Deinosuchus and a geology professor at Columbus State University, has helped bring a prehistoric giant back to life. His decades of research played a key role in building the first scientifically accurate, fully mounted skeleton replica of…
A study from the University of Toronto Scarborough suggests that feeling mentally sharp can significantly boost how much you accomplish in a day. Researchers found that when people are thinking clearly and efficiently, the effect can equal roughly 40 extra minutes of productive work. Published in Science Advances, the research…
A team led by Specially Appointed Associate Professor Harrison B. Smith of the Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) at the Institute of Science Tokyo and Specially Appointed Associate Professor Lana Sinapayen of the National Institute for Basic Biology has introduced a new strategy for finding life beyond Earth. Instead of searching…
A genetic adaptation that allows animals such as yaks and Tibetan antelopes to survive in thin air may also point to a new way to repair nerve damage in humans. Researchers report that this mutation could help restore damaged nerve insulation in conditions like cerebral paralysis and multiple sclerosis (MS).…
Researchers analyzed registry data covering the entire adult population of Sweden to explore new ways of identifying melanoma risk. The dataset included information such as age, sex, medical diagnoses, medication use, and socioeconomic status. In total, 6,036,186 individuals were included, and 38,582 (0.64%) developed melanoma over the five-year study period.…
For decades, physicists have been trying to answer a fundamental question: can electrons move like a perfectly smooth, frictionless fluid governed by a universal quantum value? Detecting this unusual behavior has proven extremely challenging. In real materials, tiny imperfections such as atomic defects and impurities tend to disrupt these delicate…
Engaging in mentally stimulating activities across your lifetime, including reading, writing, and learning new languages, may be linked to a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease and slower cognitive decline. That is the conclusion of a study published recently in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Researchers…
Imagine a swarm of robots rushing to complete an urgent job, such as cleaning up an oil spill or assembling complex machinery. At first, adding more robots speeds things up. But after a certain point, the space becomes crowded, robots start interfering with one another, and overall progress slows. This…
Fred Hutch Cancer Center researchers have made a significant advance in the effort to block Epstein Barr virus (EBV), a widespread infection that affects about 95% of people worldwide and is linked to several cancers, neurodegenerative conditions, and other long-term illnesses. By working with mice engineered to produce human antibodies,…
At first glance, sea sponges seem almost too simple to be mysterious. They have no brain and no gut, and scientists have long believed they originated around 700 million years ago. Yet clear fossil evidence only dates back to about 540 million years ago, leaving a puzzling 160 million-year gap…
A new large-scale study led by researchers at the University of Nottingham has found that medications commonly used to treat gout may also lower the risk of heart attack and stroke in people with the condition. The findings, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, suggest that bringing blood urate levels down…
In the deserts of southeastern Arizona, a surprising scene unfolds outside the nests of small cone ants. Much larger harvester ants stand nearby with their serrated jaws open, appearing vulnerable. But instead of attacking, the smaller ants climb onto the bigger ones and begin licking and nibbling across their bodies.…
