Your gut may help your brain decide what to remember

The taste of a madeleine famously sent French writer Marcel Proust back into vivid memories of childhood. New research suggests that this kind of recollection may involve more than the brain alone. Signals from the digestive system may also help determine which food-related experiences become memories. The study, led by…

Why are so many dead bumblebees appearing on sidewalks?

You may be spotting bodies of dead bumblebees lying across pavements near you in the summer months. There are several reasons for this, some to do with the weather and some very much due to humans. Bumblebees are social, living in colonies that are maintained by very active workers with…

A tiny molecular basket unlocks a powerful new kind of chemistry

Iron and oxygen interact in many important processes throughout the human body. The best-known example is hemoglobin, where iron binds dioxygen, meaning two oxygen atoms joined together, so oxygen can be carried through the bloodstream. Iron also forms highly reactive compounds known as iron oxos. These compounds are involved in…

New microwave frying method could make french fries much healthier

French fries and other fried foods are popular largely because of their crisp texture and rich flavor. However, they can absorb large amounts of oil during cooking, increasing their fat and calorie content. Regularly consuming foods high in fat can contribute to health problems such as obesity and hypertension. Researchers…

Can’t sleep in the heat? These 8 tricks could save your night

When temperatures rise, sleep often suffers. Hot nights can make it harder to fall asleep, increase waking during the night and leave people feeling less rested the next day. One reason is thermoregulation, the body’s ability to keep its internal temperature within a safe range. Sleep is closely linked to…

The search for life on Jupiter's icy moon Europa just got more complicated

Europa has captivated scientists for decades because a vast ocean of liquid water may be concealed beneath its frozen surface. That buried sea has made Jupiter’s icy moon one of the most promising places in the solar system to investigate whether conditions suitable for life might exist beyond Earth. However,…

Earth’s hidden “gold kitchen” lies beneath the seafloor

Earth’s hidden “gold kitchen” may be operating far beneath the ocean floor. Island arcs, chains of volcanoes that develop above subduction zones where one oceanic plate descends beneath another, are often unusually rich in gold. Scientists have debated for years why these regions become so enriched. New research led by…

4 in 5 toddler foods are ultra-processed

A review of toddler foods available at 21 Texas grocery stores found that ultra-processed products dominate the shelves. Four out of every five items fell into that category, and 49% did not satisfy at least one nutrient benchmark in the World Health Organization (WHO) Nutrition and Promotion Profile Model (NPPM)…

One of Earth’s most explosive supervolcanoes is recharging with fresh magma

A vast reservoir of magma beneath Japan’s Kikai caldera appears to be filling again, offering scientists a rare glimpse into how some of Earth’s largest volcanoes recover after catastrophic eruptions. The discovery, led by researchers at Kobe University, could improve understanding of enormous caldera systems such as Yellowstone in the…