From Italy and the World

Melatonin has quickly become one of the most widely used sleep aids for children around the world. Its popularity is largely driven by the belief that it is a natural and easily accessible solution for insomnia. However, new research suggests that its rapid growth in use has moved faster than…

An international team of astronomers, including researchers from the University of Toronto, has identified the brightest Fast Radio Burst (FRB) ever observed and traced its origin to a nearby galaxy using a coordinated network of radio telescopes. FRBs are among the most puzzling phenomena in astronomy, but locating where they…

Researchers at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) have discovered new clues suggesting that water once moved beneath the surface of Mars. The findings indicate that the Red Planet may have remained capable of supporting life for much longer than scientists once believed. The research, published in the Journal of…

Findings from a large study led by Mass General Brigham suggest scientists should continue investigating whether vitamin D supplements could influence long COVID. The research showed that taking high doses of vitamin D3 did not make COVID-19 infections less severe, but it may have a possible connection to long COVID…

Sharp increases in food prices during economic crises tend to hit certain groups the hardest. Urban residents and families with lower levels of education are often especially vulnerable. These price shocks can lead to long term health problems, including stunted growth in children. Researchers at the University of Bonn recently…

In regions where freshwater supplies are limited, farmers sometimes rely on treated wastewater to water their crops. While this practice helps conserve scarce water resources, it has raised concerns among regulators and consumers. Wastewater can contain trace amounts of various substances, including psychoactive medications commonly used to treat mental health…

New research published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society suggests that a father’s nicotine exposure could influence how his offspring process sugar. In a mouse study, scientists found that paternal nicotine intake led to metabolic changes in the next generation. These alterations may affect how the body handles glucose…

About 66 million years ago, a massive asteroid struck Earth and unleashed one of the most destructive events in the planet’s history. The impact ignited global fires, triggered dramatic climate shifts, and wiped out the dinosaurs along with countless other species. Yet new research suggests the catastrophe also opened the…

Researchers at Houston Methodist have discovered that a protein tied to neurodegenerative conditions such as dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) also helps control a critical DNA repair process. This repair system, known as DNA mismatch repair, corrects mistakes that occur when cells copy genetic material. The discovery suggests that…

Researchers have identified previously unknown DNA-binding proteins in some of the most extreme places on Earth and demonstrated that they can enhance rapid medical tests used to detect infectious diseases. The international team was led by Durham University and included collaborators in Iceland, Norway, and Poland. The scientists examined genetic…

A research team led by Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) scientist David Reverter has identified the molecular mechanism that regulates bacterial cell division. The discovery reveals how the MraZ protein binds to the dcw gene cluster to control this process. The findings were published in Nature Communications. Cell division is…

Mars looks very different today than it did billions of years ago. Scientists believe the planet once had flowing water, a thicker atmosphere, and a much warmer climate. Now the Red Planet is frigid, dry, and surrounded by only a thin layer of air. Researchers think the biggest reason for…

A rugged Martian landscape that resembles a giant spiderweb when seen from orbit may hold important evidence about the history of water on ancient Mars. For roughly six months, NASA’s Curiosity rover has been studying an area covered with geological features known as boxwork. These formations appear as narrow ridges…

Members of the arachnid class — think spiders, scorpions and harvestmen (daddy long legs) — often trigger feelings of fear or disgust. Despite this reaction, these animals play an essential role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. As global biodiversity declines, including what some researchers describe as an “insect apocalypse,” two ecologists…