USC scientists discover how to create a never-ending supply of cancer-fighting cells

Scientists at the University of Southern California (USC) have discovered a way to produce a potentially renewable supply of cancer-fighting immune cells, opening a promising new direction for cancer treatment. By working with immature cells that can develop into powerful immune defenders, the researchers have created a system capable of…

The uranium cubes that exposed Nazi Germany’s nuclear failure

During World War II, the United States raced to develop the atomic bomb partly out of fear that Nazi Germany might build one first. But how close did Germany actually come to achieving that goal? A new scientific investigation suggests the Nazi nuclear program was much further from success than…

Yale scientists discover how stress changes the brain to make memories stronger

Stress does more than influence how we feel. It can also change what we remember, particularly when an experience is emotionally intense or personally meaningful. Scientists have long known that cortisol, a hormone released during stressful situations, can strengthen emotional memories. What has been less clear is exactly how this…

Astronomers discover a strange universal rule behind black hole eruptions

Astronomers have uncovered a surprising rule that appears to determine when black holes unleash powerful jets of material into space. Even though black holes can differ in mass by millions of times, researchers found that they seem to follow the same fundamental pattern when producing these enormous cosmic outflows. The…

Scientists discover a plastic-eating “Pac-Man” enzyme with a surprising secret

Plastic pollution is one of the world’s most persistent environmental problems. Vast amounts of discarded plastic accumulate in the oceans, sometimes forming enormous garbage patches that threaten marine life. Most conventional plastics break down extremely slowly because microorganisms struggle to digest the synthetic polymers from which they are made. Instead…

NASA captures strange waves high above Hurricane Simon

Despite remaining offshore, Hurricane Simon battered Mexico’s Pacific coast with powerful winds and flooding. At the same time, NASA satellites captured an extraordinary sight high above the storm: enormous waves rippling through Earth’s upper atmosphere. Hurricane Simon was the latest in a series of powerful tropical cyclones to sweep across…

A protein that fuels cancer could also be the key to fighting it

A protein that helps cancer grow may also hold a surprising key to fighting it. Scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) have discovered that activating this protein in immune cells can make them more effective at attacking tumors, potentially opening a new path toward treating cancers that resist existing…

A quantum highway just one atom high could transform superconductors

Scientists in Japan have discovered that tiny steps just one atom high can act like microscopic railroad tracks, guiding the movement of quantum vortices inside an ultrathin superconductor. Under certain conditions, these vortices moved more than 1,000 times more easily along the steps than across them. Researchers also found that…

“Crawzilla” was huge. Then scientists found an even bigger crayfish

A giant crayfish nicknamed “Crawzilla” has sparked an unexpected scientific discovery, revealing a possible biological limit to how large North America’s crayfish can grow. The investigation began when Caitlin Bloomer pulled an enormous Crawzilla crawdad from the mud during a biological survey in Kentucky. Crawzilla is the creature’s actual common…

Antarctica’s sea ice has undergone a stunning reversal

Antarctic sea ice reached its annual winter peak in September 2026, but the ice covered less ocean than in nearly any other year since satellite measurements began. Its maximum extent was the third lowest on record, adding to growing evidence of a dramatic shift in Antarctica’s frozen waters. Antarctica is…

Scientists discover how exercise reverses muscle aging

Scientists have uncovered a biological mechanism that helps explain how exercise protects aging muscles and restores their ability to repair themselves. The discovery reveals why physical activity can counteract some of the changes that weaken muscles with age and points toward potential new treatments for age-related muscle loss. The research,…