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A bottlenose dolphin? Or Tursiops truncatus? Why biologists give organisms those strange, unpronounceable names
The system of scientific naming began in the 1700s. Westend61 via Getty Images – By Nicholas Green, Assistant Professor of Biology, Kennesaw State University Published: 2025 Jun 03 – Most people would call it a “field mouse,” but a scientist would ask, “Was …
Trashcan-opening birds have now learned to turn on taps to drink
Coming in to land: A cockatoo heads to the park drinking fountain. Klump et al, Biology Letters. View 6 Images – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Jun 04 – In an impressive feat of rapid urban adaptation, sulphur-crested cockatoos have worked out how to use …
Weight gain and anxiety: New insights into how the gut scrambles the brain
The study unlocks more evidence of how weight gain and changes in the gut drive negative mental health outcomes. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Jun 03 – A new study has found that gaining weight as a result of poor diet is linked …
3 ways the government can silence opinions it disagrees with, without using censorship
The government can make you silence yourself – out of fear. Deepak Sethi, iStock/Getty Images Plus – By Gregory P. Magarian, Thomas and Karole Green Professor of Law, Washington University in St. Louis Published: 2025 Jun 02 – When most people think of how …
The world’s worst solar storm struck 14,000 years ago
If a solar storm of this magnitude were to hit the Earth today its effect would be cataclysmic on our electronic and telecommunications networks. Depositphotos – By Jay Kakade 2025 Jun 01 – A study published in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters …
Beyond the backlash: What evidence shows about the economic impact of DEI
DEI has a long history. Nora Carol Photography via Getty Images – By Rodney Coates, Professor of Critical Race and Ethnic Studies, Miami University Published: 2025 May 29 – Few issues in the U.S. today are as controversial as diversity, equity and inclusion – …
Millions of US children have parents with substance use disorder, and the consequences are staggering − new research
Alcohol is the most common substance misused by parents. igorr1/iStock via Getty Images Plus – By Ty Schepis, Professor of Psychology, Texas State University Published: 2025 May 30 – About 1 in 4 U.S. children – nearly 19 million – have at least one …
Men twice as likely to develop dementia if they have this common gene variant
There appears to be a link between this gene variant and dementia in men – now scientists just need to work out what’s driving it. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 May 29 – Men who carry two copies of a common genetic variant are …
Pope Leo XIV is the first member of the Order of St. Augustine to be elected pope – but who are the Augustinians?
Pope Leo XIV leaves the Augustinian General House in Rome after a visit on 2025 May 13. AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis – By Joanne M. Pierce, Professor Emerita of Religious Studies, College of the Holy Cross Published: 2025 May 27 – When Pope Leo …
MAHA report on children’s health highlights harms of ultraprocessed foods – a food scientist explains the research
Ultraprocessed foods contain ingredients not found in a typical kitchen and are often designed to be extremely palatable. beats3/iStock viaGetty Images Plus – By Paul Dawson, Professor of Food Science, Clemson University Published: 2025 May 26 – On 2025 May 22, the White …
Canine cancer drug fast-tracked for treating kids
Cancers in humans and dogs are very similar, which is helping the development of effective treatments. Depositphotos original extended using generative AI – By Paul McClure 2025 May 26 – Positive results from clinical trials of an immune therapy in dogs with bone cancer …
Eliminating one amino acid leads to 30% weight loss in a week
Cysteine is found in almost all foods, and is particularly prevalent in meats, poultry, eggs, lentils and some nuts. Depositphotos – By Michael Franco 2025 May 21 – By eliminating the essential amino acid cysteine from the diets of mice, and disabling their ability …
Freaks of nature: We now know just why orange cats are “unique”
Orange cats are an anomaly in the animal kingdom. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 May 24 – The existence of orange cats dates back to at least the 12th century, but scientists have only had theories that a sex-linked genetic mutation is behind …
Ancient pollen reveals stories about Earth’s history, from the asteroid strike that killed the dinosaurs to the Mayan collapse
An electron microscope image, colorized, shows different structures of pollen grains, including sunflower, morning glory and primrose. Dartmouth Electron Microscope Facility – By Francisca Oboh Ikuenobe, Professor of Geology and Geophysics, Missouri University of Science and Technology and by Linus Victor Anyanna, Graduate …
In what order did the planets in our solar system form?
An artistic rendition of our solar system, including the Sun and eight planets. vjanez/iStock via Getty Images – By Christopher Palma, Teaching Professor of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Penn State and by Lucas Brefka, Ph.D. Student in Astronomy & Astrophysics, Penn State Published: 2025 …
Windows are the No. 1 human threat to birds – an ecologist shares some simple steps to reduce collisions
Birds are drawn to the mirror effect of windows. That can turn deadly when they think they see trees. CCahill/iStock/Getty Images Plus – By Jason Hoeksema, Professor of Ecology, University of Mississippi Published: 2025 May 21 – When wood thrushes arrive in northern …
Do photons wear out? An astrophysicist explains light’s ability to travel vast cosmic distances without losing energy
Light, whether from a star or your flashlight, travels at 186,000 miles per second. Artur Debat/Moment via Getty Images – By Jarred Roberts, Project Scientist, University of California, San Diego Published: 2025 May 20 – My telescope, set up for astrophotography in my light-polluted …
Why protecting wildland is crucial to American freedom and identity
The Wet Beaver Wilderness in Coconino National Forest in Arizona is one of many designated wilderness areas in the U.S. Deborah Lee Soltesz – By Leisl Carr Childers, Associate Professor of History, Colorado State University and by Michael Childers, Associate Professor of History, Colorado …
Sound-tracking headphones let you eavesdrop in multiple languages
A closer look at the prototype multi-language, multi-speaker translation headphones. Shyam Gollakota – By Michael Franco 2025 May 17 – As an American who has been living in Portugal and studying the language sporadically for about 18 months, I’m finally at the point where …
H-bomb creator Richard Garwin was a giant in science, technology and policy
President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Richard Garwin at the White House on 2016 Nov 22. AP Photo/Andrew Harnik – By Matthew Bunn, Professor of the Practice of Energy, National Security, and Foreign Policy, Harvard Kennedy School Published: 2025 …
Pope Leo XIV’s link to Haiti is part of a broader American story of race, citizenship and migration
Pope Leo XIV appears before thousands of journalists on 2025 May 12, in Vatican City. Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images – By Chelsea Stieber, Associate Professor of French Studies, Tulane University Published: 2025 May 14 – Early coverage of Pope Leo XIV has …
When doctors dismiss symptoms, patients suffer long-term harm
Invalidating a patient’s symptoms can cause shame, anger, and suicidality. Depositphotos original enhanced using AI – By Paul McClure 2025 May 15 – Doctors who dismiss or trivialize patients’ symptoms can cause long-lasting harm, according to a new study. This “medical gaslighting” can not …
Bizarre fake birds are turning up in one national park
Can this replica attract the real birds? Rangers hope so. M. Nall/NPS Photos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 May 14 – Life-sized papier-mâché birds are popping up in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) this spring, and they’re quite a sight. By this we …
Sour fruit heralded as treatment for gout, insomnia, sore muscles and more
Red hot: The tart cherry is in the spotlight. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 May 11 – A sour, tangy type of cherry that’s previously been thought of as only good for baking has become the surprise breakout hit of the year …
The fascinating feature of waterlogged fingertips we all share
This knowledge will change the way you look at your water-wrinkled fingers. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 May 12 – A question from a curious kid quickly led a team of scientists down a research rabbit hole – one that has now culminated …
Discovery of death-defying molecule could slow Parkinson’s progression
A molecule that blocks cell death could mean treatments for Parkinson’s and other degenerative diseases. Depositphotos – By Paul McClure 2025 May 11 – In a new study, researchers have identified a way to stop cells from dying, opening the door to developing treatments …
Ancient humans used sunscreen to survive a deadly magnetic pole shift
An artistic impression of what the aurora might have looked like 41,000 years ago during the Earth’s polar reversal. Maximilian Schanner, GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany – By Jay Kakade 2025 May 10 – If you ever travel back in time to hang …
PTSD treatment that excites a nerve in your neck wipes symptoms completely
PTSD affects millions of people around the world, including 5% of US adults – and that’s not just military veterans. RDNE Stock project / Pexels – By Abhimanyu Ghoshal 2025 May 09 – A group of Texas-based researchers has developed an effective way to …
Cunning cargo cart packs its own powered lifting and sliding mechanism
The Lift & Slide Cart is presently on Kickstarter. Pairon Tools – By Ben Coxworth 2025 May 07 – Even if you own a lift cart (which most people don’t), transferring loads from it to a truck bed can still be a physically demanding …
Buddha’s foster mother played a key role in the orphaned prince’s life – and is a model for Buddhists on Mother’s Day
Prince Siddhartha with his foster mother Mahaprajapati. A 1910 painting by Maligawage Sarlis. Photo by MediaJet, 2009 via Wikimedia Commons – By Megan Bryson, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, University of Tennessee Published: 2025 May 06 – Mother’s Day offers an opportunity to reflect …
‘Flavodiet’ – a simple way to reduce signs of unhealthy aging
A diet rich in flavonoids promotes healthy aging, a new study has found. DALL-E – By Paul McClure 2025 May 06 – Consuming a diet high in berries, black tea, citrus fruits and apples – foods that are rich in flavonoids – can reduce …
Breakthrough weight-loss pill expected to launch within 12 months
Oral GLP-1 medication is expected to be the next huge milestone in weight-loss drug development. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 May 05 – This time next year, you may be swapping your GLP-1 injections for easier and as-effective oral weight-loss medication. It’s also …
One man, 856 venom hits, and the path to a universal snakebite cure
The king cobra, one of the many snakes to which Tim Friede is immune. Depositphotos – By Michael Franco 2025 May 02 – Over the course of 18 years, a truck mechanic from Wisconsin injected himself with snake venom hundreds of times. His actions …
RFK Jr. said many autistic people will never write a poem − even though there’s a rich history of neurodivergent poets and writers
Scholars today believe Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw was probably on the autism spectrum. Bettmann/Getty Images – By Bradley J. Irish, Associate Professor of English, Arizona State University Published: 2025 Apr 29 – U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy …
One pill, multiple doses: New capsule stages delivery of your meds
The new capsule showing color-coded test medications between barriers designed to dissolve at different rates. David Baillot/UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering – By Michael Franco 2025 May 02 – For some common medical conditions, timing is everything when it comes to taking …
80 years after Benito Mussolini’s death, what can democracies today learn from his fascist rise?
Hitler and Mussolini in Munich, Germany, 1940 Jun 18. Everett Collection/Shutterstock – By Matthew Sharpe, Associate Professor in Philosophy, Australian Catholic University Published: 2025 Apr 25 – This Monday marks 80 years since Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was killed in an Italian village …
Bees, fish and plants show how climate change’s accelerating pace is disrupting nature in 2 key ways
A bee enjoys lunch on a flower in Hillsboro, Ore. HIllsboro Parks & Rec, CC BY-NC-ND – By Courtney McGinnis, Professor of Biology, Medical Sciences and Environmental Sciences, Quinnipiac University Published: 2025 Apr 30 – The problem with climate change isn’t just the temperature …
Common diabetes drug significantly improves osteoarthritic knee pain
A well-known diabetes medication significantly reduced pain caused by knee osteoarthritis. Depositphotos – By Paul McClure 2025 Apr 28 – A mainstay diabetes medication reduced pain and stiffness and improved function in overweight people with knee osteoarthritis, a new study has found. Effective pain …
Pets found to deliver significant health benefits to the lonely
Group activities with a focus on pets foster more meaningful connections. Depositphotos – By Paul McClure 2025 Apr 27 – Two groups that are particularly prone to social isolation – older adults and international students – felt much less lonely when they engaged in …
Junk food makes you dumber in a very specific way
Foods high in sugar and saturated fat linked to surprise brain impairment. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Apr 27 – We all know the many health effects that a diet high in saturated fat and refined sugar has on our bodies. Now, in …
A bottlenose dolphin? Or Tursiops truncatus? Why biologists give organisms those strange, unpronounceable names
The system of scientific naming began in the 1700s. Westend61 via Getty Images – By Nicholas Green, Assistant Professor of Biology, Kennesaw State University Published: 2025 Jun 03 – Most people would call it a “field mouse,” but a scientist would ask, “Was …
Trashcan-opening birds have now learned to turn on taps to drink
Coming in to land: A cockatoo heads to the park drinking fountain. Klump et al, Biology Letters. View 6 Images – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Jun 04 – In an impressive feat of rapid urban adaptation, sulphur-crested cockatoos have worked out how to use …
Weight gain and anxiety: New insights into how the gut scrambles the brain
The study unlocks more evidence of how weight gain and changes in the gut drive negative mental health outcomes. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Jun 03 – A new study has found that gaining weight as a result of poor diet is linked …
3 ways the government can silence opinions it disagrees with, without using censorship
The government can make you silence yourself – out of fear. Deepak Sethi, iStock/Getty Images Plus – By Gregory P. Magarian, Thomas and Karole Green Professor of Law, Washington University in St. Louis Published: 2025 Jun 02 – When most people think of how …
The world’s worst solar storm struck 14,000 years ago
If a solar storm of this magnitude were to hit the Earth today its effect would be cataclysmic on our electronic and telecommunications networks. Depositphotos – By Jay Kakade 2025 Jun 01 – A study published in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters …
Beyond the backlash: What evidence shows about the economic impact of DEI
DEI has a long history. Nora Carol Photography via Getty Images – By Rodney Coates, Professor of Critical Race and Ethnic Studies, Miami University Published: 2025 May 29 – Few issues in the U.S. today are as controversial as diversity, equity and inclusion – …
Millions of US children have parents with substance use disorder, and the consequences are staggering − new research
Alcohol is the most common substance misused by parents. igorr1/iStock via Getty Images Plus – By Ty Schepis, Professor of Psychology, Texas State University Published: 2025 May 30 – About 1 in 4 U.S. children – nearly 19 million – have at least one …
Men twice as likely to develop dementia if they have this common gene variant
There appears to be a link between this gene variant and dementia in men – now scientists just need to work out what’s driving it. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 May 29 – Men who carry two copies of a common genetic variant are …
Pope Leo XIV is the first member of the Order of St. Augustine to be elected pope – but who are the Augustinians?
Pope Leo XIV leaves the Augustinian General House in Rome after a visit on 2025 May 13. AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis – By Joanne M. Pierce, Professor Emerita of Religious Studies, College of the Holy Cross Published: 2025 May 27 – When Pope Leo …
MAHA report on children’s health highlights harms of ultraprocessed foods – a food scientist explains the research
Ultraprocessed foods contain ingredients not found in a typical kitchen and are often designed to be extremely palatable. beats3/iStock viaGetty Images Plus – By Paul Dawson, Professor of Food Science, Clemson University Published: 2025 May 26 – On 2025 May 22, the White …