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Next-gen vaccine prevents up to 88% of multiple aggressive cancers
A new vaccine bolsters the immune system to prevent cancer growth and spread. ChatGPT 5 – By Paul McClure 2025 Oct 09 – A next-generation cancer vaccine has shown stunning results in mice, preventing up to 88% of aggressive and difficult-to-treat cancers by harnessing …
‘Breakthrough’ blood test detects chronic fatigue in 92% of cases
People with ME/CFS can wait years for a diagnosis. Photo by Marco Bianchetti/Unsplash – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Oct 07 – Researchers believe they have developed the first dedicated blood test to diagnose chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), which …
Federal shutdown deals blow to already hobbled cybersecurity agency
The federal cybersecurity agency is crippled by layoffs and shutdown furloughs. The Conversation, CC BY-ND – By Richard Forno, Teaching Professor of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, and Associate Director, UMBC Cybersecurity Institute, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Published: 2025 Oct 07 – …
What are solar storms and the solar wind? 3 astrophysicists explain how particles coming from the Sun interact with Earth
The Sun occasionally ejects large amounts of energy and particles that can smash into Earth. NASA/GSFC/SDO via WikimediaCommons – By Yeimy J. Rivera, Researcher in Astrophysics, Smithsonian Institution And by Rosa Tatiana Niembro Hernández, Astrophysicist, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Smithsonian Institution And by Samuel Badman, …
We choose ignorance as we age – even when knowledge is more useful
Study finds the age at which we decide to turn our brains off more frequently. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Oct 05 – Whether it’s avoiding the news or checking a bank account, adults often deal with uncertainty by switching off and not …
Virtual particles: How physicists’ clever bookkeeping trick could underlie reality
Scientists imagine virtual particles popping in and out of existence to explain how forces transfer between particles. koto_feja/iStock via Getty Images – By Dipangkar Dutta, Professor of Nuclear Physics, Mississippi State University Published: 2025 Oct 03 – A clever mathematical tool known as virtual …
Massive expanding chasms are eating cities alive from below
For the first time, scientists have documented the extent of the urban gully crisis. Matthias Vanmaercke – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Oct 02 – Nearly 3,000 growing chasms have opened up in dozens of towns, swallowing up roads and houses in their path. Known …
Meet Irène Curie, the Nobel-winning atomic physicist who changed the course of modern cancer treatment
Irène and Frederic Joliot-Curie shared the Nobel Prize in 1935. Bettmann/Contributor via Getty Images – By Artemis Spyrou, Professor of Nuclear Physics, Michigan State University And by Andrea Richard, Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy, Ohio University Published: 2025 Oct 02 – The adage …
Jane Goodall, the gentle disrupter whose research on chimpanzees redefined what it meant to be human
Jane Goodall appears on stage at 92NY in New York on 2023 Oct 01. Charles Sykes/Invision/AP – By Mireya Mayor, Director of Exploration and Science Communication, Florida International University Published: 2025 Oct 01 – Anyone proposing to offer a master class on changing the …
How to identify animal tracks, burrows and other signs of wildlife in your neighborhood
A paw print in baked mud at Joshua Tree National Park, likely from a coyote. Brad Sutton/National Park Service – By Steven Sullivan, Director of the Hefner Museum of Natural History, Miami University Published: 2025 Sep 29 – Your neighborhood is home to all …
A billion-dollar drug was found in Easter Island soil – what scientists and companies owe the Indigenous people they studied
The Rapa Nui people are mostly invisible in the origin story of rapamycin. Posnov/Moment via Getty Images – By Ted Powers, Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Davis Published: 2025 Sep 29 – An antibiotic discovered on Easter Island in 1964 …
Low-dose radiation relieves knee osteoarthritis pain, improves function
Low-dose radiation treatment may delay knee replacement surgery in people with osteoarthritis. Wikimedia Commons/NP2025 CC BY-SA 4.0 – By Paul McClure 2025 Sep 28 – In a clinical trial, six sessions of low-dose radiation significantly eased knee osteoarthritis pain and improved function for months …
Rivers are heating up faster than the air − that’s a problem for aquatic life and people
Rivers are also heating up as global temperatures rise. Darwin Fan/Moment via Getty Images – By Li Li (李黎), Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Penn State Published: 2025 Sep 25 – When you think about heat waves, you might picture sweltering cities, shimmering …
Dumped World War munitions and sunken ships serve a wild new purpose
Along the Potomac River in Maryland, more than 100 abandoned World War I steamships make up the Ghost Fleet of Mallows Bay. Duke Marine Robotics and Remote Sensing Lab – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Sep 25 – Old Nazi warheads and US warships have …
Key HIV weakness could pave way for a cure
Scientists now know how HIV (the tiny yellow particles seen here) integrates into the human genome. NIAID – By Paul McClure 2025 Sep 20 – A groundbreaking discovery reveals how HIV integrates its genetic material into human DNA, exposing a key viral vulnerability that …
Hobbits of Flores evolved to be small by slowing down growth during childhood, new research on teeth and brain size suggests
Hobbits are exceptions to the rule that older ancient humans had proportionally larger wisdom teeth and smaller brains. Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images – By Tesla Monson, Professor of Anthropology, Western Washington University And by Andrew Weitz, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Western Washington …
Nano-cubosome eye-drops target macular degeneration without needles
Dao Nguyen examines a vial of lutein formulation for use in eye-drops. Will Wright/RMIT University – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Sep 12 – Scientists have developed a new eye-drop that can ferry protective compounds all the way to the retina, paving the way for …
Tumor-targeting Salmonella engineered to boost colon cancer survival
Scientists have engineered a species of Salmonella that self-destructs inside colon cancer tumors. Wikimedia Commons/NIAID CC BY 2.0 – By Paul McClure 2025 Sep 22 – Scientists have engineered Salmonella bacteria to self-destruct inside tumors, releasing signals that spark powerful immune hubs and shrink …
Siberia’s mysterious exploding craters have a deep, violent origin story
Eight of these craters have so far been identified. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Sep 21 – On the remote Yamal and Gydan peninsulas of western Siberia, the landscape is marked by massive craters that look as though the Earth has blown holes …
Cheese cave fungi unlock secrets of rapid evolution – and it can benefit us
Cheese cave fungi mutate to survive, giving scientists a rare glimpse of evolution. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Sep 20 – A chance discovery in a Vermont cheese cave has given scientists a rare glimpse of evolution unfolding in real time – and …
How plastic could be lurking inside the veggies on our plates
Scientists have shown how plastics in soil can travel into the food we eat. Depositphotos – By Pranjal Malewar 2025 Sep 19 – In the shadowy underworld of soil, tiny plastic particles are lurking like molecular saboteurs. Researchers have long suspected they’re sneaking into …
Cocoa flavanols help fight heart ‘inflammaging’ in older adults
Participants taking the cocoa supplement had a significant improvement in biomarkers relating to heart inflammation. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Sep 17 – A daily cocoa extract supplement rich in flavanols appears to reduce age-related inflammation, according to new results from the largest …
Hunger-blocking exercise molecule drives weight loss without workouts
Exercise produces a powerful metabolite that nixes hunger. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Sep 17 – Scientists have found out exactly how an exercise-triggered molecule suppresses hunger signals in the brain, leading to weight loss. And the good news is that it could …
Caged drugs still ‘STING’ cancer, but make treatment much safer
The new drug-delivery system only activates when inside a tumor and calls upon the body’s own immune system to destroy it. ChatGPT – By Michael Franco 2025 Sep 16 – A new breakthrough from researchers at the University of Cambridge removes the dangers involved …
FDA approves first nasal spray diuretic for heart, liver and kidney disease
The FDA has approved bumetanide nasal spray for the treatment of edema. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Sep 15 – The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first intranasal diuretic for heart, liver and kidney disease patients, aiming to prevent …
Healthy diet cuts chronic pain, even without weight loss
Upping the quality of your diet can reduce chronic pain, independent of weight loss. Depositphotos original extended using Firefly – By Paul McClure 2025 Sep 13 – Healthy eating doesn’t just shrink your waistline; it can ease chronic pain. A new study shows that …
Fewer international students are coming to the US, costing universities and communities that benefit from these visitors
The international student population is expected to experience a dive in the fall of 2025. iStock/Getty Images Plus – By Tara Sonenshine, Edward R. Murrow Professor of Practice in Public Diplomacy, Tufts University Published: 2025 Sep 12 – American college campuses from Tucson …
Beer drinkers 35% more likely to become a magnet for mosquitoes
Beer could be making you a mosquito magnet. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Sep 12 – We don’t fully understand why some people appear more attractive to mosquitoes – largely because it’s complicated, a tangled web of physiological factors, geography and species. But …
Beauty sleep isn’t a myth – a sleep medicine expert explains how rest keeps your skin healthy and youthful
Getting enough sleep is one of the most accessible and powerful ways to maintain healthy skin. TatyanaGl/iStock via Getty Images – By Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, Associate Professor of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh Published: 2025 Sep 12 – Have you ever woken up after a …
Poland responds to Russian drones incursion by invoking Article 4 of the NATO treaty − what happens next?
Authorities inspect a house damaged by debris from a Russian drone shot down in eastern Poland. Wojtek Radwanski/AFP via Getty Images – By John Deni, Research Professor of Joint, Interagency, Intergovernmental, and Multinational Security Studies, US Army War College Published: 2025 Sep 10 …
Ultra-processed foods drive a slow ‘hum’ of inflammation toward disease
In the US, ultra-processed foods account for about 60% of daily calorie intake. Fernando Andrade/Unsplash – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Sep 10 – A new study has found that people who eat a diet high in ultra-processed foods consistently have a specific elevated health …
Diet drinks linked to 88% higher risk of gestational diabetes
Consuming diet drinks is associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes. Depositphotos original extended using GenAI – By Paul McClure 2025 Sep 09 – Pregnant women who drink five or more diet beverages a week face up to an 88% higher risk of …
‘Master switch’ brain protein could reverse age-related memory loss
Lowering levels of a protein linked to iron in the brain could be a new way to reverse age-related memory loss. Depositphotos – By Pranjal Malewar 2025 Sep 02 – Restoring memory and mental sharpness in older adults isn’t just about fighting disease; it’s …
George Washington’s worries are coming true
President George Washington warned in his farewell address about partisanship, sectionalism, excessive public debt, ambitious leaders and a poorly informed public. Mike Rosiana/iStock via Getty Images Plus – By Robert A. Strong, Emeritus Professor of Politics, Washington and Lee University; Senior Fellow, Miller Center, …
We’ve driven animals in two shocking directions over just 1,000 years
Domesticated animals have grown in body size – while wildlife continues to shrink. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Sep 07 – In the largest study of its kind, scientists have accurately documented the massive change in animal morphology over the last 1,000 years, …
Scientists uncover shocking new properties of everyday ice
Bending ice causes it to generate electricity. Stony Brook University – By David Szondy 2025 Sep 06 – A cool new study with chilly implications from a team led by the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) …
A starfish apocalypse: The bacterium behind billions of sea star deaths
More than a decade ago starfish started dying from a mysterious disease. Scientists have now finally figured out what has been going on. Bennett Whitnell/Hakai Institute – By Chelsea Haney 2025 Sep 05 – A mysterious marine epidemic has erased billions of sea stars …
What is AI slop? A technologist explains this new and largely unwelcome form of online content
This AI-generated image spread far and wide in the wake of Hurricane Helene in 2024. AI-generated image circulated on social media – By Adam Nemeroff, Assistant Provost for Innovations in Learning, Teaching, and Technology, Quinnipiac University Published: 2025 Sep 02 – You’ve probably …
When the government can see everything: How one company – Palantir – is mapping the nation’s data
Palantir’s technology allows government agencies to connect the dots about individuals. Yuichiro Chino/Moment via Getty Images – By Nicole M. Bennett, Ph.D. Candidate in Geography and Assistant Director at the Center for Refugee Studies, Indiana University Published: 2025 Aug 27 – When the …
How Europe’s deforestation law could change the global coffee trade
The beans that created this cup of coffee had a long journey. Guido Mieth/Moment via Getty Images – By Paul Mwebaze, Research Economist at the Institute for Sustainability, Energy and Environment, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Published: 2025 Sep 02 – If your …
Next-gen vaccine prevents up to 88% of multiple aggressive cancers
A new vaccine bolsters the immune system to prevent cancer growth and spread. ChatGPT 5 – By Paul McClure 2025 Oct 09 – A next-generation cancer vaccine has shown stunning results in mice, preventing up to 88% of aggressive and difficult-to-treat cancers by harnessing …
‘Breakthrough’ blood test detects chronic fatigue in 92% of cases
People with ME/CFS can wait years for a diagnosis. Photo by Marco Bianchetti/Unsplash – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Oct 07 – Researchers believe they have developed the first dedicated blood test to diagnose chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), which …
Federal shutdown deals blow to already hobbled cybersecurity agency
The federal cybersecurity agency is crippled by layoffs and shutdown furloughs. The Conversation, CC BY-ND – By Richard Forno, Teaching Professor of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, and Associate Director, UMBC Cybersecurity Institute, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Published: 2025 Oct 07 – …
What are solar storms and the solar wind? 3 astrophysicists explain how particles coming from the Sun interact with Earth
The Sun occasionally ejects large amounts of energy and particles that can smash into Earth. NASA/GSFC/SDO via WikimediaCommons – By Yeimy J. Rivera, Researcher in Astrophysics, Smithsonian Institution And by Rosa Tatiana Niembro Hernández, Astrophysicist, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Smithsonian Institution And by Samuel Badman, …
We choose ignorance as we age – even when knowledge is more useful
Study finds the age at which we decide to turn our brains off more frequently. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Oct 05 – Whether it’s avoiding the news or checking a bank account, adults often deal with uncertainty by switching off and not …
Virtual particles: How physicists’ clever bookkeeping trick could underlie reality
Scientists imagine virtual particles popping in and out of existence to explain how forces transfer between particles. koto_feja/iStock via Getty Images – By Dipangkar Dutta, Professor of Nuclear Physics, Mississippi State University Published: 2025 Oct 03 – A clever mathematical tool known as virtual …
Massive expanding chasms are eating cities alive from below
For the first time, scientists have documented the extent of the urban gully crisis. Matthias Vanmaercke – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Oct 02 – Nearly 3,000 growing chasms have opened up in dozens of towns, swallowing up roads and houses in their path. Known …
Meet Irène Curie, the Nobel-winning atomic physicist who changed the course of modern cancer treatment
Irène and Frederic Joliot-Curie shared the Nobel Prize in 1935. Bettmann/Contributor via Getty Images – By Artemis Spyrou, Professor of Nuclear Physics, Michigan State University And by Andrea Richard, Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy, Ohio University Published: 2025 Oct 02 – The adage …
Jane Goodall, the gentle disrupter whose research on chimpanzees redefined what it meant to be human
Jane Goodall appears on stage at 92NY in New York on 2023 Oct 01. Charles Sykes/Invision/AP – By Mireya Mayor, Director of Exploration and Science Communication, Florida International University Published: 2025 Oct 01 – Anyone proposing to offer a master class on changing the …
How to identify animal tracks, burrows and other signs of wildlife in your neighborhood
A paw print in baked mud at Joshua Tree National Park, likely from a coyote. Brad Sutton/National Park Service – By Steven Sullivan, Director of the Hefner Museum of Natural History, Miami University Published: 2025 Sep 29 – Your neighborhood is home to all …