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Common nutrient turns our guts into diabetes-fighting chemical factories
The microbes that live in our guts are turning out to be quite powerful chemical plant workers. UC Louvain – By Michael Franco 2025 Dec 09 – Adding to the growing body of research that proves our microbiome is a powerful ally in fighting …
Single gene that can directly cause mental illnesses identified
In a landmark study, scientists have made a huge breakthrough in mental health. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Dec 08 – In a breakthrough study, scientists have discovered that a variant in one gene, GRIN2A, can directly cause mental illness – something previously …
Bees ‘infect’ each other with optimism that spreads through the colony
The ‘feeling’ was spread not by sound or scent but by visual interaction. Depositphotos – By Chelsea Haney 2025 Dec 07 – Bumblebees have a way of looking both adorable and slightly overserved, wobbling from flower to flower like fuzzy little potatoes. They seem …
Lost Silk Road city discovered beneath mountain lake
Researcher at the Institute of Archaeology of the RAS Irina Reshetova. Ekaterina Lameykina – By Pranjal Malewar 2025 Dec 06 – Archaeologists have uncovered the submerged ruins of a medieval Silk Road city beneath Lake Issyk-Kul. Located in northeastern Kyrgyzstan, high in the Tien …
Ultra-rare carnivorous ‘killer plant’ found lurking on city’s doorstep
One of the thousands of Drosera silvicola discovered at Paruna Wildlife Sanctuary in Western Australia. Thilo Alexander Krueger/Australian Wildlife Conservancy. View 4 Images – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Dec 05 – There’s an old saying that everything in Australia wants to eat you – …
First-ever drug to repair DNA and regenerate damaged tissue is here
New drug could repair damage caused by serious events like heart attack. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Dec 04 – After two decades in the making, scientists have cracked the code on a drug that can repair DNA, setting the scene for a …
Vitamin C shields lung cells from common air-pollution damage
Vitamin C could offer low-cost protection against airborne particles. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Dec 03 – Vitamin C may offer meaningful protection against one of the world’s invisible but pervasive health threats – fine-particle air pollution. New research has found that the …
3D-printed cornea restores sight in a legally blind patient for the first time
Damage to the cornea from infections, injury, or genetic disorders can lead to blindness – and often requires a transplant. Arteum.ro / Unsplash – By Abhimanyu Ghoshal 2025 Dec 02 – In a major breakthrough in human tissue replication, for the first time ever …
Biomining viruses deliver rare earth elements but no toxic horrors of mining
A rendering of a bacteriophage – a virus that preys on bacteria. Depositphotos – By Malcolm Azania 2025 Dec 01 – They’re gorgeous, dazzling, passionately pursued, and worth billions. No, not Hollywood starlets and hunks and the stars of K-Pop. Well, OK, yes – they …
More than half of new articles on the internet are being written by AI – is human writing headed for extinction?
Preserving the value of real human voices will likely depend on how people adapt to artificial intelligence and collaborate with it. BlackJack3D/E+ via Getty Images – By Francesco Agnellini, Lecturer in Digital and Data Studies, Binghamton University, State University of New York Published: …
The weaponization of the federal government has a long history
President Nixon urged the IRS to audit his perceived enemies; Donald Trump wanted to do the same. LPettet/ iStock / Getty Images Plus – By Ken Hughes, Research Specialist, the Miller Center, University of Virginia Published: 2023 Jan 19 – Now that House Republicans …
Your poop could save lives – and ‘stool banks’ will even pay you for it
You could be flushing away your chance to advance medical science. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Nov 28 – You may be sitting on – so to speak – a very valuable asset that scientists would love to get their hands on: your …
The Hong Kong high-rise fire shows how difficult it is to evacuate in an emergency
Tommy Wang/Getty – By Milad Haghani, Associate Professor and Principal Fellow in Urban Risk and Resilience, The University of Melbourne By Erica Kuligowski, Principal Research Fellow, School of Engineering, RMIT University And by Ruggiero Lovreglio, Professor in Digital Construction and Fire Engineering, Te …
Drones, physics and rats: Studies show how the people of Rapa Nui made and moved the giant statues – and what caused the island’s deforestation
Scientists used drones to produce this 3D model of Rano Raraku, the volcanic crater where 95% of Rapa Nui’s giant statues were carved. Lipo et al., 2025, PLOS One, CC BY – By Carl Lipo, Professor of Anthropology and Associate Dean for Research, …
A newly discovered ‘pain switch’ in our brains could unlock safer medications
Researchers found that an enzyme released by neurons can modify proteins on the outside of other cells to turn on pain signaling – which means it could be an easy target for future medication. Made with Google AI – By Abhimanyu Ghoshal 2025 Nov …
Thousands of genomes reveal the wild wolf genes in most dogs’ DNA
Modern wolves and dogs both descend from an ancient wolf population that lived alongside woolly mammoths and cave bears. Iza Lyson/500px Prime via Getty Images – By Audrey T. Lin, Research Associate in Anthropology, Smithsonian Institution And by Logan Kistler, Curator of Archaeobotany and Archaeogenomics, …
Turning fat cells into bone heals fractures and reverses frailty
Osteoporosis makes us more prone to spinal fractures as we age. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Nov 23 – Our fat tissue could be used to make our bones regrow, with scientists successfully using adipose cells to repair spinal compression fractures. It could change how …
How the Plymouth Pilgrims took over Thanksgiving – and who history left behind
‘The First Thanksgiving, 1621,’ by Jean L. G. Ferris. Library of Congress – By Thomas Tweed, Professor Emeritus of American Studies and History, University of Notre Dame Published: 2025 Nov 13 – Nine in 10 Americans gather around a table to share food …
Making GLP-1 weight loss drugs cheaper isn’t enough to address America’s obesity problem – here’s why
Polling shows that 1 in 8 Americans have tried GLP-1 drugs. zimmytws/iStock via Getty Images Plus – By David B. Sarwer, Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Temple University Published: 2025 Nov 21 – The Trump administration is making a significant effort to …
Who wins and who loses as the US retires the penny
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images – By Nancy Forster-Holt, Clinical Associate Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, University of Rhode Island Published: 2025 Nov 20 – By now, Americans know the strange math of minting: Each penny costs about 4 cents to make. Chances are you have …
How pecans went from ignored trees to a holiday staple – the 8,000-year history of America’s only native major nut
Pecan pie is a popular holiday treat in the United States. Julie Deshaies/iStock via Getty Images – By Shelley Mitchell, Senior Extension Specialist in Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Oklahoma State University Published: 2025 Nov 18 – Pecans, America’s only native major nut, have …
Before the American Revolution, Native nations guarded their societies against tyranny
A purple and white flag representing the world’s oldest democracy, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, flies above a Mohawk flag at a Native American gathering. Giordanno Brumas/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images – By Kathleen DuVal, Professor of History, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill …
Supply-chain delays, rising equipment prices threaten electricity grid
High-voltage power lines run through an electrical substation in Florida. Joe Raedle/Getty Image – By Morgan Bazilian, Professor of Public Policy and Director, Payne Institute, Colorado School of Mines And by Kyri Baker, Associate Professor of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of …
Natural compound rejuvenates aging cells in just 28 days
Pomegranates are rich in ellagitannins, which produces a key metabolite in the gut. – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Nov 16 – Researchers have demonstrated how a secret weapon made in the gut, produced by consuming foods like pomegranate and walnuts, can rejuvenate the immune …
Seagulls don’t respect you until you speak up, according to science
Respect your authority: There’s a way to stop these beach thieves taking your lunch. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Nov 12 – You won’t find us endorsing aggression towards animals very often, however, scientists have discovered that raising your voice to seagulls – …
Lab Chromium Contamination Confirmed on San Ildefonso Pueblo Land
Comprehensive Cleanup Needed Instead of More Nuclear Weapons Santa Fe, NM – The New Mexico Environment Department has announced: “A toxic chromium plume from Los Alamos National Laboratory has spread beyond Lab boundaries onto Pueblo de San Ildefonso land for the first time, …
Revolutionary biofuel battery is inspired by human metabolism
An artistic rendering of the new riboflavin and glucose flow battery, which generates a greater power density from the sugar than previous designs. Nathan Johnson, Adapted from ACS Energy Letters 2025, DOI: 10.1021/acsenergylett.5c02462 – By Malcolm Azania 2025 Nov 14 – In The Matrix, …
The rise of the autistic detective – why neurodivergent minds are at the heart of modern mysteries
Autistic actress Ella Maisy Purvis plays an autistic and hyperlexic police archivist in the British-Belgian crime drama ‘Patience.’ Channel 4/Eagle Eye Drama/Charlie Clift – By Soohyun Cho, Assistant Professor at the Center for Integrative Studies in the Arts & Humanities, Michigan State University …
Natural molecule reverses memory loss seen in Alzheimer’s disease
Scientists identify a new weapon in restoring memory to Alzheimer’s disease patients. Robina Weermeijer/Unsplash – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Nov 12 – Boosting levels of a certain molecule that declines with age was found to restore memory and brain function in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) …
Like living on Earth? Thank Jupiter
Without Jupiter, there might not be an Earth. By David Szondy 2025 Nov 11 – If you’ve ever wondered why we are here, then you can thank Jupiter for part of the answer. A new study from Rice University suggests that if it …
One-off lipid-lowering gene therapy a success in world-first human trial
A new gene therapy lowered two heart disease-related lipids in a human clinical trial. Depositphotos – By Paul McClure 2025 Nov 10 – In a world-first trial, scientists used a one-off CRISPR gene edit to switch off a liver “fat brake” gene, slashing stubborn …
Coffee has “astounding” impact on irregular heartbeat in world-first trial
The first ever trial on coffee and atrial fibrillation has served up good news for your heart. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Nov 09 – Caffeine appears to do the opposite of what you might think when it comes to the heart. Scientists …
Singles’ Day is a $150B holiday in China. Here’s why I think ‘11/11’ will catch on in the US
An advertisement for a Singles’ Day promotion is seen at Yitiao store in Shanghai. Wang Gang/Costfoto/Future Publishing via Getty Images – By Peter McGraw, Professor of Marketing and Psychology, University of Colorado Boulder Published: 2025 Nov 04 – On Nov. 11 each year, …
Always watching: How ICE’s plan to monitor social media 24/7 threatens privacy and civic participation
ICE’s surveillance gaze is likely to sweep across millions of people’s social media posts. Westend61/Westend61 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 Nov 07 – When …
Alzheimer’s impact on body fat explains its effects beyond the brain
Nerves and blood vessels are normally arranged in tight bundles in adipose tissue. The new study showed that Alzheimer’s disease has the ability to break those bundles appart, separating the neurovascular arrangements and challenging a patient’s metabolism. Depositphotos – By Michael Franco 2025 Nov …
Breakthrough gel can regenerate tooth enamel within weeks
Novel gel renews teeth that have experienced loss of enamel. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Nov 05 – An innovative gel that forms a layer over teeth and then recruits calcium and phosphate ions from saliva to build new enamel has the potential …
World’s largest web houses 110,000 spiders thriving in total darkness
The colonial spider web in Sulfur Cave, is home to a mixed colony of Tegenaria domestica and Prinerigone vagans spiders, feeding on the chironomids that fill the air. Marek Audy/Subterranean Biology/(CC By 4.0) – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Nov 05 – Deep underground in …
Slowing climate change by using aerosols to block sunlight? Maybe not such a good idea
A proposed method of mitigating climate change, stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) would involve releasing large quantities of tiny particles into the stratosphere in order to block incoming sunlight. Depositphotos – By Malcolm Azania 2025 Nov 04 – Holy sun-repellant spray, Batman! Could injecting billions …
Designer drug targets both heart disease and diabetes
An experimental drug has the potential to tackle both heart disease and diabetes. Depositphotos – By Paul McClure 2025 Nov 03 – A promising “two-in-one” experimental drug could tackle both type 2 diabetes and heart disease by slashing cholesterol and inflammation, potentially offering a …
Biochips made from mushrooms rival power of manmade semiconductors
Fungal memristors could be ideal interfaces for high-frequency bioelectronics. John LaRocco/Ohio State University – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Nov 02 – They may be better known for stir-fries than supercomputing, but shiitake mushrooms have now been harnessed to function as living processors, storing and …
Common nutrient turns our guts into diabetes-fighting chemical factories
The microbes that live in our guts are turning out to be quite powerful chemical plant workers. UC Louvain – By Michael Franco 2025 Dec 09 – Adding to the growing body of research that proves our microbiome is a powerful ally in fighting …
Single gene that can directly cause mental illnesses identified
In a landmark study, scientists have made a huge breakthrough in mental health. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Dec 08 – In a breakthrough study, scientists have discovered that a variant in one gene, GRIN2A, can directly cause mental illness – something previously …
Bees ‘infect’ each other with optimism that spreads through the colony
The ‘feeling’ was spread not by sound or scent but by visual interaction. Depositphotos – By Chelsea Haney 2025 Dec 07 – Bumblebees have a way of looking both adorable and slightly overserved, wobbling from flower to flower like fuzzy little potatoes. They seem …
Lost Silk Road city discovered beneath mountain lake
Researcher at the Institute of Archaeology of the RAS Irina Reshetova. Ekaterina Lameykina – By Pranjal Malewar 2025 Dec 06 – Archaeologists have uncovered the submerged ruins of a medieval Silk Road city beneath Lake Issyk-Kul. Located in northeastern Kyrgyzstan, high in the Tien …
Ultra-rare carnivorous ‘killer plant’ found lurking on city’s doorstep
One of the thousands of Drosera silvicola discovered at Paruna Wildlife Sanctuary in Western Australia. Thilo Alexander Krueger/Australian Wildlife Conservancy. View 4 Images – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Dec 05 – There’s an old saying that everything in Australia wants to eat you – …
First-ever drug to repair DNA and regenerate damaged tissue is here
New drug could repair damage caused by serious events like heart attack. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Dec 04 – After two decades in the making, scientists have cracked the code on a drug that can repair DNA, setting the scene for a …
Vitamin C shields lung cells from common air-pollution damage
Vitamin C could offer low-cost protection against airborne particles. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Dec 03 – Vitamin C may offer meaningful protection against one of the world’s invisible but pervasive health threats – fine-particle air pollution. New research has found that the …
3D-printed cornea restores sight in a legally blind patient for the first time
Damage to the cornea from infections, injury, or genetic disorders can lead to blindness – and often requires a transplant. Arteum.ro / Unsplash – By Abhimanyu Ghoshal 2025 Dec 02 – In a major breakthrough in human tissue replication, for the first time ever …
Biomining viruses deliver rare earth elements but no toxic horrors of mining
A rendering of a bacteriophage – a virus that preys on bacteria. Depositphotos – By Malcolm Azania 2025 Dec 01 – They’re gorgeous, dazzling, passionately pursued, and worth billions. No, not Hollywood starlets and hunks and the stars of K-Pop. Well, OK, yes – they …
More than half of new articles on the internet are being written by AI – is human writing headed for extinction?
Preserving the value of real human voices will likely depend on how people adapt to artificial intelligence and collaborate with it. BlackJack3D/E+ via Getty Images – By Francesco Agnellini, Lecturer in Digital and Data Studies, Binghamton University, State University of New York Published: …