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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 …
ADHD brains are more creative – and we might have worked out why
Letting your mind wander might boost creativity, according to researchers. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Oct 31 – While not everyone with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is creative, there are a lot of creative people with neurodivergent brains. Now, new research suggests this could …
What is DNS? A computer engineer explains this foundational piece of the web – and why it’s the internet’s Achilles’ heel
Amazon Web Services, hosted in data centers like this one in Virginia, supports thousands of websites, apps and online services – but not during its recent DNS outage. Nathan Howard/Getty Images – By Doug Jacobson, University Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Iowa State …
Atorvastatin recall may affect hundreds of thousands of patients – and reflects FDA’s troubles inspecting medicines manufactured overseas
Several batches of the drug did not dissolve properly, which means the person taking them would receive a lower dose. Chimperil59/iStock via Getty Images – By C. Michael White, Distinguished Professor of Pharmacy Practice, University of Connecticut Published: 2025 Oct 30 – If …
Is cocoa the cure for too much sitting? New study says yes
A cocoa beverage that was high in flavanols showed significant artery-protecting powers when consumed before a two-hour sitting session. Photo by American Heritage Chocolate on Unsplash – By Michael Franco 2025 Oct 29 – Sitting has often been referred to as the new smoking …
Solar storms have influenced our history – an environmental historian explains how they could also threaten our future
Coronal mass ejections from the Sun can cause geomagnetic storms that may damage technology on Earth. NASA/GSFC/SDO – By Dagomar Degroot, Associate Professor of Environmental History, Georgetown University Published: 2025 Oct 28 – In May 2024, part of the Sun exploded. – The …
Music may lower risk of dementia by up to 39% in older adults
New research suggests music can keep the brain sharp in older age. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Oct 27 – Listening to or playing music later in life could do more than lift your spirits – it might also help keep your mind …
The unexpected food proven most effective at relieving constipation
The humble kiwi comes out on top for gut motility. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Oct 26 – For the first time, scientists have used evidence-based research to rewrite the advice on what to consume to relieve constipation, doing away with the broad …
Cardamom extract shows promise as a natural antiviral treatment
An active ingredient in cardamom seeds acts as a natural antiviral. Depositphotos – By Paul McClure 2025 Oct 25 – A humble kitchen spice could pack a powerful antiviral punch. Researchers have found that compounds in cardamom seeds can trigger the body’s virus-detecting systems, …
Pumpkins’ journey from ancient food staple to spicy fall obsession spans thousands of years
Pumpkin patch excursions have become a fall staple in many U.S. households. Creative Touch Imaging Ltd./NurPhoto via Getty Images – By Shelley Mitchell, Senior Extension Specialist, Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Oklahoma State University Published: 2025 Oct 24 – October in much of the U.S. …
Curious kid hospitalized after swallowing nearly 100 high-powered magnets
Deadly attraction: Powerful neodymium magnets are sending children to the emergency department. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Oct 23 – A 13-year-old boy was admitted to hospital after four days of abdominal pain – when he then admitted to doctors that he’d swallowed …
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 …