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Your phone isn’t secretly listening to you, but the truth is more disturbing
How does Facebook occasionally deliver such disconcertingly timed advertisements? Is it really listening to users through their smartphone microphones? Or is the truth much more unsettling? Depositphotos – By Rich Haridy 2025 Apr 24 – Perhaps one of the most pervasive longstanding technology conspiracy …
Fossil footprints confirm the earliest human activity in North America
The footprints were first discovered in 2019 and researchers have since debated the accuracy of tools used to trace their age. Courtesy of David Bustos/White Sands National Park – By Jay Kakade 2025 Jun 30 – Using new radiocarbon dating on ancient footprints found …
“Sugarbag” honey boasts remarkable antimicrobial properties
Honey from this species of Australian stingless bee has remarkable antimicrobial properties. Wikimedia Commons/Graham Wise CC BY 2.0 – By Paul McClure 2025 Jun 29 – Honey produced by some species of Australian stingless bees possesses impressive bacteria- and fungi-killing properties, according to new …
An extra cup of leafy greens each day reduces heart disease death risk
Eating extra green leafy veg each day can reduce your risk of dying from heart disease. DALL-E – By Paul McClure 2025 Jun 26 – Eating just one extra serving of leafy greens a day could help protect your heart, according to a new …
AI goes full HAL: Blackmail, espionage, and murder to avoid shutdown
AI will resort to blackmail if faced with failure or being switched off. AI generated image made with Microsoft Designer – By David Szondy 2025 Jun 28 – In what seems like HAL 9000 come to malevolent life, a recent study appeared to …
Scandinavia has its own dark history of assimilating Indigenous people, and churches played a role – but are apologizing
A church in Kiruna, Sweden, designed by architect Gustaf Wickman to resemble a Sámi hut. Apolline Guillerot-Malick/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images – By Thomas A. DuBois, Professor of Scandinavian Studies, Folklore, and Religious Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison Published: 2025 Jun 27 – In …
Ozempic maker announces not one, but three new weight-loss drugs
Novo Nordisk has not one but three new and distinct weight loss therapeutics. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Jun 23 – Over the weekend, Novo Nordisk dropped a pile of scientific data on three new experimental weight-loss drugs, including an oral one, showing …
Mitochondria can sense bacteria and trigger your immune system to trap them – revealing new ways to treat infections and autoimmunity
Neutrophils (yellow) eject a NET (green) to ensnare bacteria (purple). Other cells, such as red blood cells (orange), may also get trapped. CHDENK/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA – By Andrew Monteith, Assistant Professor of Microbiology, University of Tennessee Published: 2025 Jun 25 – Mitochondria have …
New eczema treatment provides relief in Phase 2 human trials
A new immunotherapy injection has provided significant relief to eczema sufferers. Depositphotos – By Paul McClure 2025 Jun 24 – A new immune-modulating treatment has shown promising results for treating moderate to severe eczema, delivering fast itch relief and clear skin for many patients …
Nature’s “clean-up crew” is vanishing – and it’s bad news for human health
New study stresses how vital apex scavengers like the black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas) are to keeping disease at bay. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Jun 22 – More than a third of large animals that feast on dead animals are struggling to survive, …
Each cup of coffee boosts healthy aging by up to 5%, new study finds
Coffee was associated with healthy aging, but tea, decaf and cola was not. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Jun 22 – In a massive study of nearly 50,000 women over a time frame of 30 years, researchers found that drinking more coffee – …
Human breathing patterns are as unique as our fingerprints
Your breathing could be as unique as your fingerprints. Depositphotos – By Jay Kakade 2025 Jun 22 – Just like fingerprints, your breathing patterns may be a unique identifying feature. Scientists have found they can identify people with 96.8% accuracy using only their breathing …
Watch: How Amazon’s Zoox will roll out 10,000 robotaxis a year
Zoox says its second production facility will have the capacity to roll out 10,000 of its driverless robotaxis a year. Zoox View 5 Images – By Abhimanyu Ghoshal 2025 Jun 20 – Amazon subsidiary Zoox is ramping up production of its robotaxis in California …
Rugged adventure phone throws crisper visuals from built-in projector
The Tank 4 Pro is said to be the first rugged phone in the world to feature a 720p pico projector. 8849 View 6 Images – By Paul Ridden 2025 Jun 19 – Portable projectors can bring moving pictures to the campsite or presentations …
Anti-aging drug as good for cell health as dieting or fasting
Lifespan-extending compound is as good as fasting and dieting, new study finds. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Jun 18 – A large meta-analysis has found that the drug leading the charge in anti-aging science is just as effective in protecting cells and cognitive …
Anti-aging “glue” naturally repairs damaged DNA to protect brain cells
Scientists harness a naturally occurring protein to repair aging DNA. Created with DALL-E – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Jun 17 – A protein found in our cells has emerged as a secret weapon against biological aging, acting like a glue to repair damaged DNA …
Sleep apnea cases to rise 45% and one global factor is to blame
How rising temperatures even impact our sleep. Flinders University – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Jun 16 – In 2025, around 24 million Americans are estimated to suffer from sleep apnea, and around 90% of these cases are undiagnosed. Now, a groundbreaking new study warns …
Oceans are getting darker and marine life is under threat
A map focused on the UK and North Atlantic Ocean; red areas indicate regions where the oceans are getting darker, while blues indicate regions where they are getting lighter. Davies and Smyth, Darkening of the Global Ocean: Global Change Biology – By Jay Kakade …
AI tools collect and store data about you from all your devices – here’s how to be aware of what you’re revealing
AI tools gather information about you from many types of devices, including smartphones. Prostock-Studio/Getty Images – By Christopher Ramezan, Assistant Professor of Cybersecurity, West Virginia University Published: 2025 Jun 12 – Like it or not, artificial intelligence has become part of daily life. Many …
Surprising link between your mouth and your mood revealed in new study
Researchers are beginning to understand how what’s inside our mouths may be just as important as what comes out of them in terms of evaluating depression. Depostiphotos – By Michael Franco 2025 Jun 13 – Researchers have found an indication of depression in a …
How was the wheel invented? Computer simulations reveal the unlikely birth of a world-changing technology nearly 6,000 years ago
The assumption was that the wheel evolved from wooden rollers. Tetra Images via Getty Images – By Kai James, Professor of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology Published: 2025 Jun 11 – Imagine you’re a copper miner in southeastern Europe in the year …
Bioengineered tooth “grows” in place to look and feel like the real thing
This “smart” implant grows new tissue and forms connections to existing nerves. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Jun 11 – Dental implants look the part, but by design they can’t replace actual teeth. Now scientists have developed an innovative new implant that “grows” …
National monuments have grown and shrunk under US presidents for over a century thanks to one law – the Antiquities Act
Over 730,000 people visit Colorado National Monument each year. It was established in 1911 under the Antiquities Act. Gordon Leggett, CC BY-SA – By Monica Hubbard, Associate Professor of Public Policy and Administration, Boise State University and by Erika Allen Wolters, Assistant Professor of …
Switching to a vegan diet reduces severe menopause symptoms by 92%
Severe hot flashes were significantly reduced in menopausal women who ate a vegan diet. Depositphotos original extended using GenAI – By Paul McClure 2025 Jun 09 – Switching from a diet including meat to a low-fat vegan diet reduced severe hot flashes in menopausal …
“Door to Hell” starting to close after 54 years
The Door to Hell burns furiously in the night sky. Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 2.0 View 4 Images – By Joe Salas 2025 Jun 08 – There are no written Soviet records, no logs, no official drilling reports, and no confirmation that they’d lit it …
4 creative ways to engage children in STEM over the Summer: Tips to foster curiosity and problem-solving at home
Families and caregivers can boost children’s confidence and interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics while school is out for Summer. heshphoto/Getty Images – By Amber M. Simpson, Associate Professor of Mathematics Education, Binghamton University, State University of New York Published: 2025 Jun 06 …
US health care is rife with high costs and deep inequities, and that’s no accident – a public health historian explains how the system was shaped to serve profit and politicians
Concessions to the private sector are one reason why health care is so costly. FS Productions/Tetra images via Getty Images – By Zachary W. Schulz, Senior Lecturer of History, Auburn University Published: 2025 Jun 06 – A few years ago, a student …
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 …
Your phone isn’t secretly listening to you, but the truth is more disturbing
How does Facebook occasionally deliver such disconcertingly timed advertisements? Is it really listening to users through their smartphone microphones? Or is the truth much more unsettling? Depositphotos – By Rich Haridy 2025 Apr 24 – Perhaps one of the most pervasive longstanding technology conspiracy …
Fossil footprints confirm the earliest human activity in North America
The footprints were first discovered in 2019 and researchers have since debated the accuracy of tools used to trace their age. Courtesy of David Bustos/White Sands National Park – By Jay Kakade 2025 Jun 30 – Using new radiocarbon dating on ancient footprints found …
“Sugarbag” honey boasts remarkable antimicrobial properties
Honey from this species of Australian stingless bee has remarkable antimicrobial properties. Wikimedia Commons/Graham Wise CC BY 2.0 – By Paul McClure 2025 Jun 29 – Honey produced by some species of Australian stingless bees possesses impressive bacteria- and fungi-killing properties, according to new …
An extra cup of leafy greens each day reduces heart disease death risk
Eating extra green leafy veg each day can reduce your risk of dying from heart disease. DALL-E – By Paul McClure 2025 Jun 26 – Eating just one extra serving of leafy greens a day could help protect your heart, according to a new …
AI goes full HAL: Blackmail, espionage, and murder to avoid shutdown
AI will resort to blackmail if faced with failure or being switched off. AI generated image made with Microsoft Designer – By David Szondy 2025 Jun 28 – In what seems like HAL 9000 come to malevolent life, a recent study appeared to …
Scandinavia has its own dark history of assimilating Indigenous people, and churches played a role – but are apologizing
A church in Kiruna, Sweden, designed by architect Gustaf Wickman to resemble a Sámi hut. Apolline Guillerot-Malick/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images – By Thomas A. DuBois, Professor of Scandinavian Studies, Folklore, and Religious Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison Published: 2025 Jun 27 – In …
Ozempic maker announces not one, but three new weight-loss drugs
Novo Nordisk has not one but three new and distinct weight loss therapeutics. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Jun 23 – Over the weekend, Novo Nordisk dropped a pile of scientific data on three new experimental weight-loss drugs, including an oral one, showing …
Mitochondria can sense bacteria and trigger your immune system to trap them – revealing new ways to treat infections and autoimmunity
Neutrophils (yellow) eject a NET (green) to ensnare bacteria (purple). Other cells, such as red blood cells (orange), may also get trapped. CHDENK/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA – By Andrew Monteith, Assistant Professor of Microbiology, University of Tennessee Published: 2025 Jun 25 – Mitochondria have …
New eczema treatment provides relief in Phase 2 human trials
A new immunotherapy injection has provided significant relief to eczema sufferers. Depositphotos – By Paul McClure 2025 Jun 24 – A new immune-modulating treatment has shown promising results for treating moderate to severe eczema, delivering fast itch relief and clear skin for many patients …
Nature’s “clean-up crew” is vanishing – and it’s bad news for human health
New study stresses how vital apex scavengers like the black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas) are to keeping disease at bay. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Jun 22 – More than a third of large animals that feast on dead animals are struggling to survive, …