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Zombie bugs, singing seals and rule-breaking bears: Animals in 2025
These animals shared their lullaby A-game with the world this year. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Dec 30 – It’s that time of year again – and my personal favorite corner of science to look back on – when we recap the many …
The strange thing your eyes do when thinking gets hard
The eyes have it: Our blinking gives away how interested we are in an exchange. Depositphotos – By Pranjal Malewar 2025 Dec 28 – The rhythmic action of blinking helps keep our vision sharp. Initially studied only in vision science, blinking is now also recognized as …
Tea or coffee: One leaves a stronger imprint on your bones
Coffee versus tea: One ranks higher for bone health. Depositphotos – By Pranjal Malewar 2025 Dec 28 – Tea and coffee are two of the most popular drinks in the world – daily rituals linked to culture, comfort, and productivity. Now scientists have new insights …
How C-reactive protein outpaced ‘bad’ cholesterol as leading heart disease risk marker
Blood vessel damage from fatty and high-sugar diets leads to inflammation, which can be detected by measuring C-reactive protein. – By Mary J. Scourboutakos, Adjunct Assistant Professor in Family and Community Medicine, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University Published: …
Long-term aspartame intake sabotages brain and heart function
Aspartame can be found in an estimated 6,000 foods and drinks worldwide. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Dec 21 – In the first long-term and real-world reflective study of its kind, scientists have uncovered new detrimental health impacts of the artificial sweetener aspartame that …
The best everyday health advice we learned from science in 2025
You’ll be happy to know that hot cocoa is part of your health plan in 2026, especially if you sit a lot. Depositphotos – By Michael Franco 2025 Dec 25 – We certainly saw some major health-related breakthroughs in 2025, including a universal cancer vaccine …
Where the wild things thrive: Finding and protecting nature’s climate change safe havens
Much wildlife relies on cool streams and lush meadows in the Sierra Nevada. By Toni Lyn Morelli, Adjunct Full Professor of Environmental Conservation, UMass Amherst; U.S. Geological Survey And by Diana Stralberg, Adjunct professor, Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta Published: 2025 Dec 17 …
First GLP-1 weight-loss pill on sale in the US within weeks for $149 a month
The oral obesity pill will be in pharmacies in early January. Depositphotos By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Dec 23 – The next transformative phase of weight-loss medication is upon us, with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approving Novo Nordisk’s. – The once-daily oral semaglutide …
What is an atmospheric river? A hydrologist explains the good and bad of these storms and how they’re changing
A satellite image shows a powerful atmospheric river hitting the U.S. West Coast on 2024 Jan 31. NOAA GOES – By Qian Cao, Hydrologist, Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes, University of California, San Diego Published: 2024 Jan 30 – Updated: 2024 …
5,200 holes carved into a Peruvian mountain left by an ancient economy
The stretch of thousands of holes earned the site its name, Mont Sierpe (“serpent mountain”). University of Sydney – View 5 Images – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Dec 21 – For nearly a century, a strange band of thousands of holes carved into a …
15-minute hep-C test makes same-day treatment possible
Rapid Hep C diagnosis is 75% faster than existing testing. Depositphotos – By Pranjal Malewar 2025 Dec 19 – Hepatitis C is a tiny virus with a significant impact. It’s a small RNA virus that spreads through the blood and infects the liver. Even …
For burglars, it’s the most wonderful time of the year: how to keep your home safe these holidays
Shutterstock – By Natalie Gately, Senior Lecturer and Researcher, Edith Cowan University And by Suzanne Rock, Lecturer and Researcher in Criminology, Edith Cowan University Published: 2022 Dec 27 – The lead-up to the holiday period is often referred to as the silly season — but …
Weight gain single-handedly prevented by a gut microbe
This composite image shows the rod-shaped Turicibacter bacterium in the foreground, with a cross-section of intestinal wall and fluorescent microscopy of other bacteria in the background. Kendra Klag, PhD – By Michael Franco 2025 Dec 18 – Researchers have homed in on a single …
We can now watch influenza enter human cells
Using a new kind of microscopy process researchers have watched a flu virus break into a human cell in real time. Emma Hyde / ETH Zurich – By Pranjal Malewar 2025 Dec 12 – Every winter, as the air sharpens and scarves return to …
America faced domestic fascists before and buried that history
Fritz Kuhn, center, is congratulated by fellow officers of the German American Bund in New York on 1938 Sep 03. AP Photo – By Arlene Stein, Distinguished Professor of Sociology, Rutgers University Published: 2025 Dec 17 – Masked officers conduct immigration raids. National Guard …
Frog gut bacterium eliminates cancer tumors in mice with a single dose
The Japanese tree frog (Hyla japonica) hosts a bacterium that kills tumors from the inside out. Norio Nomura/iNaturalist/(CC By-SA 4.0) – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Dec 16 – A bacterium from the intestines of Japanese tree frogs has “exhibited remarkably potent” tumor-killing abilities when …
Futuristic pixel-raising display lets you feel what’s onscreen
Though the research is still in its infancy, optotactile pixels could allow screen users to feel what they see. Depositphotos View 5 Images – By Monica J. White 2025 Dec 15 – Could you imagine being able to “feel” the images on your screen? …
Most radioactive site in US is moving on from the Manhattan Project
The Hanford D and DR Reactors circa 1955, next to the Columbia River. View 7 Images – By Chelsea Haney 2025 Dec 14 – A nuclear production facility in Washington state, dubbed the Hanford site, once forged the plutonium that reshaped the world. Now …
Sleep problems and depression can be a vicious cycle, especially during pregnancy − here’s why it’s important to get help
Restless or too little sleep can make us feel unfocused and indecisive the next day. Valerii Apetroaiei/iStock via Getty Images Plus – By Jenalee Doom, Associate Professor of Psychology, University of Denver And by Melissa Nevarez-Brewster, Ph.D. student in Developmental Psychology, University of Denver Published: …
Volcanic eruptions sparked grim chain of events that brought the Black Death
A massive volcanic event – or a series of them – may have set the pandemic wheels in motion, years before it arrived in Europe. Depositphotos View 5 Images – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Dec 11 – Hidden inside the narrow growth rings of Pyrenees …
Time banks could ease the burden of elder care and promote connection
Older people may need help getting the hang of using technology. Maskot/GettyImages – By Chao Guo, Professor of Nonprofit Management, University of Pennsylvania And by Charlotte Ren, Professor of Practice in Strategy and Innovation, University of Pennsylvania And by John J. DiIulio Jr., Professor of Politics, …
This ring remembers everything so your brain doesn’t have to – and doesn’t need charging
The Index 01 is designed for discreetly capturing voice notes, and its single-use battery is meant to last you for years. Core Devices View 5 Images – By Abhimanyu Ghoshal 2025 Dec 10 – I’m always excited to learn what Pebble is up to, …
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 …
Zombie bugs, singing seals and rule-breaking bears: Animals in 2025
These animals shared their lullaby A-game with the world this year. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Dec 30 – It’s that time of year again – and my personal favorite corner of science to look back on – when we recap the many …
The strange thing your eyes do when thinking gets hard
The eyes have it: Our blinking gives away how interested we are in an exchange. Depositphotos – By Pranjal Malewar 2025 Dec 28 – The rhythmic action of blinking helps keep our vision sharp. Initially studied only in vision science, blinking is now also recognized as …
Tea or coffee: One leaves a stronger imprint on your bones
Coffee versus tea: One ranks higher for bone health. Depositphotos – By Pranjal Malewar 2025 Dec 28 – Tea and coffee are two of the most popular drinks in the world – daily rituals linked to culture, comfort, and productivity. Now scientists have new insights …
How C-reactive protein outpaced ‘bad’ cholesterol as leading heart disease risk marker
Blood vessel damage from fatty and high-sugar diets leads to inflammation, which can be detected by measuring C-reactive protein. – By Mary J. Scourboutakos, Adjunct Assistant Professor in Family and Community Medicine, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University Published: …
Long-term aspartame intake sabotages brain and heart function
Aspartame can be found in an estimated 6,000 foods and drinks worldwide. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Dec 21 – In the first long-term and real-world reflective study of its kind, scientists have uncovered new detrimental health impacts of the artificial sweetener aspartame that …
The best everyday health advice we learned from science in 2025
You’ll be happy to know that hot cocoa is part of your health plan in 2026, especially if you sit a lot. Depositphotos – By Michael Franco 2025 Dec 25 – We certainly saw some major health-related breakthroughs in 2025, including a universal cancer vaccine …
Where the wild things thrive: Finding and protecting nature’s climate change safe havens
Much wildlife relies on cool streams and lush meadows in the Sierra Nevada. By Toni Lyn Morelli, Adjunct Full Professor of Environmental Conservation, UMass Amherst; U.S. Geological Survey And by Diana Stralberg, Adjunct professor, Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta Published: 2025 Dec 17 …
First GLP-1 weight-loss pill on sale in the US within weeks for $149 a month
The oral obesity pill will be in pharmacies in early January. Depositphotos By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Dec 23 – The next transformative phase of weight-loss medication is upon us, with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approving Novo Nordisk’s. – The once-daily oral semaglutide …
What is an atmospheric river? A hydrologist explains the good and bad of these storms and how they’re changing
A satellite image shows a powerful atmospheric river hitting the U.S. West Coast on 2024 Jan 31. NOAA GOES – By Qian Cao, Hydrologist, Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes, University of California, San Diego Published: 2024 Jan 30 – Updated: 2024 …
5,200 holes carved into a Peruvian mountain left by an ancient economy
The stretch of thousands of holes earned the site its name, Mont Sierpe (“serpent mountain”). University of Sydney – View 5 Images – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Dec 21 – For nearly a century, a strange band of thousands of holes carved into a …