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As the Taurid meteor shower passes by Earth, pseudoscience rains down – and obscures a potential real threat from space
This image of a Taurid fireball was taken in 2014 by NASA’s All Sky Fireball Network in Tullahoma, Tenn. NASA – By Mark Boslough, Research Associate Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico Published: 2024 Nov 15 – With the Taurid …
‘Hacked’ brain hormone targets gut pain – in totally new class of oral drugs
Abdominal pain affects millions, but there are still limited ways to treat it. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2024 Nov 18 – A peptide hormone produced in the brain that triggers physiological reproductive responses has been ‘hacked’ by scientists to form an effective, safe …
White button mushroom extract shrinks tumors and delays their growth
The humble white button mushroom has anticancer properties. Depositphotos – By Paul McClure 2024 Nov 17 – The unassuming yet popular white button mushroom has cancer-fighting abilities, according to the results of a human clinical trial on the use of food as medicine. Not …
Get chronic UTIs? Future treatments may add more bacteria to your bladder to beat back harmful microbes
Certain strains of E. coli can outcompete disease-causing microbes for resources. NIAID/Flickr, CC BY-SA – By Sarguru Subash, Assistant Professor of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University Published: 2024 Nov 15 – Millions of people in the U.S. and around the world suffer from …
Microscopic photo competition celebrates beauty of the tiny world
Honorable Mention: Crystalline pattern, like the big cotton padded jacket pattern handed down during the Chinese Spring Festival. Ji Yuan View 16 Images – By Michael Irving 2024 Nov 15 – An annual photography competition, celebrating scientific microscopic images, has unveiled this year’s winners. …
AI model identifies overlooked brain tumors in just 10 seconds
Residual tumors can cause a wide range of post-procedure complications, and impact patients’ quality of life. Milad Fakurian / Unsplash – By Abhimanyu Ghoshal 2024 Nov 14 – In another triumph for AI in healthcare, researchers have developed a model that can spot bits …
Primal micro-camper chases 4x4s as a tightly packed survival pod
Built For Extreme lives up to its name with an ultra-rugged, all-steel camping trailer. Built For Extreme. View 21 Images – By C.C. Weiss 2024 Nov 13 – A compact tagalong designed to explode into a fully equipped hunting camp, the new Built For …
Omega-3 and omega-6 supplements reduce risk of 19 types of cancer
Higher levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids were associated with a decreased cancer risk. Depositphotos – By Paul McClure 2024 Nov 09 – New research has linked higher plasma levels of the healthy fats omega-3 and omega-6 to a reduced risk of developing …
$35 lens turns any smartphone into a powerful microscope
This little gadget gives you instant, inexpensive access to the microscopic world. Kickstarter View 14 Images – By Bronwyn Thompson 2024 Nov 11 – Six years on from the first iMicro smartphone microscope, the team has unveiled its latest: the iMicro Q3p, a fingertip-sized, …
Bacterial ‘sat nav’ tracks where you’ve been with surprising accuracy
Using location-unique bacterial samples, an AI tool can pinpoint where you’ve been. DALL-E – By Paul McClure 2024 Nov 10 – We naturally pick up microorganisms as we move about the world. Now, researchers have developed an AI tool that accurately links you to …
Teardrop micro-camper is a 3D-printed space capsule for three people
A teardrop camper quite unlike the average. Vasyl Gonar View 9 Images – By Adam Williams 2024 Nov 07 – We’ve seen 3D printers used for everything from tiny houses to US marine barracks and now we can add teardrop trailer to the list …
Social media use found to have little to no impact on mental health
Spending a long time on social media has little to no effect on mental health. Depositphotos – By Paul McClure 2024 Nov 08 – Using social media platforms for long periods has little to no association with mental health indicators like depression, anxiety and …
‘Yellowstone’ highlights Montana’s long-forgotten connection to the Confederacy
During and after the Civil War, thousands of Confederate soldiers resettled in the Big Sky State. Donovan Reese/Photodisc via Getty Images By Randi Lynn Tanglen, Professor of English and Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, University of North Dakota Published: 2024 Nov 07 – …
Svalbard Global Seed Vault evokes epic imagery and controversy because of the symbolic value of seeds
The entrance to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. Martin Zwick/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group via Getty Images – By Adriana Craciun, Professor of English and Emma MacLachlan Metcalf Chair of Humanities, Boston University Published: 2024 Nov 04 – Two-thirds of the world’s food comes today …
Doctors are preoccupied with threats of criminal charges in states with abortion bans, putting patients’ lives at risk
The study took place in Tennessee, a state that has had a near-total ban on abortions since 2022. Anchiy/E+ via Getty Images – By Sophie Bjork-James, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Vanderbilt University and by Anna-Grace Lilly, Medical Student, University of Toledo and by Isabelle Perry Newman, …
Immunotherapy prevents heart attacks progressing to heart failure
A new immunotherapy could help prevent scar tissue forming after a heart attack, reducing the risk of heart failure. Depositphotos – By Michael Irving 2024 Nov 04 – Scarring of heart tissue can be slowed but not stopped, and can lead to heart failure. …
Nanoplastics can weaken antibiotics and foster resistant bacteria
A handful of antibiotics and plastics, not at all what the doctor ordered, in this rendering. – By Joe Salas 2024 Nov 03 – A recent study has shown that nanoplastics – plastic particles smaller than 0.001 millimeters – affect the body’s ability to …
Tweak to common cell protein gene extends healthy lifespan by 30%
Actin filaments (pink) are affected by aging, but can be switched off via genes Depositphotos – By Paul McClure 2024 Nov 02 – Not only have researchers identified how a common cellular protein affects aging, but they’ve tweaked the genes that produce it in …
Why we kiss: A fascinating new theory that predates human life on Earth
Could kissing stem from primate bonding? A new study makes the case for it. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2024 Nov 01 – Most of us do it, be it romantic, familial, friendly or formal, but kissing among humans and where and how it …
Inflatable tent and zip-in inflatable mattress are made for each other
The AirNEST system is presently on Kickstarter. Rise Outdoor View 5 Images – By Ben Coxworth 2024 Oct 31 – Inflatable tents are easy to set up, and inflatable camp mattresses are nice n’ comfy, so why not combine the two? That’s just what …
Plant-animal hybrid cells make solar-powered tissues, organs or meat
Fluorescent microscope image of the animal cells with embedded chloroplasts (magenta) R. Aoki, Y. Inui, Y. Okabe et al. 2024 / Proceedings of the Japan Academy, Series B – By Michael Irving 2024 Oct 30 – Scientists in Japan have created hybrid plant-animal cells, …
Gallery: Our favorite shots from the 2024 Close Up Photographer of the Year shortlist
Minghui Yuan – Cleaners in the Rainforest. Minghui Yuan / CUPOTY View 19 Images – By Abhimanyu Ghoshal 2024 Oct 29 – It’s that time of the year again. We’ve got our hands on the shortlisted pictures from the 2024 Close-up Photographer of the …
Unique sugar in stingless bee honey good for teeth, weight and blood sugar
The sugar found in stingless bee honey has a raft of health benefits. DianitaKartika/Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0 – By Paul McClure 2024 Oct 27 – Honey from stingless bees contains large amounts of a unique sugar that’s not a major component of any …
Ironclad link between red meat and cancer identified
The ‘how’ behind the link between red meat consumption and cancer has been identified. Depositphotos – By Paul McClure 2024 Oct 24 – Researchers have discovered the mechanism linking the over-consumption of red meat with colorectal cancer, as well as identifying a means of …
Animals that are all black or all white have reputations based on superstition − biases that have real effects
Black is beautiful. Akeem Ranmal/500px via Getty Images – By Elizabeth Carlen, Living Earth Collaborative Postdoctoral Fellow, Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis and by Tyus Williams, Ph.D. Candidate in Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley Published: 2024 …
ADHD and Parkinson’s disease linked to gene-driven brain volume
Weighing in: Brain volume in specific regions may increase the risk of neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2024 Oct 25 – Spanning nearly 100 laboratories in 45 countries, landmark research has, for the first time, shown an association between genetic …
Halloween candy binges can overload your gut microbiome – a gut doctor explains how to minimize spooking your helpful bacteria
It’s probably best to enjoy your Halloween spoils in moderation. Jupiterimages/The Image Bank via Getty Images – By Christopher Damman, Associate Professor of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, University of Washington Published: 2024 Oct 23 – Each October, as the days shorten and the …
Scurvy makes a comeback – and it’s predicted to become more common
A modern-day nutrient deficiency has led to an uptick in scurvy cases. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2024 Oct 22 – A condition that killed millions of sailors between the 16th and 18th centuries has resurfaced, and looks set to become more prevalent in …
Women are at a higher risk of dying from heart disease − in part because doctors don’t take major sex and gender differences into account
Rates of heart disease and cardiac events in women are often underestimated. eternalcreative/iStock via Getty Images – By Amy Huebschmann, Professor of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and by Judith Regensteiner, Professor of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Published: 2024 …
Protective protein discovery paves way for healthier aging
A protein discovery could lead to healthier aging. Depositphotos – By Paul McClure 2024 Oct 21 – New research has revealed that a class of proteins possesses a previously unknown cell-protecting function that could be harnessed for healthier aging and as a treatment for …
The ride of our lives: why the horse is crucial to human history
Family gathering: A herd grazing on the Mongolian Steppe. Photograph: Perou – The Observer – Horses – Interview Mike Power – Humans and horses have been entwined throughout history, one could not have thrived without the other, according to a new book that …
Curving science center takes low-tech approach to keeping cool
Zaha Hadid Architects’ upcoming Alisher Navoi International Scientific Research Center features a curving form inspired by traditional Central Asian and Middle Eastern architecture. ZHA – By Adam Williams 2024 Oct 18 – With its upcoming scientific research center in Uzbekistan, Zaha Hadid Architects has …
Kentucky man declared brain dead wakes up during organ harvesting
Officials in the US’s organ-procurement system insist there are safeguards in place to prevent such episodes. Photograph: Kinga Krzeminska/Getty Images – Case of Anthony Thomas ‘TJ’ Hoover II is under investigation by state and federal government officials – Ramón Antonio Vargas 2024 Oct …
Explosive flower blasts beaks to dislodge rival pollen
A Hypenea macrantha flower catapults its pollen onto a hummingbird’s peak. Bruce Anderson and Vinicius Brito – By Ben Coxworth 2024 Oct 17 – If you were a flowering plant, wouldn’t you want your pollen to be received by a plant of your own …
At-home heart attack detector gives results in minutes, not hours
This tiny chip can diagnose a heart attack in minutes. Will Kirk/Johns Hopkins University – By Paul McClure 2024 Oct 16 – A tiny chip with a unique surface can accurately detect the blood biomarkers of a heart attack within minutes, a fraction of …
Rain may have helped form the first cells, kick-starting life as we know it
How did early cells keep themselves distinct while allowing for some amount of exchange? UChicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering/Peter Allen, Second Bay Studios, CC BY-ND – By Aman Agrawal, Postdoctoral Scholar in Chemical Engineering, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering Published: …
Nanoparticle infusion therapy breaks down plaques in arteries
Infusions of nanoparticles that selectively target certain immune cells show promise in animal tests for clearing out arterial plaques. Depositphotos – By Michael Irving 2024 Oct 14 – Sticky plaques building up on the walls of your blood vessels can lead to heart attacks …
Magnets used to turn specific brain circuits off and on at will
A new gene therapy uses magnetic fields to switch brain circuits on and off. Depositphotos – By Paul McClure 2024 Oct 13 – Researchers have developed a gene therapy technology that uses magnetic fields to switch groups of neurons on and off, controlling brain …
Spanish steppes: an epic hike across the wild plains of Extremadura
The rearing granite bulk of the fortress village of Galisteo appears on the horizon at the end of the author’s walk. Photograph: Hemis/Alamy – Spain holidays The Via de la Plata is one of Spain’s toughest pilgrim routes, weaving through a landscape of …
Accept our king, our god − or else: The senseless ‘requirement’ Spanish colonizers used to justify their bloodshed in the Americas
Part of ‘The Baptism of Ixtlilxóchitl of Texcoco,’ painted by José Vivar y Valderrama in the 18th century. Museo Nacional de Historia via Wikimedia Commons – By Diego Javier Luís, Assistant Professor of History, Johns Hopkins University Published: 2024 Oct 02 – Across the …
As the Taurid meteor shower passes by Earth, pseudoscience rains down – and obscures a potential real threat from space
This image of a Taurid fireball was taken in 2014 by NASA’s All Sky Fireball Network in Tullahoma, Tenn. NASA – By Mark Boslough, Research Associate Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico Published: 2024 Nov 15 – With the Taurid …
‘Hacked’ brain hormone targets gut pain – in totally new class of oral drugs
Abdominal pain affects millions, but there are still limited ways to treat it. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2024 Nov 18 – A peptide hormone produced in the brain that triggers physiological reproductive responses has been ‘hacked’ by scientists to form an effective, safe …
White button mushroom extract shrinks tumors and delays their growth
The humble white button mushroom has anticancer properties. Depositphotos – By Paul McClure 2024 Nov 17 – The unassuming yet popular white button mushroom has cancer-fighting abilities, according to the results of a human clinical trial on the use of food as medicine. Not …
Get chronic UTIs? Future treatments may add more bacteria to your bladder to beat back harmful microbes
Certain strains of E. coli can outcompete disease-causing microbes for resources. NIAID/Flickr, CC BY-SA – By Sarguru Subash, Assistant Professor of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University Published: 2024 Nov 15 – Millions of people in the U.S. and around the world suffer from …
Microscopic photo competition celebrates beauty of the tiny world
Honorable Mention: Crystalline pattern, like the big cotton padded jacket pattern handed down during the Chinese Spring Festival. Ji Yuan View 16 Images – By Michael Irving 2024 Nov 15 – An annual photography competition, celebrating scientific microscopic images, has unveiled this year’s winners. …
AI model identifies overlooked brain tumors in just 10 seconds
Residual tumors can cause a wide range of post-procedure complications, and impact patients’ quality of life. Milad Fakurian / Unsplash – By Abhimanyu Ghoshal 2024 Nov 14 – In another triumph for AI in healthcare, researchers have developed a model that can spot bits …
Primal micro-camper chases 4x4s as a tightly packed survival pod
Built For Extreme lives up to its name with an ultra-rugged, all-steel camping trailer. Built For Extreme. View 21 Images – By C.C. Weiss 2024 Nov 13 – A compact tagalong designed to explode into a fully equipped hunting camp, the new Built For …
Omega-3 and omega-6 supplements reduce risk of 19 types of cancer
Higher levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids were associated with a decreased cancer risk. Depositphotos – By Paul McClure 2024 Nov 09 – New research has linked higher plasma levels of the healthy fats omega-3 and omega-6 to a reduced risk of developing …
$35 lens turns any smartphone into a powerful microscope
This little gadget gives you instant, inexpensive access to the microscopic world. Kickstarter View 14 Images – By Bronwyn Thompson 2024 Nov 11 – Six years on from the first iMicro smartphone microscope, the team has unveiled its latest: the iMicro Q3p, a fingertip-sized, …
Bacterial ‘sat nav’ tracks where you’ve been with surprising accuracy
Using location-unique bacterial samples, an AI tool can pinpoint where you’ve been. DALL-E – By Paul McClure 2024 Nov 10 – We naturally pick up microorganisms as we move about the world. Now, researchers have developed an AI tool that accurately links you to …