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Do photons wear out? An astrophysicist explains light’s ability to travel vast cosmic distances without losing energy
Light, whether from a star or your flashlight, travels at 186,000 miles per second. Artur Debat/Moment via Getty Images – By Jarred Roberts, Project Scientist, University of California, San Diego Published: 2025 May 20 – My telescope, set up for astrophotography in my light-polluted …
Why protecting wildland is crucial to American freedom and identity
The Wet Beaver Wilderness in Coconino National Forest in Arizona is one of many designated wilderness areas in the U.S. Deborah Lee Soltesz – By Leisl Carr Childers, Associate Professor of History, Colorado State University and by Michael Childers, Associate Professor of History, Colorado …
Sound-tracking headphones let you eavesdrop in multiple languages
A closer look at the prototype multi-language, multi-speaker translation headphones. Shyam Gollakota – By Michael Franco 2025 May 17 – As an American who has been living in Portugal and studying the language sporadically for about 18 months, I’m finally at the point where …
H-bomb creator Richard Garwin was a giant in science, technology and policy
President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Richard Garwin at the White House on 2016 Nov 22. AP Photo/Andrew Harnik – By Matthew Bunn, Professor of the Practice of Energy, National Security, and Foreign Policy, Harvard Kennedy School Published: 2025 …
Pope Leo XIV’s link to Haiti is part of a broader American story of race, citizenship and migration
Pope Leo XIV appears before thousands of journalists on 2025 May 12, in Vatican City. Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images – By Chelsea Stieber, Associate Professor of French Studies, Tulane University Published: 2025 May 14 – Early coverage of Pope Leo XIV has …
When doctors dismiss symptoms, patients suffer long-term harm
Invalidating a patient’s symptoms can cause shame, anger, and suicidality. Depositphotos original enhanced using AI – By Paul McClure 2025 May 15 – Doctors who dismiss or trivialize patients’ symptoms can cause long-lasting harm, according to a new study. This “medical gaslighting” can not …
Bizarre fake birds are turning up in one national park
Can this replica attract the real birds? Rangers hope so. M. Nall/NPS Photos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 May 14 – Life-sized papier-mâché birds are popping up in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) this spring, and they’re quite a sight. By this we …
Sour fruit heralded as treatment for gout, insomnia, sore muscles and more
Red hot: The tart cherry is in the spotlight. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 May 11 – A sour, tangy type of cherry that’s previously been thought of as only good for baking has become the surprise breakout hit of the year …
The fascinating feature of waterlogged fingertips we all share
This knowledge will change the way you look at your water-wrinkled fingers. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 May 12 – A question from a curious kid quickly led a team of scientists down a research rabbit hole – one that has now culminated …
Discovery of death-defying molecule could slow Parkinson’s progression
A molecule that blocks cell death could mean treatments for Parkinson’s and other degenerative diseases. Depositphotos – By Paul McClure 2025 May 11 – In a new study, researchers have identified a way to stop cells from dying, opening the door to developing treatments …
Ancient humans used sunscreen to survive a deadly magnetic pole shift
An artistic impression of what the aurora might have looked like 41,000 years ago during the Earth’s polar reversal. Maximilian Schanner, GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany – By Jay Kakade 2025 May 10 – If you ever travel back in time to hang …
PTSD treatment that excites a nerve in your neck wipes symptoms completely
PTSD affects millions of people around the world, including 5% of US adults – and that’s not just military veterans. RDNE Stock project / Pexels – By Abhimanyu Ghoshal 2025 May 09 – A group of Texas-based researchers has developed an effective way to …
Cunning cargo cart packs its own powered lifting and sliding mechanism
The Lift & Slide Cart is presently on Kickstarter. Pairon Tools – By Ben Coxworth 2025 May 07 – Even if you own a lift cart (which most people don’t), transferring loads from it to a truck bed can still be a physically demanding …
Buddha’s foster mother played a key role in the orphaned prince’s life – and is a model for Buddhists on Mother’s Day
Prince Siddhartha with his foster mother Mahaprajapati. A 1910 painting by Maligawage Sarlis. Photo by MediaJet, 2009 via Wikimedia Commons – By Megan Bryson, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, University of Tennessee Published: 2025 May 06 – Mother’s Day offers an opportunity to reflect …
‘Flavodiet’ – a simple way to reduce signs of unhealthy aging
A diet rich in flavonoids promotes healthy aging, a new study has found. DALL-E – By Paul McClure 2025 May 06 – Consuming a diet high in berries, black tea, citrus fruits and apples – foods that are rich in flavonoids – can reduce …
Breakthrough weight-loss pill expected to launch within 12 months
Oral GLP-1 medication is expected to be the next huge milestone in weight-loss drug development. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 May 05 – This time next year, you may be swapping your GLP-1 injections for easier and as-effective oral weight-loss medication. It’s also …
One man, 856 venom hits, and the path to a universal snakebite cure
The king cobra, one of the many snakes to which Tim Friede is immune. Depositphotos – By Michael Franco 2025 May 02 – Over the course of 18 years, a truck mechanic from Wisconsin injected himself with snake venom hundreds of times. His actions …
RFK Jr. said many autistic people will never write a poem − even though there’s a rich history of neurodivergent poets and writers
Scholars today believe Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw was probably on the autism spectrum. Bettmann/Getty Images – By Bradley J. Irish, Associate Professor of English, Arizona State University Published: 2025 Apr 29 – U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy …
One pill, multiple doses: New capsule stages delivery of your meds
The new capsule showing color-coded test medications between barriers designed to dissolve at different rates. David Baillot/UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering – By Michael Franco 2025 May 02 – For some common medical conditions, timing is everything when it comes to taking …
80 years after Benito Mussolini’s death, what can democracies today learn from his fascist rise?
Hitler and Mussolini in Munich, Germany, 1940 Jun 18. Everett Collection/Shutterstock – By Matthew Sharpe, Associate Professor in Philosophy, Australian Catholic University Published: 2025 Apr 25 – This Monday marks 80 years since Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was killed in an Italian village …
Bees, fish and plants show how climate change’s accelerating pace is disrupting nature in 2 key ways
A bee enjoys lunch on a flower in Hillsboro, Ore. HIllsboro Parks & Rec, CC BY-NC-ND – By Courtney McGinnis, Professor of Biology, Medical Sciences and Environmental Sciences, Quinnipiac University Published: 2025 Apr 30 – The problem with climate change isn’t just the temperature …
Common diabetes drug significantly improves osteoarthritic knee pain
A well-known diabetes medication significantly reduced pain caused by knee osteoarthritis. Depositphotos – By Paul McClure 2025 Apr 28 – A mainstay diabetes medication reduced pain and stiffness and improved function in overweight people with knee osteoarthritis, a new study has found. Effective pain …
Pets found to deliver significant health benefits to the lonely
Group activities with a focus on pets foster more meaningful connections. Depositphotos – By Paul McClure 2025 Apr 27 – Two groups that are particularly prone to social isolation – older adults and international students – felt much less lonely when they engaged in …
Junk food makes you dumber in a very specific way
Foods high in sugar and saturated fat linked to surprise brain impairment. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Apr 27 – We all know the many health effects that a diet high in saturated fat and refined sugar has on our bodies. Now, in …
Himalayan fungus compound tweaked for 40x anti-cancer boost
Cordycepin in its natural form. cendeced/Depositphotos – By Nick Lavars 2025 Apr 26 – By using a compound derived from a Himalayan fungus and used for centuries in Chinese medicine as a jumping off point, scientists have developed a new chemotherapy drug with powerful …
Hotter and drier climate in Colorado’s San Luís Valley contributes to kidney disease in agriculture workers, new study shows
Agricultural workers exposed to a hotter and drier climate are at an increased risk of kidney damage. George Rose/via Getty Images – By Katherine Ann James, Associate Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Published: 2025 Apr 25 – …
The best protein source for muscle building might surprise you
Meat or plants for muscles? You might be surprised. Michael B. Vincent – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Apr 24 – Challenging the belief that animal protein is the superior type for building muscle, scientists have shown that there is actually no difference in eating …
Why don’t humans have hair all over their bodies? A biologist explains our lack of fur
Some mammals are super hairy, some are not. Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images – By Maria Chikina, Assistant Professor of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh Published: 2025 Apr 21 Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you …
Best nerve pain treatments identified in up-to-date, global review
New research ranks the effectiveness of treatments for neuropathic pain. Depositphotos – By Paul McClure 2025 Apr 22 – Nerve or neuropathic pain has long been a tricky condition to treat effectively. However, a new study has comprehensively evaluated current drug and non-drug therapies …
Fecal transplants for autism deliver success in clinical trials
A two-year study on fecal transplants for autism has found they can reduce symptoms by as much as 45 percent. Arizona State University – By Rich Haridy, Nick Lavars 2025 Apr 21 – Scientific research continues to uncover interesting connections between the gut microbiome and …
Stuck on the weight-loss plateau? Scientists have good news for you
New research shows that a plateau is a pit stop en route to further weight loss. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Apr 20 – If you’re among the half of US adults who have tried to lose weight in the last 12 months, …
North America is sinking down into the Earth’s mantle
Something’s going on beneath the surface of North America. NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio The Blue Marble Next Generation data is courtesy of Reto Stockli (NASA/GSFC) and NASA’s Earth Observatory – By Jay Kakade 2025 Apr 19 – A study published in …
95% of flu and herpes infection neutralized by chewing gum
A stick of gum may actually help the medicine go down. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Apr 16 – Looking beyond jabs, sprays or tablets, scientists are thinking outside the box for delivering antiviral medication to prevent the spread of highly transmissible bugs. …
International students infuse tens of millions of dollars into local economies across the US. What happens if they stay home?
Students at Stanford University, where at least six international students have had their visas revoked in recent days. Ben Margot/AP Photo – By Barnet Sherman, Professor, Multinational Finance and Trade, Boston University Published: 2025 Apr 17 – The Trump administration has recently revoked the …
A fear of falling increases the risk of it happening by up to 60%
Concern about falling can increase the risk of it happening. Depositphotos image extended by generative AI – By Paul McClure 2025 Apr 12 – According to a new study, an older person who is concerned about having a fall is at a significantly higher …
Laser cooling breakthrough could make data centers much greener
A Sandia materials scientist, Sadhvikas Addamane, gazes into a viewport of a molecular beam epitaxy reactor, which will be used to build photonic cooling plates. Craig Fritz / Sandia National Laboratories View 4 Images – By Abhimanyu Ghoshal 2025 Apr 13 – Lasers are …
Combination of two cheap drugs could save lives after heart attack, study finds
For those who survive a heart attack, the risk of another one is highest in the first year. Photograph: DecaStock/Alamy – Medical research Giving patients statins and ezetimibe after a heart attack can reduce risk of second attack or stroke, say scientists – …
Americans die earlier at all wealth levels, even if wealth buys more years of life in the US than in Europe
Wealth can buy health – but only to a point. marekuliasz/iStock via Getty Images Plus – By Sara Machado, Research Scientist in Health Economics, Brown University and by Irene N. Papanicolas, Professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice, Brown University Published: 2025 Apr 09 …
Perú’s ancient irrigation systems succeeded in turning deserts into farms because of the culture − without it, the systems failed
A pre-Hispanic canal funnels water from mountains to farm fields. Ari Caramanica – By Ari Caramanica, Assistant Professor of Archaeology, Vanderbilt University Published: 2025 Apr 08 – Seeing the north coast of Perú for the first time, you would be hard-pressed to believe it’s …
AI isn’t what we should be worried about – it’s the humans controlling it
In William Gibson’s ‘Neuromancer,’ the AI seeks sanctuary from humanity’s corrupting influence. Alessandra Benedetti/Corbis via Getty Images – By Billy J. Stratton, Professor of English and Literary Arts, University of Denver Published: 2025 Apr 07 – In 2014, Stephen Hawking voiced grave warnings …
Do photons wear out? An astrophysicist explains light’s ability to travel vast cosmic distances without losing energy
Light, whether from a star or your flashlight, travels at 186,000 miles per second. Artur Debat/Moment via Getty Images – By Jarred Roberts, Project Scientist, University of California, San Diego Published: 2025 May 20 – My telescope, set up for astrophotography in my light-polluted …
Why protecting wildland is crucial to American freedom and identity
The Wet Beaver Wilderness in Coconino National Forest in Arizona is one of many designated wilderness areas in the U.S. Deborah Lee Soltesz – By Leisl Carr Childers, Associate Professor of History, Colorado State University and by Michael Childers, Associate Professor of History, Colorado …
Sound-tracking headphones let you eavesdrop in multiple languages
A closer look at the prototype multi-language, multi-speaker translation headphones. Shyam Gollakota – By Michael Franco 2025 May 17 – As an American who has been living in Portugal and studying the language sporadically for about 18 months, I’m finally at the point where …
H-bomb creator Richard Garwin was a giant in science, technology and policy
President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Richard Garwin at the White House on 2016 Nov 22. AP Photo/Andrew Harnik – By Matthew Bunn, Professor of the Practice of Energy, National Security, and Foreign Policy, Harvard Kennedy School Published: 2025 …
Pope Leo XIV’s link to Haiti is part of a broader American story of race, citizenship and migration
Pope Leo XIV appears before thousands of journalists on 2025 May 12, in Vatican City. Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images – By Chelsea Stieber, Associate Professor of French Studies, Tulane University Published: 2025 May 14 – Early coverage of Pope Leo XIV has …
When doctors dismiss symptoms, patients suffer long-term harm
Invalidating a patient’s symptoms can cause shame, anger, and suicidality. Depositphotos original enhanced using AI – By Paul McClure 2025 May 15 – Doctors who dismiss or trivialize patients’ symptoms can cause long-lasting harm, according to a new study. This “medical gaslighting” can not …
Bizarre fake birds are turning up in one national park
Can this replica attract the real birds? Rangers hope so. M. Nall/NPS Photos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 May 14 – Life-sized papier-mâché birds are popping up in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) this spring, and they’re quite a sight. By this we …
Sour fruit heralded as treatment for gout, insomnia, sore muscles and more
Red hot: The tart cherry is in the spotlight. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 May 11 – A sour, tangy type of cherry that’s previously been thought of as only good for baking has become the surprise breakout hit of the year …
The fascinating feature of waterlogged fingertips we all share
This knowledge will change the way you look at your water-wrinkled fingers. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 May 12 – A question from a curious kid quickly led a team of scientists down a research rabbit hole – one that has now culminated …
Discovery of death-defying molecule could slow Parkinson’s progression
A molecule that blocks cell death could mean treatments for Parkinson’s and other degenerative diseases. Depositphotos – By Paul McClure 2025 May 11 – In a new study, researchers have identified a way to stop cells from dying, opening the door to developing treatments …