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What does the appendix do? Biologists explain the complicated evolution of this inconvenient organ
Most people get acquainted with their appendix when it’s inflamed and about to rupture. Sebastian Kaulitzki/Science Photo Library via Getty Images – By Phil Starks, Associate Professor of Biology, Tufts University And By Lilia Goncharova, Master’s Candidate in Biology, Tufts University Published: 2026 …
Wild scenes from the 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Lorea Hausheer (Switzerland) – Shortlist, Open Competition in Motion. Lorea Hausheer/Sony World Photography Awards 2026 – View 14 Images – By Bronwyn Thompson 2026 Mar 10 – The Sony World Photography Awards, put together by the World Photography Organisation, are now in their …
Welcome to the ‘gray zone’ − home to nefarious international acts that fall short of outright conflict
Nefarious acts in all shades … as long as they are gray. Jackyenjoyphotography/Getty Images – By Andrew Latham, Professor of Political Science, Macalester College Published: 2026 Mar 03 – Hostile acts don’t always arrive with a clear signature. Nefarious actors shape elections without leaving …
Watch: World’s first robot movie found after more than a century
Gugusse et l’Automate is thought to be the very first movie to feature a robot. Library of Congress – By David Szondy 2026 Mar 08 – A piece of techno-cinematic history has emerged as the US Library of Congress releases the restored video of …
How Instagram addictiveness lawsuit could reshape social media – platform design meets product liability
Is the social media platform she’s using, rather than the content she’s viewing, a threat to her well-being? Fiordaliso/Moment via Getty Images – By Carolina Rossini, Professor of Practice and Director for Program, Public Interest Technology Initiative, UMass Amherst Published: 2026 Mar 06 – …
Prefabricated retreat pops up in Inner Mongolia’s volcanic landscape
The Volcano-In Hotel of Arrivals is scattered across the Baiyinkulun Steppe supplied by PLAT ASIA – View 19 Images – By Bridget Borgobello 2026 Mar 06 – PLAT ASIA has completed a 1,634-square-meter (17,588-sq-ft) hotel in the Baiyinkulun Steppe of Inner Mongolia, China. Dubbed …
Trauma patients recover faster when medical teams know each other well, new study finds
When someone is badly hurt, their potential for survival often depends on what happens in the first minutes after they arrive at the hospital. SDI Productions/E+ Collection/via Getty Images – By Linda Argote, Thomas Lord Professor of Organizational Behavior and Theory; Director, Center of …
GLP‑1 drugs may fight addiction across every major substance, according to a study of 600,000 people
With GLP-1 drugs becoming more accessible and affordable, they could also be within reach for substance use treatment. Michael Siluk/Universal Images Group via Getty Images – By Ziyad Al-Aly, Clinical Epidemiologist, Washington University in St. Louis Published: 2026 Mar 04 – A patient of …
Ingenious invention turns wheelchair users into Steadicam operators
Besides offering employment opportunities to wheelchair users, the Caerus Steadicam provides features not offered by conventional Steadicam rigs. Diverse Made Media – View 5 Images – By Shirl Leigh 2026 Mar 02 – If Caerus, the son of Zeus and the Greek god of …
What are HeLa cells? A cancer biologist explains
Cancer-causing viruses like HPV can cause cells to divide indefinitely and, in the case of Henrietta Lacks, become immortal. Tom Deerinck/NIH via Flickr, CC BY-NC – By Ivan Martínez, Associate Professor of Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, West Virginia University Published: 2022 Mar …
Bonkers omnidirectional electric ‘bike’ balances on a single ball wheel
James Bruton halved his ball bike’s wheels and doubled his problems. James Bruton/YouTube – View 4 Images – By Omar Kardoudi 2026 Mar 01 – British inventor and YouTuber James Bruton has a habit of solving problems nobody asked him to solve – and …
The apocrypha, Christianity’s ‘hidden’ texts, may not be in the Bible – but they have shaped tradition for centuries
Not all versions of the Bible contain the same texts. oneclearvision/iStock via Getty Images Plus – – By Christy Cobb, Associate Professor of Christianity, University of Denver Published: 2026 Feb 26 – Of Jesus’ 12 disciples, Saint Peter is one of the most important. …
There aren’t enough geriatricians – here’s how older adults can still get the right care
Geriatricians are trained to look beyond individual illnesses that older adults may face, and instead to look at the bigger picture of aging. MoMo Productions/DigitalVision via Getty Images – By Jerry Gurwitz, Professor of Geriatrics, UMass Chan Medical School Published: 2026 Feb 27 – …
La Jefa: the wife of slain drug kingpin El Mencho and the women at the heart of the cartels
Women often play a central role in the business activities of organized crime. Krakenimages.com/Shutterstock – By Adriana Marín, Lecturer in International Relations, Coventry University Published: 2026 Feb 26 – The death of Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, the leader of the Cártel Jalisco Nueva …
1 protein to rule them all – why crowning the protein that makes jellyfish glow green as a model can help scientists streamline biology
Green fluorescent protein has an iconic structure. National Institute of General Medical Sciences/National Institutes of Health via Flickr, CC BY-NC – By Marc Zimmer, Professor of Chemistry, Connecticut College Published: 2026 Feb 24 – Fruit flies, mice, zebra fish, yeast and the tiny …
Why does pain last longer for women? Immune cells may be the culprit
Why some people recover more quickly from pain may come down to hormone levels. andreswd/E+ via Getty Images – By Geoffroy Laumet, Associate Profesor of Physiology and Neuroscience, Michigan State University Published: 2026 Feb 24 – Pain is something most people experience after …
Remarkable reusable liquid stores solar energy like bottled sunlight
Sunlight is a great source of energy during the day, but there are challenges once the Sun goes down. European Space Agency/C.C. 3.0 – By Etiido Uko 2026 Feb 23 – Ever since Benjamin Franklin’s lightning experiment in the 18th century, civilization has been …
Dream control makes the leap from science fiction to science fact
In addition to providing nightly flights of fancy, dreams might actually be put to good use in helping us solve problems, says a new study. ChatGPT – By Michael Franco 2026 Feb 22 – Researchers have shown they can achieve some control over what …
An asteroid impact could wipe out an entire city – a space security expert explains NASA’s plans to prevent a potential catastrophe
A giant asteroid struck Earth and wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. Mark Garlick/Science Photo Library via Getty Images – By Svetla Ben-Itzhak, Assistant Professor of Space and International Relations, West Space Seminar, Air War College, Air University Published: 2022 Mar 01 …
How bird poo fueled the rise of Perú’s powerful Chincha Kingdom
Islands off the coast of Perú are home to millions of seabirds. Their droppings were an important fertilizer for Indigenous people in the Andes. Jo Osborn – By Jo Osborn, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Texas A&M University By Emily Milton. Peter Buck Postdoctoral Fellow, …
Andrew’s arrest: will anything like this now happen in the US? Why hasn’t it so far?
Photo of Jeffrey Epstein – EPA/CRISTOBAL HERRERA-ULASHKEVICH – By Emma Shortis, Adjunct Senior Fellow, School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University Published: 2026 Feb 19 – The stunning arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor by UK police on suspicion of misconduct in public …
Your gut microbes can be anti-aging – scientists are uncovering how to keep your microbiome youthful
A diet high in fiber can diversify your gut microbiome – and potentially improve your health and longevity. Mint Images/Mint Images RF via Getty Images – By Bill Sullivan, Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University Published: 2026 Feb 18 – People have …
Coffee crops are dying from a fungus with species-jumping genes – researchers are ‘resurrecting’ their genomes to understand how and why
Coffee farming is critical to the economies of several African countries. Wang Guansen/Xinhua via Getty Images – By Lily Peck, Postdoctoral Scholar in Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles Published: 2026 Feb 17 – For anyone who relies on coffee to start their …
Humans in space: Are astronauts obsolete?
Astronaut Ed White. NASA View 21 Images – By David Szondy 2026 Feb 15 – The Artemis II mission, which will return US astronauts to lunar space, has run into problems that have critics demanding NASA remove the crew from the flight for safety …
Caffeine links both coffee and tea to lower dementia risk
Drinking a few cups of coffee and tea each day is not only enjoyable, but it may also shield you against dementia. Depositphotos – By Michael Franco 2026 Feb 15 – After an analysis of health data from over 131,000 people tracked for up …
Oral bacteria may signal metabolic health and even contribute to obesity
A newly discovered link between oral bacteria and obesity is suggesting the mouth could be a novel biomarker for those pre-disposed to gaining weight. Depositphotos – By Chelsea Haney 2026 Feb 14 – It turns out your mouth may know more about your metabolism …
OpenAI has deleted the word ‘safely’ from its mission – and its new structure is a test for whether AI serves society or shareholders
AI poses new safety risks to humanity. sarayut Thaneera/Moment via Getty Images – By Alnoor Ebrahim, Professor of International Business, The Fletcher School & Tisch College of Civic Life, Tufts University Published: 2026 Feb 13 – OpenAI, the maker of the most popular …
Medicare is experimenting with having AI review claims – a cost-saving measure that could risk denying needed care
A new pilot brings some automated treatment decisions from Medicare Advantage to traditional Medicare. Doomu/iStock via Getty Images – By Grace Mackleby, Research scientist of Health Policy and Economics, University of Southern California And by Jeff Marr, Assistant Professor of Health Services, Policy, and …
Green or not, US energy future depends on Native nations
Leaders of Native nations and representatives of the United States have signed many treaties over the centuries, including the 1851 Treaty of Traverse des Sioux. ullstein bild via Getty Images – By Charles Prior, Professor in History, University of Birmingham Published: 2026 Feb …
Sugar molecules used to destroy antibiotic-resistant bacteria
Richard Payne from the University of Sydney is the senior author on a study that might lead to the development of an entirely new class of drugs to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Stefanie Zingsheim/The University of Sydney – By Michael Franco 2026 Feb 10 – …
8,000-year-old pottery suggests math predates writing
The pottery fragments are some of the earliest botanical depictions ever recorded and also point to prehistoric mathematical cognition. Photos courtesy of Yosef Garfinkel View 5 Images – By Jay Kakade 2026 Feb 07 – We generally associate the origins of mathematical thinking with …
Common eye bacteria linked to dementia and Alzheimer’s
Bacteria and infection appear to impact the onset of cognitive decline, but we’re not sure how. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2026 Feb 08 – Scientists have uncovered an intriguing link between infection and brain health, finding that a common bacterium in the eye …
800 years after his death, the legends and legacy of Francis of Assisi endure
A fresco shows St. Francis speaking to the birds in the Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi, Italy. Photo Beto/iStock Getty Images Plus – By Vanessa Corcoran, Adjunct Professor of History, Georgetown University Published: 2026 Feb 02 – On the 800th anniversary of the …
US experiencing largest measles outbreak since 2000 – 5 essential reads on the risks, what to do and what’s coming next
The vast majority of people who get measles are not vaccinated against the measles virus. Andrzej Rostek/istock via Getty Images Plus – By Alla Katsnelson, Associate Health Editor, The Conversation US Published: 2026 Feb 06 – The measles outbreak in South Carolina reached …
A single inflammatory switch may help repair the liver
The discovery paves the way for new medicines to treat cirrhosis. Depositphotos –By Pranjal Malewar 2026 Jan 11 – Chronic liver disease gets worse when the liver’s immune system stays overactive, resulting in ongoing inflammation and scarring. Signals from the gut make the situation …
What if multiple sclerosis isn’t just one disease?
The findings indicate MS could have two distinct degenerative pathways, one fast and the other slow. And this knowledge could help better inform patients and doctors. Depositphotos – By Chelsea Haney 2026 Feb 04 – For decades, multiple sclerosis (MS) has been defined primarily …
FDA approves first dual-action eye drop for age-related vision loss
Yuvezzi breaks new ground in restoring sight without glasses. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2026 Feb 03 – The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a landmark eye drop that uses a combined dose of medication to restore age-related near-sightedness, without the need …
Is the whole universe just a simulation?
Could the Earth and everything on it – and even the whole universe – be a simulation running on a giant computer? OsakaWayne Studios/Moment via Getty Images – By Zeb Rocklin, Associate Professor of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology Published: 2026 Feb 02 …
New ultrasound pad aims to make prenatal visits less unpleasant
Sonograms could get a lot more comfortable thanks to solid gel pads made by researchers in Japan. Professor Hajime Monzen from Kindai University, Japan – By Michael Franco 2026 Jan 31 – If you’ve ever had a sonogram you know that, even though the …
US exit from the World Health Organization marks a new era in global health policy – here’s what the US, and world, will lose
The U.S.-WHO collaboration has been critical in the country’s response to mpox, shown here, as well as Ebola, Marburg, flu and COVID-19. Uma Shankar sharma/Moment via Getty Images – By Jordan Miller, Teaching Professor of Public Health, Arizona State University Published: 2026 Jan …
What does the appendix do? Biologists explain the complicated evolution of this inconvenient organ
Most people get acquainted with their appendix when it’s inflamed and about to rupture. Sebastian Kaulitzki/Science Photo Library via Getty Images – By Phil Starks, Associate Professor of Biology, Tufts University And By Lilia Goncharova, Master’s Candidate in Biology, Tufts University Published: 2026 …
Wild scenes from the 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
Lorea Hausheer (Switzerland) – Shortlist, Open Competition in Motion. Lorea Hausheer/Sony World Photography Awards 2026 – View 14 Images – By Bronwyn Thompson 2026 Mar 10 – The Sony World Photography Awards, put together by the World Photography Organisation, are now in their …
Welcome to the ‘gray zone’ − home to nefarious international acts that fall short of outright conflict
Nefarious acts in all shades … as long as they are gray. Jackyenjoyphotography/Getty Images – By Andrew Latham, Professor of Political Science, Macalester College Published: 2026 Mar 03 – Hostile acts don’t always arrive with a clear signature. Nefarious actors shape elections without leaving …
Watch: World’s first robot movie found after more than a century
Gugusse et l’Automate is thought to be the very first movie to feature a robot. Library of Congress – By David Szondy 2026 Mar 08 – A piece of techno-cinematic history has emerged as the US Library of Congress releases the restored video of …
How Instagram addictiveness lawsuit could reshape social media – platform design meets product liability
Is the social media platform she’s using, rather than the content she’s viewing, a threat to her well-being? Fiordaliso/Moment via Getty Images – By Carolina Rossini, Professor of Practice and Director for Program, Public Interest Technology Initiative, UMass Amherst Published: 2026 Mar 06 – …
Prefabricated retreat pops up in Inner Mongolia’s volcanic landscape
The Volcano-In Hotel of Arrivals is scattered across the Baiyinkulun Steppe supplied by PLAT ASIA – View 19 Images – By Bridget Borgobello 2026 Mar 06 – PLAT ASIA has completed a 1,634-square-meter (17,588-sq-ft) hotel in the Baiyinkulun Steppe of Inner Mongolia, China. Dubbed …
Trauma patients recover faster when medical teams know each other well, new study finds
When someone is badly hurt, their potential for survival often depends on what happens in the first minutes after they arrive at the hospital. SDI Productions/E+ Collection/via Getty Images – By Linda Argote, Thomas Lord Professor of Organizational Behavior and Theory; Director, Center of …
GLP‑1 drugs may fight addiction across every major substance, according to a study of 600,000 people
With GLP-1 drugs becoming more accessible and affordable, they could also be within reach for substance use treatment. Michael Siluk/Universal Images Group via Getty Images – By Ziyad Al-Aly, Clinical Epidemiologist, Washington University in St. Louis Published: 2026 Mar 04 – A patient of …
Ingenious invention turns wheelchair users into Steadicam operators
Besides offering employment opportunities to wheelchair users, the Caerus Steadicam provides features not offered by conventional Steadicam rigs. Diverse Made Media – View 5 Images – By Shirl Leigh 2026 Mar 02 – If Caerus, the son of Zeus and the Greek god of …
What are HeLa cells? A cancer biologist explains
Cancer-causing viruses like HPV can cause cells to divide indefinitely and, in the case of Henrietta Lacks, become immortal. Tom Deerinck/NIH via Flickr, CC BY-NC – By Ivan Martínez, Associate Professor of Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, West Virginia University Published: 2022 Mar …