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Why AI resembles a charismatic religious leader
Many Americans are turning to AI for spiritual guidance. Andrey Suslov/iStock via Getty Images Plus – By Morgan Shipley, Foglio Endowed Chair of Spirituality, Michigan State University Published: 2026 Sep 21 – People are turning to artificial intelligence for a seemingly unending variety …
The brain may not be a single organ after all
What looks like a single organ could be two made one. (u_if8o5n0ioo/pixabay/Canva) – By Mike McRae 2026 Sep 21 – While one part of your brain processes these words, another part is keeping you alive, regulating your heartbeat, maintaining your breathing, and hopefully ensuring …
Rare placenta-crossing infections triple risk of autism in children
Infections that can cross the placenta can affect a child’s neurological development. (janulla/Getty Images/Canva) – By Mike McRae September 24, 2026 – Suspicions of a link between extremely rare congenital infections and the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been supported by a …
Using your phone while pregnant may not be as safe as we thought
Extensive use of a cell phone while pregnant may not be risk-free. AtnoYdur/Getty Images/Canva) – By Mike McRae 2026 Sep 23 – Decades of studies on the health impacts of cell phones have consistently found little cause for concern for most of us. Yet …
Learning another language may be one of the best ways to keep your brain healthy as you age
Age changes the way languages are learned, but adults remain capable of learning new languages throughout life. DrAfter123/DigitalVision Vectors via Getty Images – By Karen Stollznow, Senior Research Fellow of Linguistics, University of Colorado Boulder; Griffith University; University of New England Published: 2026 …
G. Lucas’ $1B spaceship museum hides 714 geothermal wells underneath
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art’s extraordinary design has taken over a decade to realize. Hufton + Crow, courtesy of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art – View 18 Images – By Adam Williams 2026 Sep 07 – Following over a decade of development, …
Y chromosome loss could be the first sign of cancer
Losing your Y chromosome could put you at risk of serious health problems (BlackJack3D/Getty Images Signature/Canva) – By Mike McRae 2026 Sep 20 – As far as our genetic library goes, the Y chromosome seems like a mere pamphlet. Just ask any cell with …
Cheap smartphone add-on pinpoints hidden cameras to shut down spies
The SweepLED prototype, which incorporates about $7 worth of components. KAIST – By Maryna Holovnova 2026 Sep 19 – With technology advancing by the day, protecting our privacy is getting harder. Hidden cameras are one of the biggest public concerns. There have been far …
Why the US is betting millions on this Aussie antiviral nasal spray
The spray is designed to block colds, influenza, RSV and coronaviruses from their typical entry point. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2026 Sep 14 – A convenient nasal spray is a serious contender for treating a bunch of respiratory viral infections, including the common …
The way you sleep has ties to 80 different diseases
Your sleep architecture could be putting you at risk of multiple diseases. (Rido/Canva) – By Mike McRae 2026 Sep 17 – Thomas Edison famously regarded sleep as a waste of good work hours, electing to snooze a mere three or four hours every night. …
Shingles can cause severe chronic pain – new research on how exosomes alter neurons offers pathways to treatment
Varicella zoster virus, also known as human herpesvirus 3, causes chickenpox and shingles. BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images – By Andrew Bubak, Associate Professor of Neurology, University of Colorado Anschutz Published: 2026 Sep 14 – Shingles can cause pain that is notoriously …
Dengue‑carrying mosquitoes expand their reach into new territories – including Florida
The Aedis aegypti mosquito spreads dengue from person to person. Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images – By Andrés Henao, Professor of Medicine and Infectious Disease, University of Colorado Anschutz Published: 2026 Sep 15 – The Tampa Bay Times reported the death of an elderly woman …
The temperature of your tea or coffee is linked to cancer
The temperature of your tea could affect your risk of cancer. (SUKANYA PHANPHOKA/Getty Images/Canva) – By Mike McRae 2026 Sep 13 – If I can give those of you who start their day by throwing back a freshly made cup of tea or coffee …
‘Living sand’ aims to bring crops to infertile desert wastelands
A microscope image shows how biopolymer fibers hold grains of the water-retaining “living sand” together. Khalifa University – By Maryna Holovnova 2026 Sep 13 – Agriculture in the United Arab Emirates is associated with a lot of challenges. Most of the country is desert, …
Autism linked to early exposure to a common plastic additive
Phthalates are added to PVC materials to make them more flexible. (MiguelMalo/Getty Images Signature/Canva) – By Mike McRae 2026 Sep 11 – Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is commonly added to plastics to make them more flexible. It may also affect genes that play a critical …
Inflammation is 2026’s biggest wellness trend. Here’s what actually works
Inflammation is a massive problem – but so are some of the year’s biggest hype supplements that claim to combat it. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2026 Sep 07 – From Korean cosmetic sperm injections to experimental peptides, the wellness industry has become one of …
Learning without a brain – how bacteria store memories and remember the past like artificial neural networks
E. coli uses memories of the past to inform its present behavior. – By Shiladitya Banerjee, Associate Professor of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology Published: 2026 Sep 10 – Learning is often thought to If an organism uses information from past experiences to shape its …
Space weather can cause both beautiful auroras and infrastructure challenges – 5 essential reads on protecting life and technology
The Sun can send out eruptions of energetic particles – Published: 2026 Sep 09 – Most days, you can look up and see the Sun shining above. Even if it’s hidden behind clouds, you know it’s there, lighting up the sky. But while …
Our planet has a time problem – and it may be about to get weirder
Time could soon be moving quicker than you realize. Depositphotos – By Mike McRae Sep 2026 06 – Every second counts in a high-paced, high-tech world. Except when it shouldn’t. The 28th General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) in Versailles in October is expected …
Serious human illness transmitted by ticks has been identified
Scientists discover an entirely new tickborne virus. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2026 Sep 06 – Scientists have uncovered a new pathogen transmitted to humans from ticks, reminding us that one of the biggest threats to our health is zoonotic disease. Researchers from Beijing’s State …
Pyrograzing turns ordinary livestock into fire prevention heroes, so why isn’t it used on public lands more often?
San Manuel, Calif., Assistant Fire Chief Ralph Tovar holds a young goat whose herd just spent a day eating brush and grass to reduce wildfire risk. Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images – By Briana Swette, Social-Ecological Systems Scientist, Boise State University And by Kelly Hopping, …
Origins of Alzheimer’s protein challenges assumptions on disease
Tau proteins (red) in nerve cells have a surprising origin. (Science Photo Library/Canva) – By Mike McRae 2026 Sep 03 – A protein thought to play a critical role in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease may not originate where scientists thought, according to a …
Scientists use fungi to produce programmable ‘living textiles’
Lookin’ fungky – a dress that the researchers made from the fungal fabric. SIAT View 4 Images – By Maryna Holovnova 2026 Sep 03 – Fast fashion drastically changed the world by making clothes cheaper and more affordable than ever, but it came with …
In Colorado and elsewhere, sexual assault peaks on campuses at the beginning of the school year – here’s what students should know
Students starting college or university are often excited – but experts advise understanding risks and recognizing danger when necessary. Klaus Vedfelt/DigitalVision via Getty Images – By Kaitlyn M. Sims, Assistant Professor of Public Policy, University of Denver; Institute for Humane Studies Published: 2026 Sep …
Our use of fire has strange ties to how we can talk
Telling tales by a fire could have helped us evolve speech in the first place. (Valerii Stoika/Canva) – By Mike McRae 2026 Sep 02 – Come, sit. Let me tell you a story. Listen closely now. – For hundreds of thousands of years, our …
Many space missions are searching for life beyond Earth – but are we prepared for the fallout if they succeed?
Several space missions are searching for extraterrestrial life, which could come in the form of microbes. ClaudioVentrella/iStock via Getty Images Plus – By Margaret E. Kosal, Associate Professor of International Affairs, Georgia Institute of Technology And by Dayana Alagirova, Ph.D. Student in the Sam …
Particles from a joint replacement can enter your brain, study finds
Wear from joint replacements can send metal particles through the body. (Science Photo Library/Canva) – By Mike McRae 2026 Aug 31 – New findings by a team of researchers from the US and Australia have complicated an ongoing debate over whether a total joint …
Alzheimer’s hope: Nanoparticles regenerate cells to restore memory
Astrocytes can change into new brain cells using new nanoparticle technology. (ktsimage/Getty Images/Canva) – By Mike McRae 2026 Aug 30 – A single injection of a nanoparticle treatment engineered to encourage the generation of new brain cells was enough to reverse cognitive decline in …
‘Male’ and ‘female’ plugs and connectors – gendered language for the ends of garden hoses, electrical cords and pipe fittings sparks debate
Male and female or plug and socket? artpartner-images/The Image Bank via Getty Images – By Jo Mackiewicz, Professor of Rhetoric and Professional Communication, Iowa State University And by Jordan Smith, Assistant Professor of English, University of Northern Colorado Published: 2026 Aug 25 – …
Yeast that makes food from plastic could solve two problems with one cookie
This cookie is made using waste plant materials and plastic and could feed humans everywhere, from submarines to spaceships. SIU Carbondale Communications – By Mike McRae 2026 Aug 28 – A protein-rich cookie made from plastic and agricultural waste could help solve two serious …
‘Mad honey’ that can stop your heart is now being sold online worldwide
Honey hunters in Nepal scale incredible heights to harvest the honey of the Himalayan cliff bee. Skanda Gautam/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images – By Prayan Pokharel, Research scientist, University of Hohenheim Published: 2026 Aug 27 – A few months ago, a friend of …
Men cope with loneliness in a strikingly different way to women
Loneliness increases men’s risk of drinking. (Andrew Patrick Photo/Pexels/Canva) – By Mike McRae 2026 Aug 27 – It’s Friday night. The weekend is here. Yet once again, nobody has called to ask you out. You have no plans. It’s just you, Netflix, and a …
Broccoli for women, beans for men? Study reveals sex split over healthy diets
Does your choice of vegetable depend on your sex? (Antonio_Díaz/Getty Images/Canva) – By Paul McClure 2026 Aug 23 – A new study has found that eating more legumes was associated with better cardiometabolic health in young men, while cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and …
Purple is the new white for ‘cool’ summer fashion
The MOF (ZIF-67) pigment in all of its purple glory. (Yang et al., Small, 2026) – By Mike McRae 2026 Aug 24 – As the kind of person who wears black in the height of an Aussie summer, I’m not one to give fashion …
FDA approves first Alzheimer’s blood test for Americans as young as 40
New biomarker test is based on technology developed by scientists at WashU Medicine. WashU Medicine – By Bronwyn Thompson 2026 Aug 23 – In a move that could help drastically slow the advancement of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) …
Plastic-free vegan leather sees production-scale breakthrough
The scientists were able to produce mycelium sheets about 20 cm (8 in) wide and 8 meters (26 ft) long. Adapted from ACS Applied Bio Materials 2026, DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.6c00471 – By Maryna Holovnova 2026 Aug 22 – Scientists have been searching for ethical, high-quality …
Paving paradise: Dismantling the Roadless Rule threatens to disrupt wildlife, water and peace in the last quiet places in America
A sign on a dirt hiking trail in the Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaska points to naturalist John Muir’s cabin. Wanderluster/iStock/Getty Images – By Mariah Meek, Associate Professor of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University And by Travis Belote, Assistant Professor of Landscape Ecology, …
A ‘living GLP-1 drug’ could revolutionize diabetes treatment
The engineered E. coli responds to elevated glucose levels by releasing GLP-1. (Science Photo Library/Canva) – By Mike McRae 2026 Aug 19 – Bacteria engineered to sense and reduce glucose levels could be the future of type 2 diabetes treatments, following pre-clinical trials on …
Landmark study upends how we think the brain responds to psychedelics
Order from psychedelic chaos depends on the setting. (agsandrew/Getty Images) – By Mike McRae 2026 Aug 19 – Psychedelics are inherently chaotic drugs, dissolving the boundary between self and surrounds by sowing discord in the brain. – Many describe the results as profoundly life-changing. …
Gruesome ingredient has kept these 2,000-year-old rock artworks alive
An image of pregnant women seen among the Huashan rock art. Wen et al., J. Archaeol. Sci, 2026 – By Mike McRae 2026 Aug 17 – An extensive gallery of ancient rock art paintings in Southern China has long intrigued archaeologists by somehow surviving …
Why AI resembles a charismatic religious leader
Many Americans are turning to AI for spiritual guidance. Andrey Suslov/iStock via Getty Images Plus – By Morgan Shipley, Foglio Endowed Chair of Spirituality, Michigan State University Published: 2026 Sep 21 – People are turning to artificial intelligence for a seemingly unending variety …
The brain may not be a single organ after all
What looks like a single organ could be two made one. (u_if8o5n0ioo/pixabay/Canva) – By Mike McRae 2026 Sep 21 – While one part of your brain processes these words, another part is keeping you alive, regulating your heartbeat, maintaining your breathing, and hopefully ensuring …
Rare placenta-crossing infections triple risk of autism in children
Infections that can cross the placenta can affect a child’s neurological development. (janulla/Getty Images/Canva) – By Mike McRae September 24, 2026 – Suspicions of a link between extremely rare congenital infections and the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been supported by a …
Using your phone while pregnant may not be as safe as we thought
Extensive use of a cell phone while pregnant may not be risk-free. AtnoYdur/Getty Images/Canva) – By Mike McRae 2026 Sep 23 – Decades of studies on the health impacts of cell phones have consistently found little cause for concern for most of us. Yet …
Learning another language may be one of the best ways to keep your brain healthy as you age
Age changes the way languages are learned, but adults remain capable of learning new languages throughout life. DrAfter123/DigitalVision Vectors via Getty Images – By Karen Stollznow, Senior Research Fellow of Linguistics, University of Colorado Boulder; Griffith University; University of New England Published: 2026 …
G. Lucas’ $1B spaceship museum hides 714 geothermal wells underneath
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art’s extraordinary design has taken over a decade to realize. Hufton + Crow, courtesy of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art – View 18 Images – By Adam Williams 2026 Sep 07 – Following over a decade of development, …
Y chromosome loss could be the first sign of cancer
Losing your Y chromosome could put you at risk of serious health problems (BlackJack3D/Getty Images Signature/Canva) – By Mike McRae 2026 Sep 20 – As far as our genetic library goes, the Y chromosome seems like a mere pamphlet. Just ask any cell with …
Cheap smartphone add-on pinpoints hidden cameras to shut down spies
The SweepLED prototype, which incorporates about $7 worth of components. KAIST – By Maryna Holovnova 2026 Sep 19 – With technology advancing by the day, protecting our privacy is getting harder. Hidden cameras are one of the biggest public concerns. There have been far …
Why the US is betting millions on this Aussie antiviral nasal spray
The spray is designed to block colds, influenza, RSV and coronaviruses from their typical entry point. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2026 Sep 14 – A convenient nasal spray is a serious contender for treating a bunch of respiratory viral infections, including the common …
The way you sleep has ties to 80 different diseases
Your sleep architecture could be putting you at risk of multiple diseases. (Rido/Canva) – By Mike McRae 2026 Sep 17 – Thomas Edison famously regarded sleep as a waste of good work hours, electing to snooze a mere three or four hours every night. …