Will the vegetables of the future be fortified using tiny needles?

Researchers have shown they can inexpensively nanomanufacture silk microneedles to precisely fortify crops, monitor plant health, and detect soil toxins.

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Move more, think sharper

A brisk walk, a splash of water aerobics, or even a light jog around the block -- if your heart rate goes up then so too will your brain health according to new research.

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Giant croclike carnivore fossils found in the Caribbean

Imagine a crocodile built like a greyhound -- that's a sebecid. Standing tall, with some species reaching 20 feet in length, they dominated South American landscapes after the extinction of dinosaurs until about 11 million years ago. Or at least, that's what paleontologists thought. A new study shows the Caribbean Islands were a refuge for the last sebecid populations at least 5 million years after they went extinct everywhere else.

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A vast molecular cloud, long invisible, is discovered near solar system

Astrophysicists have discovered a potentially star-forming cloud that is one of the largest single structures in the sky and among the closest to the sun and Earth ever to be detected. The scientists have named the molecular hydrogen cloud 'Eos,' after the Greek goddess of mythology who is the personification of dawn.

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Breakthrough extends fuel cell lifespan beyond 200,000 hours, paving the way for clean long-haul trucking

Researchers have developed a new catalyst design capable of pushing the projected fuel cell catalyst lifespans to 200,000 hours. The research marks a significant step toward the widespread adoption of fuel cell technology in heavy-duty vehicles, such as long-haul tractor trailers. While platinum-alloy catalysts have historically delivered superior chemical reactions, the alloying elements leach out over time, diminishing catalytic performance. The degradation is further accelerated by the demanding voltage cycles required to power heavy-duty vehicles. To address this challenge, the team has engineered a durable catalyst architecture with a novel design that shields platinum from the degradation typically observed in alloy systems.

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New research shatters long-held beliefs about asteroid Vesta

For decades, scientists believed Vesta, one of the largest objects in our solar system's asteroid belt, wasn't just an asteroid and eventually concluded it was more like a planet with a crust, mantle and core. Now, new research flips this notion on its head. Astronomers reveals Vesta doesn't have a core. These findings startled researchers who, until that point, assumed Vesta was a protoplanet that never grew to a full planet.

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Evolution of pugs and Persians converges on cuteness

Through intensive breeding, humans have pushed breeds such as pug dogs and Persian cats to evolve with very similar skulls and 'smushed' faces, so they're more similar to each other than they are to other dogs or cats.

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Billion-year-old impact in Scotland sparks questions about life on land

New research has revealed that a massive meteorite struck northwestern Scotland about 200 million years later than previously thought, in a discovery that not only rewrites Scotland's geological history but alters our understanding of the evolution of non-marine life on Earth.

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How bacteria in our aging guts can elevate risk of leukemia and perhaps more

Scientists have discovered a surprising new connection between gut health and blood cancer risk one that could transform how we think about aging, inflammation, and the early stages of leukemia.

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Big brains and big ranges might not save birds from climate change

Some species that breed over large geographic areas can still be adapted to a fairly narrow range of climates, making them more vulnerable to climate change than previously thought. Also, species with larger brains (relative to their body size) tend to be adapted to narrower climate niches, which suggests they too could also be more vulnerable than once thought.

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In Down syndrome mice, 40Hz light and sound improve cognition, neurogenesis, connectivity

A new study provides new evidence that sensory stimulation of a gamma-frequency brain rhythm may promote broad-based restorative neurological health response.

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Blocking a surprising master regulator of immunity eradicates liver tumors in mice

'Cold' tumors are resistant to common immunotherapies. Researchers have uncovered a master regulator that can be manipulated to prevent tumor growth in mice.

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Female bonobos keep males in check -- not with strength, but with solidarity

Female bonobos team up to suppress male aggression against them -- the first evidence of animals deploying this strategy. In 85% of observed coalitions, females collectively targeted males, forcing them into submission and shaping the group's dominance hierarchy. This is the first study to test drivers of female dominance in wild bonobos. The study examined 30 years of demographic and behavioral data across six wild bonobo communities. The study suggests that power isn't solely determined by physical strength. It can be driven by social intelligence and coalition-building by females.

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The oldest ant ever discovered found fossilized in Brazil

A 113-million-year-old hell ant that once lived in northeastern Brazil is now the oldest ant specimen known to science, finds a new report. The hell ant, which was preserved in limestone, is a member of Haidomyrmecinae -- an extinct subfamily that only lived during the Cretaceous period. These ants had highly specialized, scythe-like jaws that they likely used to pin or impale prey.

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Bacteria killing material creates superbug busting paint

A bacteria killing coating created by scientists has been used in trials of a new paint that can be applied to a range of surfaces to effectively kill bacteria and viruses, including difficult to kill species such as MRSA, flu and COVID-19.

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Study shows addressing working memory can help students with math difficulty improve word problem-solving skills

Working memory is like a mental chalkboard we use to store temporary information while executing other tasks. Scientists worked with more than 200 elementary students to test their working memory, assess its role in word-problem solving and if interventions could boost it and thereby improve their word problem solving skills. Results showed that improving working memory helped both students with and without math difficulties and can help educators more effectively by helping teach the science of math, study authors argue.

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Father's mental health can impact children for years

Five-year-olds exposed to paternal depression are more likely to have behavioral issues in grade school, researchers find.

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Unlocking the genetic basis of adaptive evolution: study reveals complex chromosomal rearrangements in a stick insect

Scientists report adaptive divergence in cryptic color pattern is underlain by two distinct, complex chromosomal rearrangements, where millions of bases of DNA were flipped backwards and moved from one part of a chromosome to another, independently in populations of stick insects on different mountains.

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Generative AI's diagnostic capabilities comparable to non-specialist doctors

A research team conducted a meta-analysis of the diagnostic capabilities of generative AI in the field of medicine using 83 research papers.

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Curiosity rover finds large carbon deposits on Mars

Research from NASA's Curiosity rover has found evidence of a carbon cycle on ancient Mars.

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A new record for California's highest tree

A professor's casual hike in the High Sierra turned into a new elevation record for California's highest tree, the Jeffrey pine, which wasn't formerly known to grow at extreme elevations.

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Groundbreaking study uncovers how our brain learns

How do we learn new things? Neurobiologists using cutting-edge visualization techniques have revealed how changes across our synapses and neurons unfold. The findings depict how information is processed in our brain's circuitry, offering insights for neurological disorders and brain-like AI systems.

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A wearable smart insole can track how you walk, run and stand

A new smart insole system that monitors how people walk in real time could help users improve posture and provide early warnings for conditions from plantar fasciitis to Parkinson's disease.

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First confirmed footage of a colossal squid -- and it's a baby!

An international team of scientists and crew on board Schmidt Ocean Institute's research vessel Falkor (too) was the first to film the colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) in its natural environment. The 30-centimeter juvenile squid (nearly one foot long) was captured on video at a depth of 600 meters (1968 feet) by the Institute's remotely operated vehicle (ROV) SuBastian. The sighting occurred on March 9 on an expedition near the South Sandwich Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean. This year is the 100-year anniversary of the identification and formal naming of the colossal squid, a member of the glass squid family (Cranchiidae).

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Popular diabetes medications, including GLP-1 drugs, may protect against Alzheimer's disease

Drugs like Ozempic, other blood sugar-reducing medications, may stave off dementia.

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Missing nitrogen: A dramatic game of cosmic hide-and-seek deep within our planet

Earth's rocky layers are mysteriously low in nitrogen compared with carbon and argon. A scientific team explored our planet's molten youth using advanced quantum mechanical simulations, revealing nitrogen's secret: under extreme pressure, it chose to hide in the iron core 100 times more than the mantle. This solved why Earth's volatile ratios involving nitrogen look odd. The findings suggest the necessary ingredients for developing a habitable world may have been settled in the early Earth.

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Molten Martian core could explain red planet's magnetic quirks

First ever supercomputer simulations of Mars with a fully molten core could explain the Red Planet's unusual magnetic field. Billions of years ago, Mars had an active magnetic field. Mysteriously, its imprint is strongest in the southern hemisphere. Researchers found that Mars could have produced a one-sided magnetic field with a fully molten core, rather than the traditional, Earth-like solid inner core setup.

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Studying how seals adapt to extreme environments could lead to benefits in human reproductive health

Wild animals that have acquired adaptions to maximize their reproductive output in some of the world's most extreme conditions may provide answers to some of the most pressing problems in the field of human reproductive health. A new journal article examines how the study of seals in particular can benefit human health, and synthesizes various research on the topic. Several aspects in the life history of seals that could provide significant insight into their reproductive physiology -- as well as that of humans -- include female seals' ability to undergo lengthy fasting and lose about 30% of their body weight while nursing a pup. Seals also have an exceptional ability to hold their breath for up to two hours in some species for long dives. Additionally, seals have the ability to 'pause' pregnancy, through a process known as embryonic diapause, so they can give birth during benign environmental conditions. In seeking ways to improve human health, we should be looking to the extraordinary feats of wild animals. They have often found the most innovative solutions.

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Mysterious atmosphere of 'Rosetta Stone' exoplanet

A new study modeled the chemistry of TOI-270 d, an exoplanet between Earth and Neptune in size, finding evidence that it could be a giant rocky planet shrouded in a thick, hot atmosphere. TOI-270 d is only 73 light years from Earth and could serve as a 'Rosetta Stone' for understanding an entire class of new planets.

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Scientists may have solved a puzzling space rock mystery

Researchers may have answered one of space science's long-running questions -- and it could change our understanding of how life began. Carbon-rich asteroids are abundant in space yet make up less than 5 per cent of meteorites found on Earth.

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Sophisticated pyrotechnology in the Ice Age: This is how humans made fire tens of thousands of years ago

Whether for cooking, heating, as a light source or for making tools -- it is assumed that fire was essential for the survival of people in the Ice Age. However, it is puzzling that hardly any well-preserved evidence of fireplaces from the coldest period of the Ice Age in Europe has been found so far. A group of scientists has now been able to shed some light on the mystery of Ice Age fire. Their analysis of three hearths at a prehistoric site in Ukraine shows that people of the last Ice Age built different types of hearths and used mainly wood, but possibly also bones and fat, to fuel their fires.

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Footprints of tail-clubbed armored dinosaurs found for the first time

Footprints of armored dinosaurs with tail clubs have been identified, following discoveries made in the Canadian Rockies. The 100-million-year-old fossilized footprints were found at sites at both Tumbler Ridge, BC, and northwestern Alberta.

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Light that spirals like a nautilus shell

Pushing the limits of structured light, applied physicists report a new type of optical vortex beam that not only twists as it travels but also changes in different parts at different rates to create unique patterns. The way the light behaves resembles spiral shapes common in nature.

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Illuminating the twist: Light-driven inversion of supramolecular chirality

In a striking demonstration of molecular control, a team of scientists has harnessed light to reverse the twist in self-assembling molecules. The study identifies how trace residual aggregates in photo-responsive azobenzene solutions can reverse helical chirality through secondary nucleation. By using precise control of ultraviolet and visible light, the researchers could switch between the rotation of helices, offering a breakthrough for novel materials with tunable properties.

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Genes in bacterial genomes are arranged in a meaningful order

Bioinformaticians have established that the genes in bacterial genomes are arranged in a meaningful order. They describe that the genes are arranged by function: If they become increasingly important at faster growth, they are located near the origin of DNA replication. Accordingly, their position influences how their activity changes with the growth rate.

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Carb restriction offers relief from calorie counting

The intermittent fasting diet, which involves periods of severe calorie restriction, may be on the way out, as research is suggesting that rather than drastically reducing calories, people can achieve similar metabolic benefits by cutting back on carbs.

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Potable water happy byproduct of low-cost green hydrogen technology

Engineers have hit the trifecta of sustainability technology: A group has developed a low-cost method to produce carbon-free 'green' hydrogen via solar-powered electrolysis of seawater. A happy byproduct of the process? Potable water.

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Mapping mercury contamination in penguins of the Southern Ocean

In 1962, when environmentalist and author Rachel Carson penned 'Silent Spring,' alerting the world to the dangers of the pesticide DDT, it was the reproductive threat to birds -- the bald eagle in particular -- that spurred people to action. Six decades later, researchers are taking the measure of another global environmental pollutant by drawing parallels to the crisis Carson identified. This time, the pollutant is mercury, and the sentinels are penguins living in the farthest reaches of the Antarctic Peninsula.

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Novel drug delivery platform paves way to potential new treatments for Alzheimer's, other brain-related disorders

Researchers have discovered a way to get anti-inflammatory medicine across the blood-brain barrier, opening the door to potential new therapies for a range of conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and cancer cachexia.

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A unique sound alleviates motion sickness

A research group has discovered that using a device that stimulates the inner ear with a specific wavelength of sound reduces motion sickness. Even a single minute of stimulation with a unique sound, called 'sound spice ,' reduced the staggering and discomfort felt by people that were asked to read a document in a moving vehicle. Their findings suggest a simple and effective way to alleviate this common disorder.

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Ancient fossil sheds big light on evolution mystery: Solving a 100-year arthropod mystery

Researchers formally describe Helmetia expansa, offering new insights into its anatomy, behavior and evolutionary relationships.

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Sink or Swim: The fate of sinking tectonic plates depends on their ancient tectonic histories

New findings provide a greater understanding of plate subduction, or how tectonic plates slide beneath one another. This recycling of surface materials and volatile elements deep into the Earth's interior, can impact long-term climate stability, atmospheric balance, and the habitability of our planet over billions of years.

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Hopping gives this tiny robot a leg up

A hopping, insect-sized robot can jump over gaps or obstacles, traverse rough, slippery, or slanted surfaces, and perform aerial acrobatic maneuvers, while using a fraction of the energy required for flying microbots.

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Treatment for mitochondrial diseases within reach

A medical breakthrough could result in the first treatment for rare but serious diseases in which genetic defects disrupt cellular energy production. Researchers have identified a molecule that helps more mitochondria function properly.

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ALS drug effectively treats Alzheimer's disease in new animal study

Experimental drug NU-9 -- a small molecule compound approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for clinical trials for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) -- improves neuron health in animal models of Alzheimer's disease, according to a new study.

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Chatbot opens computational chemistry to nonexperts

A web platform uses a chatbot to enable any chemist -- including undergraduate chemistry majors -- to configure and execute complex quantum mechanical simulations through chatting.

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Saturn's moon Titan could harbor life, but only a tiny amount, study finds

Despite its uniquely rich inventory of organic molecules, Saturn's largest moon, Titan, may be able to support only a minuscule amount of biomass, if life exists on the moon, according to a study using bioenergetic modeling.

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The lush past of the world's largest desert

The vast desert of the Arabian Peninsula was not always an arid landscape. A recent study reveals that this region was once home to a vast lake and river system. These favorable conditions fostered grasslands and savannahs, enabling human migration -- until drought returned, forcing populations to move. This research highlights the impact of climate cycles on landscapes and human societies.

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The new season of The Last of Us has a spore-ting chance at realism

The Last of Us is back on April 13 and this season is more realistic than ever. The trailer for the hit HBO series appears to show the 'zombie fungus' cordyceps infecting humans by releasing air-borne spores, instead of through tentacles -- closer to scientific reality. And it's not the only thing the show gets right.

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What if we find nothing in our search for life beyond Earth?

What if we spend decades building advanced telescopes to search for life on other planets and come up emptyhanded? A recent study exploring what we can learn about life in the universe -- even if we don't detect signs of life or habitability. Using advanced statistical modeling, the research team sought to explore how many exoplanets scientists should observe and understand before declaring that life beyond Earth is either common or rare.

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Nurture more important than nature for robotic hand

How does a robotic arm or a prosthetic hand learn a complex task like grasping and rotating a ball? Researchers address the classic 'nature versus nurture' question. The research demonstrates that the sequence of learning, also known as the 'curriculum,' is critical for learning to occur. In fact, the researchers note that if the curriculum takes place in a particular sequence, a simulated robotic hand can learn to manipulate with incomplete or even absent tactile sensation.

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Exception to laws of thermodynamics

A team of researchers led by a physics graduate student recently made the surprising discovery of what they call a 'shape-recovering liquid,' which defies some long-held expectations derived from the laws of thermodynamics. The research details a mixture of oil, water and magnetized particles that, when shaken, always quickly separates into what looks like the classically curvaceous lines of a Grecian urn.

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Exposure to wildfire smoke linked with worsening mental health conditions

Exposure to fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) from wildfire smoke was associated with increased visits to emergency departments (ED) for mental health conditions, according to a new study.

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Touchlessly moving cells: Biotech automation and an acoustically levitating diamond

Engineers have created new technology that can move cells without touching them, enabling critical tasks that currently require large pieces of lab equipment to be carried out on a benchtop device.

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Sound frequencies of stars sing of our galaxy's past and future

Researchers interrogated the 'sounds' of a cluster of stars within the Milky Way, uncovering a new technique for astrophysicists to probe the universe and learn more about its evolution.

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Genes may influence our enjoyment of music

Does our ability to enjoy music have a biological basis? A genetic twin study shows that music enjoyment is partly heritable. Scientists uncovered genetic factors that influence the degree of music enjoyment, which were partly distinct from genes influencing general enjoyment of rewarding experiences or musical ability.

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Asteroid impact threat estimates improved for the Earth and the Moon

An international team is currently closely tracking the near-Earth asteroid 2024 YR4. The impact probability estimates for the year 2032 has been reduced from a peak of 3 percent to below 0.001 percent.

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How calcium may have unlocked the origins of life's molecular asymmetry

Scientists have uncovered a surprising role for calcium in shaping the building blocks of life. Their study reveals that calcium ions help determine the molecular 'handedness' (chirality) of tartaric acid polymers -- an essential feature of biological molecules like DNA and proteins. This discovery sheds light on how life's uniform molecular structures may have first emerged on early Earth. In a twist on traditional theories, the researchers suggest that simple polyesters, in addition to peptides or nucleic acids, could have adopted this crucial trait on early Earth, offering a fresh perspective on life's chemical origins.

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First ancient genomes from the Green Sahara deciphered

An international team has sequenced the first ancient genomes from the so-called Green Sahara, a period when the largest desert in the world temporarily turned into a humid savanna-like environment. By analyzing the DNA of two 7,000-year-old naturally mummified individuals excavated in the Takarkori rock shelter in southwestern Libya, the team showed that they belonged to a long-isolated and now extinct North African human lineage.

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Mammals were adapting from life in the trees to living on the ground before dinosaur-killing asteroid

More mammals were living on the ground several million years before the mass extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs, new research has revealed.

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Mpox could become a serious global threat, scientists warn

Mpox has the potential to become a significant global health threat if taken too lightly, according to scientists.

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