A hidden variable in chemical reactions could hold the key to cleaner and more efficient manufacturing. Scientists have identified a hidden factor that can determine whether a chemical reaction succeeds or fails. By controlling tiny changes in acidity near electrodes, researchers dramatically improved the production of valuable chemical ingredients, raising the proportion of the desired […]
NASA’s Artemis I Reveals a Surprising Radiation Mystery Near the Moon
Radiation near the Moon can pass straight through the body, yet preliminary Artemis I measurements suggest a smaller-than-expected increase in exposure compared with low Earth orbit. Beyond Earth’s protective magnetic field, astronauts face a constant bombardment of high-energy particles from deep space. But how much radiation would they actually absorb during a journey around the […]
A Solar Storm Heading Toward Earth Suddenly Changed in Ways Scientists Didn’t Predict
Scientists have uncovered surprising behavior inside a powerful solar eruption that challenges existing models and could change how researchers predict space weather. A massive eruption on the Sun sent a cloud of magnetized plasma racing toward Earth, where it underwent an extraordinary transformation. Over a distance of just 13 million miles, the cloud expanded by […]
Why Do Some People Get Fevers After Vaccines? Scientists May Have Found the Answer
The microbes in your gut may help explain why you develop a fever after a vaccine while someone else feels fine. Two people can receive the same vaccine and have very different experiences. One develops a fever and feels miserable for a day, while the other barely notices anything. Scientists have long sought to understand […]
Scientists Discover a Protective Gene That Could Help Keep the Brain Young
Boosting a protective gene helped aging mice preserve memory, suggesting that strengthening the brain’s own defenses could offer a way to delay cognitive decline in people. Some older adults remain cognitively resilient even when their brains show signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers investigating the biological mechanisms behind this resilience have identified a gene called Pla2g2f […]
A Simple Diet Change Could Transform Kidney Disease Treatment, 10-Year Study Finds
For kidney patients with acid buildup, a decade-long trial suggests fruits and vegetables may offer what a standard treatment did not: fewer hospital visits without higher overall costs. When kidneys lose their ability to function properly, the consequences can extend far beyond waste buildup. People with chronic kidney disease can also develop excess acid in […]
A Bizarre 170-Million-Year-Old Predator Is Rewriting What We Know About Ancient Crocodiles
A Moroccan crocodile relative’s teeth resemble those of prehistoric filter feeders, suggesting that different reptile groups independently evolved similar tools for catching tiny aquatic prey. A crocodile relative that lived around 170 million years ago had a long, narrow snout lined with exceptionally thin, needle-like teeth. No known close relative has teeth quite like them. […]
Medieval Children Were Exposed to Shocking Levels of Lead, 1,000 Years Before the Industrial Revolution
Children in medieval English mining communities faced lead exposure matching or exceeding that in Industrial Revolution cities, with social standing apparently shaping who bore the greatest burden. Between the 16th and 19th centuries, lead producers in the Derbyshire Peak District of central England repeatedly remelted waste left by Roman and medieval workings. Reusing that material […]
Eating 30% Less Food Has an Unexpected Effect on DNA, Study Finds
A study reveals that calorie restriction affects genetic mutations differently across tissues and regions of DNA. Eating fewer calories may do more than slow certain aspects of aging. Scientists have found that mice consuming 30 percent less food accumulated fewer DNA mutations across several tissues, suggesting that diet can influence how genetic damage builds up […]
Tiny Atomic Defects Reveal a Quantum Secret Hidden Inside an Unusual Metal
Atomic-scale defects in an unusual metal may offer a new way to control quantum states. Scientists at Columbia University have discovered that electron waves can become trapped inside a metal, even when pathways remain available for them to escape. The finding, published in Science, provides the first experimental evidence of a long-predicted quantum phenomenon in […]