A dinosaur fossil unearthed in England more than two decades ago has now been identified as an entirely new genus and species. A dinosaur discovered in an English clay quarry 25 years ago has finally been recognized as an entirely new genus and species. Named Paludohadros proudlovii, the plant-eating dinosaur lived about 125 million years […]
Something Strange Is Happening to Barn Owls: They’re Changing Color
DNA from more than 3,000 barn owls reveals natural selection at work, but the advantage behind their changing feathers may involve coping with stress rather than color itself. Swiss barn owls have become more reddish-brown and more heavily spotted over the past 30 years. By tracking the DNA variants linked to their plumage, researchers have […]
Why Are Octopuses So Smart? The Answer May Lie in How Their DNA Folds
The extraordinary intelligence of octopuses, squid, and cuttlefish may be linked to more than just their genes. Octopuses can solve problems, squid can rapidly change their appearance, and cuttlefish display remarkably sophisticated behaviors. These abilities rely on unusually complex nervous systems, but how such biological complexity evolved remains an open question. A new study suggests […]
Nearly 20 Years Later, Physicists Finally Detect a Long-Predicted Effect in Graphene
A nearly 20-year-old scientific prediction has gained experimental support, revealing how graphene’s atomic structure could unlock new possibilities for advanced sensors and electronic devices. A wrinkle in graphene just a few atoms wide can dramatically alter how electricity behaves in the material. Scientists have now measured this effect in exceptionally sharp folds, providing experimental evidence […]
No Batteries, No Plugs: Scientists Create a Tiny Sensor That Powers Itself
Scientists have developed a tiny temperature sensor that harvests energy from magnetic fields near electrical wiring. Electrical wiring produces weak electromagnetic fields that typically go unnoticed, but researchers have found a way to turn some of that energy into a power source for tiny electronic devices. Scientists at the University of Arkansas (U of A) […]
Experts Spent Decades Searching for the Secret to Happiness. Here’s What They Found
After decades of studying happiness, some of the world’s leading researchers have changed how they live. Some of the world’s leading happiness researchers have changed how they live because of what they have discovered. After decades of studying well-being, several have made a conscious effort to spend more time with family and friends, reflecting one […]
Scientists Discover a Hidden Weakness in Cancer Cells That Could Transform Treatment
A new study reveals a previously overlooked weakness in certain cancer cells that could help researchers refine targeted treatments and reduce harmful side effects. Cancer cells that have lost one safeguard against DNA damage can become dependent on another, an enzyme called Wee1. Drugs that block Wee1 aim to exploit that weakness, but serious side […]
Obesity Could Disable a Key Defense Against Breast Cancer, Study Finds
A hopeful new direction in the fight against breast cancer may lie in the body’s own defenses, as mouse experiments suggest that protection weakened by obesity could be restored. Breast cancer develops in tissue surrounded by fat cells, and those cells may play a greater role in controlling tumor growth than previously understood. Researchers have […]
Ultra-Processed Foods May Be Changing How Children’s Brains Respond to Food
A yearlong study of 46 children suggests that brain responses to tempting food images may partly explain the link between ultra-processed diets and increasing body fat. Ultra-processed foods account for about 67% of the daily calories consumed by children in the United States. Although these products have been linked to weight gain and other health […]
Hubble Finds a Stunning Twist in How the Universe Emerged From Darkness
Hubble observations of nearby starburst galaxies challenge the idea that supernova winds helped reionize the early universe, suggesting young stars may have enabled radiation to escape before those winds formed. Powerful winds from exploding stars were thought to clear paths for ultraviolet radiation to escape early galaxies. A new study of nearby galaxies suggests those […]