Scientists studying wild dogs near the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant have uncovered unusual genetic differences that may reflect natural selection rather than radiation-induced mutations. Dogs living near the Chornobyl (previously called Chernobyl) Nuclear Power Plant carry genetic differences that may reflect natural selection rather than mutations caused by radiation exposure. A new genomic analysis identified […]
A Hidden Nanoscopic Effect Is Disrupting Some of the World’s Most Sensitive Sensors
Nanomechanical resonators are vital to precision sensing and emerging quantum technologies, but their extraordinary sensitivity comes with an unexpected vulnerability. A nanomechanical device can lose much of its ability to sustain vibrations without ever touching another object. Researchers at EPFL have discovered that placing insulating materials just a few hundred nanometers from these tiny structures […]
Researchers Discover a New Way To Control Magnetism Without Changing a Material’s Chemistry
Neutron experiments have uncovered an unexpected connection between magnetic structure and electrical behavior. A gentle squeeze can change the magnetic structure of certain crystals and alter their electrical behavior. Scientists at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) demonstrated this effect in altermagnets, an emerging class of magnetic materials being investigated for advanced […]
Hubble Uncovers a Mysterious 93-Billion-Mile Structure Hiding in a Nearby Star System
New observations of a young star system reveal an unexpected cosmic structure Astronomers have finally detected a mysterious, enormous dust structure in visible light, uncovering new details about what may be the remains of a violent collision between planetary bodies. Known as the “Cat’s Tail,” the feature stretches across as much as 1,000 astronomical units […]
Scientists Reveal How 60% of Medieval Stories May Have Disappeared Forever
New simulations reveal how a medieval story’s earliest years may have determined its survival. The medieval world may have produced far more stories of knights, legendary heroes, and epic adventures than historians will ever recover. A new study suggests that up to 60% of medieval chivalric works and more than 95% of their handwritten copies […]
Earth’s Oceans Were Slowly Suffocating Millions of Years Before a Devastating Mass Extinction
As today’s oceans lose oxygen, Alaskan rocks trace a similar decline that began millions of years before the end-Triassic mass extinction. Dinosaurs survived the end-Triassic mass extinction 201 million years ago, but roughly 60 percent of Earth’s species did not. New evidence from Virginia Tech geologists suggests that the crisis in the oceans began about […]
Scientists Discover a Powerful New Way To Destroy Toxic “Forever Chemicals”
A new water-treatment technology could offer a breakthrough in the fight against forever chemicals. Scientists have developed a new way to destroy toxic “forever chemicals” in water rather than simply filter them out. During a 58-day experiment, the system removed more than 90% of each of six PFAS compounds and stripped away approximately 83% of […]
A Simple Tongue Exercise Could Hold the Key to Fighting the Devastating Effects of ALS
Researchers at the University of Missouri have uncovered a promising way to help surviving nerve cells compensate for damage caused by ALS and other motor neuron diseases. The loss of tongue control in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) can affect far more than speech. It can make swallowing increasingly difficult and interfere with breathing during sleep. […]
Why Are Men Twice As Likely To Develop Parkinson’s? Scientists Discover a Hidden Clue in the Brain
Scientists have identified sex-specific differences in gene activity within brain cells that may help explain why Parkinson’s disease affects men more frequently than women. Men are 1.5 to 2 times more likely than women to develop Parkinson’s disease, yet the biological reasons remain poorly understood. New research suggests that differences in gene activity within the […]
Scientists Discover a New Type of Depression That Common Antidepressants May Miss
For some people with hard-to-treat depression, the body’s internal clock may help explain why standard antidepressants fall short. University of Sydney researchers have identified a proposed subtype called “circadian depression,” marked by disrupted sleep and daily rhythms. It accounted for nearly a quarter of participants in a study of more than 10,000 Australians with severe, […]