Giant marine reptiles that dominated prehistoric oceans may have relied on surprisingly different hunting strategies. A giant marine reptile that lived during the age of dinosaurs may have reached speeds of roughly 15 miles per hour with a single powerful sweep of its tail. That estimate, calculated for an exceptionally large Tylosaurus, describes a brief […]
Scientists Say a Simple Blood Test Could Reveal Depression
Scientists have discovered that aging immune cells may hold a hidden blood-based clue to detecting depression. Scientists have discovered that the biological aging of certain white blood cells may provide an important clue to depression, potentially opening the door to a blood test that could help identify the condition. The study found that measuring how […]
Late-Night Snacking Could Be Putting Your Liver at Risk
A study of nearly 200,000 people links late-night eating to up to 30% higher liver disease risk, suggesting that your last meal of the day could matter more than you think. Eating late at night may have consequences beyond weight gain and poor sleep. A major study led by Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) […]
Scientists Discover a Potential Early Warning Sign of Alzheimer’s in Adults As Young as 45
Researchers have identified a potential early warning sign of Alzheimer’s disease in middle-aged adults experiencing subtle concerns about their memory and thinking. Adults as young as 45 who expressed concerns about their memory or thinking had elevated levels of a blood biomarker associated with Alzheimer’s disease, even though brain scans showed no detectable structural changes. […]
75,000-Year-Old Neanderthal Skeleton Reveals a Mysterious Spear Wound Aimed at the Heart
A Neanderthal’s fatal wound points to a possible spear attack aimed at the heart, offering a rare glimpse of prehistoric violence. A small, round hole in a Neanderthal’s shoulder blade suggests a wooden spear pierced the chest about 75,000 years ago. The remains, found in a cave in Iraqi Kurdistan, may preserve the earliest known […]
NASA’s Roman Space Telescope Is Sharper Than Anyone Expected
NASA’s Roman Space Telescope has achieved nearly 30% better optical performance than required, promising stunningly sharp views of the universe and its greatest mysteries. NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is performing even better than scientists anticipated after engineers completed an extensive series of tests and precision adjustments. The work has sharpened the observatory’s focus […]
40 Years of Superconductor Science Just Got Turned Upside Down by a Stunning Discovery
A material that carries electricity without resistance may be held back by its own structure, challenging 40 years of assumptions about copper-based superconductors. A crystal that scientists thought had the same structure throughout is actually a patchwork of two subtly different arrangements of atoms. The boundaries between those regions are hundreds of times wider than […]
Study Uncovers a Surprising New Way Deadly Brain Cancer Spreads
Scientists have uncovered evidence that glioblastoma cells can retain a lasting mechanical memory of their surroundings. Glioblastoma, one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer, spreads by sending tumor cells into surrounding healthy tissue. Along the way, those cells encounter an unusual physical challenge: fluid at the tumor’s invasive edge can be about eight times […]
Scientists May Have Solved a Billion-Year-Old Mystery About DNA’s Evolution
On an early Earth exposed to intense ultraviolet radiation, the evolution of DNA may have depended on an unexpected molecular advantage. Early life on Earth faced intense ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun without the protection of an ozone layer. Yet DNA came to rely on thymine, a chemical building block that is more prone […]
Scientists Discover a Hidden Electrical Signal in the Heart That Could Predict Sudden Death
Researchers have discovered a previously unrecognized electrical signal in the heart that could help predict sudden cardiac death before it strikes. Sudden cardiac death can strike without warning, killing people who appear healthy and have no known history of heart problems. For decades, doctors have struggled to identify who is most vulnerable, even though a […]