Ancient tooth proteins raise the possibility that Homo naledi, an extinct human relative, reserved a burial site for females, hinting at complex customs once thought unique to modern humans. For more than a decade, researchers have wondered why the adult fossils in South Africa’s Dinaledi Chamber look so much alike. The remains of Homo naledi, […]
Common Chemicals Trigger Alarming Changes in Human Breast Tissue Models
Chemicals that disrupt hormones may leave a molecular “scar” that could someday help identify people at higher risk of breast cancer, research in human breast tissue models suggests. People are typically exposed to several chemicals at once, including endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can interfere with the body’s hormones. Scientists have increasingly questioned whether these exposures contribute […]
A Deadly Virus Has Been Hiding in Brazil for 142 Years – and Scientists Just Uncovered a Hidden Danger
Scientists have uncovered new clues about the evolution of a rare, deadly Brazilian virus that has circulated largely undetected for more than a century. A rare and deadly virus went undetected in Brazil after genetic changes allowed it to escape existing laboratory tests. Scientists investigating two fatal infections have now identified the mutations responsible, developed […]
MIT Scientists Reprogram Immune Cells Inside the Body To Destroy Cancer
Natural killer cells reprogrammed inside mice eliminated lymphoma tumors and helped damaged livers heal, though whether this approach could help people with cancer or autoimmune disease remains unknown. To make a cancer treatment from a patient’s T cells, doctors first collect a blood sample and send it to a laboratory. There, these immune cells are […]
Scientists Discover Ancient Human DNA Hidden in Cave Walls for Thousands of Years
Ancient DNA from cave walls offers clues to prehistoric visitors’ sex and ancestry, potentially allowing scientists to investigate who used these spaces without disturbing archaeological deposits. A cave wall can hold traces of prehistoric visitors even when it has no paintings or other visible signs of human activity. Scientists have recovered ancient human DNA from […]
Scientists Discover a Hidden Oxygen Source Deep Inside Earth That Could Rewrite Our Planet’s History
Ancient eruptions may have helped shape the air we breathe, with laboratory experiments revealing magma’s unexpected ability to store extra oxygen. Molten rock deep inside Earth can take up an extra supply of oxygen under pressure, according to a new study. That finding raises the possibility that rising magma could release oxygen on its way […]
What if Dark Energy Was Once Negative? Scientists Uncover a Surprising New Possibility
A gravity model that lets dark energy change sign could help resolve a persistent disagreement over how fast the universe is expanding. In an existing theory of gravity, the same present-day matter density can fit two very different histories of the universe. Researchers had largely pursued the one that kept dark energy’s density positive. Exploring […]
Scientists Turn Major Crude Oil Problem Into an Unexpected Energy Breakthrough
A simple membrane uses crude oil’s own deposits to separate lighter components at room temperature, with simulations suggesting nearly one-third less energy use when paired with distillation. Refineries heat crude oil above 350°C (662°F) to separate a mixture that supplies transportation fuels and raw materials for plastics, packaging, textiles, and other consumer products. This century-old […]
Ancient Skeletons Reveal a Secret Hidden in Medieval Sicily for 1,000 Years
Ancient DNA reveals medieval Sicily as a genetic melting pot, where people buried in Christian and Muslim cemeteries shared roots in North Africa, Europe, and the Mediterranean. Sicily changed rulers repeatedly between the 5th and 15th centuries CE, passing through the hands of the Roman and Byzantine Empires, Islamic dynasties, and the Normans and Swabians. […]
Scientists Discover a $10 Flood Protection Trick That Works Better Than Sandbags
Stacking heavy sandbags against a doorway is a familiar response to flooding, but laboratory tests suggest sealing the gaps with ordinary duct tape could keep more water out. Could a cheap roll of duct tape help protect your home from flooding? New research suggests it could make a surprisingly big difference. In controlled tests, correctly […]