Science & Technology

Trying to understand people we disagree with can feel like a lost cause, particularly in contentious political environments. But new research finds that valuing empathy across party lines can make our political arguments more persuasive.

A team of researchers was able to use a combination of genomic sequencing and song analysis to identify a rare hybrid bird, whose ancestors haven’t shared the same breeding location or lineage for 10 million years.

Researchers have developed a customizable, RNA-based platform to target cells rather than genes. CellREADR enables scientists to add any protein to a designated cell type. Initial evidence demonstrates the new technology works for brain tissue in roden…

A new screening test app could help advance the early detection of Parkinson’s disease and severe COVID-19, improving the management of these illnesses. Developed by a research team of engineers and neurologists, the test can produce accurate results u…

A new study of a tiny Triassic fossil reptile first discovered over 100 years ago in the north east of Scotland has revealed it to be a close relative of the species that would become pterosaurs — iconic flying reptiles of the age of the dinosaurs.

A team uses nanomaterials made from seaweed to create a strong battery separator, paving the way for greener and more efficient energy storage.

In a recent study, researchers predict disruptions in the immune system that can lead to long-term or severe COVID-19.

In the brain of adult mammals neural stem cells ensure that new nerve cells, i.e. neurons, are constantly formed. This process, known as adult neurogenesis, helps mice maintain their sense of smell. A research team recently discovered a second stem cel…

Older people exposed to food flavors from their youth were able to ‘time travel’ back to the past with an enhanced memory of the event. For food memory, the researchers worked with the participants to create bespoke flavor-based cues for each one. The …

Procyanidins are a class of polyphenols (plant metabolites) that are abundantly found in nature. The B-type procyanidins are one of the most commonly consumed catechin oligomers in the human diet. Previous studies have shown both the long-term and sing…

Researchers have reported that nitrate accumulated in soil bordering streams plays an important role in the increase of nitrate levels in stream water when it rains. Their findings may help reduce nitrogen pollution and improve water quality in downstr…

A new study may have solved a mystery surrounding Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel illness where immune defenses, meant to attack invading microbes, instead mistakenly target the body’s own digestive tract. Norovirus, a common infection that caus…

Scientists have shown that in one in every 4,000 births, some of the genetic code from our mitochondria — the ‘batteries’ that power our cells — inserts itself into our DNA, revealing a surprising new insight into how humans evolve. Researchers show …

Astronomers have discovered a stellar binary, or pair of stars, with an extremely short orbit, appearing to circle each other every 51 minutes. The system seems to be one of a rare class of binaries known as a ‘cataclysmic variable,’ in which a star si…

Engineers have created shape-memory materials made of ceramic rather than of traditional metal. The development opens a new range of applications, especially for actuators in high-temperature settings.

Particle radioactivity, a characteristic of air pollution that reflects the colorless, odorless gas radon found in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution, increased the risk of death from cardiovascular disease, especially from heart attack or s…

By documenting hundreds of new nectar plants for painted ladies, scientists have renewed hope these charismatic butterflies may prove resilient to climate change.

High-quality parenting practices in adolescence lay the foundation for close parent-child relationships when the children become young adults, according to new research.

Chemists have developed a fuel cell sensor that they hope to develop into a handheld analyzer to detect THC on a person’s breath. When THC is introduced into their laboratory-scale device it oxidizes, creating an electric current whose strength indicat…

New research shows that paths to success in scientific disciplines are not equal.