It’s worth the money to pay for a weight loss program
For people trying to improve their health and lose weight by themselves — privately tracking and journaling meals and exercise — new research suggests it is time to call in the professionals.
Science & Technology
Crime-scene technique identifies asteroid sites
Analyzing the charred remains of plants can confirm the locations of asteroid strikes in the distant past, new research shows.
Protein that could prevent chemical warfare attack created
A novel protein design could lead to a new generation of defensive biosensors and treatments against weapons of mass destruction.
Neural networks predict forces in jammed granular solids
Granular matter is all around us. Examples include sand, rice, nuts, coffee and even snow. These materials are made of solid particles that are large enough not to experience thermal fluctuations. Instead, their state is determined by mechanical influe…
New photodetector design inspired by plant photosynthesis
Researchers have developed a new type of high-efficiency photodetector inspired by the photosynthetic complexes plants use to turn sunlight into energy. Photodetectors are used in cameras, optical communication systems and many other applications to tu…
New granular hydrogel bioink could expand possibilities for tissue bioprinting
Every day in the United States, 17 people die waiting for an organ transplant, and every nine minutes, another person is added to the transplant waiting list, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration. One potential solution to alle…
Better metal oxides to boost the green credentials of many energy applications
Researchers have solved a key hurdle in greener manufacturing, carbon capture, energy storage and gas purification — using metal oxides.
A sustainable battery with a biodegradable electrolyte made from crab shells
Accelerating demand for renewable energy and electric vehicles is sparking a high demand for the batteries that store generated energy and power engines. But the batteries behind these sustainability solutions aren’t always sustainable themselves. Scie…
Ferns finally get a genome, revealing a history of DNA hoarding and kleptomania
Two new articles are rewriting history with the first full-length genomes for homosporous ferns, a large group that contains 99% of all modern fern diversity.
Simple blood test predicts neurotoxic complications of CAR-T cell therapy
A new study suggests a simple blood test — administered before CAR-T cell treatment is initiated — may identify which patients are predisposed to developing neurotoxic side effects in the days and weeks after CAR-T cell therapy.
SU(N) matter is about 3 billion times colder than deep space
Physicists have opened an unexplored realm of quantum magnetism by creating the universe’s coldest fermions — atoms about 3 billion times colder than interstellar space. The team published a groundbreaking quantum simulation of a complex ‘SU(N) Hubbar…
Will Paris succeed? Research assesses if governments will make pledges a reality
Much of the world’s efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change hinge on the success of the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement. A new study is the first to provide scientific evidence assessing how effective governments will be at implementing their c…
To wipe childhood cancer off the map, scientists must chart its genomic landscape
Scientists have created a roadmap of the genetic mutations present in the most common childhood cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The study supplies a comprehensive view of the genomics of all subtypes of ALL.
Technological advances in cancer therapy
Researchers provide an overview of the latest technologies in precision oncology. Translating these into clinical application is still a major challenge.
Scientists discover new kind of synapse in neurons’ tiny hairs
Scientists have discovered a new kind of synapse in the tiny hairs on the surface of neurons. The commonly overlooked protrusions called primary cilia contain special junctions that act as a shortcut for sending signals quickly and directly to the cell…
Less risk, less costs: Portable spectroscopy devices could soon become real
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is an analytical tool with a wide range of applications, including the magnetic resonance imaging that is used for diagnostic purposes in medicine. However, NMR often requires powerful magnetic fields to be generated, w…
Early intervention effective in treating neurodevelopmental disorders
A new study suggests that therapeutic interventions to treat neurodevelopmental disorders may be more effective if done during the early stages of brain development.
Mechanisms at work in progression of pancreatic cysts to pancreatic cancer
Researchers have outlined the comprehensive immune landscape and microbiome of pancreatic cysts as they progress from benign cysts to pancreatic cancer. The findings could reveal the mechanism of neoplastic progression and provide targets for immunothe…
Drug combo therapy in mice blocks drug resistance, halts tumor growth
An experimental combination of two drugs halts the progression of small cell lung cancer, the deadliest form of lung cancer, according to a study in mice.
Dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapies for HIV-1 effective in pregnancy
In the first study to directly compare dolutegravir to other antiretroviral regimens listed as ‘Preferred’ in U.S. perinatal guidelines, pregnant people who took dolutegravir-based regimens had a high probability of being virally suppressed at delivery.