Science & Technology

A new approach to battery design could provide the key to low-cost, long-term energy storage, according to researchers.

New ancient DNA analysis has shed light on how the black rat, blamed for spreading Black Death, dispersed across Europe — revealing that the rodent colonized the continent on two occasions in the Roman and Medieval periods. By analyzing DNA from ancie…

A new study published today in Animal Behaviour shows for the first time that brilliant iridescence and gloss found in some animals can have a protective function by working as a form of deceptive warning coloration, and that it is the key feature of i…

The remnants of a collapsed neutron star, called a pulsar, are magnetically charged and spinning anywhere from one rotation per second to hundreds of rotations per second. These celestial bodies, each 12 to 15 miles in diameter, generate light in the x…

During experiments in animal models, researchers have discovered a possible new approach to immunization against Alzheimer’s disease. Their method uses a recombinant methionine (Met)-rich protein derived from corn that was then oxidized in vitro to pro…

When it comes to weight loss, the old adage it’s all in your head may be true. Scientists have shown that two specific networks in the brain can strongly influence how successful a person will be when trying to lose weight.

Survivors of serious stroke can reduce their chances of dying within the year by 76% if they complete a modified cardiac rehabilitation program that includes medically supervised exercise, prescribed therapy, and physician follow-up, according to new r…

Researchers have identified a shift that occurs in canine coronavirus that may provide clues as to how it transmits from animals to humans.

We all must play the game of life with the cards we’re dealt, so the common aphorism goes. In biology, this means organisms must compete through natural selection with the genes and anatomy they were born with. But the saying is a lie. Okay, it’s not e…

With mountains of plastic waste piling up in landfills and scientists estimating that there will be more plastics by weight than fish in the ocean by 2050, the growing environmental challenge presented to the world by plastics is well understood. What …

When exploring a new environment, mice make use of a unique long-distance connection in the brain that prompts them to pay attention to the most salient features of the environment, according to new research. The link, originating in the prefrontal cor…

Researchers have identified new drug combinations to treat people with obesity and Type 2 diabetes. The goal is to develop personalized prescriptions that are more effective than single drugs and that can potentially replace more invasive treatments su…

An anti-idling campaign at elementary schools was effective in reducing idling time by 38%, and an air monitoring experiment found that air quality around schools can vary over short distances. These findings can help schools and school districts plan …

In a new study, researchers used principal component analysis along with fluid dynamics simulation models to show the crucial importance of proper fit for all types of masks and how face shape influences the most ideal fit. They modeled a moderate coug…

Elevated levels of an enzyme called PHGDH in the blood of older adults could be an early warning sign of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers have consistently found high levels of PHGDH expression in brain tissue and blood samples of older adults with dif…

A new global study of Indigenous oyster fisheries shows that oyster fisheries were hugely productive and sustainably managed on a massive scale over hundreds and even thousands of years of intensive harvest. The study’s broadest finding was that long b…

A new study shows that young adults when sleep-deprived evaluate angry faces as less trustworthy and healthy-looking. Furthermore, neutral and fearful faces appear less attractive following sleep loss.

There are approximately 750 species of salamander known to science, a third of which reside in North America. Now, a team of researchers has discovered a new species of swamp-dwelling dusky salamander from the Gulf Coastal Plain of southeastern Mississ…

This was the first time a blood clot had been found in an astronaut in space, so there was no established method of treatment for DVT in zero gravity.

CT-detected emphysema is linked to a higher risk of lung cancer, a risk that increases with emphysema severity, according to a new study.