Science & Technology

The mystery of grass leaf formation has now been unraveled using the latest computational modelling and developmental genetic techniques.

Researchers train a neural network to estimate — in just a few seconds — the precise characteristics of merging black holes based on their gravitational-wave emissions. The network determines the masses and spins of the black holes, where in the sky,…

Researchers have uncovered a process in the swirling masses of plasma surrounding black holes and neutron stars that can cause previously unexplained emissions of light and heat. These findings can increase basic understanding of fundamental astrophysi…

Gut bacteria are both positively and negatively influenced by common medicines, new research shows. Medications that lower cholesterol and blood pressure are associated with a healthier composition and function of gut bacteria, while gastric acid inhib…

Three in four sepsis survivors experience new-onset memory problems, psychological impairments or physical diagnoses. This also applies to more than half of sepsis survivors under the age of 40 at the time of their discharge from hospital.

The quest to deliver ultra-fast and energy efficient magnetic recording could be a step closer to fruition, due to pioneering new research on all-optical switching of magnetization.

A peptide known to prevent the protein error that gives rise to Parkinson’s disease has been optimized by scientists. The new peptide is a strong candidate for future development into a cure.

A study has discovered how late-onset retinal degeneration can develop and a surprising potential therapeutic — metformin.

To accurately predict species’ distributions and risk of extinction, models must include more than just climate, according to new research.

Across the U.S. road crews dump around 25 million metric tons of sodium chloride — much like table salt — to unfreeze roads each year and make them safe for travel.

Researchers have developed a circuit that produces the high-quality microwave signals required to control quantum computers while operating at temperatures near absolute zero. This is a key step towards moving the control system closer to the quantum p…

A diet rich in plant products reduces the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia in the elderly.

A new genomics marker tool has been shown to accurately identify tilapia species and tell apart their hybrids, providing a novel resource to help develop aquaculture and empower conservation in Tanzania, Africa. Crucially, the new tool offers a cheaper…

A new study suggests that persistent exposure to air pollutants in residential communities can impact health outcomes for COVID-19 patients.

In recent years, ribonucleic acid (RNA) has emerged as a powerful tool for the development of novel therapies. RNA is used to copy genetic information contained in our hereditary material, the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and then serves as a template …

A team of physicists working at the intersection of theory and experiment are shedding new light on the ‘teamwork’ of molecular motors — called RNA polymerases (RNAPs) — that mediate DNA transcription. The researchers’ work revealed for the first tim…

Researchers have developed a computational simulator that can help predict whether changes to materials or design will improve performance in new photovoltaic cells.

Neuroscientists have discovered a set of brain cells that influence the motivation of mice to perform tasks for rewards. Increasing the cells’ activity makes a mouse work harder or more vigorously. The neurons come with a feature that prevents the mous…

The discovery of electrical signals in the brain associated with OCD could enable an emerging type of adaptive deep brain stimulation therapy as an improved treatment.

Last year, scientists looked on as a star called EK Draconis ejected a massive burst of energy and charged particles many times more powerful than anything recorded on Earth’s sun. Such explosive events may have been common in the early years of our so…