Science & Technology

A young planet whirling around a petulant red dwarf star is changing in unpredictable ways orbit-by-orbit. It is so close to its parent star that it experiences a consistent, torrential blast of energy, which evaporates its hydrogen atmosphere — causi…

Early genetic testing can improve cancer outcomes, but individuals often don’t undergo this screening if they lack a family history or can’t afford a test. A clinical laboratory team is hoping to change that for residents of their state by providing fr…

A group of nerve cells in the brain has the remarkable ability to completely stop all forms of movement, a new mouse study shows. The discovery provides valuable insight into how the nervous system can control our movements.

Investigators have designed an innovative RNA-based strategy to activate dendritic cells–which play a key role in immune response — that eradicated tumors and prevented their recurrence in mouse models of melanoma. The findings suggest that the appro…

Many people know that stars appear to twinkle because our atmosphere bends starlight as it travels to Earth. But stars also have an innate ‘twinkle’ — caused by rippling waves of gas on their surfaces — that is imperceptible to current Earth-bound te…

A process of surgically joining the circulatory systems of a young and old mouse slows the aging process at the cellular level and lengthens the lifespan of the older animal by up to 10%.

As sea levels rise and flooding becomes more frequent, many countries are considering a controversial strategy: relocation of communities. A Stanford analysis of planned relocations around the world reveals a blueprint for positive outcomes.

A hot bath is a place to relax. For scientists, it is also where molecules or tiny building blocks meet to form materials. Researchers take it to the next level and use the energy of swimming bacteria to forge materials. A recent study shows us how thi…

Scientists engineered microbes to make the ingredients for recyclable plastics — replacing finite, polluting petrochemicals with sustainable alternatives. The new approach shows that renewable, recyclable plastics are not only possible, but also outpe…

Promising new research suggests a total of just 4.5 minutes of vigorous activity that makes you huff and puff during daily tasks could reduce the risk of some cancers by up to 32 percent.

Scientists debut Greengenes2, a massive reference database that could be used to reconcile years of microbiome studies.

In a promising form of immunotherapy known as CAR T-cell (chimeric antigen receptor) therapy, the patient’s T cells are engineered to better recognize and attack antigens on the surface of cancer cells. In treatments currently approved for use in battl…

Researchers have developed a new approach for designing molecular ON-OFF switches based on proteins which can be used in a multitude of biotechnological, biomedical and bioengineering applications.

The link between tree diversity and spider populations can help homeowners and other land managers better plan tree plantings to naturally mitigate the effects of climate change.

A new spider species, a blind daddy long-legs, has been discovered in boreholes in Australia’s Pilbara region. In addition, a new-to-science daddy long-legs species was found on Réunion island, with its closest relatives in eastern Africa. Both spiders…

When you interact with the world around you, your experiences are recorded as changes in the connection strengths between neurons in your brain. This process, called synaptic plasticity, alters how information flows through your brain and is critical f…

Although the prevailing wisdom among neuroscientists is that Purkinje cells have just one primary dendrite that connects with a single climbing fiber from the brain stem, new research shows that nearly all Purkinje cells in the human cerebellum have mu…

Bees and wasps have converged on the same architectural solutions to nest-building problems, according to new research.

In a step forward in the development of genetic medicines, researchers have developed a proof-of-concept model for delivering gene editing tools to treat blood disorders, allowing for the modification of diseased blood cells directly within the body. I…

A new study of the strain of influenza A responsible for the 2009 H1N1 pandemic — pdm09 — shows that the virus has passed from humans to swine about 370 times since 2009, and subsequent circulation in swine has resulted in the evolution of pdm09 vari…