Science & Technology
Lack of sleep lessens cognitive benefits of physical activity
A new study looked at cognitive function over 10 years in 8,958 people aged 50 and over in England. The research team investigated how different combinations of sleep and physical activity habits might affect people’s cognitive function over time.
Helping adolescents to feel competent and purposeful — not just happy — may improve grades
Encouraging adolescents to feel capable and purposeful — rather than just happy — could improve their academic results as well as their mental health, according to new research which recommends changing how wellbeing is supported in schools. The stud…
More IVF babies born after egg collection in summer rather than in autumn
The time of year when eggs are collected from women’s ovaries during fertility treatment makes a difference to live birth rates, according to new research. Researchers have found that transferring frozen then thawed embryos to women’s wombs from eggs c…
Holograms for life: Improving IVF success
In a world-first, 3D holographic images of an embryo have been developed. The images are created using minuscule amounts of light in a fraction of a second.
Tracking ships’ icy paths amidst climate change
Understanding when and where ships are entering areas of Arctic sea ice can help better understand the potential impacts of vessel traffic in the region.
Fluctuating levels of cholesterol and triglycerides linked to increased risk of dementia
Older people who have fluctuating levels of cholesterol and triglycerides may have a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias compared to people who have steady levels, according to new research. While the study found a link, it does no…
Taking good care of your teeth may be good for your brain
Taking good care of your teeth may be linked to better brain health, according to a new study. The study found that gum disease and tooth loss were linked to brain shrinkage in the hippocampus, which plays a role in memory and Alzheimer’s disease. The …
AI tests into top 1% for original creative thinking
New research suggests artificial intelligence can match the top 1% of human thinkers on a standard test for creativity.
Fossils reveal how ancient birds molted their feathers — which could help explain why ancestors of modern birds survived when all the other dinosaurs died
Birds are the only group of dinosaurs that survived the asteroid-induced mass extinction 66 million years ago. But not all the birds alive at the time made it. Why the ancestors of modern birds lived while so many of their relatives died has been a mys…
New genetic technology developed to halt malaria-spreading mosquitoes
Using CRISPR technology, scientists have engineered a new way to genetically suppress populations of Anopheles gambiae, the mosquitoes that primarily spread malaria in Africa and contribute to economic poverty in affected regions.
Why the day is 24 hours long: Astrophysicists reveal why Earth’s day was a constant 19.5 hours for over a billion years
Astrophysicists have revealed how the slow and steady lengthening of Earth’s day caused by the tidal pull of the moon was halted for over a billion years. They show that from approximately two billion years ago until 600 million years ago, an atmospher…
Dissolving cardiac device monitors, treats heart disease
Researchers have developed a soft, flexible, wireless device to monitor and treat heart disease and dysfunction in the days, weeks or months following traumatic heart-related events. And, after the device is no longer needed, it harmlessly dissolves in…