For The Better

Technetium-99m is the world’s most commonly used medical radioisotope, but regularly suffers from supply chain shortages, threatening the ability of doctors to diagnose a raft of ailments. But an alternative production technique looks set to make the r…

Researchers have shown that smaller species of scorpions, with smaller pincers, have more potent venoms compared to larger species with robust claws. The scientists tested the theory from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which warned…

Scientists have uncovered new molecular details relevant to the bitterness of stored linseed oil. The findings should help to develop suitable technological processes or breeding strategies that preserve the good taste of the edible oil for longer.

The messenger substance interleukin-3 produced by the body was previously considered to be pro-inflammatory in bronchial asthma. Researchers have now shown that the administration of interleukin-3, or IL-3 for short, can have a positive effect on chron…

When cancer cells break away from a primary tumor and migrate to other organs, this is called ‘metastatic cancer.’ The organs affected by these metastases, however, depend in part on their tissue of origin. In the case of breast cancer, they usually fo…

A research team has used electron spin resonance spectroscopy to investigate a polymer solar cell while in operation. Molecular level comparison of the PTzBT/PC61BM system with and without added ITIC allowed them to establish the mechanism for the impr…

Scientists have succeeded in visualizing crystal nucleation — the stage that precedes crystallization — that was invisible until now.

A study has found that living in a tree-filled environment is associated with better early childhood development than living in an environment where vegetation takes the form of grass cover. The analysis also found that both varieties of green space ar…

Abnormalities in a type of brain cell called astrocytes may play a pivotal role in causing some behavioral symptoms of autism spectrum disorders, according to a preclinical study.

The global eradication of smallpox in the 1980s was achieved by intradermal vaccination with vaccinia virus. A study shows that there is a large increase in skin bacteria and suggests that this may enhance the immune response.

DNA analysis of thousands of tumours from patients has found a ‘treasure trove’ of clues about the causes of cancer, with genetic mutations providing a personal history of the damage and repair processes each patient has been through.

A research has developed new, highly efficient and stable perovskite solar cells. The breakthrough invention is expected to greatly accelerate the commercialization of perovskite photovoltaic technology, providing a promising alternative to silicon sol…

New research has revealed how fungus blocks and bursts blood vessels in the brain, helping scientists better understand how meningitis starts.

New solar cell devices that are cheaper and easier to make could soon make their way to market thanks to new materials.

New research reveals the scale of parasitic worm infections in Britain from the Prehistoric to the early Victorian periods.

Displaying the highway death toll on message boards is a common awareness campaign, but new research shows this tactic actually leads to more crashes. This new study evaluated the effect of displaying crash death totals on highway message boards (e.g.,…

To get to the places where they are needed, immune cells not only squeeze through tiny pores. They even overcome wall-like barriers of tightly packed cells. Scientists have now discovered that cell division is key to their success. Together with other …

We like some foods, and dislike others. Of course, the way food tastes is important, but mouthfeel, and even the sound that food makes when we bite it, also determine whether we enjoy the eating experience. Is it possible to design edible materials tha…

An international research team samples seawater from around the world to reveal which tropical reef fish occur where. To identify species and families, they successfully used the residual DNA shed by the animals present in the water. But not all fish c…