For The Better

Pregnant women’s use of alcohol correlates with that of their partner, a new study shows. Paying attention to both parents’ use of alcohol may help to prevent drinking during pregnancy, as well as fetal exposure to the adverse effects of alcohol.

New models that show how the continents were assembled are providing fresh insights into the history of the Earth and will help provide a better understanding of natural hazards like earthquakes and volcanoes.

Scientists elucidate, for the first time, the structure of the GABA transporter 1 (GAT-1) protein using cryogenic electron microscopy. The findings could lead to new, better treatments for neurological disorders such as anxiety, autism spectrum disorde…

A new tool can quickly and reliably identify the presence of Ebola virus in blood samples, according to a new study. The technology, which uses so-called optical microring resonators, potentially could be developed into a rapid diagnostic test for the …

Neuroscientists identified three circuits in the thalamus that influence the development of motor and nonmotor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. And by manipulating these circuits, they could reverse Parkinson’s symptoms in mice.

A new, detailed genetic roadmap of glaucoma will help researchers develop new drugs to combat the disease, by identifying potential target areas to stall or reverse vision loss.

Researchers have successfully increased the lifespan and stability of solid-state lithium-ion batteries, creating a viable approach for future widespread usage.

Scientists studying particle collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) have revealed how certain particle-jets lose energy as they traverse the unique form of nuclear matter created in these collisions. The results should help them learn…

In the early 1960s scientists deciphered the genetic code of life, determining the rules by which information in DNA molecules is translated into proteins, the working parts of living cells. They identified three-letter units in DNA sequences, known as…

During pregnancy, a subtle molecular change allows immunoglobulin G — the body’s most common type of antibody — to take on an expanded protective role. Now scientists say this natural process can be replicated to improve vaccines and other antibody-b…

Using advanced microscopy techniques, researchers have visualized in unprecedented detail the machinery that the cells’ powerhouses, the mitochondria, use to form their proteins. The results raise hopes of more specific antibiotics and new cancer drugs…

Caenorhabditis elegans is a worm that has been used for decades as a model organism. Researchers have found that a specific neuron, called ALA, and the amount of calcium it contains are essential for the homeostatic regulation of sleep in C. elegans. A…

Samples from the tropical Indian Ocean were investigated using a new method for extraction and identification of microplastic particles from water samples. The result: The burden is clearly measurable.