For The Better

Research suggested that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may be at least partly caused by differences in the composition of the gut microbiota, based on the observation that certain types of microbes are more common in people with autism. But a new study…

Researchers have developed a sustainable, plastic-free glitter for use in the cosmetics industry — and it’s made from the cellulose found in plants, fruits, vegetables, and wood pulp.

A metabolic enzyme that has been studied in cancer biology and is important for T cell function may offer a new target for anti-inflammatory therapeutics, researchers have discovered. They report that inhibiting or genetically deleting the enzyme, call…

Near-Earth asteroid Kamo`oalewa could be a fragment of our moon.

Advanced next-generation sequencing of autopsy tissues has furthered molecular understanding of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 disease mechanisms, researchers report.

New research shows that humans had a significant role in the extinction of woolly mammoths in Eurasia, occurring thousands of years later than previously thought. An international team of scientists has revealed a 20,000-year pathway to extinction for …

When mothers and their children play together, they instinctively respond to each other’s cues. And positive interactions promote the child’s healthy socioemotional development. A new study examines how physiological and behavioral reactions coordinate…

Even when emoji are used to substitute for words, we still understand the sentence. But how does that work? Do we interpret an emoji primarily as an image or as a word? To find out, a research team asked volunteers to read texts with emoji and measured…

The proportion of UK people reporting eating and drinking plant-based alternative foods such as plant-based milk, vegan sausages and vegetable burgers nearly doubled between 2008 — 2011 and 2017 — 2019, according to a new study.

A new study shows that persistent symptoms following COVID-19 infections in collegiate athletes appear to be rare. Also rare is chest pain upon return to exercise, but is nonetheless a concerning finding that may warrant further clinical workup.

Nanoparticles are omnipresent in our environment: Viruses in ambient air, proteins in the body, as building blocks of new materials for electronics, or in surface coatings. Visualizing these smallest particles is a problem: They are so small that they …

In a large national survey, adults who struggled with picky eating habits as children overwhelmingly said they benefitted more from positive and encouraging strategies their parents used than forceful or coercive approaches.

Geophysicists can use a new model to explain the behavior of a tectonic plate sinking into a subduction zone in the Earth’s mantle: the plate becomes weak and thus more deformable when mineral grains on its underside are shrunk in size.

A new study reveals that common loud noises cause fluid buildup in the inner ear and suggests a simple possible treatment for noise-induced hearing loss.

Researchers have discovered that mysterious clusters of proteins found on neurons are calcium-signaling ‘hotspots’ that activate gene transcription, allowing neurons to produce crucial proteins. The discovery may help shape new research into the role o…

A new study uncovers a novel approach to a plant-based diet, unique to long-necked dinosaurs.

Using an experimental system involving new genetic technology, researchers analyzed the gene expression signatures of a representative sample of barcoded leukemia cells. After implanting some of the leukemia cells in mice, they discovered that distinct…

Astronomers have discovered a small black hole outside the Milky Way by looking at how it influences the motion of a star in its close vicinity. This is the first time this detection method has been used to reveal the presence of a black hole outside o…

A new study finds that over the last 30 years, Brazil has undergone a nutrition transition toward a diet higher in ultra-processed foods, and that of food types consumed, these have been the largest contributor to worsening impacts on greenhouse gas em…

Young people who consider themselves ‘multilingual’ tend to perform better across a wide range of subjects at school, regardless of whether they are actually fluent in another language, new research suggests. The study of more than 800 pupils in Englan…