For The Better

A new study finds that proteins known as linker histones control the complex coiling process that determines whether DNA will wind into long and thin chromosomes, made up of many small loops, or short and thick chromosomes with fewer large loops.

A new study of more than 13,000 cities worldwide has found that the number of person-days in which inhabitants are exposed to extreme combinations of heat and humidity has tripled since the 1980s. The authors say the trend, which now affects nearly a q…

New computer simulations reveal that sudden restructuring of the cytoskeleton, or scaffolding, inside animal cells is caused by the slow buildup and rapid release of mechanical energy. Called cytoquakes, these disturbances may help the cell respond rap…

Deep in the heart of the Yucatan Peninsula, an ancient mangrove ecosystem flourishes more than 200 kilometers (124 miles) from the nearest ocean. This is unusual because mangroves — salt-tolerant trees, shrubs, and palms — are typically found along t…

A research team has completed a global population estimate of Weddell seals in Antarctica, showing that there are significantly fewer seals than previously thought. Documenting the seals’ population trends over time will help scientists better understa…

Researchers have examined long-term outcomes in patients who received pacemaker implantations after transcatheter aortic valve replacement through their groin. The result showed no significant difference in mortality for the patients with pacemakers co…

‘Think twice’ campaign could reduce risk of UK opioid epidemic. A pilot campaign that urged GPs (family doctors) to ‘think-twice’ before putting a patient on opioid medicines was effective in reducing opioid prescribing in primary care, according to th…

As the pandemic grinds on through a second year, many American workers are feeling the pressure, and many say they intend to leave their jobs within a year, according to a new survey.

A brain circuit that works as a ‘brake’ on binge alcohol drinking may help explain male-female differences invulnerability to alcohol use disorders, according to a preclinical study.

An international research team effectively put an end to that practice with a clinical trial that concluded convalescent plasma is ‘futile’ as a COVID-19 treatment for most critically ill patients.

Scientists are using a new mathematical tool to predict how combinations of genetic mutations cause different types of tumors.

Flash Joule heating recovers valuable and toxic metals from electronic waste. The process allows for “urban mining” of resources that could be a win for the environment as well as for manufacturers.

When Pluto passed in front of a star on the night of August 15, 2018, astronomers deployed telescopes at numerous sites in the U.S. and Mexico to observe Pluto’s atmosphere as it was briefly backlit by the well-placed star. Scientists used this occulta…

The number of threatened Australian native bee species is expected to increase by nearly five times after the devastating Black Summer bushfires in 2019-20, new research has found. With 24 million hectares of Australia’s land area burnt, researchers sa…