For The Better

In a study of rodents, scientists discovered that a part of the brain traditionally thought to control typing the old sequence may also play a critical role in learning the new one. The results suggest that this process involves a delicate balance in t…

Updating the laws, the researchers say, will allow the true value of public resources to be revealed in an environmental market. It will give different groups equal footing in auctions, and create a more stable, actionable path toward conservation, to …

People often get sicker as they grow older, but new research finds that the impact of a person’s genes on their risk of getting sick actually wanes with age.

Researchers develop machine learning methods that accurately predict the 3D shapes of drug targets and other important biological molecules, even when only limited data is available.

What do frog eggs have in common with ‘anti-aging’ creams? Their success depends on a group of chemical compounds called retinoids, which are capable of generating and re-generating tissues. A new study in plants shows that retinoids’ tissue-generating…

Skin electronics require stretchable conductors that satisfy metal-like conductivity, high stretchability, ultrathin thickness, and ease of patternability, but it is challenging to achieve these characteristics simultaneously. The researchers developed…

When we smell food, we are more likely to eat — but new findings suggest eating food also impacts our sense of smell, which could bias what we eat next. Imaging shows that brain’s response to odors similar to a recent meal is less ‘food-like’ than its…

The phenomenon of superconductivity, providing current transmission without dissipation and a host of unique magnetic properties arising from macroscopic quantum coherence, was first discovered over a century ago. It was not understood until 1957, afte…

Setting a price just below a round number ($39.99 instead of $40) may lead consumers into thinking a product is less expensive than it really is — but it can sometimes backfire on sellers, a new study shows.

The human body can be genetically inclined to attack its own cells, destroying the beta cells in the pancreas that make insulin, which helps convert sugar into energy. Called Type 1 diabetes, this disorder can occur at any age and can be fatal if not c…

Fine particle pollution may be one reason why Black women have double the risk of developing Alzheimer’s than white women, suggests new research. Data shows that older people are more likely to develop dementia if they live in locations with high PM2.5…

A team of researchers has identified measures we take in order to skirt having to exert self-control in our daily lives — findings that offer new insights into what motivates human behavior.

In a new study, researchers have measured the number of pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes in backyard and commercial compost.

All-solid-state batteries are expected to replace conventional batteries with a liquid electrolyte thanks to their improved safety, durability, and capacity. However, the electric double layer (EDL) effect is a phenomenon that is suspected to be a hind…

COVID-19 vaccines remain effective, but their potency has diminished in recent months, according to a nationwide U.S. study at eight sites.

The world’s oceans are becoming increasingly stressful places for marine life, and experts are working to understand what this means for the future. From rising temperatures; to acidification as more carbon enters the waters; to changes in the currents…

As climate change continues to do more damage to our planet, scientists are working to find more efficient and cleaner ways to power the earth. One appealing alternative to common petrochemical processes that generate significant greenhouse gases and o…

From seismic surveys and Navy sonar to fisheries and shipping, many human activities in the ocean environment cause short-term changes in the behaviors of marine mammals. A longstanding challenge for scientists and regulatory agencies alike has been to…