For The Better

New research featuring more than 24,000 people has found that having diverse groups of friends improves wellbeing and social cohesion, despite people’s tendency to gravitate towards people more similar to them.

Bronze cauldrons were used by the inhabitants of the Mongolian steppe around 2,700 years ago to process animal blood and milk. This is shown by a protein analysis of archaeological finds from this period.

A new clinical trial of five children with inherited deafness found administering gene therapy in both ears led to restored hearing and speech, and additional gains including sound source localization, ability to hear in noisy environments, and for two…

Scientists have discovered genetic clues to the cause of restless leg syndrome, a condition common among older adults. The discovery could help identify those individuals at greatest risk of the condition and point to potential ways to treat it.

Scientists have detected what they believe to be a neutron star spinning at an unprecedentedly slow rate — slower than any of the more than 3,000 radio emitting neutron stars measured to date.

Photographs making invisible air pollution visible have sparked discussion around the impact of air pollution on communities ascross the globe.

Car tires contain hundreds of chemical additives that can leach out of them. This is how they end up in crops and subsequently in the food chain. Researchers have now detected these chemical residues in leafy vegetables for the first time. Although the…

New research has connected warming ocean temperatures to higher Pacific salmon abundance in the Canadian Arctic, an indicator that climate change is creating new corridors for the fish to expand their range. Salmon haven’t historically been seen in lar…

Babies’ brains are not as immature as previously thought, rather they are using the period of postnatal ‘helplessness’ to learn powerful foundation models similar to those underpinning generative Artificial Intelligence, according to a new study.

Eating a poor quality diet might lead to brain changes that are associated with depression and anxiety. This is according to a first-of-its-kind study into the brain chemistry and structure, and diet quality of 30 volunteers.

A new genetic study found that heavy fishing in the early part of the fishing season may result in younger and smaller Atlantic salmon. This information can help to conserve large fish essential for the diversity and viability of salmon populations.

A collaborative team of researchers has made a cracking discovery with the potential to make a significant impact in the sustainable recovery of rare earth elements (REEs), which are in increasing demand for use in green energy technologies. The team f…

Training exercises designed to improve cognitive control in children do not make a significant difference to their ability to delay gratification or to their academic achievement, nor do they lead to any brain changes.

Many managers are currently seeking a balance between digital and face-to-face communication. A recent study shows that top IT industry managers have different views on when and for what purposes face-to-face communication in the workplace is needed.

A team of researchers has developed a new method for target DNA sequence amplification, testing and analysis.

Adolescents with elevated blood pressure and arterial stiffness may experience poorer cognitive functions, according to a recent study. Young people with higher blood pressure performed worse, especially in tasks that measured attention and learning. I…

A new study finds climate change is likely to make upward spikes of ozone at ground level worse by 2050, which could result in many parts of the United States falling out of compliance with air quality standards and increasing risks to public health.

For many parents, it can feel like curbing kids’ screen use is a losing battle. But new research has found the parenting practices that work best to curb screen time and addictive screen behavior: restricting screens in bedrooms and at mealtimes and mo…

Fusion researchers have successfully deployed machine learning methods to suppress harmful plasma edge instabilities without sacrificing plasma performance.

An international research team has found almost a million potential sources of antibiotics in the natural world.