For The Better

Researchers have developed peptide-based hydrogels that mimic the aligned structure of muscle and nerve tissues, which could enable the development of functional lab-grown tissue.

A new study of air pollution in U.S. homes reveals how much gas and propane stoves increase people’s exposure to nitrogen dioxide, a pollutant linked to childhood asthma. Even in bedrooms far from kitchens, concentrations frequently exceed health limit…

The famous axiom ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend’ is part of Austrian psychologist Fritz Heider’s social balance theory, introduced in the 1940s. Previous studies have tried to model social networks based in famous theory but results remained contr…

A new study shows stony coral tissue loss disease is causing drastic changes in the Caribbean’s population of corals, which is sure to disrupt the delicate balance of the ecosystem and threaten marine biodiversity and coastal economies.

Activated T cells that carry a certain marker protein on their surface are controlled by natural killer (NK) cells, another cell type of the immune system. In this way, the body presumably curbs destructive immune reactions. Researchers have now discov…

A new study sheds light on the role that new and traditional media play in promoting and affecting character development, emotions, prosocial behavior and well-being (aka happiness) in youth.

The direction in which spin information is injected into chiral materials affects its ability to pass through them. These chiral ‘gateways’ could be used to design energy-efficient spintronic devices for data storage, communication and computing.

Land plants cover the surface of our planet and often tower over us. They form complex bodies with multiple organs that consist of a broad range of cell types. Developing this morphological complexity is underpinned by intricate networks of genes, whos…

A new study finds people who have nature-based experiences report better well-being and lower psychological distress than those who do not. Birdwatching in particular yielded promising results, with higher gains in subjective well-being and more reduct…

Researchers uncovered compelling evidence that Earth’s magnetic field was in a highly unusual state when the macroscopic animals of the Ediacaran Period — 635 to 541 million years ago — diversified and thrived. Their study raises the question of whet…

St. Jude found 156 potential targets for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T–cell immunotherapy. Explore the discovery’s promise to improve cancer therapies.

Scientists have discovered how glioblastoma evades the immune system by inducing pro-tumor macrophages via a glucose based epigenetic modification.

Heavy pooling meltwater can fracture ice, potentially leading to ice shelf collapse.

Scientists have demonstrated that small changes in the isotopic content of thin semiconductor materials can influence their optical and electronic properties, possibly opening the way to new and advanced designs with the semiconductors.

New research examines how the bacteria Escherichia coli, or E. coli — responsible for most UTIs — is able to use host nutrients to reproduce at an extraordinarily rapid pace during infection despite the near sterile environment of fresh urine.

Recent findings that plants employ a drought-survival mechanism to also defend against nutrient-sucking pests could inform future crop breeding programs aimed at achieving better broadscale pest control.