http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/index.htm/ en-us Thu, 10 Jul 2025 02:11:21 EDT Thu, 10 Jul 2025 02:11:21 EDT 60 http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/scidaily-logo-rss.png http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/index.htm/ For more science news, visit ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250709091658.htm Climate change is silently sapping the nutrients from our food. A pioneering study finds that rising CO2 and higher temperatures are not only reshaping how crops grow but are also degrading their nutritional value—especially in vital leafy greens like kale and spinach. This shift could spell trouble for global health, particularly in communities already facing nutritional stress. Researchers warn that while crops may grow faster, they may also become less nourishing, with fewer minerals, proteins, and antioxidants—raising concerns about obesity, weakened immunity, and chronic diseases. Thu, 10 Jul 2025 01:52:51 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250709091658.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250709091656.htm A laser-equipped research platform has, for the first time, photographed airflow just millimeters above ocean waves, revealing two simultaneous wind–wave energy-transfer tricks—slow short waves steal power from the breeze, while long giants sculpt the air in reverse. These crisp observations promise to overhaul climate and weather models by clarifying how heat, momentum, and greenhouse gases slip between sea and sky. Thu, 10 Jul 2025 01:03:17 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250709091656.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250709091655.htm People can intuitively sense how biodiverse a forest is just by looking at photos or listening to sounds, and their gut feelings surprisingly line up with what scientists measure. Thu, 10 Jul 2025 00:09:54 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250709091655.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250709091653.htm Long-tailed macaques given short videos were glued to scenes of fighting—especially when the combatants were monkeys they knew—mirroring the human draw to drama and familiar faces. Low-ranking individuals watched most intently, perhaps for self-protection, while high-strung ones averted their gaze. Wed, 09 Jul 2025 23:38:27 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250709091653.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250709091651.htm Creatine isn’t just for gym buffs; Virginia Tech scientists are using focused ultrasound to sneak this vital energy molecule past the blood-brain barrier, hoping to reverse devastating creatine transporter deficiencies. By momentarily opening microscopic gateways, they aim to revive brain growth and function without damaging healthy tissue—an approach that could fast-track from lab benches to lifesaving treatments. Wed, 09 Jul 2025 23:24:21 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250709091651.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250709091336.htm Losing weight isn’t always winning at health, say experts challenging the long-standing obsession with BMI and dieting. New evidence shows that most people with higher body weight can’t sustain long-term weight loss through lifestyle changes—and the pressure to do so may actually cause harm. From disordered eating to reinforced stigma, the consequences go beyond the physical. A growing movement urges doctors to shift away from the scale and toward personalized, compassionate care that values overall well-being, not just shrinking waistlines. Wed, 09 Jul 2025 23:06:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250709091336.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250709085502.htm A groundbreaking collaboration between Los Alamos scientists and Duke University has resurrected a nearly forgotten 1938 experiment that may have quietly sparked the age of fusion energy. Arthur Ruhlig, a little-known physicist, first observed signs of deuterium-tritium (DT) fusion nearly a decade before its significance became clear in nuclear science. The modern team not only confirmed the essence of Ruhlig s original findings but also traced how his work may have inspired key Manhattan Project insights. Wed, 09 Jul 2025 08:55:02 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250709085502.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250708045706.htm Astronomers have spotted centimeter-sized “pebbles” swirling around two infant stars 450 light-years away, revealing the raw ingredients of planets already stretching to Neptune-like orbits. Using the UK’s e-MERLIN radio array, the PEBBLeS project found these rocky seeds in unprecedented detail, bridging the elusive gap between dusty discs and fully-formed worlds. The discovery hints that systems even larger than our own could be commonplace and sets the stage for the upcoming Square Kilometre Array to map hundreds more planetary nurseries. Wed, 09 Jul 2025 08:41:24 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250708045706.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250708045703.htm Astronomers using the Green Bank Telescope spotted surprisingly cold, dense hydrogen clouds embedded inside the Milky Way’s vast, super-hot Fermi bubbles—structures thought to be created by a recent, violent outburst from the galaxy’s core. Because such chilled gas should evaporate quickly in million-degree surroundings, its survival hints that the bubbles are only about a million years old. Ultraviolet data from Hubble backs the discovery, and the clouds’ million-mph speeds reinforce the bubbles’ youth. The find forces scientists to rethink how energy and matter flow through galaxies. Wed, 09 Jul 2025 05:59:22 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250708045703.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250708045701.htm Scientists from UCL and the University of Cambridge have revealed that "space ice"—long thought to be completely disordered—is actually sprinkled with tiny crystals, changing our fundamental understanding of ice in the cosmos. These micro-crystals, just nanometers wide, were identified through simulations and lab experiments, revealing that even the most common ice in space retains a surprising structure. This has major implications not just for astrophysics, but also for theories about the origin of life and advanced materials technology. Wed, 09 Jul 2025 03:10:07 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250708045701.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250708045700.htm In the remote reaches of Arizona s Petrified Forest National Park, scientists have unearthed North America's oldest known pterosaur a small, gull-sized flier that once soared above Triassic ecosystems. This exciting find, alongside ancient turtles and armored amphibians, sheds light on a key moment in Earth's history when older animal groups overlapped with evolutionary newcomers. The remarkably preserved fossils, including over 1,200 specimens, offer a rare glimpse into a vibrant world just before a mass extinction reshaped life on Earth. Tue, 08 Jul 2025 04:57:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250708045700.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250708045658.htm Hovering fish aren’t loafing—they burn twice resting energy to make micro-fin tweaks that counteract a natural tendency to tip, and body shape dictates just how costly the pause is. The discovery flips a long-held assumption about effortless neutral buoyancy and offers fresh blueprints for agile, instability-embracing underwater robots. Tue, 08 Jul 2025 09:10:03 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250708045658.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250708045656.htm Scientists at MIT have turbocharged one of nature’s most sluggish but essential enzymes—rubisco—by applying a cutting-edge evolution technique in living cells. Normally prone to wasteful reactions with oxygen, this revamped bacterial rubisco evolved to work more efficiently in oxygen-rich environments. This leap in enzyme performance could pave the way for improving photosynthesis in plants and, ultimately, increase crop yields. Tue, 08 Jul 2025 23:57:18 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250708045656.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250708045654.htm As glaciers melt around the world, long-dormant volcanoes may be waking up beneath the ice. New research reveals that massive ice sheets have suppressed eruptions for thousands of years, building up underground pressure. But as that icy weight disappears, it may trigger a wave of explosive eruptions—especially in places like Antarctica. This unexpected volcanic threat not only poses regional risks but could also accelerate climate change in a dangerous feedback loop. The Earth’s hidden fire may be closer to the surface than we thought. Tue, 08 Jul 2025 12:59:23 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250708045654.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250708045651.htm Less than a quarter of us hit WHO activity targets, but a new UCL study suggests the trick may be matching workouts to our personalities: extroverts thrive in high-energy group sports, neurotics prefer private bursts with breaks, and everyone sees stress levels drop when they find exercise they enjoy. Wed, 09 Jul 2025 10:36:34 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250708045651.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250708045648.htm A new UCL study reveals that aligning workouts with personality boosts fitness and slashes stress—extroverts thrive on HIIT, neurotics favor short, private bursts, and everyone benefits when enjoyment leads the way. Tue, 08 Jul 2025 07:06:54 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250708045648.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250708045645.htm High heat and heavy metals dampen a bumblebee’s trademark buzz, threatening pollen release and colony chatter. Tiny sensors captured up-to-400-hertz tremors that falter under environmental stress, raising alarms for ecosystems and sparking ideas for pollination robots. Tue, 08 Jul 2025 06:24:57 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250708045645.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250707073356.htm Some of the faintest, coldest stars in the universe may be powered not by fusion—but by the annihilation of dark matter deep within them. These “dark dwarfs” could exist in regions like the galactic center, where dark matter is thickest. Unlike typical stars, they glow without burning hydrogen, and their heat could come from invisible particles crashing into each other inside. If we spot one, especially without lithium (a chemical clue), it could point us straight to the true identity of dark matter. Tue, 08 Jul 2025 04:02:46 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250707073356.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250707073353.htm Neural networks first treat sentences like puzzles solved by word order, but once they read enough, a tipping point sends them diving into word meaning instead—an abrupt “phase transition” reminiscent of water flashing into steam. By revealing this hidden switch, researchers open a window into how transformer models such as ChatGPT grow smarter and hint at new ways to make them leaner, safer, and more predictable. Tue, 08 Jul 2025 02:36:49 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250707073353.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250707073351.htm Feral water buffalo now roam Hong Kong s South Lantau marshes, and a 657-person survey shows they ignite nostalgia, wonder, and worry in equal measure. Many residents embrace them as living links to a fading rural past and potential conservation icons, yet others fear road blockages, safety hazards, and ecosystem impacts. Attitudes skew more positive among younger locals familiar with wildlife, while concern rises in groups with less rural exposure. Mon, 07 Jul 2025 07:33:51 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250707073351.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250707073349.htm Feral honey bees, once celebrated for their agricultural value, are now threatening native ecosystems in Southern California by monopolizing pollen sources and overwhelming native pollinators. A new study reveals they remove up to 80% of pollen in a single day, severely disrupting food sources for over 700 species of native bees. Despite their benefits to agriculture, these invasive bees dominate nearly all bee biomass in the region and even produce lower-quality offspring when pollinating native plants. The findings urge conservationists to rethink beekeeping practices, especially near threatened bee populations and natural preserves. Mon, 07 Jul 2025 23:56:09 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250707073349.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250707073347.htm UCLA scientists mined millions of electronic health records and uncovered four distinct “roadways” that funnel people toward Alzheimer’s—ranging from mental-health struggles to vascular troubles. Following these breadcrumb trails proved far better at predicting who will develop dementia than single risk factors. The findings hint that spotting—and halting—specific sequences early could rewrite how we prevent the disease. Mon, 07 Jul 2025 10:29:39 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250707073347.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250706230325.htm Patients who undergo tummy tuck surgery may be in for more than just cosmetic changes — a new study shows they often keep losing weight for years after the procedure. Researchers followed 188 patients and found consistent weight reduction up to five years later, especially in those with higher initial BMIs. Interestingly, lifestyle improvements, such as better diet and exercise habits, may play a key role in this surprising long-term effect. This could mean tummy tucks aren't just sculpting bodies — they may be reshaping lives. Mon, 07 Jul 2025 08:05:20 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250706230325.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250706230323.htm Danish and Welsh botanists sifted through 400 studies, field-tested seed mixes, and uncovered a lineup of native and exotic blooms that both thrill human eyes and lure bees and hoverflies in droves, offering ready-made recipes for transforming lawns, parks, and patios into vibrant pollinator hotspots. Mon, 07 Jul 2025 07:49:17 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250706230323.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250706230321.htm Scientists found that embryonic skin cells “whisper” through faint mechanical tugs, using the same force-sensing proteins that make our ears ultrasensitive. By syncing these micro-movements, the cells choreograph the embryo’s shape, a dance captured with AI-powered imaging and computer models. Blocking the cells’ ability to feel the whispers stalls development, hinting that life’s first instructions are mechanical. The discovery suggests hearing hijacked an ancient force-sensing toolkit originally meant for building bodies. Mon, 07 Jul 2025 07:23:47 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250706230321.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250706230318.htm Scientists have finally uncovered a quantum counterpart to Carnot’s famed second law, showing that entanglement—once thought stubbornly irreversible—can be shuffled back and forth without loss if you plug in a clever “entanglement battery.” Mon, 07 Jul 2025 07:01:12 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250706230318.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250706230315.htm Researchers have developed an ultra-thin drumhead-like membrane that lets sound signals, or phonons, travel through it with astonishingly low loss, better than even electronic circuits. These near-lossless vibrations open the door to new ways of transferring information in systems like quantum computers or ultra-sensitive biological sensors. Mon, 07 Jul 2025 06:32:36 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250706230315.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250706230313.htm Scientists have decoded the sea spider’s genome for the first time, revealing how its strangely shaped body—with organs in its legs and barely any abdomen—may be tied to a missing gene. The detailed DNA map shows this ancient creature evolved differently from its spider and scorpion cousins, lacking genome duplications seen in those species. With new gene activity data, researchers now have a powerful tool to explore how sea spiders grow, regenerate, and evolved into some of the oddest arthropods on Earth. Mon, 07 Jul 2025 04:49:54 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250706230313.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250706230311.htm When you're mentally exhausted, your brain might be doing more behind the scenes than you think. In a new study using functional MRI, researchers uncovered two key brain regions that activate when people feel cognitively fatigued—regions that appear to weigh the cost of continuing mental effort versus giving up. Surprisingly, participants needed high financial incentives to push through challenging memory tasks, hinting that motivation can override mental fatigue. These insights may pave the way to treating brain fog in disorders like PTSD and depression using brain imaging and behavior-based therapies. Mon, 07 Jul 2025 04:34:10 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250706230311.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250706230309.htm Feeling jittery as the week kicks off isn’t just a mood—it leaves a biochemical footprint. Researchers tracked thousands of older adults and found those who dread Mondays carry elevated cortisol in their hair for months, a stress echo that may help explain the well-known Monday heart-attack spike. Even retirees aren’t spared, hinting that society’s calendar, not the workplace alone, wires Monday anxiety deep into the HPA axis and, ultimately, cardiovascular risk. Mon, 07 Jul 2025 02:30:43 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250706230309.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250706230305.htm Long-lost 1960s aerial photos let Copenhagen researchers watch Antarctica’s Wordie Ice Shelf crumble in slow motion. By fusing film with satellites, they discovered warm ocean water, not surface ponds, drives the destruction, and mapped “pinning points” that reveal how far a collapse has progressed. The work shows these break-ups unfold more gradually than feared, yet once the ice “brake” fails, land-based glaciers surge, setting up meters of future sea-level rise that will strike northern coasts. Mon, 07 Jul 2025 01:06:46 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250706230305.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250706225819.htm Kenyan fig trees can literally turn parts of themselves to stone, using microbes to convert internal crystals into limestone-like deposits that lock away carbon, sweeten surrounding soils, and still yield fruit—hinting at a delicious new weapon in the climate-change arsenal. Sun, 06 Jul 2025 23:54:49 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250706225819.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250706081848.htm Ambroxol, long used for coughs in Europe, stabilized symptoms and brain-damage markers in Parkinson’s dementia patients over 12 months, whereas placebo patients worsened. Those with high-risk genes even saw cognitive gains, hinting at real disease-modifying power. Sun, 06 Jul 2025 09:01:26 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250706081848.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250705084325.htm Immersing stressed volunteers in a 360° virtual Douglas-fir forest complete with sights, sounds and scents boosted their mood, sharpened short-term memory and deepened their feeling of nature-connectedness—especially when all three senses were engaged. Researchers suggest such multisensory VR “forest baths” could brighten clinics, waiting rooms and dense city spaces, offering a potent mental refresh where real greenery is scarce. Sun, 06 Jul 2025 08:17:22 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250705084325.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250705084324.htm A group of scientists studying pregnancy across six different mammals—from humans to marsupials—uncovered how certain cells at the mother-baby boundary have been working together for over 100 million years. By mapping gene activity in these cells, they found that pregnancy isn’t just a battle between mother and fetus, but often a carefully coordinated partnership. These ancient cell interactions, including hormone production and nutrient sharing, evolved to support longer, more complex pregnancies and may help explain why human pregnancy works the way it does today. Sun, 06 Jul 2025 07:22:19 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250705084324.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250705084254.htm Scientists have captured the moment a laser "comes to life"—and what they found challenges long-held beliefs. Using a special technique to film laser light in real time, researchers observed how multiple pulses grow and organize themselves into a stable rhythm. Instead of one pulse splitting into many (as previously thought), these pulses are amplified and evolve through five fast-paced phases, from initial chaos to perfect synchronization. This discovery not only deepens our understanding of how lasers work but could also lead to sharper, faster technologies in communication, measurement, and manufacturing. Sun, 06 Jul 2025 04:30:15 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250705084254.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250705084253.htm Scientists have pioneered a new way to monitor sodium levels in the blood—without drawing a single drop. By combining terahertz radiation and optoacoustic detection, they created a non-invasive system that tracks sodium in real time, even through skin. The approach bypasses traditional barriers like water interference and opens up potential for fast, safe diagnostics in humans. Sun, 06 Jul 2025 04:16:03 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250705084253.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250705084251.htm Deep in Chile’s Atacama Desert, scientists studied a green crystal called atacamite—and discovered it can cool itself dramatically when placed in a magnetic field. Unlike a regular fridge, this effect doesn’t rely on gases or compressors. Instead, it’s tied to the crystal’s unusual inner structure, where tiny magnetic forces get tangled in a kind of “frustration.” When those tangled forces are disrupted by magnetism, the crystal suddenly drops in temperature. It’s a strange, natural trick that could someday help us build greener, more efficient ways to cool things. Sun, 06 Jul 2025 02:49:48 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250705084251.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250705083956.htm Scientists at the University of Sydney have uncovered a malfunctioning version of the SOD1 protein that clumps inside brain cells and fuels Parkinson’s disease. In mouse models, restoring the protein’s function with a targeted copper supplement dramatically rescued movement, hinting at a future therapy that could slow or halt the disease in people. Sat, 05 Jul 2025 23:13:20 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250705083956.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250705083952.htm These findings highlight the significance of rearing behavior and behavioral lateralization as potential behavioral markers for tracking the progression of Parkinson's disease. Sat, 05 Jul 2025 22:51:47 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250705083952.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250705083949.htm People who treat hearing loss with hearing aids or cochlear implants regain rich conversations, escape isolation, and may even protect their brains and lifespans—proof that better hearing translates into fuller living. Sat, 05 Jul 2025 10:25:27 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250705083949.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250704235554.htm For decades, scientists believed the Arctic Ocean was sealed under a massive slab of ice during the coldest ice ages — but new research proves otherwise. Sediment samples from the seafloor, paired with cutting-edge climate simulations, show that the Arctic actually remained partially open, with seasonal sea ice allowing life to survive in the harshest climates. Traces of ancient algae, thriving only when light and water mix, reveal that the region was never a frozen tomb. This discovery not only reshapes our understanding of Earth’s past but offers vital clues about how the Arctic — and our planet — may respond to climate extremes ahead. Sat, 05 Jul 2025 09:40:26 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250704235554.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250704235550.htm In the frozen reaches of the planet—glaciers, mountaintops, and icy groundwater—scientists have uncovered strange light-sensitive molecules in tiny microbes. These “cryorhodopsins” can respond to light in ways that might let researchers turn brain cells on and off like switches. Some even glow blue, a rare and useful trait for medical applications. These molecules may help the microbes sense dangerous UV light in extreme environments, and scientists believe they could one day power new brain tech, like light-based hearing aids or next-level neuroscience tools—all thanks to proteins that thrive in the cold and shimmer under light. Sat, 05 Jul 2025 09:10:02 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250704235550.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250704032938.htm Scientists are on the trail of a mysterious five-particle structure that could challenge one of the biggest theories in physics: string theory. This rare particle—never seen before and predicted not to exist within string theory—might leave behind vanishing tracks in the Large Hadron Collider, like ghostly footprints that suddenly disappear. Spotting it wouldn’t just shake up physics theory—it might also reveal clues to dark matter, the invisible stuff that makes up most of the universe. Sat, 05 Jul 2025 05:06:15 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250704032938.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250704032934.htm Australian scientists have discovered a method to produce ammonia—an essential component in fertilizers—using only air and electricity. By mimicking lightning and channeling that energy through a small device, they’ve bypassed the traditional, fossil fuel-heavy method that’s been used for over a century. This breakthrough could lead to cleaner, cheaper fertilizer and even help power the future, offering a potential alternative fuel source for industries like shipping. Sat, 05 Jul 2025 00:48:34 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250704032934.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250704032932.htm Mice taught to link smells with tastes, and later fear, revealed how the amygdala teams up with cortical regions to let the brain draw powerful indirect connections. Disabling this circuit erased the links, hinting that similar pathways in humans could underlie disorders like PTSD and psychosis, and might be tuned with future brain-modulation therapies. Fri, 04 Jul 2025 17:57:25 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250704032932.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250704032930.htm Smarter people don’t just crunch numbers better—they actually see the future more clearly. Examining thousands of over-50s, Bath researchers found the brightest minds made life-expectancy forecasts more than twice as accurate as those with the lowest IQs. By tying cognitive tests and genetic markers to real-world predictions, the study shows how sharp probability skills translate into wiser decisions about everything from crossing the road to planning retirement—and hints that clearer risk information could help everyone close the gap. Fri, 04 Jul 2025 17:37:21 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250704032930.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250704032928.htm Researchers from Sweden have discovered that the human brain continues to grow new cells in the memory region—called the hippocampus—even into old age. Using advanced tools to examine brain samples from people of all ages, the team identified the early-stage cells that eventually become neurons. These findings confirm that our brains remain more adaptable than previously believed, opening the door to potential treatments for memory loss and brain-related disorders. Fri, 04 Jul 2025 17:21:40 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250704032928.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250704032926.htm Scientists have discovered that starving and then refeeding worms can reveal surprising secrets about aging. When a specific gene (called TFEB) is missing, these worms don’t bounce back from fasting—they instead enter a state that looks a lot like aging in humans, with signs of stress and cell damage. This research gives scientists a simple but powerful way to study how aging begins—and how it might be stopped. Even more intriguing, the same process might help explain how some cancer cells survive treatment by going into a kind of sleep mode. Fri, 04 Jul 2025 09:46:05 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250704032926.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250704032925.htm A promising path to fighting COVID and other coronaviruses may have been based on a serious mistake. Scientists had zeroed in on a part of the virus called the NiRAN domain, believed to be a powerful target for new antiviral drugs. But when a Rockefeller team revisited a highly cited 2022 study, they found the evidence didn’t hold up. Key molecules shown in the original virus model were actually missing. Their discovery could help prevent wasted time and resources in the race to develop better treatments—and highlights how even one bad blueprint can throw off years of research. Fri, 04 Jul 2025 08:28:05 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250704032925.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250704032922.htm Scientists have discovered that the bacteria behind Lyme disease and anaplasmosis have a sneaky way of surviving inside ticks—they hijack the tick’s own cell functions to steal cholesterol they need to grow. By tapping into a built-in protein pathway, the bacteria keep themselves alive until they can infect a new host. The research opens the door to new methods of stopping these diseases before ticks ever get the chance to bite. A new web tool also reveals that this trick might be used by other blood-feeding bugs too. Fri, 04 Jul 2025 07:57:33 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250704032922.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250704032919.htm Forests aren’t keeping up with today’s climate chaos. While temperatures soar within decades, tree populations take 100 to 200 years to shift in response. A sweeping new analysis of ancient pollen and modern data reveals this dramatic lag—and its consequences. As ecosystems fall out of sync with their environments, scientists warn that without help, many forests could wither or collapse. Fri, 04 Jul 2025 05:21:52 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250704032919.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250704032913.htm Preserving strips of native vegetation beside avocado orchards gives insects a buffet of wild pollen when blossoms are scarce, doubling their plant menu and boosting their resilience. Using cutting-edge eDNA metabarcoding, Curtin scientists revealed how this botanical diversity underpins pollination, a service vital to 75% of crops and our brunch-worthy avocados. Their findings urge farmers to weave natural habitat back into farmland to secure food supplies for a swelling global population. Fri, 04 Jul 2025 04:13:47 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250704032913.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250703230641.htm Stanford researchers discovered that dialing down an overactive enzyme, LRRK2, can regrow lost cellular “antennae” in key brain cells, restoring vital dopamine communication and neuroprotective signals in a mouse model of genetic Parkinson’s. After three months on the LRRK2-blocking drug MLi-2, damaged circuits revived and early signs of neuronal recovery emerged, hinting that timely treatment could not only halt but reverse disease progression—and perhaps benefit other Parkinson’s forms. Thu, 03 Jul 2025 23:44:37 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250703230641.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250703092609.htm Tropical trees are dying faster than ever, and it's not just heat or drought to blame. Scientists have uncovered a surprising culprit: ordinary thunderstorms. These quick, fierce storms, powered by climate change, are toppling trees with intense winds and lightning, sometimes causing more damage than drought itself. The discovery is reshaping how we understand rainforest health and carbon storage, as storms may be responsible for up to 60% of tree deaths in some regions. Researchers now warn that failing to account for this hidden force could undermine forest conservation and climate models alike. Thu, 03 Jul 2025 09:26:09 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250703092609.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250703092606.htm Breathing polluted air—even at levels considered “safe”—may quietly damage your heart. A new study using advanced MRI scans found that people exposed to more air pollution showed early signs of scarring in their heart muscle, which can lead to heart failure over time. This damage showed up in both healthy individuals and people with heart conditions, and was especially noticeable in women, smokers, and those with high blood pressure. Thu, 03 Jul 2025 09:37:41 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250703092606.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250702214205.htm An advanced Johns Hopkins AI model called MAARS combs through underused heart MRI scans and complete medical records to spot hidden scar patterns that signal sudden cardiac death, dramatically outperforming current dice-roll clinical guidelines and promising to save lives while sparing patients unnecessary defibrillators. Thu, 03 Jul 2025 09:55:34 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250702214205.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250702214202.htm When Siberian volcanoes kicked off the Great Dying, the real climate villain turned out to be the rainforests themselves: once they collapsed, Earth’s biggest carbon sponge vanished, CO₂ rocketed, and a five-million-year heatwave followed. Fossils from China and clever climate models now link that botanical wipe-out to runaway warming, hinting that losing today’s tropical forests could lock us in a furnace we can’t easily cool. Thu, 03 Jul 2025 09:07:42 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250702214202.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250702214159.htm A compound best known for giving almonds and apricots their aroma may be the key to defeating hard-to-kill cancer cells. Japanese researchers found that benzaldehyde can stop the shape-shifting ability of aggressive cancer cells, which lets them dodge treatments and spread. By targeting a specific protein interaction essential for cancer survival—without harming normal cells—benzaldehyde and its derivatives could form the basis of powerful new therapies, especially when combined with existing radiation or targeted treatments. Thu, 03 Jul 2025 08:46:45 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250702214159.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250702214157.htm A multinational team has cracked a long-standing barrier to reliable quantum computing by inventing an algorithm that lets ordinary computers faithfully mimic a fault-tolerant quantum circuit built on the notoriously tricky GKP bosonic code, promising a crucial test-bed for future quantum hardware. Wed, 02 Jul 2025 21:41:57 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250702214157.htm