By recreating a nuclear fireball, scientists uncovered unexpected chemistry that could change how radioactive fallout is understood. In the first fraction of a second after a nuclear explosion or a major reactor accident, an immense surge of energy superheats the surrounding environment. Nearby materials and air are instantly vaporized, creating a rapidly expanding fireball made [...]

Tiny particles from the gut may be carrying aging signals throughout the body, offering a surprising new clue to chronic disease. Researchers at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine have uncovered new evidence that microscopic particles produced in the gut may contribute to the inflammation and chronic diseases often associated with aging. [...]

An endocrinologist’s new weight-care system halted population-level weight gain and could reshape obesity treatment across America. For years, endocrinologist Leigh Perreault, MD, believed there had to be a more effective way to help people manage their weight than simply advising them to eat healthier and exercise more. “There was a moment I put my face [...]

Magnetic fields may be the hidden force bringing both newborn stars and giant black holes together. New computer simulations suggest that magnetic fields play a crucial role in helping pairs of young stars form. The findings could explain why binary star systems are so common throughout the Milky Way and may even offer clues about [...]

A surprising gut-brain discovery suggests that anxiety could one day be treated with specially designed probiotics. Could anxiety be shaped, at least in part, by tiny organisms living in the gut? Research from Duke-NUS Medical School and the National Neuroscience Institute of Singapore points to a striking connection between gut microbes and anxiety-related behavior. The [...]

A new study suggests that some groups may not experience the expected seasonal boost in vitamin D levels, even during the sunniest months of the year. Many people assume that spending more time outdoors during summer naturally restores vitamin D levels after the darker winter months. But new research suggests that for some groups, that [...]

Scientists discovered a hidden gut-brain network that can change cravings when the body needs more protein. The body has a remarkable ability to recognize when it is missing important nutrients and adjust behavior accordingly. New research shows that the gut plays a much larger role in this process than previously understood, actively detecting protein shortages [...]

PFDA, a PFAS “forever chemical,” can cause craniofacial birth defects by disrupting retinoic acid regulation during fetal development, revealing the first clear molecular mechanism behind the link. Researchers have long linked perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often called “forever chemicals,” to serious birth defects. However, scientists have struggled to explain exactly how these pollutants affect [...]

Scientists have uncovered an early brain mechanism that may help explain why people carrying the APOE4 gene face a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease. For millions of people who carry the APOE4 gene, the strongest known genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, changes in brain activity may start years before memory problems become noticeable. Researchers [...]

A new study challenges the long-held idea that habits form only through slow, gradual repetition. What if your habits don’t form through countless repetitions over months or years? What if the brain can decide, almost instantly, that a behavior is no longer worth thinking about? That possibility is at the center of a new Johns [...]

New research indicates that a moderate amount of weekly strength training may be associated with the greatest longevity benefits, especially when paired with regular aerobic exercise. For years, exercise advice has focused heavily on getting enough cardio. But a major new study suggests that what you do with your muscles may be just as important [...]

A widely prescribed class of weight-loss and diabetes medications may be doing more than improving metabolic health. Drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy have transformed the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes, helping millions lose weight and improve metabolic health. But scientists are increasingly uncovering effects that extend far beyond the scale. Research has [...]

NASA’s Fermi telescope may have finally uncovered the magnetic powerhouse behind the universe’s brightest supernovae. An international team of astronomers analyzing observations from NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has found what appears to be the first convincing detection of gamma rays from a rare type of extraordinarily bright stellar explosion known as a superluminous supernova. [...]

New evidence suggests calcium and vitamin D supplements may do far less to prevent fractures and falls than widely believed. Calcium and vitamin D supplements, whether taken separately or together, provide little to no meaningful benefit in preventing fractures or falls in most older adults, according to a major review published in The BMJ. Nearly [...]

The loss of a queen triggers intense battles for power among female wasps, disrupting the colony’s social structure. Surprisingly, other wasps avoid the fighting and keep the colony functioning by taking care of its most important daily tasks. What happens when a queen suddenly disappears from a wasp colony? According to new research led by [...]

Scientists have developed “living plastics” that can be programmed to break themselves down when triggered. Many plastic items are made for one-time use, but the materials can remain in the environment for years. Researchers are exploring a different approach: living plastics, materials built with microbes that can be activated to break down the polymer when [...]

A new evolutionary analysis suggests that modern blood and immune cells may preserve a 700-million-year legacy inherited from ancient single-celled ancestors. Long before humans, dinosaurs, or even fish existed, ancient single-celled organisms may have already carried the genetic blueprint for one of the body’s most important systems: blood. A new study from Kyoto University suggests [...]

A tiny worm discovered in the Great Salt Lake could help scientists better understand the origins and resilience of life in extreme environments. Its story remains largely a mystery. The Great Salt Lake is famous for brine shrimp, brine flies, and water so salty that few animals can survive in it. Now scientists have added [...]

Scientists discovered that fog droplets can host living bacteria that grow and help remove harmful pollutants from the atmosphere, revealing fog as a surprisingly active microbial environment. Every breath you take may contain microscopic hitchhikers floating through the atmosphere. Scientists have known for years that bacteria drift through clouds and air currents, but new research [...]