Public health experts estimate that more than 200 million people worldwide are exposed to arsenic through contaminated drinking water. Scientists know long-term exposure to arsenic is associated with increased risk of chronic illnesses like cancer and cardiovascular disease, but there hasn't been a reliable way to track these exposures and fully understand their effects on the body and the mechanisms behind them. [...]
Solar radio bursts are intrinsically linked to the motion of their emitting source through the coronal and heliospheric plasma. Electron transport is mostly confined to magnetic field lines. These electrons move at a substantial fraction of the speed of light and often generate radio emission via the plasma emission process. [...]
Exoplanet science and the search for life beyond Earth continue to advance at break-neck speeds, with the number of confirmed exoplanets by NASA rapidly approaching 6,300, with 223 of those exoplanets being designated as terrestrial (rocky) exoplanets. With the promise of discovering an increasing number of Earth-sized exoplanets increasing every day, new telescopes from across the world have the opportunity to contribute to this incredible field. [...]
The Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) has been attracting millions of fans every year since it was launched back in 1956. At the same time, it represents a unique opportunity for research. Almost no other major cultural event has been so well documented over such an extended period of time. Data on songs, voting and rule changes is freely accessible, making Eurovision an ideal example for computer-assisted social sciences of a data-based culture system. [...]
Scientists at Université de Montréal's Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer have developed a new database that integrates the molecular structure of microRNAs and messenger RNAs to systematically model their interactions. Called RIMap-RISC and developed by Ph.D. student Simon Chasles in the laboratory of UdeM professor François Major, director of IRIC's RNA engineering research unit, the database is detailed in a study published in Genome Biology. [...]
Gold digging is often seen as a female behavior focused on exploiting wealthier partners for material gain, but science suggests this stereotype may be too narrow. Past studies have shown both men and women value resources in partners, but not much research has delved into the specifics regarding gold digging versus general resource preference in partners. [...]
Green alleys—residential laneways redesigned to enhance residents' quality of life, boost social cohesion and improve biodiversity—are gaining traction in cities across North America. But as the concept spreads, it remains loosely defined: what exactly counts as a green alley, and what benefits can it provide? [...]
On a fateful day 210 million years ago, two crocodile cousins about the size of jackals stood side-by-side amid the low ferns of a humid riverbank that would one day become northern New Mexico. One of the crocs, Hesperosuchus agilis, had a long snout, large back legs, and smaller, thinner arms. A land dweller, Hesperosuchus was speedy and liked to hunt for food near rivers and streams. [...]
As climate change accelerates and global temperatures continue to rise, a new randomized clinical trial provides compelling evidence that one of the most powerful climate solutions may be on our plates. A study published in Current Developments in Nutrition shows that adopting a low-fat vegan diet reduces diet-related greenhouse gas emissions by 55% and cumulative energy demand by 44%—dramatic reductions achieved in just 12 weeks. [...]
Cornell researchers have discovered that a lethal variant of feline coronavirus, previously thought to be limited to a devastating 2023 outbreak in Cyprus that killed thousands of cats, has in fact appeared in the United States, raising concerns about future large-scale outbreaks in vulnerable cat populations. [...]
Scientists at the Université de Montréal's affiliated Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM) have identified a new family of natural molecules with strong antiviral activity, notably against the Ebola virus and SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. The discovery comes at a time of renewed fears of the rapid emergence of new pandemics, and highlights the ongoing search at the IRCM for novel antiviral agents derived from natural sources. [...]
Larry Dallas's farm in Central Illinois's Douglas County is as flat as it gets. That's a good thing for planting straight rows and maneuvering farm equipment in the field, but there's a major downside, too. "Heavier rain is hard for us to deal with because of the poorly drained soils and the lack of any roll to the ground. It's hard for the water to get away when the rain starts," Dallas said. "We have installed a lot of drainage tile trying to mitigate that." [...]
Good caregivers are often in short supply, but after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the U.S. in early 2020, staff levels at nursing homes dropped by 10%. What was a simple personnel shortage has moved closer to being a nursing-care crisis. [...]
We're focusing on space news this week, but we did cover the usual amount of local news down here in Earth's gravity well: A new Tokamak reactor regime sustained stable plasma fusion for one full minute. An anomaly in global sea level rise turns out to be due to deep ocean heating. And Chinese researchers report that they found microplastics in every part of both healthy and diseased human brains. [...]
The ability to detect viruses and other harmful pathogens is highly advantageous for animals, as it can guide their behavior and prevent them from illness, and—in severe cases—death. When it comes to species that live in organized groups, such as bees, ants and some other insects, it can be even more crucial, as it can prevent the spread of pathogens across entire colonies. [...]
Take a brief walk outside and you're likely to encounter a wide range of things that could influence your health—the sunlight beaming on your face, a plume of exhaust, or even noise from a car driving by. Each exposure carries with it the possibility of affecting your physical well-being. [...]
In the search for new drugs, artificial intelligence in the form of diffusion models is being used in drug design. What exactly does AI do in this context? Dr. Andrea Mastropietro and Prof. Dr. Jürgen Bajorath from Life Science Informatics at the University of Bonn and the Lamarr Institute for Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence have published an article in Cell Reports Physical Science on this topic. Below, they answer questions about this method. [...]
A University of California, Riverside study reports that cells in the earliest stages of human development could be susceptible to infection by SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, offering new insight into how the virus interacts with developing human tissues and why that may matter for pregnancy research. [...]
Millions of people watched the historic launch of Artemis II and were captivated by the mission's 10-day journey around the moon as NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen ventured farther into space than any human before. Part of the public's ability to experience the mission in high-definition was due to laser communications. [...]
Mississippi State University biologist Matthew W. Brown is part of an international research team whose latest findings, published this spring in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, are reshaping scientific understanding of how parasitic organisms evolve and ultimately spread disease. [...]
Mechanochemistry is a growing field for chemical reactions that proceed in the solid state in the absence, or with minuscule amounts, of solvent added. For decades, solvents have been considered conventional for the progression of modern chemistry; nonetheless, researchers are increasingly demonstrating that mechanochemistry can synthesize complex molecules more effectively. With more progress, mechanochemistry could alleviate solvent-related environmental and financial burdens in chemical industries. [...]
Recent research published in Communications Biology marks an advance in structural biology by enhancing understanding of protein regulation mechanisms in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), a global health threat. The team led by the University of Melbourne combined several advanced techniques at the Australian Synchrotron and the National Deuteration Facility to reveal the hidden allosteric mechanism that activates a key enzyme, ICL2. [...]
The rare earths so essential to our modern technology have become a new diplomatic weapon—used to leverage influence and wield power, reshape global alliances, and exert economic dominance. For centuries, says Boston University historian Benjamin R. Siegel, opium was used in much the same way. [...]
Artificial intelligence can undoubtedly help scientists with their academic papers by summarizing research and helping to improve writing. However, one downside is that it has led to a wave of poorly written submissions and reviews, according to a new study published in Organization Science. [...]
Proton beams are not only used in sophisticated nuclear physics experiments. Today, they are becoming increasingly popular in radiotherapy, where they are an irreplaceable tool for destroying cancer cells. Doctors and physicists can enhance their precision thanks to two solutions developed at the Cyclotron Center Bronowice of the Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences. [...]
Sugar-based amphiphilic molecules, which contain a hydrophilic sugar headgroup and a hydrophobic segment such as an alkyl chain, can assemble in water depending on their concentration, forming hydrophobic microenvironments or organizing at interfaces. These properties are important fundamental phenomena related to detergents, emulsifiers, molecular assemblies, and the dispersion and delivery of drugs and functional molecules. [...]
In the world of organic chemistry, nitrogen-containing organic compounds are ubiquitous, forming the backbone of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, dyes, and functional materials. To build these important molecules, chemists often rely on highly reactive intermediates that can be transformed into many different products. [...]
The astronauts on Artemis II's trip to the moon in April 2026 didn't just have an amazing journey through space. They also saw something extraordinary. They were the first humans to see a total solar eclipse from space. [...]
RIKEN researchers have found out how light energy harvested by pigments besides chlorophyll is transferred to the molecular site where photosynthesis occurs in cyanobacteria. The work is published in the journal Plant and Cell Physiology. [...]
Cell division is one of the most fundamental and complex processes underpinning life. In human cells, thousands of molecules coordinate with one another in highly precise steps, all within a fraction of a second. But things don't always go as planned. [...]