NASA's Hubble provides bird's-eye view of Andromeda galaxy's ecosystem

Located 2.5 million light-years away, the majestic Andromeda galaxy appears to the naked eye as a faint, spindle-shaped object roughly the angular size of the full Moon. What backyard observers don't see is a swarm of nearly three dozen small satellite galaxies circling the Andromeda galaxy, like bees around a hive.

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Why brain cancer is often resistant to immunotherapy

New findings could help make immunotherapies for brain cancer more effective. The team analyzed almost 200,000 individual immune cells in tumor samples taken from patients with glioma, the most common and aggressive type of primary brain cancer. The researchers describe four gene expression 'programs' -- sets of genes with coordinated activity -- that either suppress the immune system or make it more active. Defining and understanding what drives these programs could one day help researchers target them with new drugs to dial up or down specific parts of the immune system to improve patient response to immunotherapy.

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A new path to recovery: Scientists uncover key brain circuit in the fight against cocaine use disorder

Imagine a future where the grip of cocaine use disorder can be loosened, where cravings fade, and the risk of relapse diminishes. A new study brings this vision closer to reality. The research has identified a critical brain circuit that plays a pivotal role in regulating cocaine-seeking behavior.

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Biological organ ages predict disease risk decades in advance

Our organs age at different rates, and a blood test determining how much they've each aged could predict the risk of conditions like lung cancer and heart disease decades later, finds a new study.

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Mimicking shark skin to create clean cutting boards

Keeping work surfaces clean during meat processing is a challenge, and now researchers deliver key insights into a solution that could change the current practice altogether: Instead of working to prevent bacteria buildup, they created surfaces that stop bacteria from attaching in the first place. Using lasers to etch and alter the surface of the metal, the team was able to create micro- or nanoscale textures that make it difficult for microbial cells to attach to the surface. The technique, known as laser-induced surface texturing, also alters the metal's water-repellent properties.

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New study reveals Neanderthals experienced population crash 110,000 years ago

A new study suggests that Neanderthals experienced a dramatic loss of genetic variation during the course of their evolution, foreshadowing their eventual extinction. Examination of semicircular canals of ear shows Neanderthals experienced 'bottleneck' event where physical and genetic variation was lost.

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Genetic evidence that diabetes drug GLP-1 receptor agonists achieve weight loss primarily by reducing fat mass more than muscle

Diabetes and obesity have become pressing health issues worldwide. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, a class of medications widely used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D), have shown significant effectiveness in both lowering blood sugar levels and aiding weight loss due to their unique pharmacological mechanisms. A research team assessed the impact of GLP-1 receptor agonist in weight loss through genetic studies, aiming to understand whether the use of these medications reduces weight due to muscle or fat mass loss. This genetic study revealed that GLP-1 receptor agonists reduce weight by reducing more fat mass than muscle mass.

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AI to diagnose 'invisible' brain abnormalities in children with epilepsy

Scientists have developed an AI-powered tool that detects 64% of brain abnormalities linked to epilepsy that human radiologists miss.

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Telemedicine may help reduce use of unnecessary health tests

A research team has found that telemedicine may help to reduce the use of low-value tests.

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Research provides new detail on the impact of volcanic activity on early marine life

New analysis of ancient fossilized rocks known as stromatolites, preserved in southern Zimbabwe, suggests strong links to hydrothermal nutrient recycling, 'meaning that early life may in part have been fueled by volcanic activity'.

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Flexible crystals reveal secrets of elasticity

Researchers have identified the origin of the restoring force that lets elastic crystals return to their original shape.

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Daily cannabis use linked to public health burden

A new study analyzes the disease burden and the risk factors for severity among people who suffer from a condition called cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. Researchers say the condition occurs in people who are long-term regular consumers of cannabis and causes nausea, uncontrollable vomiting and excruciating pain in a cyclical pattern that often leads to repeated trips to the hospital.

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Daily cannabis use linked to public health burden

A new study analyzes the disease burden and the risk factors for severity among people who suffer from a condition called cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. Researchers say the condition occurs in people who are long-term regular consumers of cannabis and causes nausea, uncontrollable vomiting and excruciating pain in a cyclical pattern that often leads to repeated trips to the hospital.

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Lifestyle and environmental factors affect health and aging more than our genes

A new study led by researchers from Oxford Population Health has shown that a range of environmental factors, including lifestyle (smoking and physical activity), and living conditions, have a greater impact on health and premature death than our genes.

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Scientific insights into how humans access deep spiritual states

Two seemingly opposite spiritual practices -- Buddhist jhana meditation and the Christian practice of speaking in tongues -- have more in common than previously thought, a new study suggests. While one is quiet and deeply focused, and the other emotionally charged and expressive, both appear to harness the same cognitive feedback loop to create profound states of joy and surrender.

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Scientific insights into how humans access deep spiritual states

Two seemingly opposite spiritual practices -- Buddhist jhana meditation and the Christian practice of speaking in tongues -- have more in common than previously thought, a new study suggests. While one is quiet and deeply focused, and the other emotionally charged and expressive, both appear to harness the same cognitive feedback loop to create profound states of joy and surrender.

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Toward improved early detection of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is the worst prognosis cancer globally, with just 13% of patients who are diagnosed with PC surviving for 5 years or more after initial diagnosis. Early detection of PC is the primary concern of most PC research, as it has the potential to make a substantial difference to the treatment and survival of patients. Survival rates, however, remain poor due to the vague nature of the symptoms associated with early-stage PC, and subsequently the late-stage of the disease at diagnosis. Now researchers are focusing on pancreatic cystic lesions to tackle the crucial issue of identifying patients who are at high-risk of developing pancreatic cancer, to improve survival rates.

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Even after learning the right idea, humans and animals still seem to test other approaches, study suggests

New research adds evidence that learning a successful strategy for approaching a task doesn't prevent further exploration, even if it reduces performance.

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Einstein Probe catches X-ray odd couple

Lobster-eye satellite Einstein Probe captured the X-ray flash from a very elusive celestial pair. The discovery opens a new way to explore how massive stars interact and evolve, confirming the unique power of the mission to uncover fleeting X-ray sources in the sky.

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Landmark atlas reveals how aging breast tissue shapes breast cancer risk

Aging is a privilege, but it also brings risks -- including an increased likelihood of developing age-related diseases including cancer. Researchers have now created a landmark atlas of how healthy breast tissue ages, revealing key cellular, molecular, and genetic changes that may tip the balance toward breast cancer development.

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The molecular Einstein: One molecule, endless patterns

Is it possible to tile a surface with a single shape in such a way that the pattern never repeats itself? In 2022, a mathematical solution to this 'Einstein problem' was discovered for the first time. Researchers have now also found a chemical solution: a molecule that arranges itself into complex, non-repeating patterns on a surface. The resulting aperiodic layer could even exhibit novel physical properties.

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Near-complete skull discovery reveals 'top apex', leopard-sized 'fearsome' carnivore

A rare discovery of a nearly complete skull in the Egyptian desert has led scientists to the 'dream' revelation of a new 30-million-year-old species of the ancient apex predatory carnivore, Hyaenodonta.

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Scientists find new biomarker that predicts cancer aggressiveness

Using a new technology and computational method, researchers have uncovered a biomarker capable of accurately predicting outcomes in meningioma brain tumors and breast cancers.

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Research shows blood test may provide personalized dietary therapy for patients with irritable bowel syndrome

Study participants who went on an IgG-based elimination diet--based on a novel blood test--experienced less abdominal pain than those on a sham diet.

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Scientists find new biomarker that predicts cancer aggressiveness

Using a new technology and computational method, researchers have uncovered a biomarker capable of accurately predicting outcomes in meningioma brain tumors and breast cancers.

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Restoring wildlife habitats in wealthy nations could drive extinctions in species-rich regions, experts warn

Researchers call on the international community to recognize and start tackling the 'biodiversity leak'.

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Birds have developed complex brains independently from mammals

New research has revealed that birds, reptiles, and mammals have developed complex brain circuits independently, despite sharing a common ancestor. These findings challenge the traditional view of brain evolution and demonstrate that, while comparable brain functions exist among these groups, embryonic formation mechanisms and cell types have followed divergent evolutionary trajectories.

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Cracking the Alzheimer's code: How brain trauma triggers disease

A study reveals that traumatic brain injury alters the small vessels in the brain, resulting in an accumulation of amyloid beta -- a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. The findings suggest that vascular dysfunction could be an early driver in neurodegenerative disorders rather than being caused by neuronal damage.

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Mirror, mirror trap the light: Measuring invisible light waves via electro-optic cavities

Researchers have developed a novel experimental platform to measure the electric fields of light trapped between two mirrors with a sub-cycle precision. These electro-optic Fabry-Perot resonators will allow for precise control and observation of light-matter interactions, particularly in the terahertz (THz) spectral range. By developing a tunable hybrid-cavity design, and measuring and modeling its complex sets of allowed modes, the physicists can switch between nodes and maxima of the light waves exactly at the location of interest. The study opens new avenues for exploring quantum electrodynamics and ultrafast control of material properties.

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Biohybrid hand gestures with human muscles

A biohybrid hand which can move objects and do a scissor gesture has been created. The researchers used thin strings of lab-grown muscle tissue bundled into sushilike rolls to give the fingers enough strength to contract. These multiple muscle tissue actuators (MuMuTAs), created by the researchers, are a major development towards building larger biohybrid limbs. While currently limited to the lab environment, MuMuTAs have the potential to advance future biohybrid prosthetics, aid drug testing on muscle tissue and broaden the potential of biohybrid robotics to mimic real-life forms.

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Meet the newly discovered brain cell that allows you to remember objects

Researchers have discovered a new type of neuron that plays a fundamental role in recognition memory -- how the brain registers the difference between new and familiar objects and forms long-term memories. The new cell type, called ovoid cells, are found in the hippocampus of mice, humans and other mammals. Discovering the neuron provides key insights into how memories form and into treatment of brain conditions related to object-recognition like Alzheimer's disease, Autism Spectrum Disorder and epilepsy.

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For Valentine's Day: Measure your relationship with a scientific self-test

Answer seven questions and get an indication of how your relationship is right now. Just in time for Valentine's Day, researchers are publishing a new study that introduces a scientifically validated scale, the 'Valentine's Scale'. The scale measures how satisfied you are in your love relationship.

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For Valentine's Day: Measure your relationship with a scientific self-test

Answer seven questions and get an indication of how your relationship is right now. Just in time for Valentine's Day, researchers are publishing a new study that introduces a scientifically validated scale, the 'Valentine's Scale'. The scale measures how satisfied you are in your love relationship.

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Birds-of-paradise are biofluorescent

New research reports, for the first time, the widespread occurrence of biofluorescence in birds-of-paradise. The study, based on specimens collected since the 1800s, finds biofluorescence in 37 of the 45 known birds-of-paradise species and suggests that this special 'glow' is important among males for hierarchy and mating displays.

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Born to heal: Why babies recover, but adults scar, after heart damage

Newborns with heart complications can rely on their newly developed immune systems to regenerate cardiac tissues, but adults aren't so lucky. After a heart attack, most adults struggle to regenerate healthy heart tissue, leading to scar-tissue buildup and, often, heart failure. A new study in experimental animals reveals a critical difference in how macrophages -- a part of the immune system -- help repair the heart in newborns versus adults after a heart attack. The study highlights a fundamental difference in how the immune system drives healing based on age.

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Mystery solved: New study reveals how DNA repair genes play a major role in Huntington's disease

A new study has discovered in mouse models that genes associated with repairing mismatched DNA are critical in eliciting damages to neurons that are most vulnerable in Huntington's disease and triggering downstream pathologies and motor impairment, shedding light on disease mechanisms and potential new ways to develop therapies.

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New perspectives for personalized therapy of brain tumors

Scientists have developed an innovative method for growing brain tumors of individual patients in the laboratory that mimic the original structure and the molecular property of the parental tumor as closely as possible. Drug tests in this model were found to correlate very well with actual patient responses, making it a valuable method for investigating therapies.

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'Junk' RNA segments play role in protein production, cell stress response

Scientists have discovered that some tiny segments of RNA thought to be junk instead have a functional role in suppressing production of certain messenger RNAs and appear to help cells respond to oxidative stress.

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Eating gradually increasing doses of peanut butter enables children with high-threshold allergy to safely consume peanuts, study suggests

Findings suggest a safe, inexpensive, and effective pathway for allergists to treat children who already tolerate at least half a peanut.

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Earth's inner core is less solid than previously thought

Earth's inner core is undergoing structural transformation.

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Brain waves measure the effect of anti-alcohol campaigns

To evaluate the effectiveness of public video campaigns against risky alcohol consumption, psychologists used EEG measurements to examine the synchronization of brain activity in groups of viewers. In a recent study, they present new ways to bring the method out of the laboratory and into real-life application in the public health sector.

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Brain waves measure the effect of anti-alcohol campaigns

To evaluate the effectiveness of public video campaigns against risky alcohol consumption, psychologists used EEG measurements to examine the synchronization of brain activity in groups of viewers. In a recent study, they present new ways to bring the method out of the laboratory and into real-life application in the public health sector.

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Testing AI with AI: Ensuring effective AI implementation in clinical practice

Using a pioneering artificial intelligence platform, researchers have assessed whether a cardiac AI tool recently trialed in South Australian hospitals actually has the potential to assist doctors and nurses to rapidly diagnose heart issues in emergency departments.

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Why some heavy drinkers develop advanced liver disease, while others do not

The research found that heavy drinkers with either diabetes, high blood pressure or a high waist circumference are as much as 2.4 times more likely to develop advanced liver disease.

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The early roots of carnival? Research reveals evidence of seasonal celebrations in pre-colonial Brazil

An international team of scientists has tentatively found some of the earliest indications of alcoholic drink production in the Patos Lagoon region of Brazil. State-of-the-art analysis of pottery fragments showed traces of beverages made from vegetables, likely to have been tubers, sweetcorn, and palm.

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Why some heavy drinkers develop advanced liver disease, while others do not

The research found that heavy drinkers with either diabetes, high blood pressure or a high waist circumference are as much as 2.4 times more likely to develop advanced liver disease.

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Researchers discover the brain cells that tell you to stop eating

Newly discovered brain cells count each bite before sending the order to cease eating a meal.

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Cancer vaccine shows promise for patients with stage III and IV kidney cancer

Researchers report that all nine patients in a clinical trial being treated for stage III or IV clear cell renal cell carcinoma (a form of kidney cancer), generated a successful anti-cancer immune response after initiation of a personalized cancer vaccine.

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Cancer vaccine shows promise for patients with stage III and IV kidney cancer

Researchers report that all nine patients in a clinical trial being treated for stage III or IV clear cell renal cell carcinoma (a form of kidney cancer), generated a successful anti-cancer immune response after initiation of a personalized cancer vaccine.

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Global groundwater sulfate distribution map uncovers public health risks for 17 million people

A recent study has revealed a startling public health threat: About 17 million people are at risk of gastrointestinal problems due to excessive sulfate levels in groundwater. This alarming finding emerged from the first high-resolution global groundwater sulfate distribution map.

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Molecular basis of food allergy

A multi-institutional study has identified one of the allergens responsible for eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), an inflammatory disease of the esophagus. This is the first time one of the allergens that causes EoE has been identified at a molecular level.

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Researchers link India's food program to better health and stronger incomes

Despite humanity's scientific achievements and globalized economy, malnutrition remains a global issue. The United Nations estimated that 2.33 billion people experienced moderate or severe food insecurity in 2023.

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A protein at the heart of heart disease

Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) -- commonly known as bad cholesterol -- have long been on scientists' radar as a major contributor to heart disease. But these microscopic troublemakers have hidden their inner workings behind a maze of complexity. That is, until now. Researchers have now revealed the specific shape and structure of one of the body's most important yet complicated proteins: ApoB100. Acting as a kind of molecular exoskeleton, this protein wraps around LDL particles, allowing them to travel through the bloodstream, researchers found.

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Vitamin D matters during first trimester

Maternal vitamin D levels in the first trimester were related to both prenatal growth and pregnancy outcomes, according to a new study. Low vitamin D levels during the first trimester of pregnancy were associated with higher rates of preterm birth and decreased fetal length.

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Alarming rise in rates of advanced prostate cancer in California

The incidence of advanced prostate cancer in California rose markedly in the decade since doctors stopped routinely screening all men for the disease, according to a new study.

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Study establishes link between early side effects from prostate cancer radiation and long-term side effects

Men undergoing radiation therapy for prostate cancer who experience side effects early in treatment may face a higher risk of developing more serious long-term urinary and bowel health issues, according to a new study.

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E-mobility: AI system accelerates the development of powertrains

The development of vehicle components is a lengthy and therefore very costly process. Researchers have developed a method that can shorten the development phase of the powertrain of battery electric vehicles by several months. A team is combining simulation models of components with evolutionary optimization algorithms. This AI system automatically optimizes the entire powertrain -- from the power electronics to the electric machine through to the transmission -- in line with the manufacturer's technical requirements, taking into account targets such as production costs, efficiency and package space requirements in the vehicle.

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Healthy gut bacteria that feed on sugar analyzed

A microbe found in the lower part of the gut that is associated with good health has been comprehensively analyzed and found to have a focused diet breaking down sugars locked away in mucus, according to a new study.

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