Move more, think sharper

A brisk walk, a splash of water aerobics, or even a light jog around the block -- if your heart rate goes up then so too will your brain health according to new research.

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Giant croclike carnivore fossils found in the Caribbean

Imagine a crocodile built like a greyhound -- that's a sebecid. Standing tall, with some species reaching 20 feet in length, they dominated South American landscapes after the extinction of dinosaurs until about 11 million years ago. Or at least, that's what paleontologists thought. A new study shows the Caribbean Islands were a refuge for the last sebecid populations at least 5 million years after they went extinct everywhere else.

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Breast cancer mortality in women ages 20-49 significantly dropped between 2010 and 2020

Breast cancer deaths among women ages 20-49 declined significantly between 2010 and 2020, according to a new study.

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Global study links consumption of ultraprocessed foods to preventable premature deaths

A study analyzing data from nationally representative dietary surveys and mortality data from eight countries (Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, United Kingdom, and United States) shows that premature deaths attributable to consumption of ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) increase significantly according to their share in individuals' total energy intake. The new study reinforces the call for global action to reduce UPF consumption, supported by regulatory and fiscal policies that foster healthier environments.

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Evolution of pugs and Persians converges on cuteness

Through intensive breeding, humans have pushed breeds such as pug dogs and Persian cats to evolve with very similar skulls and 'smushed' faces, so they're more similar to each other than they are to other dogs or cats.

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Brain decoder controls spinal cord stimulation

A lab develops brain wave decoder that may help in spinal cord injury rehabilitation.

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Brain decoder controls spinal cord stimulation

A lab develops brain wave decoder that may help in spinal cord injury rehabilitation.

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Billion-year-old impact in Scotland sparks questions about life on land

New research has revealed that a massive meteorite struck northwestern Scotland about 200 million years later than previously thought, in a discovery that not only rewrites Scotland's geological history but alters our understanding of the evolution of non-marine life on Earth.

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Less intensive farming works best for agricultural soil

The less intensively you manage the soil, the better the soil can function. Such as not plowing as often or using more grass-clover mixtures as cover crops. Surprisingly, it applies to both conventional and organic farming.

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Evidence blasted into space: Mystery why some meteorites look less shocked solved

Carbon-containing meteorites look like they had less severe impacts than those without carbon because the evidence was blasted into space by gases produced during the impact. The discovery not only solves a 30-year-old mystery, but also provides guidelines for a future sampling mission to Ceres.

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Could seismic signals from earthquakes mask the signals of an underground explosion?

Could the seismic signal of an underground nuclear test explosion be 'hidden' by the signal generated by a natural earthquake?

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Breakthrough approach for diagnosing TB could significantly improve detection

A new strategy for tuberculosis (TB) screening provides a solution to problems with current TB screening, which does not always accurately detect disease. Simultaneously screening for both active and dormant TB infection could save lives, curtail infection rates, and rewrite the story of the continued spread of this disease. Researchers hope that this new approach will inform guidance from global health organizations and key decision-makers on the most effective way to screen for TB.

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Paying fishers to release endangered catches can aid conservation, but only if done right

A new study has revealed that an incentive program increased live releases of endangered species caught as bycatch. However, unexpectedly, the overall positive impact was reduced by some vessels increasing catches of these species. The study is a randomized controlled trial to conclusively assess the effectiveness of an incentive-based marine conservation program.

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What happens in the brain when your mind blanks

Mind blanking is a common experience with a wide variety of definitions ranging from feeling 'drowsy' to 'a complete absence of conscious awareness.' Neuroscientists and philosophers compile what we know about mind blanking, including insights from their own work observing people's brain activity.

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Statin use may improve survival in patients with some blood cancers

Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) who were taking cholesterol-lowering statin medications at the start of their cancer treatment had a 61% lower risk of dying from their cancer compared to similar patients who were not taking statins, according to a new study.

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A light-activated probe reveals TB immune system evasion mechanisms

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that kills more than a million people worldwide every year. The pathogen that causes the disease, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is deadly in part because of its complex outer envelope, which helps it evade immune responses of infected hosts. Researchers have now developed a chemical probe to study a key component of this envelope. Their results provide a step toward finding new ways of inactivating the bacterium.

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Hospitalized patients who receive alcohol use disorder treatment can substantially reduce heavy drinking

A new study found that the oral and extended-release injectable forms of naltrexone are equally effective in helping patients consume less alcohol, suggesting that clinicians should integrate this medication into routine hospital care.

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Father's mental health can impact children for years

Five-year-olds exposed to paternal depression are more likely to have behavioral issues in grade school, researchers find.

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Land-use drives energy dynamics of boreal lake food webs

Lake ecosystems can receive high inputs of terrestrial organic matter (t-OM) that microbes make available to higher trophic level consumers. A research group examined terrestrial reliance of 19 consumer groups from 35 boreal lakes using stable isotopes of hydrogen. According to the study, benthic macroinvertebrates and the benthivorous fish reliance to terrestrial energy (allochthony) was higher compared to pelagic plankton and planktivorous fish. Consumer allochthony decreased along the environmental gradient from forested to agricultural catchments, likely due to alteration in the origin of lake organic matter.

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Nutrients strengthen link between precipitation and plant growth, study finds

A new study has investigated how the relationship between mean annual precipitation (MAP) and grassland biomass changes when one or more nutrients are added. The authors show that precipitation and nutrient availability are the key drivers of plant biomass, while the effects of plant diversity are minimal.

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Groundbreaking study uncovers how our brain learns

How do we learn new things? Neurobiologists using cutting-edge visualization techniques have revealed how changes across our synapses and neurons unfold. The findings depict how information is processed in our brain's circuitry, offering insights for neurological disorders and brain-like AI systems.

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Finding friendship at first whiff: Scent plays role in platonic potential

Two women meeting for the first time can judge within minutes whether they have the potential to be friends -- guided as much by smell as any other sense, research on friendship formation finds.

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A wearable smart insole can track how you walk, run and stand

A new smart insole system that monitors how people walk in real time could help users improve posture and provide early warnings for conditions from plantar fasciitis to Parkinson's disease.

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First confirmed footage of a colossal squid -- and it's a baby!

An international team of scientists and crew on board Schmidt Ocean Institute's research vessel Falkor (too) was the first to film the colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) in its natural environment. The 30-centimeter juvenile squid (nearly one foot long) was captured on video at a depth of 600 meters (1968 feet) by the Institute's remotely operated vehicle (ROV) SuBastian. The sighting occurred on March 9 on an expedition near the South Sandwich Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean. This year is the 100-year anniversary of the identification and formal naming of the colossal squid, a member of the glass squid family (Cranchiidae).

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A wearable smart insole can track how you walk, run and stand

A new smart insole system that monitors how people walk in real time could help users improve posture and provide early warnings for conditions from plantar fasciitis to Parkinson's disease.

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Meat or veg? Plant-based protein is linked to a longer life, research shows

A global study has shown that countries which consume more plant-based proteins -- such as chickpeas, tofu and peas -- have longer adult life expectancies. Scientists studied food supply and demographic data between 1961-2018 from 101 countries, with the data corrected to account for population size and wealth, to understand whether the type of protein a population consumed had an impact on longevity.

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Sharp uptake in use of new weight loss and glucose-lowering medications

Researchers found that by December 2023, more than 1 in 3 of the medications being started for type 2 diabetes treatment were GLP-1RA-based medications.

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Taste research suggests pearl millet could be a healthy, sustainable, gluten-free wheat alternative in the US

Researchers recently reported that American palates are likely to accept pearl millet -- a hardy, gluten-free grain that has been cultivated for centuries in rugged, drought conditions in Africa and India -- as an acceptable substitute in recipes that use wheat flour.

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Taste research suggests pearl millet could be a healthy, sustainable, gluten-free wheat alternative in the US

Researchers recently reported that American palates are likely to accept pearl millet -- a hardy, gluten-free grain that has been cultivated for centuries in rugged, drought conditions in Africa and India -- as an acceptable substitute in recipes that use wheat flour.

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Study sheds light on how inherited cancer mutations drive tumor growth

Most cancer genome studies have focused on mutations in the tumor itself and how such gene variants allow a tumor to grow unchecked. A new study takes a deep dive into inherited cancer mutations measured in a healthy blood sample and reports how those mutations might take a toll on the body's cells starting at birth, perhaps predisposing a person to develop cancers at various stages of life.

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Dogs could help predict valley fever spread in humans

Dogs could help predict valley fever spread in humans. A new study finds a strong correlation between occurrence of dog and human disease.

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Father with Alzheimer's? You may be more at risk of brain changes

While some studies have suggested that having a mother with Alzheimer's disease may put you more at risk of developing the disease, a new study finds that having a father with the disease may be tied to a greater spread of the tau protein in the brain that is a sign of the disease, according to a new study.

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Father with Alzheimer's? You may be more at risk of brain changes

While some studies have suggested that having a mother with Alzheimer's disease may put you more at risk of developing the disease, a new study finds that having a father with the disease may be tied to a greater spread of the tau protein in the brain that is a sign of the disease, according to a new study.

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Coral reefs exude myriad chemicals, fueling dynamic microbial recycling of nutrients

New research revealed the remarkable chemical diversity of substances exuded by coral reefs and demonstrated that thousands of different chemicals derived from tropical corals and seaweeds are available for microbes to decompose and utilize.

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Europe's population is adapting better to cold than to heat

A study has shown that Europe has adapted better to low temperatures than to high temperatures over the last two decades. The relative risk of mortality at the coldest temperatures has decreased by 2% per year since 2003, while the risk from extreme heat has only fallen by 1% per year.

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Europe's population is adapting better to cold than to heat

A study has shown that Europe has adapted better to low temperatures than to high temperatures over the last two decades. The relative risk of mortality at the coldest temperatures has decreased by 2% per year since 2003, while the risk from extreme heat has only fallen by 1% per year.

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Bio-oils for greener industrial applications

New technology could enable more sustainable and cheaper production of bio-oils to replace petroleum-based products in electronic, construction and automotive applications. The technology, known as PYROCOTM, uses high temperatures without oxygen to convert treated sewage (biosolids) into a carbon-rich product called biochar, which can act as a catalyst to produce phenol-rich bio-oil.

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Lip sync: Study reveals gender differences in preference for lip size

Shifting cultural perceptions of beauty could drive 'lip dysmorphia', so psychologists tested the response of 32 people to altered images of lips to see how they responded. The results were surprising.

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Do 'optimistic' versus 'pessimistic' medical detection dogs perform differently?

A new, exploratory study has revealed statistical links between the performance of medical detection dogs and their scores on behavioral and affective tests, finding that more 'optimistic' dogs tended to perform better overall on detection tasks, but 'pessimistic' dogs had higher scent detection specificity.

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Eating only during the daytime could protect people from heart risks of shift work

Numerous studies have shown that working the night shift is associated with serious health risks, including to the heart. However, a new study suggests that eating only during the daytime could help people avoid the health risks associated with shift work.

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Long-term health impacts of flooding revealed

A comprehensive study of the long-term health impacts of flooding -- via analysis of over 300 million hospitalizations records in eight countries prone to flooding events -- has found an increased risk of 26 per cent of all diseases serious enough to require hospitalization. This impact on the health of communities lasts up to seven months post event.

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CVD and obesity: When protective lipids decline, health risks increase

New research has uncovered a surprising culprit underlying cardiovascular diseases in obesity and diabetes -- not the presence of certain fats, but their suppression. The study challenges the conventional belief that a type of fat called ceramides accumulates in blood vessels causing inflammation and health risks. Instead, their findings reveal that when ceramides decrease in endothelial cells lining blood vessels, it can be damaging and cause chronic illnesses. Ironically, the findings could ultimately lead to therapies that maintain high levels of these protective lipids in patients with obesity.

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Eye health linked to dementia risk

Researchers discovered the blood vessels at the back of the eye -- called retinal microvasculature -- can show early signs someone is at risk of developing dementia.

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Climate and health litigation mounting in Australia as exposure to heatwaves grows

Australia has experienced a 37 per cent rise in dangerous heat exposure over the past two decades, while becoming the world's second-highest hotspot for climate litigation, a new report reveals.

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The lush past of the world's largest desert

The vast desert of the Arabian Peninsula was not always an arid landscape. A recent study reveals that this region was once home to a vast lake and river system. These favorable conditions fostered grasslands and savannahs, enabling human migration -- until drought returned, forcing populations to move. This research highlights the impact of climate cycles on landscapes and human societies.

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Does teamwork fulfill the goal of project-based learning?

A researcher investigated the impact of the group work environment on motivation in English as a second language classes. The study revealed that the group work environment plays an important role in motivating students.

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The new season of The Last of Us has a spore-ting chance at realism

The Last of Us is back on April 13 and this season is more realistic than ever. The trailer for the hit HBO series appears to show the 'zombie fungus' cordyceps infecting humans by releasing air-borne spores, instead of through tentacles -- closer to scientific reality. And it's not the only thing the show gets right.

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Researchers discover way to predict treatment success for parasitic skin disease

Findings from a new study could help doctors select more effective treatments earlier for patients suffering from leishmaniasis, a disfiguring skin infection.

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Home care cooperatives may be key to addressing the critical shortage of caregivers for the elderly

Home care cooperatives may be the key to alleviating the shortage of paid caregivers for older Americans. Participants in cooperatives experienced more respect, control, job support, and compensation than their counterparts in traditional care services.

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New study investigates effects of ADHD medications on the heart

A new study has found that medications for ADHD have overall small effects on blood pressure and heart rate after weeks or a few months of use. There have been concerns about the side effects of ADHD medications but the new findings, coupled with other studies, suggest that the benefits of taking these medications outweigh the risks, while highlighting the need for careful monitoring.

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Nurture more important than nature for robotic hand

How does a robotic arm or a prosthetic hand learn a complex task like grasping and rotating a ball? Researchers address the classic 'nature versus nurture' question. The research demonstrates that the sequence of learning, also known as the 'curriculum,' is critical for learning to occur. In fact, the researchers note that if the curriculum takes place in a particular sequence, a simulated robotic hand can learn to manipulate with incomplete or even absent tactile sensation.

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Some gut bacteria could make certain drugs less effective

A new study shows how common gut bacteria can metabolize certain oral medications that target cellular receptors called GPCRs, potentially rendering these important drugs less effective.

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Researchers improve chemical reaction that underpins products from foods to fuels

A chemical reaction that's vital to a range of commercial and industrial goods may soon be initiated more effectively and less expensively.

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Key differences between visual- and memory-led Alzheimer's discovered

Differences in the distribution of certain proteins and markers in the brain may explain why some people first experience vision changes instead of memory loss in Alzheimer's disease, finds a new study.

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Machine learning model to predict virus reservoirs

A new artificial intelligence tool could aid in limiting or even prevent pandemics by identifying animal species that may harbor and spread viruses capable of infecting humans. The machine learning model analyzes host characteristics and virus genetics to identify potential animal reservoirs and geographic areas where new outbreaks are more likely to occur.

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Balance between two competing nerve proteins deters symptoms of autism in mice

In mice, autism symptoms arise when a certain pair of competing nerve proteins falls out of equilibrium, according to a new study.

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Balance between two competing nerve proteins deters symptoms of autism in mice

In mice, autism symptoms arise when a certain pair of competing nerve proteins falls out of equilibrium, according to a new study.

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New options for controlling type 2 diabetes

Nearly 40% of patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes imperil their health by stopping their medication within the first year, diabetes experts warn.

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The experts that can outsmart optical illusions

Medical imaging experts are adept at solving common optical illusions, according to new research. The research is the first to show that people can be trained to do better at solving visual illusions, which was previously thought to be near-impossible. The study shows that medical imaging experts are particularly accurate at judging the size of objects in common optical illusions. In other words, they also literally see better in everyday life!

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New options for controlling type 2 diabetes

Nearly 40% of patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes imperil their health by stopping their medication within the first year, diabetes experts warn.

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