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- Multisensory VR forest reboots your brain and lifts mood—study confirmson July 6, 2025 at 12:17 pm
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.
- Pregnancy’s 100-million-year secret: Inside the placenta’s evolutionary power playon July 6, 2025 at 11:22 am
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.
- New IQ research shows why smarter people make better decisionson July 4, 2025 at 9:37 pm
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.
- Scientists just found a major flaw in a key COVID drug studyon July 4, 2025 at 12:28 pm
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.
- Avocado alert! DNA reveals how native plants keep brunch on the menuon July 4, 2025 at 8:13 am
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.
- Why anger cools after 50: Surprising findings from a new menopause studyon July 3, 2025 at 11:42 am
Anger isn’t just a fleeting emotion—it plays a deeper role in women’s mental and physical health during midlife. A groundbreaking study tracking over 500 women aged 35 to 55 reveals that anger traits like outbursts and hostility tend to diminish with age and menopause progression. This shift could signal enhanced emotional regulation during and after the reproductive transition. Surprisingly, the only form of anger that remained steady was suppressed anger.
- This sun-powered sponge pulls drinking water straight from the oceanon July 3, 2025 at 6:59 am
In a leap toward sustainable desalination, researchers have created a solar-powered sponge-like aerogel that turns seawater into drinkable water using just sunlight and a plastic cover. Unlike previous materials, this new 3D-printed aerogel maintains its efficiency at larger sizes, solving a key scalability issue. In outdoor tests, it produced clean water directly from the ocean without any electricity, pointing to a future of low-cost, energy-free freshwater production.
- Are lefties really more creative? 100 years of data say noon July 1, 2025 at 12:09 pm
A sweeping review of more than a century’s research upends the popular notion that left-handers are naturally more creative. Cornell psychologist Daniel Casasanto’s team sifted nearly a thousand studies, ultimately finding no consistent advantage for lefties on standard divergent-thinking tests—and even a slight edge for right-handers in some. The myth appears to thrive on coincidence: left-handedness is rare and so is creative genius, plus lefties’ overrepresentation in art and music gets cherry-picked while other professions are ignored.
- Buried for 23,000 years: These footprints are rewriting American historyon June 29, 2025 at 12:43 pm
Footprints found in the ancient lakebeds of White Sands may prove that humans lived in North America 23,000 years ago — much earlier than previously believed. A new study using radiocarbon-dated mud bolsters earlier findings, making it the third line of evidence pointing to this revised timeline.
- Scientists just reconstructed half the neanderthal genome—thanks to Indian DNAon June 29, 2025 at 11:43 am
India’s complex ancestry—intertwined with Iranian farmers, Steppe herders, and local hunter-gatherers—has now been decoded through genomic data from 2,762 people. The study uncovers surprising levels of Neanderthal and Denisovan DNA, and how ancient migrations and community traditions have shaped today’s genetic diversity and disease risks.
- Acid-busting diet triggers 13-pound weight loss in just 16 weekson June 26, 2025 at 3:15 pm
Swap steaks for spinach and you might watch the scale plummet. In a 16-week crossover study, overweight adults who ditched animal products for a low-fat vegan menu saw their bodies become less acidic and dropped an average of 13 pounds—while the Mediterranean diet left weight unchanged. Researchers link the shift to lower “dietary acid load,” a hidden inflammation trigger driven by meat, eggs, and cheese.
- Scientists finally know why early human migrations out of Africa failedon June 26, 2025 at 12:12 pm
New research reveals why early human attempts to leave Africa repeatedly failed—until one group succeeded spectacularly around 50,000 years ago. Scientists discovered that before this successful migration, humans began using a much broader range of environments across Africa, from dense forests to harsh deserts. This ecological flexibility, developed over thousands of years, gave them the adaptive edge needed to survive the more difficult exit routes into Eurasia.
- New test unmasks illegal elephant ivory disguised as mammothon June 26, 2025 at 11:32 am
Poachers are using a sneaky loophole to bypass the international ivory trade ban—by passing off illegal elephant ivory as legal mammoth ivory. Since the two types look deceptively similar, law enforcement struggles to tell them apart, especially when tusks are carved or polished. But scientists may have found a powerful new tool: stable isotope analysis.
- Farming without famine: Ancient Andean innovation rewrites agricultural originson June 26, 2025 at 10:55 am
Farming didn t emerge in the Andes due to crisis or scarcity it was a savvy and resilient evolution. Ancient diets remained stable for millennia, blending wild and domesticated foods while cultural innovations like trade and ceramics helped smooth the transition.
- This team tried to cross 140 miles of treacherous ocean like stone-age humans—and it workedon June 26, 2025 at 7:07 am
Experiments and simulations show Paleolithic paddlers could outwit the powerful Kuroshio Current by launching dugout canoes from northern Taiwan and steering southeast toward Okinawa. A modern crew proved it, carving a Stone-Age-style canoe, then paddling 225 km in 45 hours guided only by celestial cues—demonstrating our ancestors’ daring and mastery of the sea.
- Scientists reprogram ant behavior using brain moleculeson June 25, 2025 at 10:32 am
Leafcutter ants live in highly organized colonies where every ant has a job, and now researchers can flip those jobs like a switch. By manipulating just two neuropeptides, scientists can turn defenders into nurses or gardeners into leaf harvesters. These same molecular signals echo in naked mole-rats, revealing a deep evolutionary link in how complex societies function, even across species. The study also teases out a possible connection to insulin and longevity, hinting at new frontiers in understanding human behavior and lifespan.
- Mining the deep could mute the songs of sperm whaleson June 24, 2025 at 1:07 pm
Exploration for deep-sea minerals in the Clarion Clipperton Zone threatens to disrupt an unexpectedly rich ecosystem of whales and dolphins. New studies have detected endangered species in the area and warn that mining noise and sediment could devastate marine life that relies heavily on sound. With so little known about these habitats, experts urge immediate assessment of the risks.
- Artificial intelligence isn’t hurting workers—It might be helpingon June 23, 2025 at 11:27 am
Despite widespread fears, early research suggests AI might actually be improving some aspects of work life. A major new study examining 20 years of worker data in Germany found no signs that AI exposure is hurting job satisfaction or mental health. In fact, there s evidence that it may be subtly improving physical health especially for workers without college degrees by reducing physically demanding tasks. However, researchers caution that it s still early days.
- Superbugs in your shrimp: Deadly colistin-resistance genes ride on imported seafoodon June 22, 2025 at 3:51 pm
Colistin, a last-resort antibiotic, is losing its power due to rising resistance—and the culprits might be hiding in your seafood dinner. A University of Georgia research team discovered colistin-resistance genes in bacteria found in imported shrimp and scallops from markets in Atlanta. These genes can hop between bacteria via plasmids, potentially turning once-curable infections into deadly threats.
- Half of today’s jobs could vanish—Here’s how smart countries are future-proofing workerson June 22, 2025 at 7:04 am
AI is revolutionizing the job landscape, prompting nations worldwide to prepare their workforces for dramatic changes. A University of Georgia study evaluated 50 countries’ national AI strategies and found significant differences in how governments prioritize education and workforce training. While many jobs could disappear in the coming decades, new careers requiring advanced AI skills are emerging. Countries like Germany and Spain are leading with early education and cultural support for AI, but few emphasize developing essential human soft skills like creativity and communication—qualities AI can't replace.
- HIV is surging in over-50s—But campaigns still target the youngon June 22, 2025 at 3:38 am
HIV is surging among adults over 50 in sub-Saharan Africa, yet prevention and treatment campaigns still focus mainly on the young. New research reveals older adults face comparable or higher infection rates but remain largely invisible in HIV studies, which hampers progress toward global health goals. Persistent stigma, outdated perceptions, and limited education or access in rural areas worsen the situation, especially for older women.
- Scientists create living building material that captures CO₂ from the airon June 21, 2025 at 3:19 am
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed an astonishing new material: a printable gel that’s alive. Infused with ancient cyanobacteria, this "photosynthetic living material" not only grows but also removes CO₂ from the air, twice over. The bacteria use sunlight to produce biomass and simultaneously trigger mineral formation, which locks carbon away in a stable form. Engineered hydrogels provide an ideal habitat for these microbes, allowing them to thrive for over a year. Even more captivating, this material has already made its way into architecture, with living installations showcased in Venice and Milan that merge design, sustainability, and living science.
- Cluck once, and the river shakes: Inside the Amazon’s giant snake sagaon June 16, 2025 at 8:02 am
A lifelong fascination with nature and fieldwork led this researcher to the world of ethnobiology a field where ecology, culture, and community come together. Investigating how local people relate to species like the anaconda, their work blends traditional knowledge with scientific methods for better conservation. The tale of the mythic Great Snake morphs into economic concerns over vanishing chickens, revealing how cultural beliefs and practical needs coexist.
- Africa's pangolin crisis: The delicacy that's driving a species to the brinkon June 14, 2025 at 7:42 am
Study suggests that appetite for bushmeat -- rather than black market for scales to use in traditional Chinese medicine -- is driving West Africa's illegal hunting of one of the world's most threatened mammals. Interviews with hundreds of hunters show pangolins overwhelmingly caught for food, with majority of scales thrown away. Survey work shows pangolin is considered the most palatable meat in the region.
- Clean energy, dirty secrets: Inside the corruption plaguing california’s solar marketon June 11, 2025 at 12:37 pm
California s solar energy boom is often hailed as a green success story but a new study reveals a murkier reality beneath the sunlit panels. Researchers uncover seven distinct forms of corruption threatening the integrity of the state s clean energy expansion, including favoritism, land grabs, and misleading environmental claims. Perhaps most eyebrow-raising are allegations of romantic entanglements between senior officials and solar lobbyists, blurring the lines between personal influence and public interest. The report paints a picture of a solar sector racing ahead while governance and ethical safeguards fall dangerously behind.
- 2,000 miles through rivers and ice: Mapping neanderthals’ hidden superhighways across eurasiaon June 10, 2025 at 4:40 am
Neanderthals may have trekked thousands of miles across Eurasia much faster than we ever imagined. New computer simulations suggest they used river valleys like natural highways to cross daunting landscapes during warmer climate windows. These findings not only help solve a long-standing archaeological mystery but also point to the likelihood of encounters and interbreeding with other ancient human species like the Denisovans.
- New evidence reveals advanced maritime technology in the philippines 35,000 years agoon June 9, 2025 at 6:06 am
In a bold reimagining of Southeast Asia s prehistory, scientists reveal that the Philippine island of Mindoro was a hub of human innovation and migration as far back as 35,000 years ago. Advanced tools, deep-sea fishing capabilities, and early burial customs show that early humans here weren t isolated they were maritime pioneers shaping a wide-reaching network across the region.
- Collaboration can unlock Australia's energy transition without sacrificing natural capitalon June 3, 2025 at 9:29 pm
Australia can reach net-zero emissions and still protect its natural treasures but only if everyone works together. New research from Princeton and The University of Queensland shows that the country can build the massive amount of renewable energy infrastructure needed by 2060 without sacrificing biodiversity, agriculture, or Indigenous land rights. But the path is delicate: if stakeholders clash instead of collaborate, the result could be soaring costs and a devastating shortfall in clean energy.
- Guardrails, education urged to protect adolescent AI userson June 3, 2025 at 6:12 pm
The effects of artificial intelligence on adolescents are nuanced and complex, according to a new report that calls on developers to prioritize features that protect young people from exploitation, manipulation and the erosion of real-world relationships.
- DNA floating in the air tracks wildlife, viruses -- even drugson June 3, 2025 at 3:48 pm
In the heart of Dublin, scientists have discovered that the air holds more than melodies and Guinness-infused cheer it carries invisible traces of life, from wildlife to drugs and even human diseases. Using high-powered air filters and environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis, researchers vacuumed up the city s air and uncovered genetic material from cannabis, magic mushrooms, and pathogens. This emerging technology, which doesn t require direct contact with organisms, could revolutionize how we monitor ecosystems, track diseases, and even locate endangered species all from the sky above. It's science fiction turned science fact, and it s changing what we thought was possible from a simple breath of air.
- Still on the right track? Researchers enable reliable monitoring of the Paris climate goalson June 2, 2025 at 7:53 pm
Global warming is continuously advancing. How quickly this will happen can now be predicted more accurately than ever before, thanks to a method developed by climate researchers. Anthropogenic global warming is set to exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2028 and hence improved quantification of the Paris goals is proposed.
- Coastal flooding more frequent than previously thoughton June 2, 2025 at 7:53 pm
Flooding in coastal communities is happening far more often than previously thought, according to a new study. The study also found major flaws with the widely used approach of using marine water level data to capture instances of flooding.
- Attachment theory: A new lens for understanding human-AI relationshipson June 2, 2025 at 7:53 pm
Human-AI interactions are well understood in terms of trust and companionship. However, the role of attachment and experiences in such relationships is not entirely clear. In a new breakthrough, researchers from Waseda University have devised a novel self-report scale and highlighted the concepts of attachment anxiety and avoidance toward AI. Their work is expected to serve as a guideline to further explore human-AI relationships and incorporate ethical considerations in AI design.
- Researchers use deep learning to predict flooding this hurricane seasonon June 2, 2025 at 7:49 pm
Researchers have developed a deep learning model called LSTM-SAM that predicts extreme water levels from tropical cyclones more efficiently and accurately, especially in data-scarce coastal regions, to offer a faster, low-cost tool for flood forecasting.
- The EU should allow gene editing to make organic farming more sustainable, researchers sayon May 30, 2025 at 4:38 pm
To achieve the European Green Deal's goal of 25% organic agriculture by 2030, researchers argue that new genomic techniques (NGTs) should be allowed without pre-market authorization in organic as well as conventional food production. NGTs -- also known as gene editing --- are classified under the umbrella of GMOs, but they involve more subtle genetic tweaks.
- Save twice the ice by limiting global warmingon May 29, 2025 at 7:54 pm
A new study finds that if global warming exceeds the Paris Climate Agreement targets, the non-polar glacier mass will diminish significantly. However, if warming is limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius, at least 54 per cent could be preserved -- more than twice as much ice as in a 2.7 C scenario.
- Anthropologists spotlight human toll of glacier losson May 29, 2025 at 7:54 pm
Anthropologists have examined the societal consequences of global glacier loss. This article appears alongside new research that estimates that more than three-quarters of the world's glacier mass could disappear by the end of the century under current climate policies.
- 'Future-proofing' crops will require urgent, consistent efforton May 29, 2025 at 4:47 pm
A professor of crop sciences and of plant biology describes research efforts to 'future-proof' the crops that are essential to feeding a hungry world in a changing climate. Long, who has spent decades studying the process of photosynthesis and finding ways to improve it, provides an overview of key scientific findings that offer a ray of hope.
- Living libraries could save our foodon May 29, 2025 at 4:47 pm
Scientists have pioneered a new way to breed climate-resilient crops faster by combining plant genebank data with climate and DNA analysis. The method, tested on sorghum, could speed up global efforts to secure food supplies in a changing climate.
- Does planting trees really help cool the planet?on May 29, 2025 at 4:46 pm
Replanting forests can help cool the planet even more than some scientists once believed, especially in the tropics. But even if every tree lost since the mid-19th century is replanted, the total effect won't cancel out human-generated warming.
- The future of AI regulation: Why leashes are better than guardrailson May 29, 2025 at 4:44 pm
Many policy discussions on AI safety regulation have focused on the need to establish regulatory 'guardrails' to protect the public from the risks of AI technology. Experts now argue that, instead of imposing guardrails, policymakers should demand 'leashes.'
- Amphibian road mortality drops by over 80% with wildlife underpasses, study showson May 29, 2025 at 4:44 pm
A new study shows that wildlife underpass tunnels dramatically reduce deaths of frog, salamanders, and other amphibians migrating across roads.
- Earlier measles vaccine could help curb global outbreakon May 29, 2025 at 4:43 pm
The global measles outbreak must trigger an urgent debate into whether a vaccine should be recommended earlier to better protect against the highly contagious disease during infancy, a new review states.
- A cheap and easy potential solution for lowering carbon emissions in maritime shippingon May 29, 2025 at 4:41 pm
Reducing travel speeds and using an intelligent queuing system at busy ports can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from oceangoing container vessels by 16-24%, according to researchers. Not only would those relatively simple interventions reduce emissions from a major, direct source of greenhouse gases, the technology to implement these measures already exists.
- Trees vs. disease: Tree cover reduces mosquito-borne health riskon May 29, 2025 at 1:42 am
A study finds small-scale tree cover in Costa Rica boosts biodiversity while limiting dangerous mosquito species.
- A sweeping study of 7,000 years of monuments in South Arabiaon May 28, 2025 at 7:07 pm
New research brings together 7,000 years of history in South Arabia to show how ancient pastoralists changed placement and construction of monuments over time in the face of environmental and cultural forces.
- Five things to do in virtual reality -- and five to avoidon May 28, 2025 at 5:25 pm
A review of experimental research reveals how VR is best used and why it's struggled to become a megahit with consumers.
- Nearly five million seized seahorses just 'tip of the iceberg' in global wildlife smugglingon May 28, 2025 at 5:22 pm
Close to five million smuggled seahorses worth an estimated CAD$29 million were seized by authorities over a 10-year span, according to a new study that warns the scale of the trade is far larger than current data suggest. The study analyzed online seizure records from 2010 to 2021 and found smuggling incidents in 62 countries, with dried seahorses, widely used in traditional medicine, most commonly intercepted at airports in passenger baggage or shipped in sea cargo.
- Mother's warmth in childhood influences teen health by shaping perceptions of social safetyon May 28, 2025 at 5:16 pm
Parental warmth and affection in early childhood can have life-long physical and mental health benefits for children, and new research points to an important underlying process: children's sense of social safety.
- Involving communities in nature-based solutions to climate challenges leads to greater innovation, study showson May 28, 2025 at 5:15 pm
Involving communities in nature-based solutions to tackle urban climate and environmental challenges leads to innovation and multiple benefits, a study shows.
- Electric buses struggle in the cold, researchers findon May 28, 2025 at 5:15 pm
Researchers have released new insights on a pilot program involving all-electric buses in Ithaca, NY, USA -- with implications for cities, schools and other groups that are considering the electrification of their fleets, as well as operators, policymakers and manufacturers.
- Without public trust, effective climate policy is impossibleon May 27, 2025 at 4:45 pm
When formulating climate policy, too little attention is paid to social factors and too much to technological breakthroughs and economic reasons. Because citizens are hardly heard in this process, European governments risk losing public support at a crucial moment in the climate debate.
- How you handle your home life can boost work performance, shows new studyon May 27, 2025 at 4:43 pm
A new study shows that people who proactively reorganise their family routines -- such as adjusting childcare schedules or redistributing domestic responsibilities -- are more likely to demonstrate adaptability and innovation at work.
- Emotional responses crucial to attitudes about self-driving carson May 27, 2025 at 4:42 pm
When it comes to public attitudes toward using self-driving cars, understanding how the vehicles work is important -- but so are less obvious characteristics like feelings of excitement or pleasure and a belief in technology's social benefits.
- Managing surrogate species, providing a conservation umbrella for more specieson May 23, 2025 at 4:04 pm
A new study shows that monitoring and managing select bird species can provide benefits for other species within specific regions.
- Brain drain? More like brain gain: How high-skilled emigration boosts global prosperityon May 22, 2025 at 10:31 pm
As the US national debate intensifies around immigration, a new study is challenging conventional wisdom about 'brain drain'--the idea that when skilled workers emigrate from developing countries, their home economies suffer.
- Why Europe's fisheries management needs a rethinkon May 22, 2025 at 8:25 pm
Every year, total allowable catches (TACs) and fishing quotas are set across Europe through a multi-step process -- and yet many fish stocks in EU waters remain overfished. A new analysis reveals that politically agreed-upon catch limits are not sustainable because fish stock sizes are systematically overestimated and quotas regularly exceed scientific advice. In order to promote profitable and sustainable fisheries, the researchers propose establishing an independent institution to determine ecosystem-based catch limits that management bodies must not exceed.
- Overimitation begins in infancy but is not yet linked to in-group preferenceon May 22, 2025 at 8:25 pm
A new study examines the emergence of overimitation in infants aged between 16 and 21 months to see if and how it is linked to social affiliation and other forms of imitation. The researchers found that young children engaged in low rates of overimitation and that it was not driven by in-group preference -- meaning they were not acting to please someone similar to themselves. This suggests that overimitation for social affiliation reasons may emerge later. But they did find that other types of imitation associated with memory and cognition were closely correlated.
- AI is here to stay, let students embrace the technology, experts urgeon May 22, 2025 at 5:35 pm
A new study says students appear to be using generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) responsibly, and as a way to speed up tasks, not just boost their grades.
- Breakthrough AI model could transform how we prepare for natural disasterson May 22, 2025 at 4:48 pm
From deadly floods in Europe to intensifying tropical cyclones around the world, the climate crisis has made timely and precise forecasting more essential than ever. Yet traditional forecasting methods rely on highly complex numerical models developed over decades, requiring powerful supercomputers and large teams of experts. According to its developers, Aurora offers a powerful and efficient alternative using artificial intelligence.