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Healthy diet cuts chronic pain, even without weight loss
Upping the quality of your diet can reduce chronic pain, independent of weight loss. Depositphotos original extended using Firefly – By Paul McClure 2025 Sep 13 – Healthy eating doesn’t just shrink your waistline; it can ease chronic pain. A new study shows that …
Fewer international students are coming to the US, costing universities and communities that benefit from these visitors
The international student population is expected to experience a dive in the fall of 2025. iStock/Getty Images Plus – By Tara Sonenshine, Edward R. Murrow Professor of Practice in Public Diplomacy, Tufts University Published: 2025 Sep 12 – American college campuses from Tucson …
Beer drinkers 35% more likely to become a magnet for mosquitoes
Beer could be making you a mosquito magnet. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Sep 12 – We don’t fully understand why some people appear more attractive to mosquitoes – largely because it’s complicated, a tangled web of physiological factors, geography and species. But …
Beauty sleep isn’t a myth – a sleep medicine expert explains how rest keeps your skin healthy and youthful
Getting enough sleep is one of the most accessible and powerful ways to maintain healthy skin. TatyanaGl/iStock via Getty Images – By Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, Associate Professor of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh Published: 2025 Sep 12 – Have you ever woken up after a …
Poland responds to Russian drones incursion by invoking Article 4 of the NATO treaty − what happens next?
Authorities inspect a house damaged by debris from a Russian drone shot down in eastern Poland. Wojtek Radwanski/AFP via Getty Images – By John Deni, Research Professor of Joint, Interagency, Intergovernmental, and Multinational Security Studies, US Army War College Published: 2025 Sep 10 …
Ultra-processed foods drive a slow ‘hum’ of inflammation toward disease
In the US, ultra-processed foods account for about 60% of daily calorie intake. Fernando Andrade/Unsplash – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Sep 10 – A new study has found that people who eat a diet high in ultra-processed foods consistently have a specific elevated health …
Diet drinks linked to 88% higher risk of gestational diabetes
Consuming diet drinks is associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes. Depositphotos original extended using GenAI – By Paul McClure 2025 Sep 09 – Pregnant women who drink five or more diet beverages a week face up to an 88% higher risk of …
‘Master switch’ brain protein could reverse age-related memory loss
Lowering levels of a protein linked to iron in the brain could be a new way to reverse age-related memory loss. Depositphotos – By Pranjal Malewar 2025 Sep 02 – Restoring memory and mental sharpness in older adults isn’t just about fighting disease; it’s …
George Washington’s worries are coming true
President George Washington warned in his farewell address about partisanship, sectionalism, excessive public debt, ambitious leaders and a poorly informed public. Mike Rosiana/iStock via Getty Images Plus – By Robert A. Strong, Emeritus Professor of Politics, Washington and Lee University; Senior Fellow, Miller Center, …
We’ve driven animals in two shocking directions over just 1,000 years
Domesticated animals have grown in body size – while wildlife continues to shrink. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Sep 07 – In the largest study of its kind, scientists have accurately documented the massive change in animal morphology over the last 1,000 years, …
Scientists uncover shocking new properties of everyday ice
Bending ice causes it to generate electricity. Stony Brook University – By David Szondy 2025 Sep 06 – A cool new study with chilly implications from a team led by the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) …
A starfish apocalypse: The bacterium behind billions of sea star deaths
More than a decade ago starfish started dying from a mysterious disease. Scientists have now finally figured out what has been going on. Bennett Whitnell/Hakai Institute – By Chelsea Haney 2025 Sep 05 – A mysterious marine epidemic has erased billions of sea stars …
What is AI slop? A technologist explains this new and largely unwelcome form of online content
This AI-generated image spread far and wide in the wake of Hurricane Helene in 2024. AI-generated image circulated on social media – By Adam Nemeroff, Assistant Provost for Innovations in Learning, Teaching, and Technology, Quinnipiac University Published: 2025 Sep 02 – You’ve probably …
When the government can see everything: How one company – Palantir – is mapping the nation’s data
Palantir’s technology allows government agencies to connect the dots about individuals. Yuichiro Chino/Moment via Getty Images – By Nicole M. Bennett, Ph.D. Candidate in Geography and Assistant Director at the Center for Refugee Studies, Indiana University Published: 2025 Aug 27 – When the …
How Europe’s deforestation law could change the global coffee trade
The beans that created this cup of coffee had a long journey. Guido Mieth/Moment via Getty Images – By Paul Mwebaze, Research Economist at the Institute for Sustainability, Energy and Environment, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Published: 2025 Sep 02 – If your …
Nuclear waste could provide tritium fuel for future fusion reactors
Nuclear waste could fuel future fusion power plants. Depositphotos – By David Szondy 2025 Sep 02 – A critical shortage of fuel for nuclear fusion reactors may have a rather counterintuitive solution. A physicist at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) says that fusion reactor …
Spherical RoboBall could tackle Moon’s toughest terrain
Concept of RoboBall on the Moon. Kaitlyn Johnson/Texas A&M Engineering – By David Szondy 2025 Sep 01 – We’re used to rovers exploring the Moon or Mars to have legs and wheels for moving around, but a team at Texas A&M led by Robert …
Misunderstood Malthus: The English thinker whose name is synonymous with doom and gloom has lessons for today
A portrait of Thomas Malthus by John Linnell. Wellcome Collection via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY – By Roy Scranton, Associate Professor of English, University of Notre Dame Published: 2025 Aug 22 – No one uses “Malthusian” as a compliment. Since 1798, when the …
Fat ‘traffic controller’ protein is a new target for weight loss
Scientists discover how one key protein regulates where fat goes and how it is stored inside cells. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Aug 28 – Scientists have identified a protein that acts as a kind of traffic controller for fat inside cells, revealing …
This mysterious celestial object is like nothing astronomers have ever seen
The object was discovered during observations of a galaxy named NGC 4945X-ray: NASA/CXC/Univ degli Studi Roma Tre/A.Marinucci et al, Optical: ESO/VLT & NASA/STScI – By Chelsea Haney 2025 Aug 29 – Astronomers have discovered a new celestial object, a compact radio beacon located in …
Escaped slaves on St. Croix hid their settlements so well, they still haven’t been found – archaeologists using new mapping technology are on the hunt
The red square on this 1767 map of St. Croix marks where Danes believed the Maroon settlement was. Paul Kuffner/Royal Danish Library – By Justin Dunnavant, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles Published: 2025 Aug 27 – “For a long …
Rare genetic mutation makes some people resistant to viral infections
A new kind of antiviral treatment may be on the way, thanks to the strange genetics of people who seem to not be infected by viruses. Depositphotos – By Pranjal Malewar 2025 Aug 27 – It began quietly, tucked away in the immune systems …
Cyclotron saves periodic table when physics goes bonkers
The actinide group of the periodic table. Berkeley Lab – By David Szondy 2025 Aug 27 – Scientists at the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory are using the 88-Inch Cyclotron to help steady the famous periodic table of elements one atom at …
Plaque-hunting nanoparticles detect and disarm the driver of heart disease
Triple-threat nanoparticles can identify artery build-up, break down the plaques and suppress inflammation. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Aug 26 – A new generation of “theranostic” nanoparticles has been shown to both detect and reduce plaques in the arteries. Nanoparticles absorbed by immune …
Birds are singing almost an hour longer each day: Here’s why
The researchers know that birds sing longer in light-polluted areas, but aren’t sure if that’s a positive or negative development. Photo by Claus H. Godbersen on Unsplash – By Michael Franco 2025 Aug 21 – If you’ve noticed that you’re hearing birdsong longer into …
Morning coffee delivers a unique mood boost unlike a cup at any other time
Your morning coffee is good for your wellbeing, according to science. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Aug 24 – If you feel that your morning coffee puts a spring in your step, science agrees. In the first large-scale real-world study of its kind, …
Cultivating for color: The hidden trade-offs between garden aesthetics and pollinator preferences
Colorful gardens can be pollinator-friendly with native flowering plants. Borchee/E+ via Getty Images – By Claire Therese Hemingway, Assistant Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee Published: 2025 Aug 18 – People often prioritize aesthetics when choosing plants for their gardens. They …
Vikings were captivated by silver – our new analysis of their precious loot reveals how far they traveled to get it
Ready for the Campaign (The Varangian Sea) (1910), by Nicholas Roerich, depicts Viking-era Scandinavian traders on the banks of the Dnieper River in eastern Europe. Heritage Image Partnership/Alamy – By Jane Kershaw, Gad Rausing Associate Professor of Viking Age Archaeology, University of Oxford …
Do people dream in color or black and white?
One way to remember your dreams better: Write them down the moment you wake up. Andriy Onufriyenko/Moment via Getty Images – By Kimberly Fenn, Professor of Psychology, Michigan State University Published: 2025 Aug 18 Curious Kids is a series for children of …
Ultra-processed foods might not be the real villain in our diets – here’s what our research found
JeniFoto/Shutterstock – By Graham Finlayson, Professor of Psychobiology, University of Leeds And by James Stubbs, Professor in Appetite & Energy Balance, Faculty of Medicine and Health School of Psychology, University of Leeds Published: 2025 Aug 15 – Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have become public enemy …
Laser-free vision correction uses electrical current to reshape eye
Scientists develop method to correct eyesight without surgery like LASIK. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Aug 19 – Imagine correcting your vision in under a minute – no lasers, blades or pain. Scientists have developed a novel, non-invasive technique that reshapes the cornea …
‘Brain-eating amoeba’ with 97% fatality rate found in tap water
While infection from it is rare, the brain-eating amoeba has a formidable kill rate. Created with ChatGPT 5 – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Aug 18 – One of the most dangerous microorganisms on Earth, Naegleria fowleri has a well-earned nickname as the “brain-eating amoeba,” …
Autism risk may be programmed by obesity before pregnancy
Pre-pregnancy obesity may raise autism risk in offspring. Caleb Woods on Unsplash – By Paul McClure 2025 Aug 16 – Obesity before pregnancy, not just during, may shape a child’s brain and raise the risk of autism spectrum disorder, a new study has …
The growing fad of ‘microdosing’ mushrooms is leading to an uptick in poison control center calls and emergency room visits
Amanita mushrooms are commonly used in mushroom-based products. Kateryna Kon/Science Photo Library via Getty Images – By Joshua Kellogg, Assistant Professor of Natural Product Chemistry, Penn State Published: 2025 Aug 15 – Imagine you purchase a bag of gummies labeled nootropic – a term …
Climate models reveal how human activity may be locking the Southwest into permanent drought
A worker moves irrigation tubes on a farm in Pinal County, Ariz. A two-decade drought has made water supplies harder to secure. Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images – By Pedro DiNezio, Associate Professor of Atmospheric and Ocean Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder …
Spiderweb silks and architectures reveal millions of years of evolutionary ingenuity
An orchard orb weaver spider rests in the center of her web. Daniela Duncan/Moment via Getty Images – By Ella Kellner, Ph.D. Student in Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina – Charlotte Published: 2025 Aug 13 – Have you ever walked face-first into a …
Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska is a reminder that the 49th state was once a Russian territory
A few of Alaska’s residents take in the view ahead of Putin’s visit to the state to meet his American counterpart. Piriya Photography/Moment via Getty Images – By William L. Iggiagruk Hensley, Visiting Distinguished Professor, University of Alaska Anchorage Published: 2025 Jan 08, …
Stark warning for US as hurricane ‘traffic jams’ 10x more likely to form
Clustered storms, like in 2017 when Harvey, Irma and María hit in quick succession, have the potential to cause more extensive damage than a single hurricane. Created with ChatGPT 5 – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Aug 11 – The North Atlantic has claimed a …
AI will soon be able to audit all published research – what will that mean for public trust in science?
Jamillah Knowles & Digit/Better Images of AI, CC BY-SA – By Alexander Kaurov, PhD Candidate in Science and Society, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington And by Naomi Oreskes, Professor of the History of Science, Harvard University Published: 2025 Jul 24 …
Side-effect-free male contraceptive pill achieves milestone in its human trial
Male birth control pill YCT-529 advances to the next stage of human trials. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Aug 10 – Finally, researchers are closing in on an oral male contraceptive pill that works without hormones, offers full reversibility and – most strikingly …
Healthy diet cuts chronic pain, even without weight loss
Upping the quality of your diet can reduce chronic pain, independent of weight loss. Depositphotos original extended using Firefly – By Paul McClure 2025 Sep 13 – Healthy eating doesn’t just shrink your waistline; it can ease chronic pain. A new study shows that …
Fewer international students are coming to the US, costing universities and communities that benefit from these visitors
The international student population is expected to experience a dive in the fall of 2025. iStock/Getty Images Plus – By Tara Sonenshine, Edward R. Murrow Professor of Practice in Public Diplomacy, Tufts University Published: 2025 Sep 12 – American college campuses from Tucson …
Beer drinkers 35% more likely to become a magnet for mosquitoes
Beer could be making you a mosquito magnet. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Sep 12 – We don’t fully understand why some people appear more attractive to mosquitoes – largely because it’s complicated, a tangled web of physiological factors, geography and species. But …
Beauty sleep isn’t a myth – a sleep medicine expert explains how rest keeps your skin healthy and youthful
Getting enough sleep is one of the most accessible and powerful ways to maintain healthy skin. TatyanaGl/iStock via Getty Images – By Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, Associate Professor of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh Published: 2025 Sep 12 – Have you ever woken up after a …
Poland responds to Russian drones incursion by invoking Article 4 of the NATO treaty − what happens next?
Authorities inspect a house damaged by debris from a Russian drone shot down in eastern Poland. Wojtek Radwanski/AFP via Getty Images – By John Deni, Research Professor of Joint, Interagency, Intergovernmental, and Multinational Security Studies, US Army War College Published: 2025 Sep 10 …
Ultra-processed foods drive a slow ‘hum’ of inflammation toward disease
In the US, ultra-processed foods account for about 60% of daily calorie intake. Fernando Andrade/Unsplash – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Sep 10 – A new study has found that people who eat a diet high in ultra-processed foods consistently have a specific elevated health …
Diet drinks linked to 88% higher risk of gestational diabetes
Consuming diet drinks is associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes. Depositphotos original extended using GenAI – By Paul McClure 2025 Sep 09 – Pregnant women who drink five or more diet beverages a week face up to an 88% higher risk of …
‘Master switch’ brain protein could reverse age-related memory loss
Lowering levels of a protein linked to iron in the brain could be a new way to reverse age-related memory loss. Depositphotos – By Pranjal Malewar 2025 Sep 02 – Restoring memory and mental sharpness in older adults isn’t just about fighting disease; it’s …
George Washington’s worries are coming true
President George Washington warned in his farewell address about partisanship, sectionalism, excessive public debt, ambitious leaders and a poorly informed public. Mike Rosiana/iStock via Getty Images Plus – By Robert A. Strong, Emeritus Professor of Politics, Washington and Lee University; Senior Fellow, Miller Center, …
We’ve driven animals in two shocking directions over just 1,000 years
Domesticated animals have grown in body size – while wildlife continues to shrink. Depositphotos – By Bronwyn Thompson 2025 Sep 07 – In the largest study of its kind, scientists have accurately documented the massive change in animal morphology over the last 1,000 years, …