Science

'DNA Typewriter' records cells' history in developing mouse embryo

Scientists have succeeded in reconstructing the family tree of cells in a developing mouse embryo. They recorded cells' relationships, starting when the fertilized egg first split in two and ending after the body and its organs took shape. That period lasted 13.5 days. (Full gestation in mice is 19 to 21 days.)

NASA dumped over 800GB of Artemis II data online

A crew annotated image showing where the Artemis II team observed impact flashes on the dark side of the Moon.

Very severe long COVID linked to differences in lung and mouth microbiomes

People with long COVID have distinct differences in the mix of bacteria that live in their mouths and lungs, according to a study of more than 700 people published in the European Respiratory Journal. The research also shows that these differences in the lung microbiome are linked to respiratory symptoms, as well as the cognitive and digestive problems known to occur in long COVID.

Scientists make stunning discovery that could help explain why life exists

Scientists have discovered that the universe's fundamental physical constants may be finely balanced to make life possible. Even tiny changes to these constants could make liquids too thick or too thin for essential biological processes, potentially preventing life as we know it. Surprisingly, these life-friendly conditions existed billions of years before living cells appeared. The findings raise intriguing questions about why the laws of physics seem so well suited to life.

‘I didn’t want to write about this’: the man who first saw chimps waging civil war

John Mitani spent years studying a huge community of chimpanzees in Uganda. But then things took a dark turn – and his findings stunned the scientific world John Mitani can still remember the first time he set foot in Uganda’s Kibale national park. The old-growth east African rainforest enveloped him, its canopy stretching to heights of 40 metres. Fruit trees bowed under the weight of African star apples and bountiful Ficus mucuso figs. And then there were the chimpanzees. Furry black blobs darted through the jungle, their raucous calls often deafening. It was the summer of 1995, and Mitani, a primatologist from northern California, had just come from working with the chimps living in the Mahale mountains of Tanzania. At the time, Mahale was home to the largest known population of chimps, with about 100 individuals. But there were rumours that this section of Kibale – only accessible via a 12-hour drive from the capital, Kampala – might host an even more unusual abundance of apes.

‘She was swaying, zoning out’: UK pets poisoned in record numbers by illicit drugs

Toxicology helplines report 42% increase in calls involving animals poisoned by drugs and nicotine A record number of pets are ingesting recreational drugs and requiring veterinary care in the UK, figures shared with the Guardian reveal. Last year, the UK’s only emergency poison centre for animals received its highest ever number of calls involving animals poisoned by cannabis, cocaine, magic mushrooms and nicotine, and it is on course to do so again this year.

NASA spots a giant patch of Moon-like rock on Earth

An astronaut aboard the International Space Station photographed a remarkable formation in Madagascar that looks surprisingly similar to the Moon’s bright highlands. Made of anorthosite, a rock abundant on the lunar surface, the formation dates back at least 600 million years and bears the scars of ancient continental collisions.

New injection makes fat cells self-destruct

Scientists have developed an experimental injection that destroys fat cells and significantly reduces dangerous belly fat, potentially opening a new path to treating obesity. Early research also suggests it could help prevent the weight regain that often follows stopping popular weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy.

Neuroscience Can Make Decluttering Easier

Decluttering is a challenge for many Americans, but neuroscience indicates we can make the process easier on ourselves and our loved ones.

Jurassic fossil reveals ancient origins of how mammals drink milk

An international team of researchers has uncovered new evidence illuminating the evolutionary origins of one of the defining features of mammals: the ability to suckle and consume milk during infancy. Their findings, published in Nature, suggest that key anatomical structures required for mammalian suckling, swallowing and breastfeeding behaviors evolved nearly 165 million years ago, long before the appearance of modern mammals.

A Distant Planet Emitted a Burst of Radio Waves. Why?

Astronomers pinpoint the origin of a 10 billion‑year‑old millisecond signal from space

The eye has a hidden cleanup system scientists never knew existed

Scientists have discovered a hidden cleanup system at the back of the eye that drains fluid and waste through a previously unknown pathway. The surprising finding, demonstrated in mice, could open the door to new treatments for glaucoma, macular degeneration, and other causes of blindness.

LLM-inspired study sheds light on how brain cells encode the meaning of words

Understanding how the human brain processes and represents spoken language remains an important goal for neuroscientists. Understanding spoken words involves more than simply recognizing sounds—it also requires the brain to decipher the meaning of words and how those meanings change with context.

Helus Pharma: A Buy Ahead Of The HLP003 Phase 3 Readout

New algorithm could predict Arctic sea ice up to 9 months ahead, offering new climate insights

Researchers at the Mubadala Arabian Center for Climate and Environmental Sciences (ACCESS) at NYU Abu Dhabi have developed a new algorithm that can forecast Arctic sea ice extent up to nine months in advance, offering a new way to anticipate changes in the Arctic that can affect the global climate system. The research is published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Scientists build a nuclear clock that could make atomic clocks obsolete

Scientists in Vienna have achieved a major breakthrough in timekeeping by creating the world’s first self-stabilizing nuclear clock, a technology that could eventually surpass even the most precise atomic clocks. Instead of relying on electrons in atoms, the clock uses the tiny nuclei of thorium atoms, which are far less sensitive to outside disturbances.