Recent reporting, background, and summaries from the science desk.
New research reveals vitamin B2 surprisingly helps cancer cells escape a crucial death process called ferroptosis by supporting a protective cellular shield. Scientists successfully broke down this shield using a B2-like compound in lab tests, leading to the death of cancer cells and offering a potential new therapeutic avenue.
A new study reveals that global warming is critically depleting oxygen in rivers worldwide, threatening aquatic life and potentially creating "dead zones." Researchers, using satellite data and AI across 21,000 rivers since 1985, found an average 2.1% oxygen drop primarily due to rising water temperatures.
Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery, finding compelling evidence that dinosaur fossils can still contain traces of their original proteins, directly challenging the long-held belief that fossilization completely destroys all organic material. This revolutionary finding promises to transform the study of ancient life, offering unprecedented insights into dinosaur biology and their evolutionary paths.
Japanese researchers have unearthed compelling evidence of a powerful solar storm around 1200 CE, identified through ancient tree rings and historical accounts of vivid red auroras. This 800-year-old "red sky" event reveals a highly active Sun with unusually short solar cycles, offering crucial insights for safeguarding future Moon missions from similar radiation.
Columbia University researchers have finally solved the perplexing climate mystery of why Earth's upper atmosphere is cooling while its surface heats up. They discovered that at higher altitudes, carbon dioxide behaves differently, radiating heat directly into space and accelerating cooling in the stratosphere.
Hubble has unveiled "Dracula's Chivito," an enormous, turbulent, and oddly lopsided planet-forming disk containing enough material to create multiple giant planets. This unprecedented discovery offers a rare glimpse into planetary system formation within extreme cosmic environments, challenging long-held assumptions about how planets are born.
A groundbreaking NIH-supported study has unveiled an advanced model for predicting outcomes in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a common heart condition affecting 1 in 500 people. This innovative tool integrates diverse patient data to more accurately forecast adverse cardiac events, promising to revolutionize disease management and improve patient lives.
NASA's Curiosity rover encountered an unforeseen challenge when a Martian rock named "Atacama" unexpectedly detached and became firmly stuck to its drill during a drilling operation. Engineers on Earth successfully devised maneuvers to free the rock, with the entire unusual event captured by the rover's cameras for analysis, as reported by ScienceDaily.
Hidden warm-water channels beneath Antarctica's ice shelves are causing unexpectedly rapid melting, accelerating the process faster than previously understood. This alarming discovery suggests a greater increase in global sea levels than current climate models predict, highlighting a critical vulnerability even in stable regions of East Antarctica.
Listening to your favorite workout music can dramatically boost your endurance, allowing participants to exercise nearly 20% longer without feeling more tired. This powerful effect is attributed to music's ability to distract from discomfort and increase motivation, making workouts more enjoyable and effective.
University of Illinois Chicago researchers have developed a groundbreaking cancer treatment that starves tumor cells by inhibiting their energy production with a bacteria-derived peptide called aurB. This innovative therapy demonstrated significant tumor growth inhibition in preclinical prostate cancer models, including resistant types, and is now poised for human clinical trials.
Scientists have developed bistrifluron, a groundbreaking new chemical designed to effectively eliminate drywood termite colonies by preventing them from forming crucial new exoskeletons during molting. This innovative solution demonstrated remarkable efficacy, achieving approximately 95% mortality in tests, and offers a safer, potentially longer-lasting alternative to traditional, toxic fumigation methods.