Biological Science: Research Guide

Researchers have developed a new catalyst that could make hydrogen production cheaper and more practical for renewable energy systems. Hydrogen has long been viewed as one of the most promising clean fuels because it can store renewable energy and produce no carbon emissions when used. Yet producing hydrogen efficiently and affordably has remained a major [...]

A popular K-beauty ingredient could become an unexpected weapon against superbugs. Madecassic acid is best known in Korean skincare as a soothing “hero ingredient,” but scientists now believe it could also help combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Researchers at the University of Kent have discovered that this naturally occurring compound may offer a promising new approach in [...]

Scientists exploring deep underwater canyons off Western Australia have uncovered an unexpectedly rich world of marine life using environmental DNA collected from seawater thousands of meters below the surface. A new study led by Curtin University has uncovered remarkable biodiversity inside deep underwater canyons off Western Australia’s Nyinggulu (Ningaloo) coast. The discoveries include elusive giant [...]

Researchers have uncovered evidence that a common “sugar-free” sweetener may mimic some of fructose’s harmful effects in the body. That “sugar-free” snack in your kitchen may not be as harmless as it looks. Scientists are raising new concerns about sorbitol, a common sweetener used in products marketed as low-calorie or diabetic friendly. New research suggests [...]

Weight loss and exercise are widely considered powerful tools for preventing type 2 diabetes, but new research suggests the benefits may not be the same for everyone. Losing weight and staying active are widely recommended ways to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. But new research suggests that for some people, those efforts may [...]

Hantavirus spreads through airborne rodent waste particles and can cause deadly lung or heart failure. Early diagnosis and supportive care are critical because no approved antiviral treatment is available. A cruise ship stranded off the coast of South Africa because of a deadly hantavirus outbreak has drawn global attention to the rare but serious disease. [...]

A comet from beyond our solar system is giving astronomers a rare look at how alien planetary systems may form under conditions very different from those that shaped our own cosmic neighborhood. The object, called 3I/ATLAS, was discovered less than a year ago as it traveled through our solar system. Although scientists still do not [...]

A bizarre pair of planets 190 light-years away is forcing astronomers to rethink how planetary systems form. A strange and extremely rare pair of planets is orbiting a star about 190 light-years from Earth, and astronomers think they may finally understand how this cosmic odd couple came to exist. The system contains a hot Jupiter, [...]

The biggest black holes in the Universe may be built through chains of violent mergers deep inside crowded star clusters. The largest black holes ever detected through gravitational waves may not have formed directly from collapsing stars, according to new research led by Cardiff University. Instead, scientists say these enormous objects were likely built through [...]

A theoretical study shows how nonreciprocal quantum synchronization could be achieved in real-world systems. Three theoretical physicists at RIKEN have proposed a new way to achieve one-way quantum synchronization in phonons. The method is designed to remain stable even when real-world obstacles, including fabrication flaws and environmental noise, would normally disrupt delicate quantum effects. Many [...]

Scientists have finally cracked the hidden geometry behind how humans perceive color. New research into how humans perceive color differences is helping resolve questions tied to a theory first proposed nearly 100 years ago by physicist Erwin Schrödinger. A team led by Los Alamos National Laboratory scientist Roxana Bujack used geometry to mathematically describe how [...]

Scientists at the University of Rochester pulled off a remarkable experiment: they transferred a longevity-related gene from the famously long-lived naked mole rat into mice, and the mice ended up healthier and lived longer. The special gene boosts production of a substance called high molecular weight hyaluronic acid, which appears to protect against cancer, reduce inflammation, and support healthier aging. The modified mice showed stronger resistance to tumors, healthier guts, and lower levels of age-related inflammation.

Researchers have identified two proteins on the surface of neurons that may help drive the spread of Parkinson’s disease in the brain. New Yale School of Medicine (YSM) research suggests that two proteins on the surface of brain neurons involved in movement may play a key role in the progression of Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease [...]

Tiny molecules in the blood can strongly predict short-term survival in older adults, according to new research. As people get older, it can be difficult to tell who is likely to remain healthy and who may face a higher risk of serious decline. New research suggests that clues to that risk may already be present [...]

A new mathematical study explores how evolutionary principles could help doctors stay ahead of treatment-resistant cancers. A new study suggests that improving the timing of cancer treatments could help increase cure rates. The study’s principal investigator, Dr. Robert Noble, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Mathematics, City, St George’s, University of London, focused on a [...]

Your brain’s internal timing system may help determine how quickly and efficiently you think. The human brain is constantly managing streams of information that move at very different speeds. Some signals require immediate responses to sudden changes in the environment, while others involve slower forms of thinking, such as interpreting meaning, context, or complex situations. [...]

Beavers are quietly turning rivers into powerful natural carbon traps. Beavers may be far more important to the climate than previously thought. A new international study led by researchers at the University of Birmingham suggests these animals can transform river systems into powerful carbon dioxide sinks by reshaping wetlands and waterways. Published in Communications Earth [...]

Do parrots actually use names the way humans do? A new study analyzing hundreds of captive parrots reveals surprisingly complex social communication. Like many animals, parrots produce calls that can sound as though they are communicating with one another, perhaps even addressing a particular bird. But whether they use names in anything like the human [...]

A new study suggests that certain genetic diseases may be treatable with carefully matched vitamins, including a deadly childhood disorder that responded strikingly to vitamin B3. Scientists at Gladstone Institutes have taken an unusual route in the search for treatments for deadly genetic diseases. Rather than choosing a disease first and then looking for a [...]

New research suggests muscles remember past inactivity at the molecular level. Muscle loss, or atrophy, caused by inactivity can begin surprisingly fast — even after just days of bed rest, injury, or reduced movement. For older adults especially, these periods of inactivity can trigger a downward spiral of weakness, slower recovery, loss of independence, and [...]

When wolves bring down prey in Yellowstone National Park, ravens often appear almost immediately. Long before the predators finish feeding, the birds gather nearby to grab scraps of meat. Their ability to locate fresh kills so quickly has puzzled observers for years, leading many people to assume that ravens simply follow wolves across the landscape. [...]