Science & Discovery

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Scientists discover a hidden switch that burns fat and blocks new fat cells

Scientists have discovered that switching off a protein called Mitch makes human cells burn more fat and prevents new fat cells from developing. The breakthrough builds on experiments in mice that showed remarkable resistance to obesity and improved muscular endurance, raising ho

Brief sciencedaily.com · 20h ago · 1 min
Study maps the human side of flood risk

When heavy rain hits a city, knowing where water will accumulate is only part of the picture. Who lives in the affected buildings? How might flooding disrupt their lives? And where could additional support make the greatest difference?

Brief phys.org · 1d ago · 1 min
New marker panel and free web tool help track stem cells as they develop

How can the identity of pluripotent stem cells be determined more reliably during their differentiation? Researchers from the IUF—Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine and Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf have systematically validated marker genes for this pu

Brief phys.org · 1d ago · 1 min
As flood risk rises, some communities question the idea of resilience

Climate change is increasing flood risk across the U.K. As floods become more frequent and intense, communities are increasingly encouraged to become resilient and "live with water." Yet in some flood-prone areas, residents are rejecting these calls, concerned that resilience is

Brief phys.org · 2d ago · 1 min
How autumn changes animal sexual behavior—including that of humans

In the Northern Hemisphere, days are getting shorter and temperatures are dropping—autumn has arrived. A common sign that winter is coming is trees losing their leaves. But did you know that autumn also sparks changes in animals' sexual behavior—including ours?

Brief phys.org · 2d ago · 1 min
Pedal to the metal: NASA's Psyche heads toward asteroid belt

With a successful Mars gravity assist in its rearview mirror, NASA's Psyche spacecraft has fired up its thrusters and is accelerating toward the metal-rich asteroid of the same name. During the first leg of its journey, following an October 2023 launch, the mission used its elect

Brief phys.org · 2d ago · 1 min
Experiment shows when quantum 'cat' states stop bouncing back

Quantum systems can occupy superpositions, quantum states that combine different possibilities. For instance, a microwave field can be prepared in a superposition of an empty state and a state that contains microwave light.

Brief phys.org · 2d ago · 1 min

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How flare ribbons reveal hidden solar explosions on the sun

Many topics in astronomy and astrophysics are esoteric. There's not much of a relationship between something like the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way and the life of a regular person going about their business. But the sun is different. Its presence in our

phys.org · 14h ago
'One-positron cyclotron' could test a key prediction of the Standard Model

The positron is the antimatter counterpart of the electron, identical in mass but carrying an equal and opposite electric charge. Like the electron, it also behaves like a tiny bar magnet, and according to a key prediction of the Standard Model of particle physics, its magnetic m

phys.org · 14h ago
Newly identified protein pathway helps HIV stay hidden despite treatment

Current HIV medicines are effective at suppressing the virus in the blood. However, HIV can remain "asleep" or dormant inside certain immune cells and in the brain. These hidden pockets of virus, called HIV reservoirs, are the main reason HIV cannot be cured with today's treatmen

phys.org · 16h ago
Could lowering high blood pressure be as simple as stimulating your ear?

A small device that gently stimulates nerves through the ear could offer a new way to tackle stubborn high blood pressure. In a clinical trial of 63 patients already taking medication, the treatment proved safe, easy to use at home, and well tolerated. Although it did not signifi

sciencedaily.com · 18h ago
A hidden bias in human language challenges 70 years of science

A groundbreaking study challenges 70 years of assumptions about how human language works. By analyzing billions of word uses, scientists discovered that meaning is organized around power, danger, and order rather than emotion alone. Even more surprisingly, human language shows a

sciencedaily.com · 18h ago

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