Two new compounds could reveal hidden drivers of Alzheimer’s disease
Vanderbilt researchers developed the first selective compound to inhibit TAOK-1, a protein linked to Alzheimer's disease. They also created a second compound that activates the entire TAOK protein family, providing researchers with new tools to study disease mechanisms.
Two deadly flowers could inspire powerful new medicines
Scientists identified six enzymes that two poisonous plants use to create atisinium, a complex compound with medical potential. They recreated this enzymatic process in tobacco plants to produce the rare molecules sustainably and in larger quantities.
Newly unearthed mechanism that helps plants 'feel full' could help crops use fertilizer more efficiently
NYU researchers identified molecular mechanisms that signal when plants have absorbed sufficient nitrogen. This discovery could enable development of crops requiring less fertilizer while maintaining productivity through improved soil nitrogen absorption.
How simple amber lights could make nights safer for insects
Amber lights could reduce harm to insects compared to conventional white or blue streetlights. Scientists found that switching to amber lighting addresses one threat contributing to the 40% global decline in insect species caused by artificial light pollution.
Climate change could dramatically reduce water flowing from the West's headwaters
Groundwater-fed streamflow in Western headwater watersheds has declined steadily since 1950 and could decrease 45% to 65% by century's end under current climate trends. The study, led by Northern Arizona University researchers, examined base flow that supplies many of the region's rivers.
New microscopy method achieves angstrom-scale localization precision with one laser
A new microscopy method achieves angstrom-scale localization precision using a single laser, improving resolution three orders of magnitude beyond standard fluorescent microscopy. The technology simplifies imaging while enabling visualization of molecular structures at the angstrom level.
Webb reveals warped structure in nearby TW Hydrae's protoplanetary disk
The James Webb Space Telescope captured high-contrast images revealing a warped structure in the protoplanetary disk surrounding the young star TW Hydrae. The observations, published July 27 on arXiv, used coronagraphic imaging to examine the disk's features in detail.
Dark matter’s secret force does the opposite of what scientists expected
Dark matter particles may exert an extra attractive force on each other that causes them to cluster together. This hidden force paradoxically makes dark matter effectively lighter as the Universe expands, weakening its gravitational impact and slowing cosmic structure growth.
Without this protein, damaged muscle turns to fat and scar tissue
Researchers discovered that the protein TRF2 helps muscle stem cells maintain their identity and coordinate cycles of rest, repair, and renewal. Without TRF2, damaged muscle converts to fat and scar tissue instead of being repaired.
Mathematicians prove perfectly fair elections are impossible
Mathematicians proved that no electoral system can simultaneously achieve local representation, proportional national results, and maintain a fixed parliament size when multiple parties compete. A newly proposed voting method could reduce these unavoidable trade-offs and generate fairer outcomes.
This once-a-week workout may help cut belly fat, study shows
A single 75-minute weekly session of brisk interval walking reduced body fat and waistline measurements in adults with central obesity about as effectively as spreading the same exercise across three days. The four-month trial involved 315 adults and found cardiovascular fitness also improved with the once-weekly approach.
Eating less protein could slow aging, major review finds
A review of over 350 studies found that eating less protein improves metabolism, reduces inflammation and cellular damage, and activates pathways associated with healthier aging. The findings suggest that many people may be consuming more protein than necessary for optimal health benefits.
Cancer may be breaking its own DNA to keep growing
Cancer cells generate DNA breaks through intense activity of genetic switches that keep growth genes active. These breaks are repeatedly repaired with occasional errors that accumulate mutations, potentially offering a therapeutic target.
AI opens new era in cognitive studies of wild primates
Scientists developed CapuchinAI, an AI system using facial recognition and real-time touchscreen testing to automate cognitive studies of wild capuchin monkeys. The proof-of-concept method was published in the American Journal of Primatology by researchers from Emory University and Georgia Tech.
Four ways wildfires generate tornadoes, lightning and other extreme weather, sometimes miles from the flames
Wildfires create thick smoke that spreads across North America and Europe, generating tornadoes, lightning, and other extreme weather sometimes miles from the flames. The mechanisms behind these phenomena remain less widely recognized than the health impacts of breathing particle-filled air from massive fires.
NASA’s Curiosity rover finds a mysterious honeycomb landscape on Mars
Curiosity rover discovered a landscape on Mars covered in tiny polygon-shaped fractures forming honeycomb patterns, each measuring only a few inches wide. The patterns extend across the valley and surround a nearby 20-foot-tall butte.
Ant brains reveal how evolution turned hunger into parenting
Two chemical signals in ant brains control whether ants care for larvae or forage for food, with their balance shifting as ants age. Clonal raider ants demonstrate that the same brain systems regulating hunger in mammals may have been repurposed by evolution to drive parenting behavior.
Eating one avocado a day may lower heart disease risk
Daily avocado consumption lowered LDL particle count in obese adults over six months. The reduction correlated with an estimated 4% decrease in cardiovascular risk.
Scientists may have found a way to prevent statin muscle pain
Scientists identified an immune response that may explain why statins cause muscle pain and weakness in some patients. This discovery could lead to treatments that protect muscles while preserving statins' cardiovascular benefits.
Superheated magma may power towering lava fountains
Superheated magma can dissolve crystal seeds that normally trigger crystallization, keeping molten rock fluid longer during eruption. This mechanism was discovered in magma from La Palma's 2021 Tajogaite eruption and may explain how extreme heat creates towering lava fountains.
What’s Up: August 2026 Skywatching Tips from NASA
A solar eclipse, the Perseid meteor shower, bright evening Venus, and a deep partial lunar eclipse occur in August 2026. The lunar eclipse closes the month while Venus reaches peak brightness in the evening sky.
Art festivals may revive island communities when tourism stays within local limits
Art festivals held periodically on islands can revitalize local communities if tourism is controlled within the areas' capacity and social limits. The Setouchi Triennale demonstrates how intermittent events, rather than constant tourism, support sustainable long-term community development.
A new genetic tool helps researchers uncover the logic of gene regulation
Researchers developed a genetic tool that reveals how cells decide which of the 20,000 human genes to activate at specific times. The method helps uncover the logic behind gene regulation in different cell types.
From research to policy: Study turns EU wildfire assessments into a tool for better governance
A study transformed EU wildfire risk assessments into a governance tool addressing climate change, land-use shifts, and socioeconomic pressures. Wildfires now impact ecosystems, infrastructure, public health, water resources, cultural heritage, and rural livelihoods despite increased firefighting investments.
Newly discovered mechanism protects DNA during cell division
A newly discovered mechanism prevents DNA bridges from damaging chromosomes during cell division by keeping them intact until after the cells separate. This process involves proteins that stabilize the DNA bridges, which are thin strands connecting newly formed cells when chromosomes fail to fully separate.
Homing in on the X-ray sky with eROSITA's second data release
The eROSITA X-ray observatory released its second major public data set containing observations of the X-ray sky. The German eROSITA consortium, led by the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, made this data release publicly available for research purposes.
NASA, SpaceX Advance Wind Tunnel Tests for Starship Rocket
Wind tunnel tests on SpaceX's Super Heavy Version 3 booster completed at NASA's Ames Research Center to study aerodynamic forces during re-entry for the Artemis III mission. The tests examined extreme conditions the rocket experiences, preparing for next year's demonstration flight.
NASA’s Roman Telescope to Carry 1.35 Million Names to Deep Space
A memory card containing 1,350,144 names was installed on NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The names, submitted by people worldwide including Artemis astronauts, will travel with the observatory into deep space.
The Download: Montana’s new experimental drug rules
Montana has begun allowing biotech companies to administer drugs that have completed only preliminary testing, sometimes after just 10 trials. This experimental program positions the state as a medical testing hub for treatments not yet approved through standard regulatory channels.
Learning to better understand bone-like minerals
Researchers added europium, a rare-earth element, to hydroxyapatite to better understand and stabilize the calcium phosphate mineral found in teeth and bones. The europium mimics calcium and enables potential applications in medical imaging.