Your gut may help your brain decide what to remember
Signals from the gut to the brain via the vagus nerve enhance memory formation when consuming nutritious food, but not when consuming sweet liquids lacking nutritional value. Blocking this nerve pathway eliminated the memory advantage, and long-term high-fat, high-sugar diets weakened the system in rats.
The Download: a chip talent battle, and deflating AI hype
Samsung's chip engineers are leaving for rival SK Hynix as the semiconductor industry competes for talent. Workers like Lee, who previously worked late at Samsung, are now leaving the company for better opportunities at competitors.
New microwave frying method could make french fries much healthier
A microwave-assisted frying method combines microwave heating with conventional frying to create crispier french fries while reducing oil absorption. The technique uses microwave energy to limit oil uptake while still achieving the crispy texture that conventional frying alone produces.
Can’t sleep in the heat? These 8 tricks could save your night
Keeping homes cool during heat waves requires closing blinds during sunlight, ventilating when outside air is cooler, and avoiding heat-producing appliances during peak hours. Sleeping in cooler rooms with light bedding and using fans or ice packs can help manage hot nights.
Mosquitoes are rapidly activating enzymes against common insecticide, researchers warn
Mosquitoes are developing enzyme activity that provides resistance to commonly used insecticides through biochemical and genetic changes. Public health programs have historically depended on these chemicals for mosquito management, making control increasingly difficult as populations gain survival advantages.
The cost of memory: How organisms balance thinking and sensing
Organisms must balance memory usage against its energy costs when making decisions. A study examined how much biological resources animals and cells expend to store and retrieve information for survival tasks like foraging.
First Arctic Ocean 2050 expedition on its way to the North Pole
A research vessel with 30 scientists and 20 crew members departed from Longyearbyen on July 23 to study the Arctic Ocean over 50 days as part of the Polhavet 2050 program. The expedition aims to reach the North Pole while conducting research during this Arctic voyage.
AI technology sees through leaves to transform horticulture
AI and computer vision technology developed by University of Canterbury researchers can identify, measure, and track fruit hidden behind dense foliage. The system uses advanced imaging to see through leaves, enabling automated monitoring of fruit that would otherwise remain obscured from traditional detection methods.
Queen bee pheromones help daughters decide whether to stay or leave the nest
Queen pheromones influence female sweat bees to either remain in nests or leave to establish their own colonies. The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute discovered this chemical signal helps regulate reproductive cooperation within sweat bee societies.
A slowing Atlantic current could unleash stronger California storms
A weakening Atlantic current could intensify atmospheric rivers hitting California while reducing snow-producing storms in Greenland. These changes could increase flood risks and strain infrastructure across regions far from the Atlantic Ocean.
Misfolded insulin may be quietly driving diabetes
Insulin-producing cells require helper proteins to maintain proper insulin production, and missing key partners allows damaged proteins to accumulate. When one critical helper protein was absent, cells produced significantly less insulin, suggesting that reinforcing this protein system could protect pancreatic function during diabetes progression.
Hidden charcoal reveals the true age of ancient cave paintings
Charcoal discovered within black pigments at Font-de-Gaume cave enabled radiocarbon dating of paintings previously thought undatable. A bison painting dates to approximately 13,000 years ago, while a mask-like figure received additions across multiple widely separated time periods.
NASA’s Psyche spacecraft aces Mars flyby capturing stunning timelapse video
NASA's Psyche spacecraft completed a Mars flyby to gain speed for its 2029 asteroid encounter while testing its instruments. The spacecraft detected neutrons from Mars, captured images of its moons Phobos and Deimos, and measured the planet's magnetic environment.
Scientists create an “electron lighthouse” with laser light
Scientists used laser light to launch and steer electrons through a semiconductor without requiring an applied electrical field. This quantum effect creates what researchers call an "electron lighthouse" that could enhance optical sensors, communications, imaging, and information storage devices.
NASA Science Soars During August Total Solar Eclipse
During the total solar eclipse on August 12, the Moon will cover the Sun and briefly reveal the corona, Earth's outer atmosphere. NASA will use this opportunity to study the Sun and better understand its influence on Earth during the eclipse over Greenland and Iceland.
NASA’s Swift Sees ‘Wandering’ Mega Black Hole Shredding Star
A black hole far from its galaxy's center was observed destroying a nearby star, an event never previously documented at such a distance from a galaxy's core. NASA's Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory captured this rare occurrence as the black hole consumed the star on the galaxy's outskirts.
How lasers could help provide fuel for nuclear reactors
Lasers could extract uranium from waste storage cylinders at a closed nuclear enrichment facility near Paducah, Kentucky. Global Laser Enrichment is developing laser-based technology to reprocess this stored material for use in nuclear reactors.
Scientists reveal what sparkling water really does to your teeth
Unsweetened sparkling water caused only temporary acidity in the mouth before saliva restored normal conditions, whereas soda produced a stronger and longer pH drop. The sparkling water's acidity remained above the threshold associated with tooth enamel damage.
500,000-year-old elephant bone hammer shows ancient humans were master toolmakers
Early humans shaped elephant bone into a reusable hammer approximately 500,000 years ago in England. The hammer was used for sharpening stone tools and demonstrates sophisticated toolmaking capabilities among ancient peoples.
Closing the data loop in AI-driven drug discovery
The cost of pharmaceutical development doubles every nine years, and bringing new drugs to market requires 10-15 years on average. AI-driven drug discovery aims to address these challenges by using data to accelerate the development process and reduce costs.
Eating within 8 hours may help keep the aging brain sharp
Older women who restricted eating to 8-9 hours daily showed better performance on planning and problem-solving tests than those eating over 12 hours during a six-month trial. Both groups lost similar weight, suggesting meal timing may affect cognitive function independently of calorie reduction.
Why the same DNA damage causes cancer in some people but not others
Inherited genetics determines whether DNA damage leads to cancer in some individuals but not others, according to a controlled mouse study. The findings could enable doctors to predict cancer risk more accurately and customize screening and treatment approaches for each patient.
After 241 days in orbit this NASA astronaut is finally home
Chris Williams and two Roscosmos cosmonauts returned to Earth after 241 days aboard the International Space Station. During their mission, they traveled more than 102 million miles and completed 3,856 orbits around the planet.
DNA vacuum captures animal traces from air to map Danish wildlife
Researchers created a DNA vacuum that extracts animal genetic material from air samples to identify which species inhabit an area. Testing in three Danish natural areas demonstrated the method successfully mapped local wildlife through airborne DNA collection.
The best way to save giant sequoias may be more fire
Prescribed burns made giant sequoias nearly four times more likely to survive recent extreme wildfires. An analysis of 26,400 trees found that controlled fires prevented approximately 1,900 deaths among ancient sequoias across treated areas.
CRISPR makes prostate cancer vulnerable to immunotherapy
CRISPR gene editing made prostate cancer cells more visible to the immune system, improving immunotherapy effectiveness in mice. The technique targets genetic alterations that normally help tumors evade immune detection.
Why losing the wrong fat can trigger diabetes
Damaged fat cells become inflamed, stop storing lipids, and disappear, disrupting metabolism. Diabetes can develop from loss of healthy fat tissue rather than excess fat alone.
NASA Astronaut Chris Williams, Crewmates Return from Space Station
Three astronauts completed an eight-month mission aboard the International Space Station and landed safely on Sunday at 5:27 a.m. CDT southeast of Dzhezkazgan using a parachute-assisted descent. The crew departed the station at 2:03 a.m. and included NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev.
A hidden Alzheimer’s tipping point may decide who gets dementia
Scientists identified a possible tipping point involving how the brain's immune cells respond to plaques and tau that may determine whether Alzheimer's-related changes lead to dementia. This discovery offers a potential treatment target to extend cognitive resilience in patients with Alzheimer's-related brain changes.