One gene could explain why men and women’s immune systems react differently
Why do men and women often respond differently to the same infections, allergies, or treatments?
A new study suggests the answer may come down to...
Why your cells use a secret weapon to starve invaders
Most of us learned in school that mitochondria are the “powerhouses of the cell,” tiny structures that make the energy our bodies need.
But new...
Love in the dirt: How soil microbes might influence our emotions
Could the microbes living in soil have an impact on human emotions, relationships, and even feelings of love?
Scientists from Flinders University in Australia think...
White dwarf stars could create surprisingly common long lived habitable zones
A new study by Manuel Barrientos and colleagues from the University of Oklahoma reveals that between 0.6% and 2.5% of white dwarfs in our...
Seabirds avoid pooping on water—here’s the surprising reason why
On remote desert islands in Japan, researchers have discovered an unusual bathroom habit among seabirds.
Streaked shearwaters, a species of seabird, prefer to poop while...
Scientists discover new liquids that could support life on other worlds
For decades, scientists searching for life beyond Earth have focused on one key requirement: liquid water.
Since water is essential for life here, it has...
Scientists create ‘fast-forward’ system to rapidly evolve proteins
In medicine and biotechnology, creating proteins with new or improved abilities is essential for developing better treatments and tools.
But in nature, evolution takes time—and...
Chiton teeth could inspire the next generation of super-strong materials
A team of researchers from the University of California, Irvine, and Japan’s Okayama and Toho universities has uncovered the secrets behind one of nature’s...
How huge meat-eating dinosaurs hunted in unique ways
Not all giant, meat-eating dinosaurs had the same kind of bite.
A new study has revealed that while the famous Tyrannosaurus rex had a skull...
Scientists finally crack the 9-million-year-old mystery of potatoes
Scientists have finally solved a mystery that has puzzled researchers for years: where did the modern-day potato come from?
A new international study has revealed...