Teen vaping is changing fast — and not in a good way. A large national study found that more adolescents are vaping THC, CBD, and especially synthetic cannabinoids, which are often unregulated and far more dangerous. Even more troubling, many teens don’t know what’s in their vape pens at all. Researchers also found that girls …

Synthetic storm: What’s really in your teen’s vape — and why scientists are alarmed Read More »

Researchers testing urine from 2- to 4-year-olds in four U.S. states uncovered 96 different chemicals, many of them unmonitored and linked to hormone and brain disruption. Legacy toxins like triclosan are slowly declining, yet replacements such as DINCH plasticizer and modern pesticides are rising. Toddlers—especially the youngest, later-born, and those from minority groups—often carried higher …

Researchers tested 200 toddlers — 96 chemicals were lurking in their bodies Read More »

Cambridge scientists have spotted gut bacteria that greedily soak up PFAS “forever chemicals,” then ferry them safely out of the body in animal tests, removing up to three-quarters of the toxins within minutes. Their findings hint at probiotic pills that could shield people from PFAS-linked cancers, fertility issues, and heart disease while lawmakers scramble to …

Tiny gut “sponge” bacteria found to flush out toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” Read More »

In a remarkable twist of science, researchers have transformed a fungus long associated with death into a potential weapon against cancer. Found in tombs like that of King Tut, Aspergillus flavus was once feared for its deadly spores. Now, scientists at Penn and several partner institutions have extracted a new class of molecules from it—called …

From cursed tomb fungus to cancer cure: Aspergillus flavus yields potent new drug Read More »

Ancient coral fossils from the remote Seychelles islands have unveiled a dramatic warning for our future—sea levels can rise in sudden, sharp bursts even when global temperatures stay steady. ​Ancient coral fossils from the remote Seychelles islands have unveiled a dramatic warning for our future—sea levels can rise in sudden, sharp bursts even when global …

123,000-year-old coral fossils warn of sudden, catastrophic sea-level rise Read More »

DNA from a skull found at Newgrange once sparked theories of a royal incestuous elite in ancient Ireland, but new research reveals no signs of such a hierarchy. Instead, evidence suggests a surprisingly egalitarian farming society that valued collective living and ritual. ​DNA from a skull found at Newgrange once sparked theories of a royal …

No kings buried here: DNA unravels the myth of incestuous elites in ancient Ireland Read More »

A groundbreaking wireless implant promises real-time, personalized pain relief using AI and ultrasound power no batteries, no wires, and no opioids. Designed by USC and UCLA engineers, it reads brain signals, adapts on the fly, and bends naturally with your spine. ​A groundbreaking wireless implant promises real-time, personalized pain relief using AI and ultrasound power …

USC’s new AI implant promises drug-free relief for chronic pain Read More »

Exploration for deep-sea minerals in the Clarion Clipperton Zone threatens to disrupt an unexpectedly rich ecosystem of whales and dolphins. New studies have detected endangered species in the area and warn that mining noise and sediment could devastate marine life that relies heavily on sound. With so little known about these habitats, experts urge immediate …

Mining the deep could mute the songs of sperm whales Read More »

Two Ice Age wolf pups once thought to be early dogs have been identified as wild wolves, thanks to detailed DNA and chemical analysis. Surprisingly, their last meals included woolly rhinoceros meat—an unusually large prey item—hinting that ancient wolves might have been bigger than today’s. Their well-preserved bodies also shed light on wolf pack behavior …

These frozen wolf cubs ate a woolly rhino—and changed what we know about dogs Read More »

Bones found at the site of an ancient fish-processing plant were used to genetically identify the species that went into a fish sauce, often known as garum, eaten throughout the Roman Empire ​Bones found at the site of an ancient fish-processing plant were used to genetically identify the species that went into a fish sauce, …

Ancient DNA reveals make-up of Roman Empire’s favourite sauce Read More »