For the first time, scientists have seen a subduction zone actively breaking apart beneath the Pacific Northwest. Seismic data show the oceanic plate tearing into fragments, forming microplates in a slow, step-by-step collapse. This process, once only theorized, explains mysterious fossil plates found elsewhere and offers new clues about earthquake risks. The dying subduction zone …

Earth is splitting open beneath the Pacific Northwest Read More »

Japanese researchers discovered that hair graying and melanoma share a surprising cellular origin. When DNA damage strikes melanocyte stem cells, they may undergo a protective process called seno-differentiation, leading to hair graying. However, carcinogens can override this safeguard, allowing the damaged cells to persist and turn cancerous. This balance between cell loss and survival reveals …

Scientists just found a surprising link between gray hair and cancer Read More »

In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists at Trinity College Dublin have identified a “universal thermal performance curve” that governs how all living organisms respond to temperature. This finding reveals that evolution has been unable to escape a single, unifying rule linking performance and heat across every branch of life—from bacteria and plants to reptiles and fish. …

A hidden temperature law governs all life on Earth Read More »

Scientists at The University of Texas at Austin have developed a revolutionary gene-editing method using bacterial retrons that can correct multiple disease-causing mutations at once. Unlike traditional tools limited to one or two mutations, this retron-based system replaces large defective DNA regions, dramatically improving efficiency and inclusivity for patients with complex disorders like cystic fibrosis. …

Scientists just made gene editing far more powerful Read More »

A UCLA-led team has achieved the sharpest-ever view of a distant star’s disk using a groundbreaking photonic lantern device on a single telescope—no multi-telescope array required. This technology splits incoming starlight into multiple channels, revealing previously hidden details of space objects. ​A UCLA-led team has achieved the sharpest-ever view of a distant star’s disk using …

Astronomers just captured the sharpest view of a distant star ever seen Read More »

Researchers found that neurons can use fat, not just sugar, to power the brain. When a protein called DDHD2 fails, this process breaks down and leads to serious brain problems. Scientists were able to restore damaged cells by feeding them fatty acids, reviving their energy in just 48 hours. The discovery could help pave the …

Fat-fueled neuron discovery could unlock new treatments for brain disease Read More »

Scientists have unveiled Khankhuuluu, a new Mongolian dinosaur species that predates and closely resembles early Tyrannosaurs. With its long snout, small horns, and lean build, it represents a transitional form between swift mid-sized predators and giant apex hunters like T. rex. The find also suggests that large Tyrannosaurs first evolved in North America following an …

Before T. rex, there was the “dragon prince” Read More »

Researchers in Konstanz discovered a way to manipulate materials with light by exciting magnon pairs, reshaping their magnetic “fingerprint.” This allows non-thermal control of magnetic states and data transmission at terahertz speeds. Using simple haematite crystals, the technique could enable room-temperature quantum effects. The breakthrough blurs the line between physics and magic. ​Researchers in Konstanz …

Scientists just changed the nature of matter with a flash of light Read More »

ASU scientists found that people whose gut microbes make more methane extract more calories from fiber-rich foods. Methanogens help the microbiome turn fiber into energy by consuming hydrogen and producing methane. Using advanced metabolic chambers, researchers measured how diet and gut chemistry interact, showing that methane may signal efficient digestion. The work could lead to …

Your gut microbes might be turning fiber into extra calories Read More »