ScienceDaily

A unique vaccine rollout in Wales gave researchers an accidental natural experiment that revealed a striking reduction in dementia among seniors who received the shingles vaccine. The protective effect held steady across multiple analyses and was even stronger in women. Evidence also suggests benefits for people who already have dementia, hinting at a therapeutic effect.

For thirty years, SOHO has watched the Sun from a stable perch in space, revealing the inner workings of our star and surviving crises that nearly ended the mission. Its long-term observations uncovered a single global plasma conveyor belt inside the Sun, detailed how solar brightness subtly shifts over the solar cycle, and turned SOHO into an unexpected comet-hunting champion with more than 5,00…

Earth’s orbit is getting crowded with broken satellites and leftover rocket parts. Researchers say the solution is to build spacecraft that can be repaired, reused, or recycled instead of abandoned. They also want new tools to collect old debris and new data systems that help prevent collisions. The goal is to make space exploration cleaner and more sustainable.

Researchers recreated conditions from billions of years ago and found that Earth’s young atmosphere could make key molecules linked to life. These sulfur-rich compounds, including certain amino acids, may have formed naturally in the sky. The results suggest early Earth wasn’t starting from zero but may have already been stocked with essential ingredients.

Ant pupae that are fatally sick don’t hide their condition; instead, they release a special scent that warns the rest of the colony. This signal prompts worker ants to open the pupae’s cocoons and disinfect them with formic acid, stopping the infection before it can spread. Although the treatment kills the sick pupa, it protects the colony and helps ensure its long-term survival. Researchers foun…

College life creates a perfect storm for overeating, as students consume more calories when surrounded by friends, eating in dining halls, or following unstructured schedules. A four-week study using a mobile app revealed that students often underestimate how much they eat, especially in social or formal dining settings. Emotional influences, gender differences, and environmental cues all contrib…

A surprising link between constipation and kidney decline led researchers to test lubiprostone, revealing that it can protect kidney function. The results point toward gut-based, mitochondria-boosting therapies as a promising new avenue for CKD care.

A surprisingly mature spiral galaxy named Alaknanda has been spotted just 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang—far earlier than astronomers believed such well-structured galaxies could form. With sweeping spiral arms, rapid star formation, and an orderly disk resembling our Milky Way, it defies long-held theories about how slowly galaxies should assemble. Thanks to JWST and gravitational lensing,…

Sweat carries a rich mix of biomarkers that advanced wearables can now track in real time. New AI-powered patches analyze biochemical patterns to detect disease risks, medication levels, or stress responses. Researchers are building ultra-sensitive microfluidic devices to read glucose, cortisol, and more—without needles or blood draws. The tech is still emerging, but its potential is huge.

Scientists discovered that the first 100 base pairs of human genes are unusually prone to mutations, especially during the earliest stages of embryonic development. These mosaic mutations often go undetected yet can still be passed on and cause disease. Large-scale genome analyses show that genes tied to cancer and brain function are particularly affected, with natural selection filtering out har…

Researchers have solved the decades-old mystery behind how a common pregnancy drug lowers blood pressure. It turns out the medication blocks a fast-acting “oxygen alarm” inside cells. That same alarm helps brain tumors survive, meaning the drug unexpectedly weakens them, too. The discovery could inspire better treatments for both preeclampsia and brain cancer.

Researchers discovered that 168 common chemicals can disrupt the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, with some also promoting antibiotic resistance. Many of these substances—found in food, water, and household items—weren’t previously suspected of affecting living organisms. A new machine learning model now predicts which chemicals may harm the microbiome. The findings suggest safety testing must …

Scientists have discovered that a single gene, GRIN2A, can directly cause mental illness—something previously thought to stem only from many genes acting together. People with certain variants of this gene often develop psychiatric symptoms much earlier than expected, sometimes in childhood instead of adulthood. Even more surprising, some individuals show only mental health symptoms, without the …

Scientists found that combining oxytocin with an Alk5 inhibitor revitalized extremely old male mice, boosting their lifespan and strength. Female mice showed only short-term improvements, highlighting a major sex difference in aging biology. The therapy restored youthful protein patterns in blood and targeted key pathways that drive tissue decline. Because the components are already clinically ac…

Nitrous oxide may offer quick, short-term relief for people with major depression, especially those who haven’t responded to standard medications. The meta-analysis found rapid improvements after a single dose and more sustained benefits after repeated treatments. Side effects were generally mild and brief, though researchers stress the need for larger, longer-term studies.