Science News

The science fiction multiverse is well populated by all manner of robots. Pick your favorite: Dr. Who fans may favor K9, the Time Lord's mechanical mutt. Maybe the Transformers represent the coolest robots in the galaxy....

Bile acids that aid fat digestion are also found to reduce the rewarding properties of cocaine use, according to a new study.

To ensure elimination of the Wuchereria bancrofti, a parasitic roundworm that causes lymphatic filariasis, public health workers must follow up mass drug administration with careful monitoring for recurrence. To that end...

Mice fed a fattening diet develop new liver circadian rhythms that impact the way fat is accumulated and simultaneously burned. The team found that as liver fat production increases, surprisingly, so does the body's abil...

This week, Louise Brown, the first person born after conception by in vitro fertilization (IVF), celebrates her 40th birthday. Thanks to assisted reproductive technologies like IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection an...

The discovery of microRNAs encoded by papillomaviruses supports the important role of these small molecules in persistent infection, according to new research. The discovery was made using a new approach that enables mic...

Older, overweight scuba divers are being urged to shed pounds to avoid an underwater heart attack.

A diet that encourages both healthy eating and physical activity and discourages alcohol consumption was associated with a reduced overall cancer risk, as well as lower breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer risks.

A panel of 19 microRNAs identified using next-generation sequencing could categorize indeterminate thyroid nodule samples into malignant and benign.

Different types of efflux pump proteins might have evolved independently, instead of divergently as previously thought. This could yield insights in mediating antibiotic resistance.

To understand how neuronal circuits emerge during development, researchers investigated what enables neuronal stem cells to generate successive subtypes of neurons as the embryo grows. By measuring the electrical activit...

The immune system can be an important ally in the fight against cancer. A study suggests that the reverse may also be true -- that abnormal inflammation triggered by the immune system may underlie the development of stom...

Scientists showed that 'mossy cells' in the hippocampus regulate local stem cells to control their production of new neurons, which is important for normal learning and memory, stress response, and mood regulation. Such ...

Scientists have known for some time that one of the reasons a staph infection is so deadly is that the bacteria send out a toxin, known as Alpha Toxin (AT), which quickly worsens sepsis. Scientists have discovered the mo...

A new screening tool is giving seafood companies the ability to pinpoint the highest risks of forced labour in their supply chain.

The finding could lead to targeted therapies for chronic conditions.

The Improving Staff Attitudes and Care for People with Dementia e-Learning (tEACH) study involved 280 residents and care staff in 24 care homes over nine months. The intervention improved resident wellbeing and staff att...

Scientists have identified brain cells vital to how zebrafish socialize. When the neurons are disabled, their orientation to one another breaks down in ways similar to socialization problems seen in humans with autism sp...

The role of the e-bike in promoting health and fitness is comparable to that of a conventional bicycle. In particular, overweight and untrained individuals can benefit from riding an e-bike.

Hereditary angioedema is a chronic disorder that can sometimes be life-threatening. Now, a new drug therapy has been successfully tested in an international study.

For the first time in England a study has been conducted of official investigations of unexpected infant deaths. The researchers aimed to develop a detailed understanding of the circumstances of sudden unexpected death i...

The otic placode gives rise to the inner ear in vertebrates. A new study shows that even when it is transplanted to ectopic positions, the nerve cells that grow out of the transplanted ear can form functional connections...