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Watching too much TV in midlife may shrink the brain
Watching television very often in midlife may be linked to troubling brain changes decades later. In a study of about 1,700 adults, frequent TV viewers later showed smaller brain regions involved in memory, decision-making, and visual processing, along with more signs of damage in the brain’s white matter. Surprisingly, sitting itself did not appear to be the main issue, since people who spent long hours seated at mentally engaging jobs often showed healthier brain patterns.
Earth’s core may be far cooler than scientists thought
New measurements could help explain how the planet’s magnetic dynamo churned for billions of years
Senescent cells cluster CTCF on nuclear speckles to instruct an alternative splicing program
Moving floors keep buildings from swaying with the wind
Faintest planet ever spotted from Earth has been hiding in plain sight
Don’t let AI steal all the joy: what scientists won’t give up to chatbots
Does China’s latest AI model finally equal US rivals? What scientists think
Seven ways endurance sports have taught me to be a better researcher
Ten years of mapping gene expression in tissues
New hope in the fight against cachexia — cancer’s deadly co-conspirator
Oil and gas drilling is shifting to the deep sea — here’s what is at stake
Are boldness and belligerence related?
Scientists found mystery bacteria inside one of the ocean’s most elusive whales
Scientists studying decades of pygmy sperm whale strandings have uncovered three previously unknown types of Helicobacter bacteria hiding in the animals’ stomachs. All four infected whales showed serious digestive damage, including inflammation, ulcers, scarring, and parasite infestations, although the bacteria were not confirmed as the cause of death.
New molecular map reveals how the flu virus hijacks human cells
Scientists uncovered how influenza A commandeers human cells, including a surprising strategy that dissolves tiny structures in the nucleus and releases proteins the virus may use to reproduce. The detailed molecular map could reveal new drug targets and help researchers study dangerous flu strains such as H5N1.
This food compound may help vaccines work better in older adults
A naturally occurring compound found in foods such as wheat germ, mushrooms, and aged cheese may help older adults build stronger protection after vaccination. In a small pilot trial, researchers gave spermidine supplements to adults over 65 following their third COVID-19 vaccine dose. The biggest improvements appeared among people whose immune systems initially responded poorly, with higher antibody levels and stronger activity against several variants.
Rapid spread of Ebola spurs ‘remarkably’ quick drug and vaccine trials
Pioneering studies are underway to address massive outbreak of rare Bundibugyo virus in the Congo
New antibody drug stops aggressive prostate cancer from spreading
Scientists have developed a fully human antibody that halted the growth and spread of aggressive prostate cancer in preclinical research. Although more testing is needed, the drug’s unusual mechanism could open the door to a safer new treatment for advanced cancer.
Scientists detect hidden skin damage before it becomes visible
Scientists have discovered a hidden warning sign of skin damage that appears before collagen fibers visibly thin, break, or lose their connections. Using advanced light-based techniques, the team found that collagen’s carefully organized molecular “handedness” can collapse even while the tissue still appears structurally intact and contains the same amount of collagen. This suggests that skin may begin deteriorating at a much deeper level long before conventional imaging can detect a problem.
Goats love to bash heads—but it might give them brain damage
Three headbutting goats showed signs of neurodegeneration similar to those in humans following head injuries
Alzheimer’s breakthrough: Scientists restore two hours of sleep without clearing brain plaques
Researchers have uncovered a surprising culprit behind sleep loss in Alzheimer’s disease: the brain’s own immune cells. In mice with amyloid plaques, overactive microglia triggered inflammation that kept the brain from getting enough deep, restorative sleep. Temporarily removing most of these cells restored more than two hours of sleep per day, even though the plaques remained unchanged.