SciTechDaily

Curiosity just found molecules on Mars tied to the chemistry of life, hinting at a more habitable past. NASA’s Curiosity rover has discovered a wide variety of organic molecules on Mars, including compounds often viewed as essential ingredients for the origin of life on Earth. These results come from a chemical experiment carried out on [...]

A common ornamental flower may hold untapped potential as a heat-stable, functional protein source.h3> Rising demand for protein-rich diets has fueled a surge in plant-based ingredients, but most come from crops grown specifically for that purpose. Researchers are now looking at a different opportunity: turning overlooked plant materials into useful nutrients. One candidate is the [...]

A new study links fatty acid metabolism to rheumatoid arthritis treatment, revealing a natural compound that disrupts inflammation by targeting a previously overlooked enzyme. A compound derived from a traditional medicinal plant may offer a new way to treat rheumatoid arthritis by targeting how the body processes fats rather than simply suppressing the immune system. [...]

A tiny ancient reptile just revealed the moment breathing as we know it began — and it changed life on Earth forever. Every breath you take traces back to a deep evolutionary past. The steady rise of your chest, the muscles between your ribs expanding outward, and the flow of air into your lungs feel [...]

Scientists discovered a tiny wall-dwelling spider that preys on common urban pests and may aid natural pest control. Its resemblance to a distant Galapagos species suggests a possible evolutionary link. Researchers from several South American institutions have expanded understanding of the Pikelinia spider genus with the discovery of a new crevice weaver species, Pikelinia floydmuraria. [...]

A cluster of unexplained illnesses in northern Burundi has prompted an urgent public health response. Health officials in Burundi are racing to identify the cause of a still-unexplained illness that has killed five people and sickened 35 others in Mpanda district in the country’s north. The outbreak, first flagged on March 31, 2026, appears to [...]

A little-known receptor may reshape how scientists approach bone loss. Scientists at Leipzig University have identified a little-studied receptor that could open the door to a new way of treating osteoporosis, a disease that weakens bones and raises the risk of fractures. The condition affects about six million people in Germany, most of them women, [...]

A newly discovered beetle on campus has led to the first major update in Japanese ladybird classification in 50 years. A routine look at a campus pine tree has led to an unexpected scientific discovery. At Kyushu University in Japan, researchers have identified a previously unknown species of ladybird beetle living in plain sight, underscoring [...]

Researchers report that methane absorption has increased under shifting climate conditions, based on a long-term study conducted in Germany. Forest soils play a key role in regulating the climate by removing large amounts of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, from the atmosphere. A research team from the University of Göttingen and the Baden-Württemberg Forest Research [...]

A subtle shift in the periodic table reveals a complex and largely unexplored layer of biology. On the far right side of the periodic table, just beneath oxygen, sits a lesser-known group of elements called the chalcogens, or “ore-forming” elements. While sulfur is widely recognized for its role in biology, its heavier relatives, selenium and [...]

A small fossil snake may hold outsized clues about snake evolution, behavior, and an ancient ecosystem that looked nothing like today’s. A newly identified fossil snake from Wyoming is rewriting scientists’ understanding of snake evolution. The species, named Hibernophis breithaupti, lived about 34 million years ago and may represent an early branch of Booidea, the [...]

A brief sauna session may quietly mobilize the immune system. A sauna session may do more than raise your heart rate and body temperature. A new study from Finland found that it also briefly increases the number of white blood cells moving through the bloodstream, a shift tied to the body’s frontline immune defenses. The [...]

Researchers have identified a surprising metabolic effect of a widely used diabetes drug in men undergoing prostate cancer treatment. A new study suggests that metformin, a commonly prescribed drug for diabetes, may reproduce a key biological effect of exercise in men with prostate cancer. Researchers found that the medication increases levels of a molecule linked [...]

Astronauts aboard Artemis II have returned safely after a record-breaking trip around the Moon, proving NASA’s next-generation spacecraft is ready for deep space. The mission marks a major step toward returning humans to the lunar surface—and eventually heading to Mars. The first astronauts to travel toward the Moon in more than 50 years have safely [...]

A strange giant planet orbiting a small star is forcing astronomers to rethink how planetary systems form. Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have taken a closer look at TOI-5205 b, a strange exoplanet often labeled “forbidden,” and found something unexpected. Its atmosphere appears to be unusually poor in heavy elements compared to [...]

A hidden mechanism in MS may be damaging neurons at their genetic core, offering a potential new way to slow the disease. For many years, research on multiple sclerosis (MS) has centered on myelin, the protective coating around the brain’s nerve fibers. At the same time, another form of damage has received far less attention. Neurons in the cortex, which support thinking and memory, have been ste…

Why do some people struggle to adapt to new information and stay locked into outdated beliefs? Scientists at MIT may have found a key reason. A newly identified gene mutation appears to disrupt a brain circuit that helps us update our understanding of the world. When this system fails, the brain may cling to old ideas even when reality changes. In experiments with mice, researchers showed that th…

Researchers are exploring an unconventional cancer treatment that uses engineered bacteria to target the unique, oxygen-free environments inside tumors. A research team led by the University of Waterloo is developing a new way to treat cancer by engineering bacteria that can consume tumors from the inside. “Bacteria spores enter the tumor, finding an environment where there are lots of nutrients …

Repeated cycles of weight loss and regain may leave behind lasting metabolic benefits. A new study from researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev suggests that the much-criticized cycle of “yo-yo dieting” may not be as harmful as once thought. In fact, repeated attempts at weight loss could leave behind lasting improvements in metabolic health, even when the weight eventually returns. “Yo…