Biological Science

A remarkably preserved, mummified reptile from 289 million years ago is rewriting what we know about how animals first breathed on land. This tiny creature, Captorhinus aguti, reveals the earliest known version of the rib-powered breathing system used by modern reptiles, birds, and mammals — a crucial innovation that helped vertebrates thrive outside water.

Challenging common myths shows that language learning is more accessible, engaging, and beneficial than many people think. Although many people assume learning a new language is difficult or out of reach, adults can succeed by focusing on communication, culture, and personal motivation rather than fear or perfection. Common myths—such as needing to avoid mistakes, learn [...]

New interpretations suggest that Neanderthal and Sapiens interactions were shaped by biology and social structure, not simple romantic preference. Media portrayals have turned a nuanced genetic finding into a narrative of prehistoric romance, despite the research offering only cautious, model-based explanations for patterns in Neanderthal DNA. When viewed alongside archaeological and anthropological evidence, these patterns [...]

High-tech imaging uncovered new insights into ancient mummies’ health and mummification methods. Egyptian mummy remains are being studied at Semmelweis University’s Medical Imaging Center (OKK) using one of the latest CT scanners with a photon-counting detector. The specimens, which come from the Semmelweis Museum of Medical History at the Hungarian National Museum Public Collection Centre [...]

Men and women experience immune aging differently, affecting disease risks. New data-driven research identifies key biological differences, supporting more personalized healthcare. Men and women do not age the same way at the level of the immune system, and those differences may shape who gets sick, when, and why. Scientists have long known that men are [...]

Research suggests a potential link between spicy food consumption and reduced mortality. Spicy food may do more than wake up your taste buds. Research suggests it could also be linked to a longer life. A 2017 study from the Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont found that Americans who ate hot red [...]

Carbohydrates like bread and rice may drive weight gain in unexpected ways. Bread has been a dietary staple for centuries, shaping cultures and daily meals around the world. But as obesity rates continue to rise, researchers are taking a closer look at whether heavy reliance on foods like bread still fits with modern health needs. [...]

Decoded cuneiform tablets reveal early societies’ magic, politics, and bureaucracy, including rare rituals, king lists, and daily records. For more than a century, the National Museum has preserved a vast collection of inscribed clay tablets from some of the earliest Middle Eastern civilizations. Many of these artifacts are over 4,000 years old and written in [...]

Quantum computing is giving AI a major boost in predicting complex, chaotic systems. The new hybrid approach is more accurate, more stable, and far more efficient. Researchers at UCL (University College London) have developed a new approach that combines quantum computing with artificial intelligence to better predict how complex physical systems behave over time. Their [...]

Offshore wind farms are changing sediment flow and carbon storage in the North Sea, with major impacts in the German Bight. Offshore wind energy is central to the European Union’s renewable strategy, with plans to boost North Sea capacity more than tenfold by 2050. New research from Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon shows that expanding wind farms can [...]

Researchers found a vast magma reservoir in Tuscany using seismic noise analysis, showing hidden volcanic systems can exist without surface clues and aiding resource exploration. How can scientists detect magma buried 5, 10, or even 15 km (~3, 6, and 9 miles, respectively) below the surface when there are no visible clues above ground? The [...]

Neurobots—xenobots with neurons—show self-organized nervous systems and enhanced behaviors, revealing new insights into how biology builds functional structures. In 2020, researchers at Tufts University developed tiny living structures known as xenobots using frog cells. These microscopic organisms could move through water, repair themselves, and even gather loose cells to form new xenobots. Scientists at Tufts [...]