Featured News – Science & research news

Slower runners benefit most from high-tech shoes

March 19, 2019

Researchers re-examined treadmill studies of runners dating back decades, recalculating the effect of performance strategies to account for things like air resistance and oxygen uptake velocity; Frontiers in Physiology [...]

Dormant viruses activate during spaceflight – NASA investigates

March 18, 2019

The stress of spaceflight gives viruses a holiday from immune surveillance, putting future deep-space missions in jeopardy; Frontiers in Microbiology [...]

Brain training app improves users’ concentration, study shows

March 15, 2019

Cambridge researchers have developed and tested 'Decoder', a new game that is aimed at helping users improve their attention and concentration; Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience [...]

A lawn is better than fertilizer for growing healthy blueberries

March 14, 2019

Intercropping with grasses is an effective and sustainable alternative to chemical treatments for maximizing blueberry yield and antioxidant content in limey soils; Frontiers in Plant Science [...]

Toward more energy-efficient cruise ships

March 12, 2019

An EPFL researcher has developed a system based on fuel cells to reduce the carbon footprint and energy consumption of cruise ships, which are increasingly popular among vacation goers around the world; Frontiers in Energy Research [...]

Tomato plant aroma to protect crops

March 11, 2019

Spraying crops with the tomato compound hexenyl butyrate could be a cheap, safe and straightforward means to prevent bacterial infection and improve drought tolerance; Frontiers in Plant Science [...]

New method uses AI to screen for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

March 8, 2019

Scientists have developed a new AI tool that can screen children for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder quickly and affordably: Frontiers in Neurology [...]

Bedtime protein for bigger gains? Here’s the scoop

March 7, 2019

Downing a casein shake just before sleep increases muscle mass and strength gains from resistance training, without 'making you fat' -- but is the effect any different to your regular post-workout protein supplement? Frontiers in Nutrition [...]

Researchers discover a flipping crab feeding on methane seeps

March 6, 2019

Researchers have documented a group of tanner crabs vigorously feeding at a methane seep on the seafloor off British Columbia - one of the first times a commercially harvested species has been seen using this energy source; Frontiers in Marine Science [...]

Want to save the planet? Stop trying to be its friend

March 5, 2019

People tend to judge their environmental impact using moral intuition that evolved to handle social exchange -- but these tree huggers may be doing more harm than good, say researchers; Frontiers in Psychology [...]

New target could help protect vision following optic nerve trauma

March 4, 2019

A new study sheds light on the mechanism of prolonged neuronal degeneration following optic nerve injury, which could provide treatment targets for preserving eyesight; Frontiers in Neuroscience [...]

Clues to Martian life found in Chilean desert

March 1, 2019

A trial NASA rover mission in the Mars-like Atacama desert has successfully recovered subterranean organisms -- strange, scattered, salt-resistant bacteria that could lead the search for Martian life deeper underground; Frontiers in Microbiology [...]

UK prejudice against immigrants amongst lowest in Europe

February 26, 2019

New study challenges prevailing attitudes on Brexit, the nature of prejudice, and the social impact of modernization; Frontiers in Sociology [...]

Responsible innovation key to smart farming

February 25, 2019

The so-called 'fourth agricultural revolution' must provide social benefits and address potentially negative side-effects of agri-tech; Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems [...]

Squid could provide an eco-friendly alternative to plastics

February 22, 2019

Self-healing fabric, abrasion-resistant coatings, precision drug delivery and smart textiles are among the potential applications of squid 'ring tooth' protein; Frontiers in Chemistry [...]

Climate-friendly labriculture depends on an energy revolution

February 21, 2019

Comparison of the greenhouse gases produced by lab-grown and farm-raised beef in the current energy system suggests that the benefits of reducing methane could be outweighed by increased CO2; Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems [...]

Blindfolded training could help doctors save young lives

February 20, 2019

Doctors' leadership in pediatric resuscitation improved most when they wore a blindfold during simulation training; Frontiers in Pediatrics [...]

Oral contraceptives could impair women’s recognition of complex emotions

February 19, 2019

Healthy women who use birth control pills are poorer judges of subtle facial expressions than non-users, according to new research; Frontiers in Neuroscience [...]

Tat vaccine could provide a functional cure for HIV

February 18, 2019

Recipients of the vaccine develop characteristics of spontaneous ‘post-treatment controllers’, whose immune system can control the reactivation of HIV after discontinuing therapy; Frontiers in Immunology [...]

Warning over deep-sea ‘gold rush’

February 15, 2019

Harmful deep sea mining could be avoided altogether if humanity moves towards a "circular economy" that focuses on reuse and recycling of metals, reduces overconsumption and limits built-in obsolescence of technology; Frontiers in Marine Science [...]

Sleeping safe and sound with new hypnotics

February 14, 2019

Japanese scientists have shown that a new class of sleeping pill preserves the ability to wake in response to threats like earthquakes or intruders – unlike Ambien, Halcion and other market leaders; Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience [...]

What can a snowflake teach us about how cancer spreads in the body?

February 13, 2019

Studying fractals could lead to novel approaches in drug therapy to treat cancer and other diseases; Frontiers in Physiology [...]

What can worms tell us about human aging?

February 12, 2019

A community-developed blueprint of worm metabolism holds promise for greater understanding of aging; Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences [...]

Salivary RNA test for early autism diagnosis

February 11, 2019

Results from multi-institutional research collaboration show saliva-based RNA panel distinguishes children on autism spectrum from non-autistic peers; Frontiers in Genetics [...]

Scientists identify ‘origin’ of cancer spread

February 8, 2019

Research suggests that "high energy" stem cells born from old, dying parents are responsible for cancer growth and spread; Frontiers in Oncology [...]

Understanding water’s role in antibiotic resistance in Africa

February 7, 2019

Scientists have studied antibiotic resistance emergence and dissemination in the Chobe River, northern Botswana's only permanent surface water resource; Frontiers in Microbiology [...]

Virtual reality field trips to inspire climate action

February 6, 2019

Stanford researchers took a virtual reality experience into a variety of educational settings, including high school classrooms, to test the impact on awareness and understanding of ocean acidification; Frontiers in Psychology [...]

Antarctic researchers enter a state of ‘psychological hibernation’, study finds

February 5, 2019

Researchers experiencing the dark and lonely Antarctic winter abandon even passive coping mechanisms like denial and depression; Frontiers in Psychology [...]

Toxins override key immune system check

February 4, 2019

S. aureus bacterial toxins can cause a deadly immune system overreaction -- but could be harnessed to enhance immune responses to tumors; Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology [...]

Comparing the world’s mega-canals

February 1, 2019

Researchers have compiled a database of all the water transfer megaprojects currently existing and planned by 2050; Frontiers in Environmental Science [...]

Which animals will win and lose in a warming Antarctic?

January 29, 2019

Seafloor predators and open-water feeding animals will benefit from climate change, while those associated with sea ice for food or breeding are most at risk; Frontiers in Marine Science [...]

Muscle memory discovery ends ‘use it or lose it’ dogma

January 28, 2019

New research shows that extra nuclei gained during exercise persist even after a muscle shrinks from disuse, disease or aging -- and can be mobilized rapidly to facilitate bigger gains on retraining; Frontiers in Physiology [...]

Boston Harbor cleanup was economically justifiable, finds new study

January 25, 2019

The cleanup of America's filthiest harbor is now worth between $30 and $100 billion in ecosystem services; Frontiers in Marine Science [...]

Social exclusion fuels extremism in young migrant men

January 24, 2019

A neuroimaging study shows that social exclusion can contribute to the development of extremism in those vulnerable to radicalization; Frontiers in Psychology [...]

Are you a super pooper?

January 23, 2019

Fecal transplants could be used to treat intestinal disorders like inflammatory bowel disease -- and perhaps even help prevent Alzheimer's and cancer -- if we can unlock the secrets of the gut-rejuvenating 'super donor,' say researchers; Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology [...]