Science

Common IBS medications linked to higher risk of death in major study
Science2026-04-17

Common IBS medications linked to higher risk of death in major study

A massive, nearly 20-year study tracking over 650,000 Americans with irritable bowel syndrome is raising new questions about the long-term safety of common treatments. Researchers found that some widely used medications—including antidepressants and certain antidiarrheal drugs—were linked to a small

By Science Daily

Scientists thought this was a young T. rex. They were wrong
Science2026-04-17

Scientists thought this was a young T. rex. They were wrong

A long-running dinosaur mystery may finally be solved: Nanotyrannus, once dismissed as just a teenage T. rex, appears to have been its own distinct species after all. Scientists analyzed a tiny throat bone from the original fossil and discovered growth patterns showing the animal was already mature,

By Science Daily

This cheap drug could help people with type 1 diabetes use less insulin
Science2026-04-17

This cheap drug could help people with type 1 diabetes use less insulin

A surprising new clinical trial has revealed that metformin—a cheap, century-old drug widely used for type 2 diabetes—may help people with type 1 diabetes in an unexpected way. While researchers initially hoped it would reduce insulin resistance, they instead found it allows patients to use about 12

By Science Daily

Scientists discover gene that helps the brain repair itself
Science2026-04-17

Scientists discover gene that helps the brain repair itself

A surprising discovery from high-altitude animals like yaks and Tibetan antelopes could reshape how we treat nerve damage in humans. Scientists found that a genetic mutation helping these animals survive low-oxygen environments also protects and repairs the myelin sheath—the vital coating around ner

By Science Daily

How low should blood pressure go? Science has the answer
Science2026-04-17

How low should blood pressure go? Science has the answer

New research suggests that aiming for a lower blood pressure target may deliver bigger heart health benefits than previously thought. Using large datasets and simulation models, scientists found that keeping systolic blood pressure below 120 mm Hg could reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and h

By Science Daily

Fool’s gold isn’t so foolish: Scientists find hidden treasure in pyrite
Science2026-04-17

Fool’s gold isn’t so foolish: Scientists find hidden treasure in pyrite

Researchers have discovered lithium hidden in pyrite within ancient shale rocks—an unexpected find that could reshape how we source this critical battery material. It raises the possibility of extracting lithium from existing waste, reducing the need for new mining.

By Science Daily

MIT scientists just found a hidden problem slowing the ozone comeback
Science2026-04-17

MIT scientists just found a hidden problem slowing the ozone comeback

The ozone layer has been on track to recover thanks to the Montreal Protocol—but a loophole may be holding it back. Chemicals still permitted for industrial use are leaking into the atmosphere at higher rates than expected. Scientists now estimate this could delay ozone recovery by up to seven years

By Science Daily

Scientists remove “zombie” cells and reverse liver damage in mice
Science2026-04-17

Scientists remove “zombie” cells and reverse liver damage in mice

A rogue set of “zombie” immune cells may be driving aging and fatty liver disease by flooding tissues with inflammation. Researchers found these cells accumulate with age and high cholesterol—and can make up most of the liver’s immune cells in older mice. When scientists removed them, liver damage w

By Science Daily

Scientists think alien life might be hiding in patterns
Science2026-04-16

Scientists think alien life might be hiding in patterns

A new study proposes detecting life in space by spotting patterns across many planets instead of focusing on one at a time. If life spreads and changes planetary environments, it could leave behind statistical clues linking planets together. These patterns may reveal life even when traditional biosi

By Science Daily

A crushed fossil revealed a dinosaur that shouldn’t have existed
Science2026-04-16

A crushed fossil revealed a dinosaur that shouldn’t have existed

A badly mangled dinosaur skull, once forgotten in a drawer, turned out to be a rare and important discovery. Reconstructed by a Virginia Tech student, it revealed a new species of early carnivorous dinosaur with unusual features never seen before. The fossil suggests some dinosaur groups were wiped

By Science Daily

This 31-foot “terror croc” ate dinosaurs. Now it’s back
Science2026-04-16

This 31-foot “terror croc” ate dinosaurs. Now it’s back

A massive, bus-sized “terror croc” that once preyed on dinosaurs has been brought back to life in stunning detail with the first scientifically accurate full skeleton of Deinosuchus schwimmeri. Stretching over 30 feet long, this ancient apex predator ruled the southeastern U.S. more than 75 million

By Science Daily

The surprising reason you’re so productive one day and not the next
Science2026-04-16

The surprising reason you’re so productive one day and not the next

Feeling mentally “on” isn’t just in your head—it can significantly boost what you accomplish. Researchers found that sharper thinking on a given day leads people to set bigger goals and actually follow through. That edge can equal up to 40 extra minutes of productivity. But push too hard for too lon

By Science Daily

95% of people carry this virus and scientists may have just found how to stop it
Science2026-04-15

95% of people carry this virus and scientists may have just found how to stop it

Scientists have taken a major step toward stopping Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), an extremely common infection linked to cancer and chronic disease. By using mice engineered with human antibody genes, researchers created powerful human-like antibodies that block the virus from attaching to and entering

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Scientists just recreated a rare cosmic reaction never seen before
Science2026-04-15

Scientists just recreated a rare cosmic reaction never seen before

A breakthrough experiment has shed new light on one of astrophysics’ biggest mysteries: the origin of rare proton-rich elements. For the first time, scientists directly measured a key reaction that creates selenium-74 using a rare isotope beam. The results sharpen models of how these elements form i

By Science Daily

Scientists finally know where the Colorado River’s missing water is going
Science2026-04-15

Scientists finally know where the Colorado River’s missing water is going

For years, water managers have been puzzled as the Colorado River kept delivering less water than expected—even when snowpack levels looked promising. New research reveals the missing piece: spring rain, or rather, the lack of it. Warmer, drier springs mean plants are soaking up more snowmelt before

By Science Daily

Lonely people have worse memory but don’t decline faster, study finds
Science2026-04-15

Lonely people have worse memory but don’t decline faster, study finds

Loneliness may quietly affect how well older adults remember things—but it might not be speeding up mental decline after all. A large European study tracking over 10,000 people for seven years found that those who felt lonelier started off with weaker memory, yet their memory didn’t deteriorate any

By Science Daily

Scientists discover why bread can cause weight gain without extra calories
Science2026-04-15

Scientists discover why bread can cause weight gain without extra calories

Bread and other carbohydrate staples may be doing more than just filling plates—they could be quietly reshaping metabolism. In a surprising twist, researchers found that mice strongly preferred carbs like bread, rice, and wheat, abandoning their regular diet entirely. Even without eating more calori

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This simple change stops robot swarms from getting stuck
Science2026-04-15

This simple change stops robot swarms from getting stuck

In crowded environments, more robots don’t always mean faster results—in fact, too many can bring everything to a standstill. Harvard researchers discovered a surprising fix: adding a bit of randomness to how robots move can actually prevent gridlock and boost efficiency. By allowing robots to “wigg

By Science Daily

Scientists discover “cleaner ants” that groom giant ants in Arizona desert
Science2026-04-15

Scientists discover “cleaner ants” that groom giant ants in Arizona desert

In the Arizona desert, scientists have uncovered a bizarre and almost unbelievable partnership between ants: tiny cone ants acting as “cleaners” for much larger harvester ants. Instead of attacking, the smaller ants crawl over the giants, licking and nibbling their bodies—even venturing between thei

By Science Daily

Mammal ancestors laid eggs, and this 250-million-year-old fossil finally proves it
Science2026-04-15

Mammal ancestors laid eggs, and this 250-million-year-old fossil finally proves it

In the aftermath of Earth’s most catastrophic extinction event, one unlikely survivor rose to dominate a shattered world: Lystrosaurus. Now, a stunning fossil discovery—an ancient egg containing a curled-up embryo—has finally answered a decades-old mystery about whether mammal ancestors laid eggs. U

By Science Daily

Scientists just debunked a 50-year myth about Hawaii’s birds
Science2026-04-15

Scientists just debunked a 50-year myth about Hawaii’s birds

A new study from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is overturning a decades-old belief that Indigenous Hawaiians hunted native waterbirds to extinction. Instead, researchers found no scientific evidence supporting this claim and propose a more complex explanation involving climate change, invasive

By Science Daily

This common gout drug may slash heart attack and stroke risk
Science2026-04-15

This common gout drug may slash heart attack and stroke risk

A major new study reveals that treating gout may do far more than ease painful joint flare-ups—it could also protect the heart. Researchers found that patients who took common gout medications like allopurinol and successfully lowered their blood urate levels had a significantly reduced risk of hear

By Science Daily

Doing this throughout life may cut Alzheimer’s risk by 38%
Science2026-04-15

Doing this throughout life may cut Alzheimer’s risk by 38%

A lifetime of mental stimulation—like reading, writing, and learning new skills—may help protect the brain as we age. People with the highest levels of cognitive enrichment had a much lower risk of Alzheimer’s and experienced symptoms years later than those with the lowest levels.

By Science Daily

Blocking a single protein supercharges the immune system against cancer
Science2026-04-15

Blocking a single protein supercharges the immune system against cancer

Scientists have discovered a way to supercharge the immune system’s T cells by blocking a protein called Ant2, forcing the cells to rewire how they generate energy. This shift makes them more powerful, resilient, and effective at finding and destroying cancer cells.

By Science Daily

Scientists just solved a 160-million-year fossil mystery “I’ve never seen anything like it”
Science2026-04-15

Scientists just solved a 160-million-year fossil mystery “I’ve never seen anything like it”

A rare fossil discovery is shedding light on the “missing years” of early sponge evolution. Scientists found a 550-million-year-old sponge that likely lacked hard skeletal parts, explaining why earlier fossils are so scarce. This supports the idea that the earliest sponges were soft-bodied and rarel

By Science Daily