The Guardian Science

Starwatch: The summer triangle returns to the northern sky

One of the easiest patterns to spot, combination of Vega, Deneb and Altair is also visible in the southern hemisphereIn the northern hemisphere we know that summer is truly upon us when the summer triangle appears overhead. Although not an official constellation, it is one of the easiest patterns to find in the northern summer sky.The chart shows the view looking high in the south-east from London at 11pm UK time on 27 July, although the view remains essentially unchanged all week, with the tria

science  1h ago

The Guardian Science

‘It’s not rocket science’: a day in the life of a Nasa behavioral health scientist

Dr Suzanne Bell helps astronauts perform in a high-stress environment. To do that, she wakes up at 5am – without an alarmTell us: what impact have GLP-1s had on your relationships?Dr Suzanne Bell, an organizational psychologist, leads the Behavioral Health and Performance Laboratory at Nasa’s Johnson Space Center.What’s your morning routine? Continue reading...

science  14h ago

The Guardian Science

Arts and humanities have a role in understanding space exploration | Letters

Prof Abbie Garrington reflects on an interview with the physicist Laura Grego about the battle for our skiesWhere are the arts and humanities in current debates about space research? The physicist Laura Grego tells us we “have to be aware of what is happening in space”, that we should probe Elon Musk’s potential “appropriation” of space via satellite, and that our spacefaring era raises questions about our stewardship of the Earth for future generations, and the significance of human culture (‘M

science  14h ago

The Guardian Science

Restricted eating hours may reduce cognitive decline in older age, researchers find

Preliminary study shows older people who avoided food four hours before bed did better in problem solving testsConfining mealtimes and snacks to a nine-hour window and avoiding food for four hours before bed may help stave off cognitive decline in older age, researchers say.A pilot study of older women living with overweight or obesity found hints of improvement in mental skills among those who ate within the restricted period compared with those who spread their meals over a longer time. Contin

science  17h ago

NASA News

NASA Astronaut Chris Williams, Crewmates Return from Space Station

Concluding an eight-month science mission aboard the International Space Station, NASA astronaut Chris Williams returned to Earth on Sunday alongside Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev. The crew made its safe, parachute-assisted landing at 5:27 a.m. CDT (3:27 p.m., Kazakhstan time), southeast of Dzhezkazgan, after departing the space station at 2:03 a.m., aboard the […]

science  19h ago

Science Daily

A hidden Alzheimer’s tipping point may decide who gets dementia

Scientists have identified a possible tipping point that helps determine whether Alzheimer’s-related brain changes lead to dementia. The key may lie in how the brain’s immune cells respond to plaques and tau, offering a promising new target for treatments designed to extend cognitive resilience.

science  20h ago

Science Daily

Inside the Backrooms: The internet’s creepiest place is becoming a tourist attraction

The Backrooms began as a single eerie image of empty yellow rooms, but internet users transformed it into a vast fictional world that feels disturbingly real. Through videos, games, maps, survival guides and social media stories, audiences do more than watch the horror unfold. They help build and explore it. Researchers suggest this popularity reflects a new kind of digital tourism, where people emotionally enter imaginary places filled with mystery, nostalgia and unease.

science  22h ago

Science Daily

Hidden genetic diversity helped inbred brown tree snakes conquer guam

A notorious snake invasion that devastated Guam’s native birds may have succeeded because the reptiles carried hidden genetic advantages. Using advanced long-read DNA sequencing, researchers uncovered more than 19,000 large genetic differences in brown tree snakes, many concentrated in genes tied to immunity and smell. This overlooked diversity may have helped a population founded by only a few snakes survive inbreeding, adapt to a new environment, and multiply to extraordinary densities.

science  23h ago

Science Daily

Scientists trace the shocking origin of human eyes to an ancient “cyclops”

Researchers say a tiny one-eyed ancestor that lived nearly 600 million years ago may have shaped the evolution of every vertebrate eye, including our own. They also found that its ancient median eye lives on today as the pineal gland, which helps synchronize our sleep with daylight.

science  1d ago

Science Daily

A single dose reversed autism-like symptoms in adult mice within hours

Even mild inflammation during pregnancy led mouse offspring to develop persistent brain overactivity, sensory sensitivity, repetitive behaviors, and increased seizure risk. Remarkably, one dose of rapamycin improved nearly all of these problems within about two hours. The benefits were temporary, but they suggest that adult brain circuits may remain far more adaptable than previously believed.

science  1d ago

Science Daily

Superagers keep youthful memories but their DNA does not explain why

Scientists expected SuperAgers might simply inherit fewer Alzheimer’s-related risks, but their genes looked much like those of typical older adults. Their extraordinary memories may instead come from still-unknown protective forces involving the brain, body, lifestyle, and environment.

science  1d ago

Science Daily

Scientists put the “recycling is a distraction” claim to the test

Recycling, greener diets, and other personal climate choices do not seem to distract people from supporting major environmental reforms. A four-year study of nearly 2,800 Australians found that these habits neither increased nor reduced later political engagement.

science  1d ago

Science Daily

The Universe can outrun light without breaking Einstein’s rules

Cosmic expansion allows distant galaxies to move away faster than light, while still letting us see ancient light they emitted when they were much closer. Eventually, accelerating expansion will push nearly every galaxy beyond our Local Group out of sight, making the Universe appear almost empty.

science  1d ago

Science Daily

Coffee may help shield the liver from fat, scarring, and cancer

A major long-term study linked coffee consumption with lower risks of cirrhosis, liver cancer, and death from liver disease. Coffee drinkers also showed healthier liver scans and blood protein patterns, with less fat, inflammation, and scarring. Benefits appeared even at one or two cups daily and were strongest around three to four cups.

science  1d ago

Science Daily

Oral GLP-1 drugs may quiet the brain’s food craving circuit

Newer oral drugs related to semaglutide medications such as Ozempic reduced pleasure-driven eating in mice by quieting a deep brain reward circuit. The finding could open new avenues for understanding food cravings and potentially treating substance use disorder.

science  1d ago

Science Daily

A daily fiber supplement reduced knee arthritis pain and improved strength

A prebiotic fiber supplement reduced knee osteoarthritis pain while also improving grip strength and pain sensitivity in a six-week trial. The results hint at a fascinating gut-muscle-pain connection and suggest that a simple daily supplement may be easier to maintain than digital physiotherapy.

science  1d ago

The Guardian Science

Four types of thinker have been identified. Which one are you?

Investigation finds evidence of distinct groups, from big-picture thinkers to those who sweat the small stuffAn investigation into what people think about has put the spotlight on the modern mind, revealing thoughts dominated by work, the need for coffee and a strong desire to go back to bed.It also found evidence for four distinct groups of thinkers who spend more time than most either worrying about the world; mulling on household chores and finances; focusing on the mind and body; or the work

science  2d ago

Science Daily

Venus may be tearing itself apart from within

Scientists have uncovered new evidence that Venus may still be tearing itself apart from within. Advanced 3D simulations indicate that some of the planet's giant rift valleys formed relatively recently and could still be expanding. The results suggest Venus has a far more active interior than researchers once believed, challenging the long-held view of a geologically dormant world.

science  2d ago

Science Daily

Scientists discover the Sun contains 55% more silver than expected

A new analysis suggests the Sun holds far more silver than earlier estimates indicated. More advanced models of the solar atmosphere raised the calculated amount by 55 percent, bringing it into much closer agreement with ancient meteorites. The technique may also help scientists track the cosmic origins of silver and other heavy elements.

science  2d ago

NASA News

NASA’s ESCAPADE Snaps Family Portrait of Earth, Moon

On July 3, one of NASA’s two Mars-destined ESCAPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) spacecraft captured photos of Earth and the Moon in visible and thermal infrared light. At the time, the spacecraft was 363,250 miles (584,600 kilometers) from Earth and 115,600 miles (186,100 kilometers) from the Moon, making the Moon appear relatively […]

science  2d ago