DNA analysis reveals that entire lower-class families were sacrificed to honor local royalty in South Korea 1,500 years ago
About 1,500 years ago, entire families were sacrificed in what is now South Korea to honor local royalty, new genetic research has found. The analysis also revealed a strong kinship system focused on women and their offspring. In a research paper published in the journal Science Advances on Wednesday (April 8), an international research team […]
James Webb Telescope discovers ‘Stingray’ galaxy that could solve ‘little red dot’ mystery
Astronomers have discovered an intriguing triple galaxy called the Stingray that dates back to when the universe was just over 1.1 billion years old. A new analysis of creatures in the celestial sea has revealed an object that may provide clues about the nature of a mysterious cosmic object called a “little red dot” (LRD). […]
Scientists develop new type of encryption to protect video files from quantum computing attacks
Computer scientists announced that they have developed a new encryption technique designed to protect sensitive data from quantum computers powerful enough to crack today’s cryptographic systems, one of the most pressing threats in cybersecurity. In a study published in February 2025 in IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics (but published in a statement on March 2, […]
There are problems with Artemis II’s heat shield, but NASA isn’t worried. Here’s why:
The Artemis II astronauts are returning home from a record-setting journey around the moon, but will the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield be safe to bring them home? NASA and the astronauts say yes, but not everyone agrees. The Artemis II mission, which launched on April 1, is scheduled to end with a dramatic splashdown in […]
Western states are facing a higher-than-usual wildfire threat this summer. A new map reveals which areas are most at risk.
Western states are expected to face a higher-than-usual wildfire threat this summer, according to the latest forecast released Wednesday by the National Interagency Coordination Center. The government-run center publishes monthly reports predicting fire risks for the next four months, but the change from March’s outlook is startling. The agency shows increased risk in red on […]
History of Science: Doctors Hypothesize that ‘Infectious Proteins’ Can Cause Disease, Contradicting ‘Central Tenets’ of Molecular Biology — April 9, 1982
Milestone: Identification of prion Date: April 9, 1982 Location: San Francisco People: Dr. Stanley Prusiner On April 9, 1982, doctors at the University of California, San Francisco published a paper in Science showing that an infectious protein causes a neurodegenerative disease in sheep. In doing so, he changed our understanding of how some diseases are […]
‘No one knows what it is’: researchers discover new type of cell found only during pregnancy
Scientists have published a detailed ‘atlas’ of the placenta and uterus, showing how these unique tissues grow and evolve during pregnancy to match the developing fetus. In creating this new map, scientists uncovered a previously undescribed cell subtype that appears to be unique to pregnancy. These cells are not present in the uterus outside of […]
16th-century silver coins found near the Straits of Magellan mark the ruins of a doomed Spanish colony
Archaeologists have discovered Spanish coins placed near the Strait of Magellan in southern Chile as part of a ritual performed by settlers more than 400 years ago. The coin is an important clue for archaeologists investigating the colony, as it matches extant records from 1584 of Christian rituals involving coins, which was standard practice at […]
Keratin may play an unknown role in skin diseases such as psoriasis
Keratin proteins, which form our skin, hair and nails, can confuse the immune system and cause diseases such as psoriasis and eczema when mutated, new research suggests. In a new study published Wednesday (April 8) in the journal Science Translational Medicine, researchers have identified a mutant form of the keratin protein that can disrupt processes […]
Diagnostic dilemma: Woman’s “biologically impossible” infection causes “worms” to come out of her nose when she sneezes
Patient: 58-year-old female resident in Greece Symptoms: A patient working outdoors on a Greek island experienced pain near the center of his face that gradually worsened. About 2-3 weeks after this pain started, she also developed a severe cough. Shortly after, she told doctors, she went to see a doctor because “bugs” came out of […]