Scientists are exploring a surprising tool to help brains recover after strokes: tiny electric pulses delivered through needles. This method, called electroacupuncture, seems to calm down harmful inflammation in the brain and encourage healing cells to take action. The key players are special brain
Barley doesn’t always wait to be harvested. Sometimes, rain before cutting triggers premature sprouting in the field, turning starch into sugar and ruining quality. Scientists have now found small genetic differences that help some barley plants resist this problem, called preharvest sprouting. Inst
The body has a clever trick to stay warm in cold weather: it burns fat to generate heat. This process, called adaptive thermogenesis, acts like a built-in heater but also helps fight obesity. Scientists recently discovered a protein called Feimin that plays a key role in turning on this fat-burning
A study looked at how Preksha Dhyana (PD) meditation changes the body’s chemistry. Researchers tested 38 healthy adults who had never meditated before. Half did an 8-week PD course while the others did nothing. Blood samples were taken before and after. The meditators showed higher levels of specifi
A bright night in Los Angeles turned into a science‑theatre spectacle when the world’s leading researchers met Hollywood celebrities for the 12th Breakthrough Prize ceremony. The event, often dubbed “the Oscars of Science, ” highlighted groundbreaking work that could change lives. The Breakthroug
Scientists have spent decades charting how our eyes, ears and skin send signals to the brain. The nose, with its thousands of scent sensors, seemed a chaotic maze. Most researchers thought the receptors were scattered randomly. Two research groups changed that view. They used DNA sequencin
A new study examined the gene activity in nearly a thousand brain samples from people who had died with Parkinson’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, multiple system atrophy, progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration, Alzheimer’s disease or no brain disease. The researchers used a
Scientists recently dug deeper into the genetic roots of two ethnic groups in Sichuan, China. They studied 100 people from the Qiang and Yi communities. Their goal? To map out how these groups connect genetically to others nearby. The findings show big similarities between the Qiang, Yi, and other
Mediterranean oak forests face a tough challenge: acorns rarely survive long enough to become new trees. A study in a protected area in Italy showed that most acorns disappeared within days after being planted, eaten by animals like mice and jays. The researchers tested four oak species, from large
Hereditary angioedema, or HAE, is a genetic condition that causes sudden, painful swelling under the skin or in the lining of the body's organs. These unpredictable flare-ups can block airways or cause severe stomach pain, making everyday activities dangerous. Scientists used to struggle to keep the
