Research Discoveries

Near the equator, the Sun hurries below the horizon in a matter of minutes. Darkness seeps from the surrounding forest. Nearly 10,000 years ago, at the base of a mountain in Africa, people’s shadows stretch up the wall of a natural overhang of stone. They’re lit by a ferocious fire that’s been burning for hours, visible even…

Both age and menopause appear to influence attraction – but in different ways. Women’s preferences for masculine features in men shift as they age and transition through menopause, according to research exploring how attraction evolves throughout the female lifespan. The small study of 122 Polish women aged 19 to 70 found distinct patterns across age groups and…

Mice given processed fats struggled to adapt to winter. Struggling to understand why your metabolism seems out of sync with the seasons? Your body might be stuck thinking it’s still summer, thanks to the types of fats lurking in processed foods. A study from the University of California, San Francisco, suggests it’s not just how much fat…

Deep beneath the surface of our planet lies the Earth’s core, a solid ball of iron under crushing pressure. Now, however, scientists conducting laboratory experiments have found evidence suggesting it may not be a uniform sphere after all. Instead, lab tests on iron mixed with silicon and carbon show properties consistent with a layered structure, with different…

Mold lurking behind walls and under floors can sicken families for months before anyone realizes what’s wrong. Traditional mold testing requires swabbing surfaces, sending samples to labs, and waiting three to seven days for results, all while potentially harmful spores continue circulating through living spaces. Researchers at Germany’s Karlsruhe Institute of Technology have created an electronic “nose”…

It might seem worlds away from the Earth we know. But can Star Trek teach us anything about the economics of our own society? Set in the mid-23rd century, the original Star Trek series told the story of the starship Enterprise. Its crew were led by the human Captain James Kirk and the half-Vulcan Mr Spock. From…

Fathers exposed to microplastics before conception may be setting their daughters up for metabolic problems later in life. A new mouse study shows when male mice consumed plastic particles before breeding, their female offspring developed insulin resistance on a high-fat diet while male offspring remained largely unaffected. Research from the University of California, Riverside found an unusual…

For decades, dietary guidelines have warned against high-fat cheese because of concerns about saturated fat and heart health. Now, a Swedish study that followed 27,670 people for nearly 30 years has uncovered a surprising benefit associated with fatty cheeses. Those who ate more high-fat cheese showed lower rates of dementia. The research found that participants consuming at…

Stuck in front of our screens all day, we often ignore our senses beyond sound and vision. And yet they are always at work. When we’re more alert we feel the rough and smooth surfaces of objects, the stiffness in our shoulders, the softness of bread. In the morning, we may feel the tingle of toothpaste, hear…

Most people in relationships would never admit it out loud, but a surprising number are keeping their options open. One in six Americans currently in a relationship confesses there’s someone else in their life they’d actually leave their partner for if that person showed romantic interest. That revelation comes from a new survey of 1,279 people in…

Anyone who has beheld Luke “The Nuke” Littler’s stellar abilities on the darts circuit will have seen the exceptional talent he displays. In January, he became the youngest World Champion in history at just 17 years old. In October, he captured his first World Grand Prix title. But what does it actually take to become a professional…

Since researchers first established the link between diet, cholesterol and heart disease in the 1950s, risk for heart disease has been partly assessed based on a patient’s cholesterol levels, which can be routinely measured via blood work at the doctor’s office. However, accumulating evidence over the past two decades demonstrates that a biomarker called C-reactive protein –…

The skull had the brow of a descendant but the face of an ancestor. When researchers finished reconstructing the DAN5/P1 cranium from Ethiopia’s Afar region, dated to between 1.6 and 1.5 million years ago, they found themselves staring at an evolutionary contradiction: a single individual who appeared to belong to two different chapters of human history at…

In the wake of Sunday’s tragic Bondi shooting, conspiracy theories and deliberate misinformation have spread on social media. One thing some people have latched onto is the idea Google Trends data show a spike in searches for “Naveed Akram” – the name of one of the attackers – from Tel Aviv (or other locations) before the shooting…

Romance and the heart have long been synonymous on a symbolic level, but modern science now indicates the connection may be literal. Researchers are calling for romantic relationships to be incorporated far more heavily in treatment programs for heart patients. A major review published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology analyzed how including romantic partners in cardiac…

The future is now…and it’s tiny. Robots the size of a single-celled organism can now sense their environment, make decisions, and act on them without any outside help. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and University of Michigan created microscopic machines measuring just 210 to 340 micrometers wide (roughly the size of a paramecium or two human…

On average, Americans will spend close to $2 million dollars on major debt payments before their life ends. That staggering figure, according to an eye-opening study, represents every car loan, mortgage payment, student loan bill, and credit card balance between age 18 and death at 78. A new analysis by JG Wentworth concludes that the average American…

The ‘Hallmarks of Aging’ Framework Has A Major Problem That Nobody Talked About Until Now The next time a death certificate lists “natural causes” or a doctor mentions someone died of “old age,” keep in mind that may not be true after all. Autopsy studies reveal that even centenarians who seemed healthy days before death succumbed to…

Ocean temperatures warmed by human-caused climate change fed the intense rainfall that triggered deadly floods and landslides across Asia in recent weeks, according to an analysis released Wednesday. The rapid study by World Weather Attribution focused on heavy rainfall from cyclones Senyar and Ditwah in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Sri Lanka starting late last month. The analysis…

These amphibians are all too happy to endure a few stings for a decent meal. Japanese pond frogs can eat some of the world’s most venomous insects and apparently hop away from the meal unharmed. Research reveals these amphibians tolerate repeated stings from giant hornets carrying enough venom to kill animals many times their size. Scientists in…

Watching Dogs Lifts Mood, But There’s a Catch for Pet Owners Watching videos of dogs generally boosted participants’ moods regardless of whether the animals appeared happy, neutral, or upset. Indeed, according to the research published in PeerJ, even when certain pups appeared distressed, people still felt better after watching. That’s one of the more unexpected findings from…

Most people consider the pain and permanence before getting a tattoo. Few think about the carcinogenic chemicals they’re injecting into their skin. Swedish researchers identified 2,880 individuals diagnosed with melanoma and used questionnaires to gather detailed information about tattoo exposure, sun habits, and other risk factors. The population-based study published in the European Journal of Epidemiology found…

Study Reveals A ‘Friends-and-Neighbors Effect’ That Distorts Tax Preferences Most people think the psychology of taxes is fairly straightforward and almost always tied to one’s personal bank account. Interestingly, researchers report something much more nuanced is at play. It isn’t so much about how much money someone has, but who they see every day. Published in PNAS…

A mysterious fossil foot discovered in Ethiopia more than a decade ago has now been linked to its most likely owner, and the revelation adds an important twist to the story of how our ancient relatives lived. The foot probably belonged to Australopithecus deyiremeda, a 3.4-million-year-old human ancestor that shared the East African region with the famous…

Easter Island’s famous stone heads have puzzled researchers for decades, but not for the reasons most people think. The real mystery wasn’t how ancient Polynesians carved and moved these massive sculptures across a remote Pacific island. Instead, scientists have long pondered how a society with no clear island-wide government managed to produce more than 1,000 giant statues.…

Professional Santas across America describe their work in terms that sound less like a seasonal gig and more like something they were meant to do. They talk about being “called” to the role, experiencing life-changing moments when they first don the red suit, and feeling a profound sense of purpose that extends far beyond spreading holiday cheer.…

H5N1 bird flu has infected growing numbers of people worldwide in recent years, but this week saw something new: the first recorded human case of an H5N5 avian influenza virus. What is this virus and how concerned about it should we be? What Happened? In early November, a resident of Grays Harbor, a county on the south-west…

Your morning coffee may help scientists better predict future volcanic eruptions. Like a dormant volcano, plenty of people just can’t get going in the morning without some coffee. Surprisingly, the physics of java and lava are actually quite similar, at least when it comes to bubbles. Scientists have discovered that bubble formation in rising magma follows some…

Children with more screen time showed cortical thinning in brain regions involved in memory, planning, and impulse control. What happens inside a child’s brain after thousands of hours in front of screens? A study of nearly 10,000 American kids offers some answers. Researchers tracking children from ages 9-10 through 11-12 found that heavier screen time was associated…

If Europe sees another heat wave like the summer of 2003, over 30,000 people could die in the span of a single week. That’s the sobering conclusion drawn from a research project highlighting just how much hotter average temperatures have become since then. When August 2003’s heat wave baked across Europe, it killed an estimated 70,000 people…

Dartmouth Study Reveals How Easily Artificial Intelligence Can Manipulate Online Polls A single survey completion costs about five cents when powered by artificial intelligence, according to an eye-opening study from Dartmouth College. The typical payout to a real human, meanwhile, is around $1.50. That 97% profit margin has created a gold rush for fraudsters, and researcher Sean…

In the ever-evolving world of beauty trends, few have sparked as much debate – and discomfort – as “menstrual masking.” This is the practice of applying menstrual blood to the skin, usually the face, as a form of DIY skincare. Popularized on social media, hashtags such as #periodfacemask have amassed billions of views. In most videos, users…

A genetically modified pig kidney has survived and functioned in a human recipient for 61 days, setting a record for this type of procedure and offering new hope to the nearly one million Americans living with end-stage kidney disease. The study, conducted at NYU Langone Health, showed that a pig organ with just a single genetic modification…

Woodpeckers have adopted the same breathing technique used by professional tennis players. Both exhale through the moment of impact. Research reveals these birds forcefully breathe out with every strike of their bill against wood, using a respiratory pattern that likely stabilizes their core during forceful pecking. Scientists at Brown University discovered that downy woodpeckers maintain airflow while…

Ever yelled at the TV when your team’s rival scored? That rage isn’t just in your head… well, actually, it is. And scientists have uncovered exactly what’s happening in there. Chilean researchers put dozens of die-hard soccer fans (across a range of engagement/interest levels) in brain scanners and showed them goals from matches involving their favorite teams.…

Those silver strands sprouting on your head might be doing more than announcing your age. Research from the University of Tokyo shows that gray hair in mice reflects a built-in cleanup program in which the body hunts down and eliminates damaged cells capable of becoming cancer. Importantly, there are supporting signs this same mechanism is present in…

There are easier ways to cross an ocean, but few are as slick or stylish as the remora’s whale-surfing joyride. Scientists tracking humpbacks off the coast of Australia have captured rare footage that shows clutches of the freeloading fish peeling away from their host in what looks like a high-speed game of chicken, just moments before the…

Scientists just built a brain implant barely visible to the naked eye. At 370 micrometers long and 70 micrometers wide, it’s about as wide as three or four human hairs. These innovative, tiny devices recorded the brain activity of a group of mice for an entire year. The implant is so small that dozens could fit on…

Sharks are usually the hunters, but these killer whales have developed a surprising new way to enjoy a meal. Off the coast of Mexico, a pod of killer whales has developed a specialized hunting technique. They flip juvenile great white sharks upside down in a way that likely triggers a trance-like paralysis, then extract their livers while…

After 19 years of trying to conceive, a couple facing severe male infertility achieved their first pregnancy using an artificial intelligence system that detected sperm invisible to human examination. Reported in The Lancet, this represents, to the authors’ knowledge, the first reported clinical pregnancy resulting from AI-guided sperm recovery. It offers new hope for men whose semen…

Wearable device data from about 85,000 people suggests striking sex differences that challenge current health guidelines Women may achieve similar heart disease protection as men with about half the weekly exercise time. That’s according to research tracking approximately 85,000 people wearing wrist accelerometers measuring moderate-to-vigorous physical activity for a week. The study, published in Nature Cardiovascular Research,…

Chimpanzees can weigh and rationalize conflicting information before deciding what to believe. That’s the main conclusion of research that tested whether our closest living relatives can do something scientists call “rational belief revision,” a thinking skill previously thought to set humans apart. Researchers at UC Berkeley, the University of Portsmouth, and other institutions designed a series of…

Eating flavanol-rich foods like dark chocolate or berries may boost memory performance. How? By synchronizing stress hormones with the brain’s natural window for locking in new information, according to research from Japan. In mice, memory improved when flavanols were given before learning, though the timing effects in humans remain unknown. Scientists at Shibaura Institute of Technology discovered…

The discovery is both spooky and thought-provoking, but researchers are left with more questions than answers A bat collected in 1922 and one caught last decade have something unexpected in common: both glow green when exposed to ultraviolet light, producing the same range of wavelengths. Scientists at the University of Georgia discovered this peculiar trait while examining…

If you’re reading this there’s a good chance that you, like me, are a millennial. If so, you’ve probably noticed more and more cases of friends or acquaintances with diseases that you would normally associate with later adulthood – hypertension, Type 2 diabetes or perhaps even the one that we’re all scared to name: cancer. Millennials –…

From dancing the tango to playing video games, there are countless creative ways to promote a sharper, younger mind. Researchers have developed a method to calculate whether someone’s brain is aging faster or slower than their chronological age suggests. The technique, called a “brain clock,” works similarly to how a fitness tracker estimates your cardiovascular age based…

When Apple introduced the Retina Display in 2010, the company made a bold claim: the screen packed in so many pixels that the human eye couldn’t discern individual dots. Steve Jobs declared it had crossed a magical threshold—matching the limits of human vision itself. Turns out, that wasn’t quite true. A study published in Nature Communications reveals…

‘It reveals that both intense radiation from around the black holes as well as the high-speed jets they emit can work together to eject gas from the centres of galaxies, potentially shutting down star formation in their central regions and regulating galactic growth. A new study led by astronomers at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) has…

Researchers were inspired by an existing process before coming up with an ingenious new method A GROUNDBREAKING cure for baldness has been revealed by boffins – who claim it takes less than three weeks to take effect. Researchers have created a cutting-edge serum that restores hair growth on mice in just 20 days – and it could…

Most dog owners don’t think twice about the carbohydrates in their pet’s food. But a study from Finland found that dogs eating high-carb kibble showed markedly different blood chemistry than those eating a carbohydrate-free raw diet after about five months. The differences appeared in markers linked to blood sugar control, cholesterol, and how dogs burn energy. Researchers…

Study confirms long-held beliefs about one of the most common and devastating symptoms of schizophrenia. Why do some people with schizophrenia hear voices that aren’t there? Scientists may have found a crucial piece of the puzzle by watching what happens in the brain when people talk to themselves silently. In a study of 142 people, researchers discovered…

Ever notice how certain songs from your teenage years or beyond tend to hit you harder emotionally than others? Turns out your gender plays a role in why. Scientists in Finland have discovered something fascinating about the way we form musical memories: men typically connect most deeply with songs around age 16, while women peak around 19.…

When it comes to describing what an antioxidant is, it’s all in the name: Antioxidants counter oxidants. And that’s a good thing. Oxidants can damage the structure and function of the chemicals in your body critical to life – like the proteins and lipids within your cells, and your DNA, which stores genetic information. A special class…

Nearly half of nursing home residents with dementia receive benzodiazepines during hospice care, and a new national study reveals these commonly prescribed sedatives are associated with a 41% increased risk of death within six months. Antipsychotics, given to about one in eight patients, showed a 16% increase in mortality risk. The findings challenge current end-of-life prescribing practices…

They were the colossal animals that roamed the Earth 166 million years ago. Now a window into their prehistoric past is being revealed in an Oxfordshire quarry. Hidden under tonnes of rock, a dinosaur superhighway is emerging – where palaeontologists are walking in the footsteps of these giant beasts. This summer’s excavation at this extraordinary site has…

Researchers have achieved the first demonstration in mice of using gene therapy to reverse hallmark symptoms of SYNGAP1-related disorder, a devastating condition affecting an estimated 1 million people worldwide. The treatment reduced abnormal brain electrical activity and corrected the brain wave patterns that are linked to many of the disorder’s problems, suggesting potential for a single intervention…

Exercise is good for the body and the mind. A good workout can leave you feeling energized, recharged and ready to take on the rest of the day. But for some, the aftereffects of a good workout can be slightly more bizarre. From bloody noses to “coregasms,” here are some of the strangest things that can happen…

Athletes have long obsessed over what to eat, but emerging science points to a different question: when should they eat? A systematic review of 18 studies examining time-restricted eating (TRE) in athletic and active populations reveals early promise that limiting daily food intake to specific windows may trigger beneficial metabolic changes. However, the team of Spanish researchers…

It’s a quiet autumn evening. You’re enjoying some TV, when an unscripted movement catches your eye. A large house spider (Tegenaria domestica) is striding across the rug towards you. You make a sudden movement. The spider freezes. You reach for a paper to shoo it away, look back and it’s gone. What did the spider see? Was…

The price of lobster rolls and whole Maine lobsters could climb even higher as warming oceans create an unexpected problem for America’s most valuable fishery. New research reveals that rising temperatures produce smaller baby lobsters, threatening the sustainability of an industry that generated over $2 billion in 2021. Scientists from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and…

A new study suggests a habitable past and signs of ancient microbial processes on Mars — and Imperial scientists provided crucial context. Led by NASA and featuring key analysis from Imperial College London, the work has uncovered a range of minerals and organic matter in Martian rocks that point to an ancient history of habitable conditions and…

Hot yoga may not live up to its hype for heart health after all. A new systematic review comparing yoga and conventional exercise found that structured exercise programs consistently improved blood vessel function, while yoga showed mixed and inconsistent results. Researchers at the University of Sharjah in the UAE and Manipal Academy of Higher Education in India…

Waiting can be boring, which is why we typically do anything we can to avoid it. We fill moments where we have to wait with something to keep our minds busy – such as scrolling on social media, reading the news or listening to a podcast. But waiting isn’t always bad. Research shows that it can be…

Is a constantly aching back a sign of declining health? A major study of Brazilian adults reveals that nearly two-thirds of people with chronic back pain battle multiple serious health conditions, challenging the idea that chronic back pain exists in isolation. Research published in the Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy examined health data from 87,678 adults who…

For centuries, women have whispered about the mysterious link between their monthly cycles and the moon’s phases. New research shows that the connection was real, and, believe it or not, smartphones may have disrupted it. An analysis of 176 women’s menstrual records spanning nearly a century shows that female reproductive cycles synchronized with lunar phases until around…

If you believe that the end of the world is at hand, then you really need to know what the rapture is. Simply put, the rapture is the belief that, at any moment, Jesus Christ will descend from heaven to the sky and “rapture” all those who truly believe in Him into heaven. Those among the faithful…

New research suggests that mammograms may continue to benefit women in their eighties, a group often excluded from cancer screening guidelines. A UCLA study found that women over 80 who had a mammogram within two years of their breast cancer diagnosis lived longer and were less likely to see their cancer return compared with women of the…

Scientists have spotted a major blind spot in how we watch for dangerous asteroids. New research shows that space rocks orbiting near Venus stay hidden from Earth’s telescopes, and some could pack enough punch to level an entire city. Models suggest a still-undetected population of Venus asteroids exists, with some potentially measuring 300 to 390 meters across.…

Recognising and treating psychological distress with strategies such as cognitive behavioural therapy, antidepressants and stress reduction techniques could help improve mental health. Persistent psychological distress following a heart attack event and lasting up to 12 months could increase the risk of another cardiac event by nearly 1.3 times, according to a study. Recognising and treating psychological distress…

Dog owners curious about vegan diets for their pets can breathe easier: new research from the University of Nottingham shows that plant-based dog foods compare closely to traditional meat diets across most nutrients. Research challenges long-held beliefs that dogs must eat meat to stay healthy. Scientists analyzed 31 complete dry dog foods sold in the United Kingdom:…

That afternoon Coke or morning orange juice may do more than add calories. A new study suggests sugary beverages can directly boost cancer’s ability to spread. Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and partner institutions found that the combination of glucose and fructose, typically found in soda, fruit juice, or sports drinks, activates…

Humans may be experiencing one of the most unusual evolutionary changes in our species’ history, and it may have little to do with DNA. A new study from the University of Maine suggests that culture has become such a powerful force that it may be overtaking biology as the main driver of human evolution. If true, this…

Cancer patients often face a painful trade-off: accept the harsh side effects of chemotherapy or risk letting tumors grow unchecked. The root of the problem is that most cancer drugs can’t tell healthy tissue from cancerous tissue. They spread through the body indiscriminately, attacking both good and bad cells. A new approach from scientists at the University…

Women in India are more likely to get cancer. Men are more likely to die from it. The paradox, revealed in a study of the country’s latest cancer registry, tells a story at once simple and confounding. Women account for just over half of all new cases, but men make up the majority of deaths. India appears…

Astronomers studying mysterious objects called “little red dots” have made a startling discovery about one particularly bizarre specimen. What initially appeared to be a galaxy so jam-packed with stars that they would smash into each other about once a month turned out to be something else entirely: a “black hole star,” where a massive black hole wrapped…

When teenagers stumble out of bed looking exhausted, many parents point fingers at late-night phone scrolling or video games. But a study following over 3,400 children for four years reveals something different: family conflict and parents’ mental health struggles show connections to teen sleep problems that extend beyond screen use alone. Scientists found associations between parents experiencing…

The merger of two black holes is a momentous event, revealing the wildest and most extreme configurations of space, time and gravity known to science. Researchers have now gotten their best look yet at such an event based on the detection of ripples in space-time called gravitational waves in an observation that lends strong support to hypotheses…

Two massive black holes crashed into each other 1.3 billion years ago, and the ripples from that cosmic collision just gave scientists the clearest look ever at how the universe really works. The signal, picked up on January 14, 2025, was so strong and clear that researchers could finally test some of the most ambitious predictions ever…

Cancer patients who regularly consumed sucralose, the artificial sweetener found in Splenda and many diet products, were less likely to benefit from immunotherapy and experienced shorter survival, according to new research. The study reveals a surprising connection between everyday food choices and how well cutting-edge cancer treatments work. Scientists analyzed dietary data from 91 patients with advanced…

Study Shows Quick Fixes For Ice Loss Are Too Costly and Risky Forty-six polar scientists just delivered a sobering verdict on ambitious schemes promising to rescue Earth’s melting ice through massive technological interventions. Their conclusion? These plans are infeasible, prohibitively expensive, and could create serious new environmental risks. Published in Frontiers in Science, this sweeping analysis examined…

Playing specially designed video games might do more than entertain older adults with memory problems. A new study suggests these games could potentially help protect brain regions vulnerable to early Alzheimer’s disease, though the research is still exploratory. Scientists found that people with mild cognitive impairment who played exergames (video games that combine physical movement with thinking…

Pregnancy loss brings grief, no matter how early it happens. Experts share advice for recovery, knowing when you’re ready to try again, and how to prepare both mind and body for getting pregnant again after a miscarriage. You were elated when the pregnancy test showed two pink lines. Now, your dreams of becoming a mother are shattered,…

Invisible bursts of radiation that happen inside thunderstorms may hold the key to one of nature’s most spectacular mysteries: how lightning actually begins. Scientists have found that these high-energy flashes, known as terrestrial gamma ray flashes, don’t just accompany lightning strikes—they may help set the stage for them. For decades, researchers struggled to explain lightning’s first step.…

The hype around protein intake doesn’t seem to be going away. Social media is full of people urging you to eat more protein, including via supplements such as protein shakes. Food companies have also started highlighting protein content on food packages to promote sales. But is all the extra protein giving us any benefit – and can…

Animal protein isn’t linked to a shorter life — and may even offer some protection against cancer. A large new analysis of nearly 16,000 U.S. adults followed for up to 18 years found no evidence that eating animal protein raises the risk of dying from cancer, heart disease, or any other cause. More surprising still: animal protein…

Researchers at New York University have built a wireless capsule the size of a large vitamin that rats can swallow, giving scientists a unique way to shine light into their digestive systems without surgery. The device opens new doors for studying the enteric nervous system, a network of neurons in the gut often nicknamed the “second brain”…

In A Nutshell Most of food chemistry is still unknown: Beyond calories and nutrients, our diet contains 26,000+ compounds — most unstudied “nutritional dark matter.” Hidden compounds may drive health or harm: Molecules like TMAO (from red meat/eggs) raise heart risk, while garlic can block its production; gut microbes turn fruit compounds into health-boosting urolithins. Food affects genes and…

A class of drugs called beta-blockers — used for decades as a first-line treatment after a heart attack— doesn’t benefit the vast majority of patients and may contribute to a higher risk of hospitalization and death in some women but not in men, according to groundbreaking new research. “These findings will reshape all international clinical guidelines on…

How can we live longer? The eternal question, and one that scientists have long been trying to answer. We know that diet, exercise, and genes play a big role in the aging process and how long each of us might be alive for. We also know that certain drugs or medicines have the potential to increase our…

Doctors have long relied on measurements like body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratios to assess health risks. However, researchers are increasingly focusing their attention on an unexpected indicator: neck circumference. A thick neck might project strength, like that of heavyweight boxers or rugby players, but studies suggest it could signal a concerning health issue. BMI, which…

Your brother covers your rent. Mom helps with groceries. Dad lends money for car repairs. These everyday exchanges add up to a hidden economy worth about $52 billion, and many families say it’s hurting their relationships. More than half of respondents have borrowed money from friends or family, according to a new JG Wentworth survey of 1,267…

For years, doctors have repeated a familiar message: if you’re heading into surgery, shedding pounds could improve your odds of a smooth recovery. Hospitals often encourage patients to slim down before elective procedures, citing risks like infection, heart strain, and breathing difficulties in heavier individuals. But a study from UCLA suggests that this advice may not apply…

Four in ten American parents say they don’t believe, or aren’t sure, their children will be able to afford to live in the same neighborhood where they grew up, according to a sobering new poll. In fact, the survey suggests that more than half of all Americans think they’re already paying too much for housing, with the…

With burgers sizzling and classic rock thumping, many Americans revel in summer cookouts, at least until that wayward cousin asks for a “pop” in soda country, or even worse, a “coke” when they actually want a Sprite. Few American linguistic debates have bubbled quite as long and effervescently as the one over whether a generic soft drink…

On average, Americans say $74,000 a year would make them happy, according to new survey from Talker Research. But there’s a disconnect: half of respondents say their current paychecks don’t support the lifestyle they want. The survey of 2,000 adults, commissioned by SurePayroll By Paychex, describes how traditional employment and evolving goals are pushing people to look…

Do you like AI models? Well, chances are, they sure don’t like you back. New research suggests that the industry’s leading large language models, including those that power ChatGPT, display an alarming bias towards other AIs when they’re asked to choose between human and machine-generated content. The authors of the study, which was published in the journal…

Eighty years have passed since Japan’s surrender ended World War II. But the way Japan thinks about its wartime history is changing at pace. This is coinciding with a political shift that risks renewed Japanese militarism, an outcome that would complicate politics across east Asia. Japan’s traditional narrative of the war originated in the post-war occupation, a…

More than half of Earth’s land surface has pushed past what scientists call local ecological boundaries, or limits that help keep our planet’s life-support systems stable. These boundaries are part of a scientific framework known as planetary boundaries, which identifies the safe environmental conditions that have allowed human civilization to flourish for thousands of years. According to…

Writing, reading, math and mindfulness? That last subject is increasingly joining the three classic courses, as more young students in the United States are practicing mindfulness, meaning focusing on paying attention to the present moment without judgment. In the past 20 years in the U.S., mindfulness transitioned from being a new-age curiosity to becoming a more mainstream…