All News

Medical Xpress / Solving a 15-year mystery: Scientists discover how gut bacteria toxin invades colon cells to trigger cancer

Since a landmark 2009 study, researchers have known that a common gut bacterium, Bacteroides fragilis, drives colon tumor formation, potentially leading to colorectal cancer, by secreting a toxin that damages the lining of ...

May 7, 2026
Medical Xpress / Key magic mushroom ingredient makes fish less aggressive and lazier

More than 200 mushrooms—primarily those belonging to a genus of gilled mushrooms called Psilocybe—contain the psychoactive compound psilocybin. In the brain of mammals, this chemical can bind to serotonin receptors and influence ...

May 7, 2026
Phys.org / Photonics advance could enable compact, high-performance lidar sensors

Lidar systems use pulses of infrared light to measure distance and map a 3D scene with high resolution, allowing autonomous vehicles to rapidly react to obstacles that appear in their path. But traditional lidar sensors are ...

May 7, 2026
Phys.org / How soil bacteria help plants defend themselves against disease

A study led by researchers at the University of Liège reveals the mechanism by which surfactin, a molecule produced by beneficial soil bacteria, activates plants' immune defenses. This mechanism, distinct from the classical ...

May 7, 2026
Phys.org / Researchers combine five metals to build a better nanocrystal

A nanocrystal is an extraordinarily tiny piece of material—composed of anywhere from a few to a few thousand atoms—in which atoms are arranged in a precise, ordered structure. Think of it like taking a piece of gold and shrinking ...

May 7, 2026
Medical Xpress / Large study finds a strong link between depression and problem cannabis use

A new meta-analysis of 55 studies involving more than 3 million people has found that 31% of individuals with cannabis use disorder (CUD) also struggle with major depressive disorder (MDD). While a link between these two ...

May 6, 2026
Phys.org / Climate-driven extreme fire danger cannot be prevented by carbon neutrality alone, study warns

A new study warns that unless atmospheric carbon is reduced immediately, future summers will become even hotter and future wildfires even more destructive. A research team led by Professor Seung-Ki Min of the Department of ...

May 7, 2026
Tech Xplore / Inspired by the brain, researchers build smarter and more efficient computer hardware

As traditional computer chips reach their physical limits and artificial intelligence demands more energy than ever, University of Missouri researchers are rethinking how computers work by taking cues from the human brain. ...

May 7, 2026
Phys.org / Gaming monkeys' curiosity: Japanese macaques actively explore moderately uncertain stimuli

The intrinsic information-seeking impulse we call curiosity is independent of extrinsic rewards, such as food or mating opportunities. Curiosity is purely the pursuit of understanding the unknown, driving both humans and ...

May 7, 2026
Tech Xplore / Silicon oscillators solve computer problems that would take thousands of years using semiconductors

In the era of big data and artificial intelligence, a new approach has emerged for solving combinatorial optimization problems, which involves finding the most efficient solution among many possible options and can otherwise ...

May 6, 2026
Medical Xpress / Lying down to stand stronger: 10 minutes of simple floor exercises a day could improve balance and agility

Don't feel like standing up for a workout? No problem, you can still get a good workout that helps improve static standing balance, flexibility, and agility, all while lying on your back with your head facing up.

May 6, 2026
Phys.org / Novel nanoparticle therapy using manganese could improve cancer treatment

A research team led by the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has developed a new type of nanoparticle therapy that could make cancer immunotherapy safer and more ...

May 7, 2026