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Phys.org / Dolls beat screens for building children's social skills, study finds

What's the point of play? Is it simply a way to keep children occupied, or something more? For some, it's about learning literacy and numeracy. For others, it's how friendships form and relationships deepen. But it can be ...

May 1, 2026
Medical Xpress / Brazilian tree compounds block SARS-CoV-2 at multiple stages, lab tests show

A study has revealed that galloylquinic acids extracted from the leaves of Copaifera lucens Dwyer, a tree endemic to Brazil primarily found in the Atlantic Forest, have a multi-targeted effect against SARS-CoV-2, the virus ...

Apr 30, 2026
Phys.org / Hunting the elusive Eta Aquariid meteors

Early May is a good time to watch for a powerful yet often elusive meteor shower, the annual Eta Aquariids. They're a prolific, yet often elusive for northern hemisphere observers. If skies are clear, watch for a strong annual ...

May 1, 2026
Phys.org / Light-activated protein illuminates when embryos can cope with disruptions to cell division

Cell division during the early stage of embryo development is a trade-off between speed and accuracy; the cells need to divide quickly to enable rapid growth, but it's important not to introduce errors that could be fatal ...

Apr 30, 2026
Phys.org / How mass extinctions helped termites become essential engineers of today's tropical ecosystems

Tropical ecosystems rely on the infrastructure provided by termites. These insects supply plants with vital nutrients by breaking down organic waste, bringing water to the roots by aerating the soil through tunneling, and ...

Apr 30, 2026
Phys.org / Malaria parasite sneaks mRNA into immune cell nuclei, disrupting defenses

RNA technology is regarded as one of the newest frontiers in medicine, but in fact a primordial innovator got there way before we did. The malaria parasite, an ancient single-celled organism, has been using sophisticated ...

Apr 30, 2026
Medical Xpress / Restoring protein recycling helps exhausted T cells fight tumors again

T cells are crucial components of our immune system, serving as critical protectors against infection and disease. But there are limits to their defensive capabilities. T cells are not inexhaustible protectors. Often, when ...

Apr 30, 2026
Phys.org / One overlooked mineral may have quietly powered a crucial step toward life on early Earth

Manganese dioxide can convert amino acids into hydrogen cyanide (HCN) without requiring methane, a finding that solves a long-standing puzzle about the origin of this key prebiotic molecule on early Earth. Although HCN is ...

Apr 30, 2026
Medical Xpress / Genetic discovery may explain why pancreatic cancer is so difficult to treat

Pancreatic cancer can remain quiet for years, developing undetected before causing symptoms that lead to a diagnosis. Even after a surgeon removes a pancreas tumor, other cells often hide and erupt later. But University of ...

Apr 30, 2026
Phys.org / 'A study showed…' isn't enough—scientific knowledge builds incrementally as researchers revisit questions

Your goofy but lovable cousin just told you that you should stop eating eggs because he read somewhere that a study showed they are bad for you. How much should you trust your relative on such matters? More importantly, how ...

May 1, 2026
Medical Xpress / Turning immune cells into tumor allies: A cancer cell protein can reprogram frontline defenders

Cancer cells can disarm the immune system not just by hiding from it, but by actively reprogramming nearby immune cells into a suppressed state. This previously unrecognized molecular interaction, discovered by scientists ...

Apr 27, 2026
Phys.org / Massive reef expansion 20 million years ago may explain modern coral life's origins

New research published in Science Advances reveals that the largest expansion of coral reefs in the past 100 million years happened about 20 to 10 million years ago, between Australia and Southeast Asia.

Apr 30, 2026