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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 / A routine virus can slow breast cancer spread to the lungs, offering hidden protective power

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), mostly infects the lungs, nose, throat, and respiratory tract, and can cause illness ranging from mild cold and fever-like symptoms to severe pneumonia and bronchitis. A recent study has ...

Apr 29, 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
Medical Xpress / Severe narcolepsy found to damage a second brain region

For nearly 25 years, scientists believed they knew what caused the most severe form of narcolepsy. A new UCLA Health study now suggests they were only half correct. In a study published in Nature Communications, UCLA Health ...

Apr 30, 2026
Phys.org / Feeding shift may have steered 55 pilot whales toward Scotland mass stranding

New research, focused on the feeding behavior of long-finned pilot whales, has shed light on one of Scotland's largest mass stranding events. The study, led by the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS) based at ...

Apr 30, 2026
Medical Xpress / Communication from the CDC fuels skepticism about vaccines and science, research suggests

The scientific consensus is that vaccinations are neither causally nor statistically linked to autism. The US health authority CDC changed its official communication on this matter and instead emphasized a connection could ...

Apr 30, 2026
Phys.org / Ancient farming clues may finally expose where humanity's most important wheat first emerged

The exact origin of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) is still a mystery, but researchers believe they are edging closer to the source of one of the most important food staples worldwide. Using genetic studies and ancient plant ...

Apr 28, 2026
Phys.org / Hidden 3D atomic structure of relaxor ferroelectrics revealed for first time

Materials called relaxor ferroelectrics have been used for decades in technologies like ultrasounds, microphones, and sonar systems. Their unique properties come from their atomic structure, but that structure has stubbornly ...

Apr 30, 2026
Medical Xpress / Glioblastoma mapping uncovers four recurring tumor cell communities, revealing treatment targets

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive type of brain cancer that is known to be very difficult to treat. One reason why this type of cancer is often resistant to available treatments is that it is characterized by a highly diverse ...

Apr 29, 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 / New genome editing method could swap entire genes and correct 1000 mutations at once

New technology enables the insertion of a large segment of DNA into a genome, potentially expanding gene therapy treatment from cancellation of disease-causing mutations to replacement of an entire gene, scientists say.

Apr 29, 2026
Medical Xpress / For 30 years, doctors chased the wrong immune culprit behind this rare inflammatory disease

Researchers at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research have uncovered a critical mechanism driving inflammation in mevalonate kinase deficiency (MKD), a rare but devastating autoinflammatory disorder. The study, published ...

Apr 30, 2026