Brightsurf delivers daily science news discoveries, articles, and the latest scientific breakthroughs. Your trusted source for science news today, covering nature news, science & technology, and scientific discoveries from leading research institutions worldwide.
New research suggests that messier, less-stuffed nanoparticles may actually deliver drugs more effectively than tightly packed ones. By measuring individual nanoparticles, scientists found two distinct subpopulations: organized particles with neatly structured cargo and amorphous particles with disorganized cargo.
Researchers discovered that TRPV4 acts as part of the nervous system's internal stop-scratching circuit, triggering a negative feedback signal to regulate itch behavior. Mice lacking neuronal TRPV4 scratched less frequently but with longer-lasting itchy bouts.
Researchers have found that proteins vital for sound signal transmission in the ear also manage the fatty molecules on the cell membrane. When these proteins malfunction, it can trigger permanent hair cell death and lead to hearing loss.
Researchers have developed a low-cost, open-source microscope called FlightScope to study living cells in zero-gravity conditions. The device successfully captured images of cells responding to fluorescently labeled glucose molecules, revealing slower uptake rates under microgravity compared to normal gravity conditions.
Scientists have discovered that mycobacteria release tiny packages called extracellular vesicles that fuse with immune cells' membranes, making them more rigid. This helps the bacteria avoid destruction and survive inside human cells. The study reveals an entirely new way of understanding how mycobacteria survive, opening promising ave...
Researchers have captured the first detailed images of TRPM8, a protein channel that responds to cold temperatures and triggers a nerve signal to the brain. The study reveals how menthol activates the channel through shared yet distinct allosteric networks, with implications for treating conditions like chronic pain and dry eye.
Denis V. Titov's paper, published in Biophysical Journal, presents a detailed biophysical model of glycolysis, solving a complex problem and providing insight into cell energy metabolism. The award recognizes outstanding early career work in biophysics.
Harvard researchers developed a multicolor electron microscopy technique that combines strengths of two powerful microscopy methods, allowing for vivid color and nanometer resolution. This breakthrough enables studying cell signaling, molecular clusters, and protein locations within cells.
Researchers at Tokyo Metropolitan University have created a neutral molecule that can carry DNA into biological cells using a process called annealing. This breakthrough promises more effective therapies by reducing inflammation and improving delivery efficiency.
Researchers found that certain salinity patterns can fuel El Niño development, increasing its intensity by 20%. This process makes extreme El Niño events more likely and causes catastrophic flooding and severe droughts. The study identified global patterns in salinity preceding major El Niño events over the past 65 years.
Researchers found differences in how brain regions work together during certain cognitive tasks in individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The findings may lead to new treatment targets for OCD, especially when involving transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).
The American Academy of Neurology is calling on federal lawmakers to support essential neuroscience research and address access issues. Neurologists are advocating for permanent telehealth flexibilities to ensure continuity of care and addressing ongoing Medicare payment cuts that reduce neurological care access.
The Office of Naval Research (ONR) is honoring the Class of 2026 YIP awardees with approximately $17 million in funding to address critical naval warfighter challenges. The program aims to partner with outstanding early-career academics in science and technology to enhance the capabilities of Sailors and Marines.
A new study published in Science reveals that diseases closely related to syphilis originated more than 5,000 years ago and were transmitted from the Americas, challenging long-held European theories. The research uses ancient DNA discoveries from Colombia and Mexico to shed light on human disease evolution and global health.
AI language models can extract and integrate information from vast amounts of unstructured environmental data, identifying pollutants and their toxic effects. While still in its early stages, the application of LLMs in aquatic risk assessment has the potential to support more dynamic and data-driven risk management strategies.
A Rutgers study found that misinformation about medical aid in dying is driven by ideology, while uncertainty stems from structural barriers such as education level and financial strain. Public education efforts should use a two-track approach to address these issues.
A new study reveals that biochar's ability to remove antibiotics from water depends on their molecular structure. The research found that subtle structural differences among tetracycline antibiotics influence their adsorption onto rice straw biochar, with some antibiotics binding more quickly than others.
The project aims to help universities better understand research security by examining human and behavioral dimensions of risk. Structured role-playing games will simulate realistic academic scenarios, encouraging participants to explore trade-offs and motivations that often remain hidden in standard security planning.
Advances in isotope science are transforming our ability to trace nitrogen through ecosystems, offering powerful tools for managing environmental change. Isotopic methods can distinguish pollution sources, track microbial transformations, and quantify nitrogen uptake by plants, providing insights into the global nitrogen cycle.
Vipin Kumar, a composites manufacturing researcher at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, has been selected for the ACMA Emerging Leaders Program. The program develops future leaders in the composites industry through professional development and advocacy training.
People can use the musical context to predict what will happen next and feel emotions such as anxiety or happiness. Research shows that using more context improves accuracy in tasks such as remembering chunks of music and predicting the next notes.
A study by Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics found that genetic variations account for approximately 30% of the variation in experiencing aesthetic chills. The research also identified shared genetic influences across music, poetry, and visual art, linked to broader personality traits like openness to experience.
A large survey of Texas adults with asthma found that improving airflow, using air purifiers, and minimizing allergens can significantly reduce asthma attacks. The study also highlights disparities in asthma burden among certain groups, including women, older adults, and Black adults.
MIT engineers developed a manufacturing method that enables secure, fingerprint-based authentication on CMOS chips, eliminating the need for external secret storage. This technique uses shared fingerprints between two chips, improving privacy and energy efficiency in power-constrained electronic systems.
Researchers created detailed maps of oligodendrocytes in mouse brains, showing their precise location over time and revealing insights into how these cells impact human diseases. The study provides a whole-brain picture of myelin content and offers potential clues to preserving myelin in diseases like multiple sclerosis.
The Economy as an Evolving Complex System IV presents a new approach to understanding the economy, highlighting agent-based models and network tools that capture diversity and feedback loops. These tools are being used by policymakers and central banks to forecast GDP during crises and manage housing bubbles.
Researchers at Michigan State University found that female immune cells are less active, leading to delayed recovery from chronic pain. The study suggests that immune cells can be manipulated to produce signals that calm pain, paving the way for non-opioid treatments.
Bacteria levels have decreased but high E. coli and staph still present near the spill site and downstream. UMD experts advise avoiding Potomac water and banks for health risks.
A new study found that a single toxic fungicide exposure during pregnancy can increase the risk of disease for 20 subsequent generations, with inherited health problems worsening over time. The study suggests that epigenetic disease inheritance could help explain rising chronic disease rates in humans.
A new study has found that astrocytes are crucial for aversive memory, including learning what to fear and recalling memories. The findings challenge long-held assumptions about fear memory and suggest new treatment approaches for disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder.
A new study found that social media use, particularly exposure to muscularity-focused content and body comparisons, is strongly associated with increased intentions to use anabolic-androgenic steroids. Young men who frequently view muscular bodies or advertisements promoting muscle-building supplements also report stronger intentions.
The Milken Institute and Ann Theodore Foundation have launched a new funding program, ATF-SIM, to support a Phase 2 clinical trial assessing the effectiveness of mTOR inhibitors in treating cutaneous sarcoidosis. The grant will award up to $575,000 to researchers to design and conduct the trial.
A new study suggests that switching to a second treatment while a tumor is still responding to the first may improve cure rates. The 'kick it while it's down' approach targets small tumors and has been shown to be successful in other contexts, such as combatting antibiotic resistance.
Scientists at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center have discovered a way to reduce the risk of a lethal side effect in cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. By targeting CD8 T cell-derived tumor necrosis factor, they found that blocking TNF signaling can prevent inflammatory cycle in the heart.
A large new study published in JAMA Health Forum found that past-year cannabis use during adolescence is associated with a significantly higher risk of incident psychotic, bipolar, depressive, and anxiety disorders. Cannabis use preceded psychiatric diagnoses by an average of 1.7 to 2.3 years.
A study analyzing data from 44,000 adults found that those with intellectual and developmental disabilities experience substantially higher rates of anxiety and depression. The study also highlights significant healthcare treatment and access barriers facing this population.
Researchers have made significant advancements in nuclear medicine by developing a new reporting framework for PET/CT scans, using targeted radiation therapy to treat sarcoma, and investigating how genetic mutations affect prostate cancer treatment outcomes. These studies aim to improve diagnosis and treatment for various cancers.
Researchers at the Center for Cell-Based Therapy developed a new approach to enhance CAR-NK cell cytotoxicity, combining optimized co-stimulation with reversible pharmacological control. The study showed increased tumor control in animal models, paving the way for improved cancer treatment.
Researchers found a significant association between tropical cyclone exposure and psychoactive drug-related deaths, with the effect more pronounced in wealthy, White communities. Younger populations, especially those aged 15 to 29 years, were also disproportionately affected.
A cohort study found that adolescent cannabis use is associated with an increased risk of developing psychiatric disorders, particularly psychotic and bipolar conditions. The study's results inform the development of interventions and policies to prevent or delay adolescent cannabis use.
A UT Health San Antonio researcher will study how microglia contribute to the spread of toxic tau protein in Alzheimer's disease. The study aims to clarify whether microglia act as barriers or accelerators in the cascade of the disease, potentially leading to new treatments.
Researchers at Goethe University used X-ray radiation to determine the spatial structure of formic acid, finding that its atoms oscillate slightly back and forth. This 'quantum trembling' causes the molecule to lose its symmetry and become effectively three-dimensional at almost every moment.
Researchers have identified a field of tektites in Brazilian territory, which may have been formed by a single cosmic collision event. The geraisites, named after the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais where they were first discovered, have distinct geochemical signatures and date back approximately 6.3 million years.
This cross-sectional study highlights critical gaps in accessible mental health services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The findings underscore the need for policy reforms to address systemic inequities and provide disability-informed care.
The Massage Therapy Foundation has awarded a $300,000 research grant to the University of Denver to investigate the benefits of incorporating prenatal massage into the MotherWise program. The study aims to assess potential benefits, including reduced rates of postpartum depression and improved anxiety, pain, and sleep scores.
Researchers at NTNU believe they've discovered a potential superconductor, NbRe, that can enable spin-based computing with near-zero resistance. This breakthrough has significant implications for the future of quantum technology and could lead to faster, more energy-efficient computers.
The study provides detailed information on NrdR, a master regulator of ribonucleotide reductases in bacteria. It reveals how NrdR senses nucleotide levels and controls RNR expression, providing a new strategic entry point for antimicrobial development.
A new study examines the mechanisms, clinicopathological features, and management strategies of GI toxicity induced by targeted cancer therapies. The authors highlight the importance of close collaboration between oncologists, gastroenterologists, and pathologists to ensure accurate diagnosis.
Researchers identify delirium as a common but underestimated complication in cardiac medicine, associated with longer stays, increased mortality, and cognitive decline. Prevention strategies, including non-pharmacological measures, can reduce the incidence of delirium by up to 40%.
Researchers conducted the SANAT flight campaign to study aerosols' role in cloud formation in Antarctica. They collected extensive data on aerosol frequency, transport processes, and chemical composition, revealing an unexpectedly high aerosol concentration in the interior.
The Bial Award in Biomedicine 2025 will announce its winner on February 24, 2026, with a €350,000 prize. The award recognizes outstanding biomedical discoveries published within the last 10 years.
A new international study presents a comprehensive framework for understanding and managing cross-scale socioeconomic and environmental interconnections. The metacoupling framework helps connect the dots across systems, scales, and borders to accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
Epic Games has acquired Meshcapade, a Max Planck startup that develops solutions for creating and animating digital humans. The technology, based on the SMPL body model, enables realistic human movement and expression in 3D.
Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have found that tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro, reduces voluntary alcohol consumption by more than half in animals. The study also shows that the drug prevents relapse-like drinking and decreases drinking levels after a period without alcohol.
A team of CDI scientists has identified the genetic basis of Acinetobacter baumannii's resistance to Cefiderocol, a last-line antibiotic. The study provides insights into the evolution of resistance and highlights the need for integrated surveillance strategies to prevent further resistance.
Researchers found NfL levels increase with age in various animals, including mammals, birds, and reptiles. The protein can help assess biological age and predict life expectancy across species.
The study reveals that psychosis does not follow a single trajectory but is influenced by individual differences and treatment. It shows that cortical volume reduction, particularly in regions with high serotonin and dopamine receptor density, is a hallmark of the disease.
Researchers from Insilico Medicine and Lilly outline a comprehensive framework for fully autonomous, AI-orchestrated drug discovery. The vision integrates AI-driven target discovery, generative chemistry, automated synthesis, biological validation, and clinical planning into a single workflow.
Researchers tracked 17 bird species crossing Sahara Desert and Mediterranean Sea using miniature tracking devices. Birds flew at varying altitudes depending on wing morphology and plumage color, with some species flying extremely close to the water surface.
A recent study found that 81% of hikers rely on mobile phones for navigation, increasing the risk of getting lost or ending up in dangerous situations. Researchers emphasize the need for alternative strategies, such as using paper maps, marked trails, and asking other hikers, to ensure safe travel.