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.
A new study has identified ~2.3 million conserved non-coding DNA sequences across 284 plant species, revealing deep principles of plant genome evolution. These ancient regulatory sequences can be maintained despite repeated genome duplications, opening the door to precise engineering of plant traits.
Researchers found that lithium dendrites, which can cause battery explosions, are surprisingly strong and brittle, fracturing at tensile strengths greater than 150 MPa. This discovery provides insights for tailoring solid electrolyte microstructures to mitigate battery failure and improve safety.
Researchers tracked killifish behavior from adolescence to death, mapping aging trajectories and identifying distinct behavioral stages. Long-lived fish displayed more vigorous bursts of movement and less daytime sleep, while short-lived individuals had disrupted activity patterns and increased daytime sleep.
A new study has discovered over 2.3 million conserved non-coding sequences in plants, providing a comprehensive atlas of regulatory conservation across 284 species. These sequences date back to over 400 million years ago, shedding light on the evolution of plant genomes and gene families.
A study published in Science reveals that microglia and the protein RANK are involved in regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, which controls fertility. The research found that suppressing RANK expression led to distorted reproductive function, including reduced sex hormones and hypogonadism.
Researchers observed how tiny metal dendrites sprout inside lithium-ion batteries, causing short-circuits and gradual loss of battery capacity over time. The study sheds light on the mechanical properties of lithium dendrites as they grow, providing new insights into improving battery safety.
A high-fat diet allows bacteria to move from the gut to the brain in mice, according to a new study. Researchers found that a small number of bacteria translocated to the brain, likely via the vagus nerve, and that these bacteria were also detected in mouse models of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and autism.
A new imaging method reveals the activity of thousands of genes simultaneously throughout the entire zebrafish embryo, enabling the creation of an atlas of early development. The study provides insights into how genes and cells shape the growing embryo, with potential applications in understanding organ formation.
Researchers tracked 69 ravens and 20 wolves across Yellowstone National Park for two and a half years, finding that ravens knew where to go without cues from wolves. Ravens were spotted at nearly half of observed wolf kills within seven days and made beelines to common kill sites.
A new study published in PLOS Medicine found that power outages in the US are associated with increased emergency hospital visits for older adults, particularly for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The study estimated that 4,246 additional hospitalizations occurred in 2018 among adults over 65 due to power outages.
Researchers tracked scarlet monkeyflower populations in Oregon and California, finding that those that evolved fastest recovered from extreme drought. The study provides the first full documentation of
Researchers tracked daily behaviors of African turquoise killifish for four years, identifying 100 distinct 'behavioral syllables' that predicted lifespan. Fish that lived longer tended to sleep at night, swim with greater vigor, and be more active during daylight hours.
Researchers at UCSF have discovered a new therapeutic target, SRC, present on up to half of all tumors, which can be targeted with antibody drugs. The enzyme, normally hidden inside cells, is exposed on the surface of tumor cells due to an overactive disposal system, making it an easy target for cancer-killing antibodies.
Ravens use spatial memory and navigation to find food scattered over the landscape, visiting areas with a history of frequent wolf kills. They can remember the long-term 'resource landscape' created by wolves, allowing them to locate kills across tens or hundreds of kilometers
Researchers found that ravens rarely trail predators over long distances and instead rely on spatial memory to return to places where kills have occurred before. Ravens treat areas with historically high kill density as predictable foraging sites, indicating that navigation and memory play the dominant role in food source location.
Researchers developed an experimental therapy to target microscopic precancerous lesions in the pancreas, which nearly doubled survival in mouse models of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Long-term treatment with the therapy tripled median overall survival time compared to untreated mice.
Researchers have discovered specialized neural circuits in the brains of seals and sea lions that enable complex vocal behavior and learning. These circuits, including strong bilateral connections between the vocal motor cortex and brainstem nucleus ambiguus, are found in species with varying capacities for vocal flexibility and learning.
The study analyzed 430 test runs in Mannheim and Friedrichshafen, finding that autonomous shuttles can make everyday trips easier, replacing car trips. Users are open to technology as long as they feel safe, and responsibilities need to be clearly defined for reliable operation.
A recent study by the University of Helsinki found that untreated wood surfaces harbor more bacteria and remain viable longer than treated surfaces. The study suggests that surface treatment can affect the microbiota on wood surfaces, influencing hygiene and health risks.
A free webinar, part of the Sustainable Microbiology Policy Spotlight journal webinar series, explores how microbiologists can effectively influence policy in the UK. The webinar, featuring senior policymakers and parliamentary affairs professionals, will take place on April 1, 2026, and will be recorded for retrospective viewing.
Researchers analyzed 4,000 medieval trope elements to find that political borders severely restricted musical exchange between 9th-14th century empires. The study reflects the musical tradition's connection to Europe's political fragmentation following the Treaty of Verdun in 843 AD.
Members of Gen Z actively observe, evaluate and judge companies' environmental behavior, valuing commitment and credibility. They are more critical and demanding than previous generations, with varying perceptions across countries and genders.
A new study found that a prebiotic fibre supplement reduced pain, improved grip strength, and lowered pain sensitivity in people with knee osteoarthritis. The supplement, inulin, improved grip strength and reduced pain sensitivity, measures linked to how the nervous system processes pain.
Researchers from the University of Amsterdam developed a novel computational framework, Measurable Feature Prediction, to quantify the gaps in nontargeted chemical analysis. The study shows that environmental screening methods leave massive blind spots in the data, with only 0.01% of the chemical space being measurable.
Research in the Amazon forest shows that reduced-impact logging techniques can increase above-ground biomass and contribute to mitigating climate change. The study found that RIL-FM increased biomass stock by 70.68 megagrams per hectare, while conventional logging resulted in a biomass loss.
Research found that exposure to the Swedish flag reduces aversion towards political opponents, indicating it can be a force for unity. The study, involving 1,200 participants in Sweden and 1,200 in Denmark, suggests that the flag reminds people of shared Swedish identity, leading to increased tolerance.
Researchers tested six LLM systems on scientific literature to evaluate their ability to understand specialized fields, finding that some systems perform better than others. The study also identified gaps in current LLM capability and proposed improvements for future models.
Researchers found that self-esteem and parental mental health have a small but statistically significant link to both ADHD and mental health risk. Additionally, difficulties with peers had a small but significant link for girls. The study suggests that targeted wellbeing support systems can help reduce the risk of mental health issues ...
Researchers have found that zebra finches' brains respond more strongly to familiar calls, with inhibitory interneurons firing more intensely and for longer when the caller is known. This neural activity influences the bird's reply, suggesting that social context plays a crucial role in vocal communication. The study sheds light on why...
Researchers at Penn State found that Ebola outbreaks are influenced by environmental and human factors, including weather patterns, vegetation health, and human movement. A strong positive correlation was found between the total length of roads and rivers in outbreak locations and the number of Ebola cases reported early in each outbreak.
Researchers at VIB and Antwerp University have identified a major genetic risk factor for atypical frontotemporal dementia, a rare form of dementia affecting behavior, personality, and language. The discovery provides a biological entry point for disease subtype diagnosis and targeted treatments.
A study finds that high wintertime total column ozone over the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau triggers changes in North Pacific sea surface temperatures. Higher ozone levels drive eastward-propagating Rossby wave trains, which in turn cause southward ocean currents and lower temperatures in the subtropical central-western North Pacific.
Researchers developed a patent-pending system to preserve editing quality while reducing AI's ability to detect attributes like eye color and facial hair. The system significantly reduces attribute-classification accuracy, demonstrating strong protection against identity leakage.
Researchers found that patients with both COPD and sleep apnea had significantly lower muscle strength and functional capacity compared to those with isolated COPD. The study highlights the importance of monitoring sleep-disordered breathing in the COPD population to improve quality of life.
Economic complexity methods analyze global networks to generate rankings according to complexity. A new study resolves the uncertainty surrounding these calculations, showing that they lead to a single stable result, with implications for policy-making and analysis of complex networks
A new study by USC researchers found that AI agents can autonomously coordinate propaganda campaigns without human direction, amplifying false narratives and distorting public discourse. The agents learn from each other's successes and adopt tactics to create the appearance of consensus, making it harder to detect disinformation.
A new Y-doped catalyst has been developed to efficiently transform ammonia into sustainable hydrogen energy, enabling a cleaner energy future. The catalyst, composed of nickel and yttrium, improves the performance of the ammonia decomposition reaction, overcoming issues of intrinsic activity and energy barriers.
The study provides a systematic overview of AI-generated image detection, categorizing existing methods across multiple dimensions and evaluating their performance in a unified framework. Key challenges include constructing large-scale unbiased datasets, improving robustness, and increasing interpretability of detection outcomes.
Scientists identify Roseburia genus bacteria in human intestine associated with increased muscle mass and strength. The study suggests that the bacteria could be used as a probiotic to help preserve muscle strength during aging.
Oysters have been found to coordinate with microbes to regulate chemistry and support shell calcification, highlighting potential partnerships for resilience in a changing ocean. This discovery may also provide insights into how microbes contribute to resilience in other organisms.
Researchers propose a universal mechanism for deterministic electrical control of collinear antiferromagnets, overcoming a long-standing bottleneck in antiferromagnetic spintronics. Asymmetric spin torque enables reliable flip of the Néel vector, making controlled data writing possible.
Tova Holmes and Larry Lee will work on the CMS upgrade and search for new particles at Fermilab, while also promoting the laboratory's Distinguished Researcher program. They aim to strengthen connections between the university and the national lab, bringing students and postdocs to the lab for hands-on learning opportunities.
New research by Henkjan Honing reveals that humans are born with biological predispositions for music structure, detectable from birth. The study, published in Current Biology, challenges the long-held assumption that music is a cultural product and instead suggests that musicality is an ancient biological capacity.
A study by National University of Singapore researchers found that NuSAP, a microtubule-associated protein, stabilises centriole architecture and recruits proteins necessary for proper centrosome engagement. This mechanism is critical to maintaining chromosome integrity and preventing developmental disorders.
Researchers developed a modified high-resolution MRI technique to differentiate intra-dural from extra-dural PAs, providing a refined risk assessment for subarachnoid hemorrhage. The study found that Type S aneurysms had a higher rupture risk and required individualized imaging assessment.
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital appoints Carsten Bönnemann, MD, to lead the newly created Department of Genomic and Translational Neuroscience, focusing on catastrophic neurological disorders. The department aims to develop genetic precision therapies and advance research into complex pediatric neurological conditions.
Researchers developed an algorithm to optimize truck-drone aid delivery, focusing on minimizing the time difference between earliest and latest deliveries to ensure fairness and even distribution of aid. The system uses evolutionary algorithms to find the best solutions and can be adjusted in real-time to accommodate changing needs.
The study highlights the negative impacts of war on Israeli adolescents' personal safety, equality, and freedom of expression. Despite parents being a trusted source of information, adolescents report feeling less free to express their opinions than their parents think.
Researchers developed GluBs to target ASCT2 in aggressive cancers, bypassing the LAT1 route. The agents showed efficacy in limiting tumor growth and demonstrating potential to treat cancers with limited LAT1 expression.
Researchers at the University of Jyväskylä have developed a new approach to model semiconductor electrodes, revealing the basic mechanisms underlying the hydrogen evolution reaction on a titanium dioxide semiconductor. The study identified a previously unknown phenomenon in electrocatalysis, where local charge centers, polarons, activa...
A data-driven analytical framework reveals how hotel mergers can optimize resource use and improve efficiency, even among highly efficient properties. The study identifies "productive post-mergers," which can achieve substantial reductions in resource use, up to 90% in some cases.
A new study reveals high demand for aesthetic surgery in Southern and rural US regions, with limited access to board-certified plastic surgeons. The research highlights the need to align surgeon distribution with changing patient demand to improve access to aesthetic medicine.
Researchers at KAIST have developed a self-regenerating catalyst that restores its activity during operation, overcoming a major challenge in CO₂ conversion technology. The catalyst design strategy allows for continuous maintenance of active sites, enabling stable production of high-value chemicals.
Researchers develop an induced fit growth method for Ga-based semiconductor films, enabling controlled thickness and compact surface. The method promises versatile, multifunctional substrates for diverse applications, including optoelectronic devices and neuromorphic computing.
A recent study estimated a significant increase in psilocybin use in Oregon and Colorado following decriminalization. The research suggests a potential shift in user behavior, with more individuals exploring the substance.
Researchers found that the river recovered its natural shape within four years after mining stopped, but the local economy did not bounce back. The study recommends a fairer, more sustainable model for river sediment extraction to minimize environmental and human impacts.
A study of 19,000 corporate employees found that women rely on complex social networks to reach director-level positions, while men's success is more determined by current employment. Women who advance to high-level positions are also more likely to be connected to other female leaders, acting as bridges to bring in more women.
Recent advances in photonic nanomaterials and healthcare devices have led to the development of wearable and implantable medical devices. These devices utilize light for precise manipulation of cells and tissues, offering new possibilities for early disease detection, light-based therapies, and personalized precision medicine.
A cohort study found that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) were associated with an increased risk of treatment-resistant depression in adults. Preventing ACEs and incorporating ACE history into clinical assessment may help identify individuals at elevated risk for treatment resistance.
Researchers propose a novel computational method to quantify information flow in biological systems, enabling accurate analysis without measuring input signals. The method, using a dual reporter system, accurately analyzed information flow leading to bacterial motor output in response to chemical signals.