Researchers uncover evidence of early hominin presence in northern Africa, with chipped stones and cut bones dating back nearly 2 million years. The discovery, made at Ain Boucherit site in Algeria, suggests a rapid dispersal of stone tools out of East Africa.
A charged molecule, called a dendrimer, is designed to deliver osteoarthritis drugs to knee joint cartilage. The nanocarrier effectively binds to cartilage tissue, allowing for deeper penetration and longer half-life in joint spaces.
Engineered patches integrate therapeutic cardiac cells with injured heart tissue, boosting development of new heart tissue and increasing cardiac functions. The treatment shows promise as a form of cardiac therapy in humans, offering hope for survivors of heart attacks.
The EurekAlert Fellowships provide opportunities for early-career science journalists from developing countries to attend the AAAS Annual Meeting and improve their skills. The program celebrates its 15th anniversary with five new winners, including those from China, India, Slovenia, and Egypt.
A universal forensic DNA database could alleviate challenges and controversy surrounding law enforcement's use of public and private genomic data. The proposed database would contain only a small subset of genetic markers, revealing less sensitive medical information.
Scientists have discovered that specific molecules produced by intestinal bacteria are altered during three instances associated with human obesity. The study also found that the gut microbiome undergoes fluctuations in a 24-hour rhythm and influences circadian biology, predisposing individuals to obesity and glucose intolerance.
When working ants take a sick day, they alter their social interactions to protect vulnerable members. By changing their behavior, the colony reduces the risk of fungal infection and maintains social distancing.
A new study challenges the traditional hypothesis that ancient hominins led to the decline of African megaherbivores. The research reveals that environmental changes, such as changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide and tropical grassland expansion, drove the long-term decline of these large-bodied species over 7 million years.
The discovery of Lisowicia bojani, a massive four-legged creature from the Late Triassic period, suggests that mammalian ancestors could reach gigantic body sizes and challenge established beliefs about dicynodonts.
Researchers isolated antibodies from human survivors of Andes hantavirus infection that protected hamsters against the deadly disease. The antibodies shielded animals even after administration, suggesting they could be used as a preventative treatment for hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome.
A 15-year study of thousands of children reveals that core language skills are stable from infancy to adolescence, with early intervention recommended for lagging development. Individual differences in language competency persist over time, emphasizing the importance of timely interventions.
The Chemical Weapons Convention comprehensively bans development, production, and use of chemical weapons worldwide. The OPCW must address scientific issues to prevent re-emergence, particularly regarding toxic 'non-lethal' or 'incapacitating' chemicals.
A genetically programable strain of yeast fueled by light-harvesting nanoparticles can efficiently convert carbon into high-value chemicals. This new biohybrid system overcomes existing limitations in bioinorganic systems, offering a promising method for producing high-value chemicals.
This special issue examines the connections between diet and health, covering topics such as optimal fat intake, gut symbionts, meal size and frequency, and sports nutrition practices. The reviews highlight the need for well-designed studies to resolve the best diet for individuals and how it varies with activity and life stages.
Astronomers found a dust-obscured quasar formed from a galaxy merger, revealing how mergers can power quasars and obscure them with dust. The study used ALMA to analyze the quasar WISE J224607.57?052635.0 and its companion galaxies.
The 2018 AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards honored journalists for their work on a male contraceptive pill, the environmental impact of toxic algae and invasive mussels, and efforts to restore patients with severe brain injuries. The awards also recognized a documentary on NASA's mission to the outer planets.
Researchers have created an oral formulation of semaglutide, a successful type 2 diabetes therapy, that can be more readily absorbed in the stomach. This development has the potential to improve treatment flexibility and patient adherence to T2D treatment programs, offering patients a less invasive route of administration.
Researchers have identified a large impact crater beneath Hiawatha Glacier in northwest Greenland, measuring 31 kilometers wide and featuring three distinct ice layers. The discovery suggests that the impactor could have been more than a kilometer wide, leading to significant environmental consequences.
Climate change has led to a significant increase in nest predation rates among shorebirds worldwide, with Arctic regions experiencing higher rates than the tropics. This shift reverses the historical latitudinal gradient of predation, posing a critical threat to global shorebird populations.
Exposure to neonicotinoids like imidacloprid disrupts bee colony growth by reducing worker activity, feeding and larval care. This results in impaired thermoregulation, increased mortality and reduced colony sizes.
A comprehensive study of ancient American genomes suggests a highly complex peopling of the continent, with rapid and uneven expansion of populations. The analysis identifies new genetic groups and reveals adaptations to high-altitude environments in South America.
A new study reveals that early access to high-prestige networks is key to an artist's success, with quality determined by display venues and art history ties rather than work itself. Researchers found a dense community of European and North American institutions exchanging artworks within their own high-prestige circles.
Researchers found that sharks' tooth-like skin follows a similar patterning mechanism to bird feathers, using the reaction-diffusion model to explain its development. This discovery suggests a shared developmental pathway across vertebrates, with implications for our understanding of evolution and animal diversity.
Researchers have developed a new method that can detect hard-to-trace tumor DNA in the blood by focusing on specific fragment sizes. The technique improves cancer detection and may also be applicable to other types of DNA in body fluids.
Researchers discovered that the brain's 'posture cells' can predict an animal's position in three-dimensional space. These neurons, found in the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) and frontal motor cortex (M2), encode body posture and spatial awareness in mice.
Using a dataset of over 500 single-stranded RNA viruses, researchers developed a model that can predict animal reservoirs and arthropod vectors directly from viral genome sequences. This approach enables faster evaluation than existing methods, which often require years, and could aid in rapid response to emerging infectious diseases.
Researchers have generated a new anti-flu antibody that offers long-lasting protection from various influenza viruses. The approach shows promise as a preventative measure for vulnerable populations like the elderly or immunocompromised.
The special issue explores composite materials' potential for sustainable applications, including biodegradable composites for packaging and recycling of plastic waste.
A large-scale Swedish study found that removing the appendix reduces Parkinson's disease risk by about 19.3%, with a greater effect seen in rural populations potentially counteracting environmental risk factors like pesticide exposure. Early intervention strategies targeting alpha-synuclein accumulation could be promising.
A new study reveals that the unique compositions of bacteria in mice' guts are inherited from parents and remain stable over generations. The dominant mode of transmission is vertical inheritance, but some bacterial pathogens can be transmitted horizontally, possibly due to increased oxygen tolerance.
Researchers have mapped the chromatin accessibility landscape of 23 primary human cancer types using ATAC-seq, identifying over 500,000 active DNA regulatory elements. This comprehensive dataset may help partition cancer patients for more effective therapies.
The first vertebrates on Earth diversified in nearshore intertidal and subtidal environments over a period of 100 million years. Early adaptations allowed them to spread into other habitats, with more strongly built creatures remaining in shallow waters and gracile body forms colonizing deeper water.
Researchers have developed an exceptional MOF for separating gases, producing polymer-grade ethylene with high efficiency. The new iron-peroxo based MOF achieves 99.99% purity levels without multiple cycles.
Researchers discovered a new projectile point style at the Debra L. Friedkin site in Texas, dated between 13,500 and 15,500 years ago, earlier than typical Clovis-style technologies. The finding may indicate two separate human migrations into North America, challenging current understanding of peopling history.
A team of scientists developed a fluorescent imaging probe that can rapidly visualize Gram-negative bacteria in human lungs. The probe successfully detected bacterial lung infections in six patients with bronchiectasis and seven ventilated ICU patients without causing major adverse effects.
A new study suggests that more equal women's opportunities and resources lead to distinct differences in preferences between men and women. The research, based on survey data from 76 countries, found a stronger differentiation in preferences in more developed and gender-equal counties.
Researchers developed a secure multiparty computation protocol to facilitate collaboration among pharmaceutical companies and laboratories without revealing confidential data. The approach improved the ability of predictive models to identify new therapeutic candidates at an unprecedented scale and rate.
A new framework proposes a logical and transparent approach to allocate limited resources for conservation and recovery efforts. This approach aims to identify the most important objectives and allocate funds efficiently, leading to greater confidence in funding agencies and partners.
Researchers discovered that cancer-associated genetic mutations are prevalent in healthy esophageal epithelium tissue, accumulating with age. By middle age, over half of the tissue contained mutant clones, suggesting a potential origin for esophageal cancers.
Exposure to malaria during pregnancy can trigger an immune response in the fetus, leading to higher levels of memory T cells and reduced clinical malaria incidence in childhood. Infants born to mothers with placental malaria have a lower risk of contracting malaria as children.
A recent study reveals that TB resistance mutations evolved independently in various regions multiple times, with little international dissemination. This finding has significant implications for tuberculosis management and treatment, suggesting localized efforts could be successful.
A new study reveals bacterial DNA is transferred to phages at frequencies 1,000 times higher than previously thought, allowing for rapid adaptation and gene dissemination. This discovery has significant implications for the spread of antibiotic resistance and other survival factors among bacteria.
Research by Johannes Kohl identified the medial preoptic area (MPOA) neurons bearing Galanin as critical for parental behavior in mice. The study found that individual pools of these neurons control specific components of parenting, such as motor control and natural reward circuitry.
A recent study by Johannes Kohl highlights the function of a small population of neurons in the medial preoptic area that control parenting behavior in mice. The research found that individual pools of these neurons were activated during discrete parenting events, suggesting they control specific components of parenting.
A new study found that consumer genomic databases can identify nearly anyone in a population once genetic data covers 2%, raising significant privacy concerns. The results highlight the power of rapidly growing consumer genomic datasets and suggest a need for policies to ensure genetic privacy.
Researchers used human retinal tissue grown from stem cells to discover how cone photoreceptors develop, leading to insights into eye diseases like color blindness. Thyroid hormone signaling regulated the growth of blue-detecting cones first, followed by red- and green-detecting ones.
Researchers discovered that activating Piezo2-expressing neurons induces painful sensations in mice and that rodents deficient in Piezo2 do not register pain in response to soft touches. Blocking Piezo2 function may prevent allodynia without affecting normal pain responses.
Researchers used muscle-on-a-chip technology to model ALS, revealing a promising treatment combination that may improve symptoms. The study found that combining two neuroprotective molecules can efficiently cross the blood-brain barrier and recover muscle contraction and neuronal survival.
A Malawian study shows that education can enhance an individual's ability to make smart economic decisions. The research found that educational interventions improved not only school attendance and test scores but also economic rationality in students who received enhanced education.
This special issue of Science presents research on Cassini's final transmissions to Earth, revealing new observations and insights into Saturn's atmosphere and rings. The studies found that water, methane, and organic-rich material fall into the planet's atmosphere, modifying its composition and structure.