Category Science

In a new study, scientists have identified a novel genetic mutation linked to a rare mitochondrial encephalopathy. This discovery provides new insights into the genetic causes of mitochondrial diseases, which affect numerous vital cellular processes. Published in npj Genomic Medicine…

[CLIP: Theme music] Rachel Feltman: Happy Monday, listeners! For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m Rachel Feltman. Let’s get the week started by catching up on a few science stories you might have missed. First, you might remember that last week…

Researchers at the University of Queensland have developed an innovative class of oral drugs to relieve chronic abdominal pain, offering a safer alternative to opioids. By chemically modifying oxytocin, a hormone associated with childbirth and social bonding, the team created…

Zebras, a children’s tale goes, became striped after “standing half in the shade and half out of it.” While the author, Rudyard Kipling, wasn’t a biologist, his story may hold some truth: research shows that when temperatures rise, animals become…

Indigenous artist Kite Florian Voggeneder PST ART: Art & science collideMulti-venue, Southern CaliforniaCloses 16 February 2025 The myth of the irreconcilably divided worlds of art and science is still alive. But it’s nonsense, says Joan Weinstein, director of the Getty…

Caltrain will send its retired diesel fleet to the Municipality of Lima, Peru to continue operating passenger service. An official solicitation process was initiated to find a new home for this long-serving equipment. Lima, Peru expressed its desire to acquire…

What happens to the human heart when gravity fades away? A new study has ventured into uncharted territory, examining how weightlessness influences heart function in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The findings, published in JAMA Cardiology,…

A large-scale study has found that standardized autism screening during routine pediatric checkups identifies more children who may have autism, and at younger ages, compared to usual care practices. The research, conducted across 31 pediatric practices in three states, demonstrates…

“It’s a great algorithm,” said Erik Demaine, a computer scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “It’s very fast, simple, and easy to implement.” To put this procedure into practice, you’d need to decide on a system for organizing your…

Stanford Medicine researchers have developed an artificial intelligence tool that can predict genetic activity in tumor cells by analyzing standard microscopy images, potentially replacing costly genetic tests that can take weeks to complete. The system, named SEQUOIA, could dramatically speed…