Refractor - Science in Focus

Yo-yo dieting takes on a new shape in the age of Ozempic

The Conversation — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 15:33:00 GMT

Oliver Hamer, Edge Hill University/The Conversation

Category: Obesity, Illnesses and conditions, Body and Mind, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: GLP-1 receptor agonists, Weight Loss, Obesity, Diet, Body fat

Little red dots from long ago could be source of mystery neutrinos

Toluwalogo Niji-Olawepo — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 14:06:26 GMT

For nearly a decade, physicists have watched a steady drizzle of energetic neutrinos rain down on Earth. The IceCube Observatory, buried deep in Antarctic ice, has been catching them since 2013.

Category: Astronomy, Science, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: Neutrino, Quasar, Black hole, little-red-dots, James Webb Space Telescope

Monkeys get freaked out by the ‘uncanny valley’ too

Mike McRae — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 21:06:48 GMT

On the road to constructing flawless simulations of human faces, there’s a zone where things get … weird. Too realistic to be a caricature or cartoon, too fake to be the real deal, these middle-ground representations trigger responses of discomfort in many who encounter them.

Category: Biology, Science, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: Psychology, Communications, Future Robot, CGI, Uncanny valley

30 years since Dolly the sheep. This is where cloning science is at now

The Conversation — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 15:20:00 GMT

Sathana Dushyanthen, The University of Melbourne/The Conversation

Category: Biology, Science, Refractor: Science & Health

A virus triggered Parkinson's in mice. Could it do the same in people?

Paul McClure — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 09:22:00 GMT

A common virus has been used to trigger Parkinson’s-like brain damage and movement problems in mice, giving scientists a new way to study how viral infections may contribute to the disease.

Category: Brain Health, Body and Mind, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: Parkinson's Disease, Mice, Virus, Neurodegenerative conditions, Brain, Dopamine, Texas A&M Universty

'Gas station heroin' sparks emergency drug crackdown in the US

Bronwyn Thompson — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 04:22:00 GMT

The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has petitioned to temporarily classify an over-the-counter supplement referred to as a "gas station heroin" drug as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), in an effort to counter an emerging health crisis across the country.

Category: Addiction, Brain Health, Body and Mind, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: FDA, Opioids, Dietary supplements, Pain, Addiction

Microplastics in our blood could put us at greater risk of a heart attack

Mike McRae — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 22:05:00 GMT

Decades of plastic merchandise disintegrating in our environment have left our planet – and much of our bodies – coated in a fine dust of synthetic polymers.

Category: Heart Disease, Illnesses and conditions, Body and Mind, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: Microplastic, Plastic, Pollution, Heart attack, Cardiovascular disease, Blood, Heart, Heart Disease

World first: Koala gets life-changing two-shot chlamydia vaccine

Bronwyn Thompson — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 06:05:06 GMT

Ten months on from the huge news that a chlamydia vaccine had been approved for Australia's koala population, an 18-month-old female known as Bamse has become the first to receive the groundbreaking medicine in a new double-dose format that makes large-scale treatment possible.

Category: Infectious Diseases, Illnesses and conditions, Body and Mind, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: Queensland University of Technology, Vaccines, Koala, Animal science, Australia, Biodiversity, Endangered, Disease

Stolen gene lets deep-sea creature go without food for years

Jay Kakade — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 02:45:41 GMT

About a kilometer deep beneath the ocean surface, where sunlight disappears and food becomes scarce, lives a giant creature that can wait out starvation and survive more than five years without eating.

Category: Biology, Science, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: Genetics, Diet, Animals, Marine Biology, isopod

Earliest animal known to have a head was also right-handed

Mike McRae — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 22:28:00 GMT

Around 90% of all humans prefer to use their right hand. For cockatoos, it’s mostly the left.

Category: Biology, Science, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: Fossils, Hand, Ediacaran , Brain, American Museum of Natural History, Paleontology, Animal science, ancient

1 in 3 have a brain parasite transmitted through cats. Should we be worried?

The Conversation — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 15:02:00 GMT

Chris Tonkin, WEHI (Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research)/The Conversation

Category: Infectious Diseases, Illnesses and conditions, Body and Mind, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: Parasites, Cats, Pets, Brain, toxoplasmosis

Hobbits may have relied on dragons to hunt their prey

Jay Kakade — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 06:19:00 GMT

Our distant relatives, Homo floresiensis, nicknamed “hobbits,” have been credited with two advanced skills: hunting small elephant relatives and controlling fire – both generally associated with large-brained hominins, such as Neanderthals and modern humans.

Category: Archaeology, Science, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: hobbit, Fossils, Human, Diet, Hunting, Fire

How you can limit your exposure to forever chemicals

The Conversation — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 16:02:00 GMT

Brad Reisfeld, Colorado State University/The Conversation

Category: Society & Community, Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: University of Colorado, Chemicals, PFAS, Pollution, Health, Plastic waste, Fine particulate matter (PM2.5)

'Black hole energy machine' successfully tested in the lab

Mike McRae — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 08:16:00 GMT

If you happen to have an uncharged black hole handy, you may be able to power your house with it. Just set it spinning.

Category: Physics, Science, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: Black hole, Power, Energy, Gravity, Astronomy, City University of New York

Intermittent fasting trial settles the 'optimal eating window' debate

Bronwyn Thompson — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 23:06:00 GMT

If you've ever had to work out when to start and end your daily intermittent fasting period for the best results, this new study may help. Researchers have found that as long as your fast happens, it's effective for long-term weight loss regardless of the time you clock on and off.

Category: Diet & Nutrition, Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: University of Granada, Diet, Fasting, metabolism, Body fat, Obesity, Weight Loss

Why evolution doesn't want you to sleep when you're stressed

The Conversation — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 15:43:00 GMT

Michelle Spear, University of Bristol/The Conversation

Category: Society & Community, Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: University of Bristol, Stress, Cortisol, Evolution, Modern, Health, Brain

Leafy greens linked to 16% lower rate of COPD and better lung health

Paul McClure — Sat, 11 Jul 2026 08:41:00 GMT

Eating more leafy green vegetables such as spinach, kale, and broccoli may help keep the lungs working better with age, according to a large new study linking higher vitamin K1 intake to a lower risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Category: Diet & Nutrition, Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: Diet, Vegetables, Lung disease, Health, Edith Cowan University

Migraine pain drops after targeted ear acupuncture

Bronwyn Thompson — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 23:49:00 GMT

A new treatment has shown promise in reducing migraine pain with targeted ear acupuncture, opening the door to therapy that could be used as a complementary procedure alongside existing medication prescribed to those with the debilitating condition.

Category: Chronic Pain, Illnesses and conditions, Body and Mind, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: ear, Neuroscience, Pain, migraines, Experimental, clinical trials

Mild cognitive impairment: Any early warning sign of dementia?

The Conversation — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 16:42:00 GMT

Nikki-Anne Wilson, UNSW Sydney; Neuroscience Research Australia/The Conversation

Category: Alzheimer's & Dementia, Brain Health, Body and Mind, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: University of New South Wales, Dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Brain, Cognitive functioning, Age-Related, Aging

First 'co-scientist' agent set to rapidly accelerate biomedical discoveries

Bronwyn Thompson — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 10:02:00 GMT

In the early hours of Friday, July 10, a team of researchers dropped the world's first general-purpose biomedical AI agent, which has the power to autonomously complete complex tasks that would take a team of scientists days, if not weeks, to do.

Category: AI in Health, Medical Innovations, Body and Mind, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: Stanford University, Artificial Intelligence, Experimental, LLM (Large Language Model), Research+Watch, Drug development

Trial identifies first effective way to tackle common childhood eating issue

Kerry Taylor-Smith — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 05:05:00 GMT

Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is often misunderstood as extreme picky eating. But for millions of children, it’s a serious condition with real consequences for growth, nutrition, and daily life.

Category: Diet & Nutrition, Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: Disordered eating, Children, Adolescents, Diet, Treatment, Stanford University, Age-Related

Allergic asthma stopped in its tracks by blocking newly discovered culprit

Bronwyn Thompson — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 23:02:00 GMT

Scientists have found what may be a critical trigger in allergic asthma, estimated to affect 60% of the 28 million Americans with the chronic respiratory condition. The discovery opens the door to new ways to protect airways from the pathway that leads to inflammation and its symptoms.

Category: Allergies, Illnesses and conditions, Body and Mind, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: Chinese Academy of Sciences, Asthma, Allergies, Inflammation, Iron, Chemo-signal, Signal Processing, molecular biology

Peptides: All you need to know about 2026's biggest chemical trend

The Conversation — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 16:01:00 GMT

Samuel Cornell and Timothy Piatkowski, The University of Queensland/The Conversation

Category: Aging Well, Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: University of Queensland, peptide, anti-aging, Health, Experimental, Dietary supplements, Weight Loss, Hormones, Injuries

Mild sleep loss drives weight gain and chronic disease risk

Bronwyn Thompson — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 08:26:00 GMT

A lengthy trial that involved robbing people of 90 minutes of sleep per night has uncovered the dramatic effect that even this small amount of lost shut-eye has on the waistline and general health.

Category: Obesity, Illnesses and conditions, Body and Mind, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: Columbia University, Insomnia, Sleep, Sleep deprivation, Insulin, Type 2 diabetes, Cardiovascular disease, Metabolic syndrome, Weight, Obesity

Ovaries take on a surprising new job after menopause, study reveals

Pranjal Malewar — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 23:48:27 GMT

The ovaries are the earliest aging organ. Their supply of egg-containing follicles slowly runs out over a woman's lifetime, so that by the time menopause arrives, follicle numbers have dwindled to approximately one thousand.

Category: Biology, Science, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: Menopause, ovary, Women, The Immune System

Alcohol's most deadly health risk is now in the spotlight

The Conversation — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 15:52:18 GMT

Emma Fenske, Oregon Health & Science University/The Conversation

Category: Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: Oregon Health and Science University, Alcohol, Disease, Liver disease, Breast cancer, Oesophageal cancer, Colorectal cancer

First photo of Earth ‘quasi’ moon transmitted by Chinese probe

Mike McRae — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 11:48:50 GMT

It’s small, blurry, and shaped like a Corn Flake, but the image taken of Earth’s tiny “quasi” moon, Kamo'oalewa, is one for the family album.

Category: Astronomy, Science, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: Asteroid, Moon, Tianwen-2, China

Cannibalism isn't as smart as it sounds

Mike McRae — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 01:58:30 GMT

Most of us don’t have grandma for dinner. Not even when there’s nothing else in the pantry.

Category: Society & Community, Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: University of Wrocław, Red meat, Society, Diet

One blood group is more at risk of type 2 diabetes

Pranjal Malewar — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 23:17:06 GMT

The idea that blood type might influence human health has long been more folklore than science. Evidence that type O resists malaria and type A increases the risk of heart disease was limited and spread across numerous studies.

Category: Imaging & Diagnostics, Medical Innovations, Body and Mind, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: Blood, Red blood cells, blood-type, Type 2 diabetes, Health

The viruses that pose the greatest risk to humanity

The Conversation — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 16:07:00 GMT

Mark Woolhouse, University of Edinburgh/The Conversation

Category: Infectious Diseases, Illnesses and conditions, Body and Mind, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: Virus, HIV and AIDS, Coronavirus (COVID-19), SARS, pandemic, University of Edinburgh

EastDiet lowers risk of heart disease by 22% and belly fat by 17%

Bronwyn Thompson — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 09:44:28 GMT

China's eastern coastal region is associated with lower obesity, cardiovascular risk, and higher life expectancy. It's also where, for generations, market stalls selling fresh leafy greens, lotus seed pods, vegetables, tofu, and freshwater fish have shaped the diet of those living there.

Category: Diet & Nutrition, Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: Zhejiang University, China, Diet, Vegetables, Obesity, Cardiovascular, Heart, Metabolic syndrome, Gut health

Our evolution from the ocean may not have happened as we thought

Toluwalogo Niji-Olawepo — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 05:23:52 GMT

All terrestrial animals with four limbs and a backbone – whether a frog, a bird, a lizard, or even a mammal such as ourselves – can trace their evolution back to a fish-like ancestor that made its way from the ocean onto land.

Category: Biology, Science, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: Vilnius University, Evolution, Animal science, Amphibious, Marine Biology, Fish

mRNA vaccines clear sweeping global review of safety and effectiveness

Bronwyn Thompson — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 23:11:19 GMT

A comprehensive global review has found that mRNA vaccines aren't just highly effective at fighting infectious diseases – they are also very safe.

Category: Infectious Diseases, Illnesses and conditions, Body and Mind, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: University of British Columbia, mRNA vaccines, RNA, Coronavirus (COVID-19), Biotechnology, Vaccines, clinical trials

These whale mothers float upside-down for a very good reason

The Conversation — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 16:19:00 GMT

Kate Sprogis, Fredrik Christiansen & Renae van Noort, The University of Western Australia/Aarhus University/The Conversation

Category: Biology, Science, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: University of Western Australia, Aarhus University, Whale, Reproduction, Marine Biology, Ocean

One factor can age your brain faster – and you can do something about it

Mike McRae — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 08:20:00 GMT

Glucose levels have been linked with the accelerated aging of the human brain in a new study by researchers in China, highlighting the benefits of healthy eating and exercise early in life to keep your brain fighting fit in old age.

Category: Brain Health, Body and Mind, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: Glucose, Brain, Biological age, Neurological, Dementia, Diet

Daddy longlegs seen catching and eating frogs in astonishing first

Jay Kakade — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 02:06:02 GMT

Daddy longlegs, also called harvestmen, have been documented catching and consuming living frogs larger than themselves in South American rainforests. All without the use of venom.

Category: Biology, Science, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: Spiders, Frogs, Predator, Ecology

Weight loss drugs may literally be saving people's arms and legs

Paul McClure — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 00:17:46 GMT

GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are already known for treating type 2 diabetes and helping with weight loss. Now, a new study suggests they may also improve some of the most difficult complications to treat in type 2 diabetes.

Category: Diet & Nutrition, Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: GLP-1 receptor agonists, Diabetes, Weight Loss, Type 2 diabetes, metformin

Cystic fibrosis doesn’t just affect the lungs. It’s a gut disease too

The Conversation — Sun, 05 Jul 2026 21:20:00 GMT

(Keith) Chee Y. Ooi, UNSW Sydney/The Conversation

Category: Illnesses and conditions, Body and Mind, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: University of New South Wales, Gut health, Gastrointestinal, Lung disease, Chronic illness, Chronic pain, Disease

Blood test could predict dementia decades before symptoms first appear

Mike McRae — Sun, 05 Jul 2026 04:01:00 GMT

Long before the brain undergoes a level of degeneration that destroys precious memories, the body could be crying for help.

Category: Brain Health, Body and Mind, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: Dementia, Blood, Diagnostic tools, Alzheimer's disease, Test, Aging

Plasma jet is captured in 'most detailed X-ray view ever'

Chris Young — Sun, 05 Jul 2026 02:22:27 GMT

In April 2019, the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration made history by releasing the first-ever image of a black hole – an object that, until then, had never been directly observed by humanity.

Category: Astronomy, Science, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: NASA, Space exploration, Jets, Astronomy, X-ray

Three-in-one pill cuts heart failure hospitalizations by 60%

Bronwyn Thompson — Sat, 04 Jul 2026 07:27:00 GMT

A novel three-in-one medication known as a "polypill" has been put to the test in a trial of more than 200 heart failure patients, in an effort to find a new way to effectively treat the condition with fewer drugs and better health outcomes. The findings were just what the scientists had hoped for.

Category: Heart Disease, Illnesses and conditions, Body and Mind, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: UT Southwestern, Heart attack, Heart, Heart Failure, Heart health, Personalized medicine, clinical trials, Experimental, Age-Related

We can now watch microplastics moving through our bodies

Kerry Taylor-Smith — Sat, 04 Jul 2026 02:06:00 GMT

Microplastics are everywhere, visible as small specks in water samples, tissue biopsies, and post-mortem examinations.

Category: Imaging & Diagnostics, Medical Innovations, Body and Mind, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: Microplastic, Imaging, Pollution, Medical Imaging

Strange ‘in‑between’ celestial object is testing astronomers’ boundaries

The Conversation — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 20:33:00 GMT

Md Redyan Ahmed, University of Sydney/The Conversation

Category: Astronomy, Science, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: University of Sydney, Space exploration, Space telescope, Stars, Planet, Brown dwarf, Jupiter

Hot dog warning ahead of US holiday sausage bonanza

Bronwyn Thompson — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 16:05:00 GMT

As an expected 150 million Americans dig into a hot dog this 4th of July weekend, physicians highlight how little we know about the health risks of this kind of processed meat. In fact, close to 90% of US adults surveyed were unsure of or completely unaware of any issues.

Category: Diet & Nutrition, Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: Red meat, Health, Carcinogens, Cancer, Chronic illness, Diet, World Health Organization, CDC

Unregulated peptides pose higher risks for women

The Conversation — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 13:32:00 GMT

Adam Taylor & Michelle Swainson, Lancaster University/The Conversation

Category: Diet & Nutrition, Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: peptide, anti-aging, Women, Women's health

Breakthrough: Scientists made a living cell from scratch. Then it reproduced

Mike McRae — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 09:47:00 GMT

Soon after Earth formed, life happened. It all started with a soup of complex organic chemicals delivered express from space. Then stuff happened, and pow, there were itty-bitty cells.

Category: Biology, Science, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: University of Minnesota, Cells, Molecules, Experimental, Genetics, Genome, Evolution

Artificial sweeteners face growing scrutiny over long-term health risks

Bronwyn Thompson — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 06:35:00 GMT

A new review by Tufts University researchers presents comprehensive and convincing research linking common sugar substitutes with metabolic disturbances that begin in the gut and then flow throughout the body. It also highlights issues of food-label transparency in the US.

Category: Diet & Nutrition, Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: Tufts University, Artificial sweetener, Sugar, Metabolic syndrome, metabolism, Gut Bacteria, Gut health, Microbes, Microbiome, Type 2 diabetes, Cardiovascular

A hidden map in your nose may hold the secret to smell

Pranjal Malewar — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 04:32:23 GMT

For centuries, scientists have marveled at the brain's ability to organize sensory information into neat topographical maps. Vision, touch, and hearing rely on orderly patterns in which neighboring neurons respond to adjacent features.

Category: Biology, Science, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: Brain, olfactory, Smell, Sensory, neurons

Younger people age faster than ever, and it could explain an alarming trend

Pranjal Malewar — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 05:43:34 GMT

Cancer is rising among younger generations worldwide, and scientists are uncovering clues as to why.

Category: Society & Community, Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: Biological age, Lung cancer, Cancer, Colorectal cancer, Pollution

Protein-packed flower upends what we see as edible

Bronwyn Thompson — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 01:54:18 GMT

A flower you may have in your backyard or have seen in a public garden has been found to contain a surprisingly high amount of protein. It could transform how we think of "ornamental" plants – and flowers in general.

Category: Diet & Nutrition, Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: University of Georgia, Protein, Diet, Health, Plant-based diet, Nutrition

Baffling graves could be evidence of a deadly Stone Age plague

The Conversation — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 22:48:49 GMT

Ruairidh Macleod, University of Oxford & Stephen Shennan, UCL/The Conversation

Category: Archaeology, Science, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: black-death, Bacteria, pandemic, grave, Neolithic

Rare 'white whales' push back date of millipede evolution

Toluwalogo Niji-Olawepo — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 07:31:34 GMT

An international team of scientists led by researchers at Virginia Tech has completed the millipede family tree for the first time.

Category: Biology, Science, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: Evolution, Animals, Genetics, Life, millipedes

Chronic pain eased by a common sleep supplement

Bronwyn Thompson — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 01:30:51 GMT

A supplement best known for helping some people get a better night's sleep may also have a surprising painkilling effect on individuals with chronic conditions. This could help reduce the use of pain medications that come with more risks.

Category: Chronic Pain, Illnesses and conditions, Body and Mind, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: University of Sydney, Chronic pain, Melatonin, Dietary supplements, Signal, Painkillers, Opioids

1 in 30 may have a condition that gets them lost in their own home

The Conversation — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 23:12:18 GMT

Isabelle Kaiko, Ineke van der Ham, & Judith Schomaker, Leiden University/ The Conversation

Category: Brain Health, Body and Mind, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: Navigation, Brain, Home, Mapping, Neurological

Our Universe looks like noodles, and it could destroy a major cosmological principle

Mike McRae — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 09:00:14 GMT

Your mother was wrong. Sorry.

Category: Astronomy, Science, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: Cosmology, relativity, Dark Energy, Dark Matter, Galaxy, Big Bang Theory

Decoding the verbal language of birds earns scientist lucrative prize

Bronwyn Thompson — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 08:45:11 GMT

A scientist has brought us closer to talking to animals, and it's won her the 2026 Coller-Dolittle prize for two-way interspecies communication.

Category: Biology, Science, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: University of California Berkeley, Birds, Language, Communicate, Animal science, Behavior

It became too easy to shout ‘aliens’, so SETI changed its rules

Chris Young — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 04:06:36 GMT

For the first time in more than 15 years, the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) committee has significantly revised the protocols governing how scientists “evaluate, verify, and announce evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence.”

Category: Astronomy, Science, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: SETI, aliens, 3I/ATLAS, Extraterrestrial

The International Space Station keeps leaking. So what happens now?

The Conversation — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 23:45:10 GMT

Christopher Newman, Northumbria University, Newcastle/ The Conversation

Category: Astronomy, Science, Refractor: Science & Health

Gorilla giggles and chimp chuckles reveal the origin of laughter in humans

Mike McRae — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 20:05:00 GMT

Did you hear the one about the chuckling chimpanzee?

Category: Biology, Science, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: Chimpanzees, Apes, Orangutans, Human, laughter, University of Warwick

One nut could be our best chance at saving the Amazon from deforestation

Emma Schneck — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 05:05:48 GMT

The only commercial nut exclusively harvested in the Amazon, the Brazil nut is highly sought after for its health benefits, including its remarkable concentration of selenium, a necessary antioxidant in the human body. Not only is the Brazil nut a protein-packed addition to a typical bag of trail mix, but it could also protect the Amazon rainforest from deforestation.

Category: Environment, Science, Refractor: Science & Health

Tags: Brazil, Amazon, Diet, Timber, Forest, brazil-nuts