- newScientists find toxic metals hidden in popular plastic toys
A large-scale Brazilian study found dangerous levels of toxic metals in popular children’s toys, with barium and lead topping the list. Researchers used sophisticated lab methods to identify 21 hazardous elements and test how easily they could be released when toys are mouthed. Even though only small fractions leach out, the total concentrations were so high that safety concerns remain critical.
- 16 hours ago 28 Nov 25, 10:05pm -
- newA popular “essential” medicine may be putting unborn babies at risk
A major review across 73 countries finds that access to antiseizure medications is rising, but safe prescribing isn’t keeping pace. Valproate—linked to serious birth defects—remains widely used in many regions despite WHO warnings. Limited access to newer drugs means millions may still be at risk. Researchers urge global education and stronger safeguards.
- 17 hours ago 28 Nov 25, 9:37pm -
- newScientists uncover the brain’s hidden learning blocks
Princeton researchers found that the brain excels at learning because it reuses modular “cognitive blocks” across many tasks. Monkeys switching between visual categorization challenges revealed that the prefrontal cortex assembles these blocks like Legos to create new behaviors. This flexibility explains why humans learn quickly while AI models often forget old skills. The insights may help build better AI and new clinical treatments for impaired cognitive adaptability.
- 19 hours ago 28 Nov 25, 7:39pm -
- newScientists studied 47,000 dogs on CBD and found a surprising behavior shift
Data from over 47,000 dogs reveal that CBD is most often used in older pets with chronic health issues. Long-term CBD use was linked to reduced aggression, though other anxious behaviors didn’t improve. The trend was strongest among dogs whose owners lived in cannabis-friendly states.
- 19 hours ago 28 Nov 25, 7:11pm -
- newBird flu’s surprising heat tolerance has scientists worried
Researchers discovered why bird flu can survive temperatures that stop human flu in its tracks. A key gene, PB1, gives avian viruses the ability to replicate even at fever-level heat. Mice experiments confirmed that fever cripples human-origin flu but not avian strains, especially those with avian-like PB1. These findings highlight how gene swapping could fuel future pandemics.
- 20 hours ago 28 Nov 25, 6:07pm -
- newPolluted air quietly erases the benefits of exercise
Long-term inhalation of toxic air appears to dull the protective power of regular workouts, according to a massive global study spanning more than a decade and over a million adults. While exercise still helps people live longer, its benefits shrink dramatically in regions with heavy fine particle pollution—especially above key PM2.5 thresholds common in many parts of the world. The researchers emphasize that outdoor activity shouldn’t stop, but better air quality could unlock far greater he…
- 21 hours ago 28 Nov 25, 5:07pm -
- newHidden mitochondrial DNA damage may be a missing link in disease
Researchers identified a new, sticky form of mitochondrial DNA damage that builds up at dramatically higher levels than in nuclear DNA. These lesions disrupt energy production and activate stress-response pathways. Simulations show the damage makes mtDNA more rigid, possibly marking it for removal. The finding offers fresh clues to inflammation, aging, and diseases such as diabetes and neurodegeneration.
- 23 hours ago 28 Nov 25, 2:59pm -
- This simple warm-up trick instantly boosts speed and power
Warming up significantly improves muscle performance, particularly speed and power, by increasing muscle temperature. Both passive heat methods and light exercise warm-ups work, but mimicking the actual workout movements can offer extra benefits. When your body starts to feel coordinated and lightly sweaty, you’re ready to push into the main session.
- 1 day ago 28 Nov 25, 10:14am -
- Why more cannabis users are landing in the ER with severe vomiting
Chronic cannabis use is increasingly linked to recurring bouts of vomiting, now officially classified as cannabis hyperemesis syndrome. The new ICD code helps doctors identify cases more consistently and gives researchers a clearer picture of how often it occurs. Patients often resist the diagnosis, and the condition’s causes remain murky. Relief can come from unusual sources like hot showers or capsaicin cream.
- 1 day ago 28 Nov 25, 7:56am -
- Stunning new 3D images reveal yellow fever’s hidden structure
University of Queensland researchers visualized yellow fever virus particles at near-atomic detail, uncovering major structural differences between vaccine and virulent strains. The insights could lead to better vaccines and treatments for yellow fever and related mosquito-borne viruses.
- 2 days ago 27 Nov 25, 8:00pm -
- Half of heart attacks strike people told they’re low risk
The study reveals that widely used heart-attack risk calculators fail to flag nearly half of those who will soon experience a cardiac event. Even the newer PREVENT model misclassifies many patients as low-risk. Since most people develop symptoms only within 48 hours of their heart attack, current screening offers little time for intervention. Researchers say earlier detection with imaging could dramatically improve prevention.
- 2 days ago 27 Nov 25, 6:37pm -
- Your body may already have a molecule that helps fight Alzheimer’s
Spermine, a small but powerful molecule in the body, helps neutralize harmful protein accumulations linked to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. It encourages these misfolded proteins to gather into manageable clumps that cells can more efficiently dispose of through autophagy. Experiments in nematodes show that spermine also enhances longevity and cellular energy production. These insights open the door to targeted therapies powered by polyamines and advanced AI-driven molecular design.
- 2 days ago 27 Nov 25, 6:05pm -
- Nanoflowers supercharge stem cells to recharge aging cells
Texas A&M researchers found a way to make stem cells produce double the normal number of mitochondria using nanoflower particles. These energized stem cells then transfer their surplus “power packs” to weakened cells, reviving their energy production and resilience. The method bypasses many limitations of current mitochondrial therapies and could offer long-lasting effects. It may open the door to treatments for aging tissues and multiple degenerative diseases.
- 2 days ago 27 Nov 25, 5:10pm -
- Twenty-year study shows cleaner water slashes cancer and heart disease deaths
A 20-year project in Bangladesh reveals that lowering arsenic levels in drinking water can slash death rates from major chronic diseases. Participants who switched to safer wells had the same risk levels as people who were never heavily exposed. The researchers tracked individual water exposure with detailed urine testing. Their results show how quickly health improves once contaminated water is replaced.
- 2 days ago 27 Nov 25, 3:44pm -
- A common nutrient deficiency may be silently harming young brains
Scientists studying young adults with obesity discovered early indicators of brain stress that resemble patterns seen in cognitive impairment. The group showed higher inflammation, signs of liver strain and elevated neurofilament light chain, a marker of neuron injury. Low choline levels appeared closely tied to these changes. The results hint that early metabolic disruptions may quietly influence the brain long before symptoms emerge.
- 2 days ago 27 Nov 25, 1:15pm -