The South Asian monsoon is a life-giver for 2 billion people.
1,000 Swiss glaciers already gone, and the melting is speeding up
Swiss glaciers lost nearly 3% of their volume in 2025, following a snow-poor winter and scorching summer heatwaves. The melt has been so extreme that some glaciers lost more than two meters of ice thickness in a single season. Scientists caution that the decline is destabilizing mountains, raising risks of...
Before they sucked blood, leeches were ocean hunters
A 430-million-year-old fossil has rewritten leech history, showing they are at least 200 million years older than previously believed. Unlike today’s bloodsucking leeches, their ancient ancestors likely hunted small marine animals using a tail sucker rather than piercing skin.
Saturn’s icy moon Enceladus just revealed stunning new clues to life
Fresh analysis of Cassini data has revealed new complex organic molecules inside ice grains spewing from Enceladus. These discoveries strengthen the case that the moon’s underground ocean hosts chemistry similar to life’s building blocks on Earth. Scientists now believe Enceladus could be habitable, and plans are underway for a European...
Chatbots the New ‘Doc?’ Exploring AI in Health Behavior Coaching
Changing health habits – like quitting smoking, exercising more, or sticking to prescribed treatments – is difficult but crucial for preventing and managing chronic diseases.
And Swiss Glaciers Continue to Melt
Glacial melting in Switzerland was once again enormous in 2025.
A Step Toward Diagnosing the Flu With Your Tongue
Flu season is fast approaching in the northern hemisphere.
The billion-year reign of fungi that predated plants and made Earth livable
Fungi may have shaped Earth’s landscapes long before plants appeared. By combining rare gene transfers with fossil evidence, researchers have traced fungal origins back nearly a billion years earlier than expected. These ancient fungi may have partnered with algae, recycling nutrients, breaking down rock, and creating primitive soils. Far from...
Scientists just found the strongest signs of life on Mars yet
Perseverance rover data shows Jezero Crater once held a calm lake, leaving behind mudstones rich in organic-linked minerals. The presence of iron-phosphate and iron-sulfide nodules suggests processes resembling microbial activity on Earth. Scientists caution that only Earth-based labs can confirm their true origin, but the samples collected may hold the...
A plant compound might be the secret weapon against gum disease
A team of researchers tested morin, a plant compound, against gum disease bacteria and found strong antimicrobial benefits. By encapsulating it in polymers, they created a powdered form for oral hygiene products. This could replace antibiotics, avoid side effects from existing treatments, and help vulnerable patients maintain oral health.