New research findings indicate that exposure to even low levels of arsenic poses significant health risks, including an increased risk of kidney cancer.
All people are unique — also in the gut
A new study increases our knowledge about the gut and the life of gut bacteria. The study shows, among other things, that changes in the gut environment have an impact on the composition and activity of gut bacteria. Ultimately, this may help explain why we all have different gut bacteria...
Satellite evidence bolsters case that climate change caused mass elephant die-off
A new study has provided further evidence that the deaths of 350 African elephants in Botswana during 2020 were the result of drinking from water holes where toxic algae populations had exploded due to climate change.
A fossil first: Scientists find 1.5-million-year-old footprints of two different species of human ancestors at same spot
More than a million years ago, on a hot savannah teeming with wildlife near the shore of what would someday become Lake Turkana in Kenya, two completely different species of hominins may have passed each other as they scavenged for food. Scientists know this because they have examined 1.5-million-year-old fossils...
Brains grew faster as humans evolved
Brain size increased gradually within each ancient human species rather than through sudden leaps between species.
Global food yields have grown steadily during last six decades, study finds
Contrary to widespread concerns that global crop yields have stagnated in recent decades, a comprehensive study of worldwide food production finds yields have continued to grow at roughly the same rate since the 1960s.
Sound of traffic increases stress and anxiety, study finds
Manmade sounds such vehicle traffic can mask the positive impact of nature soundscapes on people's stress and anxiety, according to a new study.
Researchers redefine what it means for a cell to be alive or dead
Cellular death is a fundamental concept in the biological sciences. Given its significance though, its definition depends on the context in which it takes place, and lacks a general mathematical definition. Researchers propose a new mathematical definition of death based on whether a potentially dead cell can return to a...
Cellular traffic congestion in chronic diseases suggests new therapeutic targets
Chronic diseases such as diabetes are on the rise and are costly and challenging to treat. Scientists have discovered a common denominator driving these diverse diseases, which may prove to be a promising therapeutic target: proteolethargy, or reduced protein mobility, in the presence of oxidative stress.
‘Genetic time machine’ reveals complex chimpanzee cultures
Chimpanzees are known for their remarkable intelligence and use of tools, but could their cultures also evolve over time like human cultures? A new, multidisciplinary study suggests that some of their most advanced behaviors may have been passed down and refined through generations.