June 30, 2017 — For the first time, researchers have demonstrated a surprising effect of microglia, the scavenger cells of the brain: If these cells lack the TDP-43 protein, they not only remove Alzheimer's plaques, but also synapses. This removal of synapses by these cells presumably lead to neurodegeneration observed in Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative. read more

July 1, 2017 — Ten years after cigarettes were banished from all UK pubs, clubs, bars and restaurants, new figures reveal there are 1.9 million fewer smokers in Britain compared to when the smoking ban was introduced in 2007, with smoking rates now the lowest ever. read more

June 30, 2017 — "Sport is too much like hard work." For many, that is reason enough to pass when it comes to exercise. But does sport really have to make you break into a sweat? Psychologists have discovered that one's own expectations have a major influence on just how strenuous one perceives a unit of sport to. read more

June 26, 2017 — People who are visually impaired will often use a cane to feel out their surroundings. With training and practice, people can learn to use the pitch, loudness and timbre of echoes from the cane or other sounds to navigate safely through the environment. read more

June 29, 2017 — Measuring a set of proteins in the blood may enable earlier diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to a. read more

June 28, 2017 — In the future, it may be possible to diagnose cancer much earlier using improved detection systems. Computing resources are helping researchers explore improved breast tissue mapping, nanopore and lab-on-a-chip biosensors, and cell-entering cancer detectors. Advanced computing is critical for the simulation and materials design aspects of these emerging diagnostic. read more

June 29, 2017 — A collaboration between biologists and materials scientists is yielding new insights into the wings of the "skipper butterfly" in the Costa Rican rainforest. What they learn could lead to technological advancements in systems ranging from power-efficient computer displays to sensors to energy. read more

June 29, 2017 — Passengers have more chance of winning the National Lottery jackpot than being allocated middle seats at random on a Ryanair flight, according to a new. read more

June 29, 2017 — Researchers have discovered a new topological material which may enable fault-tolerant quantum. read more

June 30, 2017 — Researchers have further uncovered the secrets of telomeres, the caps that protect the ends of our chromosomes. They discovered that an RNA molecule called TERRA helps to ensure that very short (or broken) telomeres get fixed again. The work provides new insights into cellular processes that regulate cell senescence and survival in aging and. read more

June 29, 2017 — The ongoing transition from nomadic cultures to settled lifestyles and intensifying agriculture has led to a steep drop not only in the use of fire on local lands, but in the prevalence of fire worldwide. read more

June 30, 2017 — A new study comparing dissolved black carbon deposition on ice and snow in ecosystems around the world (including Antarctica, the Arctic, and alpine regions of the Himalayas, Rockies, Andes, and Alps) shows that while concentrations vary widely, significant amounts can persist in both pristine and non-pristine areas of. read more

June 29, 2017 — A novel composite material shows promise as a catalyst for the degradation of environmentally-harmful synthetic dye pollutants, which are released at a rate of nearly 300,000 tons a year into the. read more

June 30, 2017 — A new study urges the UNESCO World Heritage Convention to better conserve wilderness areas within Natural World Heritage Sites. The study revealed that only 1.8 percent of the world's wilderness is protected in these. read more

June 30, 2017 — Understanding modern biodiversity and extinction threats is important. It is commonly assumed that being large contributes to vulnerability during extinction crises. However, researchers have found that size played no role in the extinction of fish during the largest mass extinction of all. read more

June 29, 2017 — The South Caucasus -- home to the countries of Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan -- geographically links Europe and the Near East. The area has served for millennia as a major crossroads for human migration, with strong archaeological evidence for big cultural shifts over time. And yet, surprisingly, ancient mitochondrial DNA evidence finds no. read more

June 29, 2017 — One popular theory about the Paleolithic cave paintings proposes that sites were chosen based on the acoustics in the caves. The originators of the theory reported a causal connection between the 'points of resonance' in three French caves and the position of Paleolithic cave. read more

June 29, 2017 — Defective viruses incorporated into grass genomes may adapt to form partnerships with other genome-incorporated viruses in order to complete their life cycle, according to a new study. The findings suggest that partner viruses evolve in concert, enabling them to maintain their relationship. read more