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Recent Discoveries Stories

An artist's illustration of the view from a Kuiper Belt object.
A new analysis of Kuiper Belt orbits reveals a compact inner kernel of icy worlds, reshaping ideas about the solar system’s early history.
Joseph Shavitupda
A new modeling study of the Southern Andes shows that if a megadrought like Chile’s current one strikes again near the end of this century, the region’s largest glaciers will be too depleted to provide the meltwater buffer that has kept rivers flowing so far, raising urgent questions about water security and climate policy.
Green ImpactChile’s megadrought is dealing a severe and long-lasting blow to their glacier ecosystemsJoshua Shavit
A new stem cell study reveals how APOL1 kidney risk variants quietly drain energy from podocytes, leaving them vulnerable when inflammation strikes. By growing patient-derived mini kidneys in the lab, researchers traced chronic kidney damage back to failing mitochondria, opening the door to more precise treatments for APOL1-mediated disease.
HealthSingle gene reveals why inflammation triggers kidney failureRebecca Shavit
New simulations show ice stays slippery in deep cold because its crystal structure breaks down under motion, not because it melts.
Green ImpactDecades-old mystery solved as scientists identify what really makes ice slipperyMac Oliveau
New models of planetary atmospheres and stellar radiation suggest that worlds capable of supporting intelligent life may be far rarer than once believed.
SpaceIntelligent life may be far more rare than scientists previously thoughtJoseph Shavit
This artist’s concept shows what the exoplanet PSR J2322-2650b may look like. Gravitational forces from the much heavier pulsar it orbits are pulling the Jupiter-mass world into this bizarre lemon shape.
SpaceJWST spots a lemon-shaped exoplanet orbiting a pulsar — rewriting the rules of planet formationJoseph Shavit
Ozempic and similar drugs are reshaping how Americans buy food, cutting grocery and fast-food spending nationwide.
HealthGLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are changing the foods Americans buyJoshua Shavit
New research shows how car touchscreens and mental load strain driver attention and shape safer dashboard design.
DiscoveriesTouchscreens, attention, and the dangers of multitasking while drivingShy Cohen
New research shows more than 20% of the global ocean has darkened in 20 years, shrinking vital sunlit habitat for marine life.
Green ImpactLarge parts of the world’s oceans are growing darker, study findsJoseph Shavit
A large Canadian aging cohort found that high sleep apnea risk was linked with higher odds of depression and psychological distress
HealthSleep apnea’s hidden link to depression and mental health problemsMac Oliveau
The NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope identified the source of a super bright flash of light known as a gamma-ray burst: a supernova that exploded when the Universe was only 730 million years old.
DiscoveriesJWST detected a supernova from the dawn of the universeJoseph Shavit
A new study in American Psychologist finds that swearing is more than emotional venting. When you repeat a swear word during a demanding task, you can hold on longer and feel more confident and focused. Researchers say swearing briefly lowers your internal brakes, helping you stop holding back and push through physical or mental challenges without drugs, equipment or extra calories.
HealthDropping an ‘F Bomb’ can make you stronger, study findsRebecca Shavit
New research suggests metallic nodules on the Pacific seafloor may produce oxygen without sunlight, igniting debate over deep-sea life and mining.
Green ImpactDark oxygen discovery in the deep ocean sparks debate over life’s originsJoshua Shavit
A new study reports that restoring a key brain energy molecule reversed memory loss and brain damage in advanced Alzheimer’s models.
HealthNew study model shows Alzheimer’s disease can be reversed — not just preventedJoseph Shavit
Among the approximately 16,000 new species described every year, roughly 6,000 are insects. Pictured here is a lanternfly from India.
Green ImpactScientists are discovering new species faster than ever, study findsMac Oliveau
A new MIT led study uses hospital style CT scans to peer inside 5,000 year old copper slag from Tepe Hissar, revealing hidden metal droplets, gas pockets, and complex arsenic chemistry that reshape what we know about early smelting.
DiscoveriesMIT study uses medical CT imaging to reconstruct 5,000 year-old metal productionRebecca Shavit
A new study places leading AI models into a classic economic experiment, revealing how their strategic choices differ from humans.
AIAI models tested in a classic economics game reveal major differences from human thinkingShy Cohen