Articles about Research

Study into how fertilisation could work in space finds sperm may get disorientated when trying to find an eggSperm in space are likely to get disoriented and lost while struggling to find their way to an egg, a new study has found.When exposed to microgravity in experiments, sperm tumble around like an untethered astronaut, according to Adelaide University researchers. Continue reading...

Australian counterterrorism experts observe December shooting came amid years of messaging from terror group urging followers to act ‘on their own initiative’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Bondi beach terror attack occurred amid an international spike of anti-western plots in December last year that appeared to be “inspired or instigated” by Islamic State, a new report has found, with many of them targeting holiday events such as Christmas markets.In research published by the West Point Combating Terrorism Center in its publication Sentinel on Thursday, Australian counterterrorism experts Andrew Zammit and Levi West examined Islamic State’s strategic shifts and jihadi tactics in Australia prior to the alleged antisemitic terrorist attack. Continue reading...

Cambridge University historian uncovers letter to diarist who was a naval official in 1670sHis journals would become famed for their vivid detail and candour. But now, almost exactly 360 years after diarist Samuel Pepys chronicled the Great Fire of London, new research has found that he “erased” and “curated” correspondence to conceal he had been offered an enslaved boy as a bribe.Cambridge University historian Dr Michael Edwards consulted hundreds of records in The Pepys Library at Magdalene College, Cambridge; The National Archives; and the Bodleian Library in Oxford for the study “Samuel Pepys, the African Companies, and the Archives of Slavery, 1660–1689”. Continue reading...

• Rice University's Baker Institute released a commentary by Rachel A. Meidl examining scientific evidence linking microplastics exposure to fertility issues amid sensational headlines. • The review highlights current peer-reviewed studies on human microplastics exposure levels, absorption mechanisms, and potential reproductive health effects in the US population. • Findings underscore gaps in long-term data, urging cautious interpretation of preliminary animal studies while calling for more rigorous human trials to assess real-world risks.

US, top carbon emitter in history, has ‘a lot of responsibility’ for causing ‘substantial’ harm globally, scientist saysThe US has caused an eye-watering $10tn in global damages to the world over the past three decades through its vast planet-heating emissions, with a quarter of this economic pain inflicted upon itself, new research has found.By being the largest carbon emitter in history, the US has caused greater harm to worldwide economic growth than any other country, ahead of China, now the world’s largest emitter that is responsible for $9tn in GDP damage since 1990, according to the findings of the paper. Continue reading...

Human Rights Watch and others say they have documented use of weapon in civilian areas, which some argue is illegalWhen the M825-series 155mm artillery projectile airbursts, expelling its felt wedges containing white phosphorus, it leaves a distinctive knuckle-shaped plume. That is how Human Rights Watch (HRW) researchers said they were able to verify that Israel was again using the notorious weapon over south Lebanon, reigniting accusations that it is breaking the laws of war.The New York-based rights group said it had verified and geolocated eight images showing airburst white phosphorus munitions exploding over residential areas in the southern Lebanese town of Yohmor in the opening days of Israel’s assault during the war on Gaza. Continue reading...

• Scientists have discovered a molecular mechanism that explains the effectiveness of exercise in reversing age-related muscle deterioration. • The finding provides new insight into the cellular processes through which physical activity combats muscle aging at the molecular level. • This breakthrough could lead to targeted therapies mimicking exercise benefits for individuals unable to maintain regular physical activity.

• American Geophysical Union (AGU) hosts a virtual Biogeosciences Early Career Open House on March 24, 2026, from 12:00-1:00 PM ET. • Event targets early-career scientists in biogeosciences, a key area of Earth and climate studies. • Provides networking and opportunities in U.S.-based research community focused on interdisciplinary environmental science.

• UL Research Institutes’ Chemical Insights scientists deliver over 16 presentations at the Society of Toxicology’s 65th Annual Meeting and ToxExpo in San Diego starting March 23, 2026. • Key posters cover topics like PFAS exposure disrupting melanin synthesis in melanocytes, inhalation risks from 3D printing resins in dentistry, and thyroid hormone disruption using new approach methodologies. • Findings aim to provide decision-ready evidence on chemical health risks, as stated by VP Russell Thomas: 'Generating practical, decision-ready evidence about chemical exposures and health risks.'

Handful of billionaires gave huge sums in particular to media organisations that boosted rightwing politicians, says Liam Byrne MPMore than £170m was given to MPs, political parties, media organisations and thinktanks aligned with the UK’s populist right over the past five years, new research from the Labour MP Liam Byrne has found.Byrne, a former cabinet minister who chairs parliament’s business committee, said he had identified a “media-political complex” funded largely by a handful of billionaires. Continue reading...

• New research reveals the Crab Pulsar's puzzling radio emission patterns result from a 'tug-of-war' between its magnetic field and gravity acting as lenses on plasma in the magnetosphere. • Gravity focuses emissions while magnetospheric plasma defocuses them, explaining the pulsar's unique behavior observed in this well-studied supernova remnant. • This physics discovery advances understanding of neutron star dynamics, with implications for interpreting signals from thousands of known pulsars across the galaxy.

• Hundreds gathered on Boston Common on a recent cold Saturday afternoon, waving signs, banners, and chanting calls to action in a rally supporting science amid federal funding uncertainties. • The event highlights growing concerns over U.S. science budget cuts, echoing national surveys showing researcher layoffs and lab disruptions. • Participants demanded sustained investment in research breakthroughs, peer-reviewed studies, and institutions like NIH, drawing from Manchester's LHCb success as a model for curiosity-driven science.

• DOE's SLAC National Accelerator Lab and collaborators created a generative AI model that rebuilds molecular structures from fragmentation patterns during explosions. • The breakthrough enhances analysis of molecular dynamics using accelerator data, advancing chemistry and materials science research. • Published within the last 8 hours, it promises novel insights into molecular behaviors under extreme conditions.

• FASEB hosted its annual Capitol Hill Day on March 18, 2026, bringing 46 biomedical researchers from 19 member societies across 25 states to Washington, D.C., to push for increased NIH and NSF funding. • Advocates met with nearly 90 House and Senate offices, thanking lawmakers for bipartisan FY 2026 appropriations that boosted NIH funding and protected facilities costs from 15% caps. • The effort highlights the role of federal investment in accelerating medical discoveries and delivering state-specific impacts on health outcomes.

Study highlights the movements in people’s gait that give away most about their emotional stateA long face is not the only sign that someone is down in the dumps. How people walk is revealing too, particularly the swing of the arms and legs, researchers say.Scientists asked volunteers to guess people’s emotions from video clips of them walking and found that bigger swings portrayed more aggression while smaller swings implied fear and sadness. Continue reading...

• The U.S. Department of Energy announced $293 million in funding to advance the Genesis Mission's efforts to tackle the nation's most complex science and technology challenges. • The funding represents a significant federal commitment to supporting breakthrough scientific research and innovation across multiple fields.

• A new coalition led by University of Maryland professor John Moult, creator of the Critical Assessment of Structure Prediction (CASP), is launching an initiative to assess the reliability of Alzheimer's literature and identify which experiments can be trusted. • The effort aims to evaluate competing hypotheses about the APOE4 gene's role in Alzheimer's by examining experimental conditions, statistical analyses, and data quality across human, mouse, and cell studies. • The approach leverages large language models to apply objective measuring standards to scientific literature, similar to how CASP's blind challenge methodology validated DeepMind's AlphaFold tool, which contributed to the company's 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

• A person with a genetic mutation linked to ALS warns that the second Trump administration's funding cuts have halted key research, including at Mass General and the ALLFTD project for FTD. • Cuts defunded ALS studies at Harvard and other universities, pausing longitudinal research and denying symptomatic patients access to trials like baricitinib at MGH. • Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s policies are linked to rising measles cases, potentially overburdening diagnostics and delaying ALS treatments that take a decade to reach patients.

• New York University Abu Dhabi team discovered clues of subsurface water on Mars in Gale Crater using NASA's Curiosity rover data, indicating habitability lasted longer than previously thought. • Ancient sand dunes hardened into rock billions of years ago after interacting with groundwater, confirmed by comparing Martian formations to UAE desert analogs. • Led by Dimitra Atri, the study published in Journal of Geophysical Research - Planets highlights underground sites as prime locations for past life evidence.

• Houston Methodist scientists identified TDP43 protein as a critical regulator of DNA mismatch repair, connecting it to ALS, frontotemporal dementia, and cancer risks. • Lead investigator Muralidhar L. Hegde, Ph.D., stated 'DNA repair is one of the most fundamental processes in biology' and TDP43's role has major implications for these diseases. • The peer-reviewed study, published in Nucleic Acids Research on March 15, 2026, was funded by NIH's NINDS and National Institute on Aging.

• U.S. Senate passed its 2026 spending bill including the Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act to advance pediatric cancer combination therapies. • Bill features Accelerating Kids Access to Care Act streamlining out-of-state Medicaid/CHIP provider approvals for children and five-year reauthorization of FDA Rare Pediatric Disease Priority Review Voucher Program. • Allocates $7.35 billion to National Cancer Institute, up $128 million from 2025, with $30 million for Childhood Cancer STAR Act and $50 million for Childhood Cancer Data Initiative.

• FY2026 federal budget passed by Congress includes critical funding for autism research, early identification, health care training, and essential support programs. • Provisions secure resources for autism initiatives amid broader federal spending priorities for health and disability services. • Funding wins represent advocacy successes for autism community in annual appropriations process.

Scientists at Texas A&M University created the most challenging AI test to date, involving over 50 collaborators, to evaluate advanced language models on complex reasoning tasks. Initial results showed even top AI systems struggling significantly, highlighting gaps in current capabilities despite acing simpler benchmarks. The benchmark, detailed in a peer-reviewed paper, pushes boundaries in AI safety and robustness research. Future iterations will incorporate multimodal challenges to further stress-test emerging models.