Brightsurf delivers daily science news discoveries, articles, and the latest scientific breakthroughs. Your trusted source for science news today, covering nature news, science & technology, and scientific discoveries from leading research institutions worldwide.
Researchers discovered a potential mechanism to enhance magnetic compass responses in cryptochrome, a blue-light-sensitive protein. The study found that structural rearrangements and chirality-induced spin selectivity can influence electron-spin polarization and improve directional dependence of downstream chemical reactions.
The study reveals TlGaS2 shows both in-plane and out-of-plane polarization, with a stronger response along the in-plane direction. The material's incipient ferroelectric behavior is linked to a soft phonon mode and structural phase transitions, offering new insights into its multifunctional properties.
A team of researchers and industry experts, including UBC and Unilia, are working together to develop fuel cells that can power aircraft while meeting weight and performance requirements. They aim to create a compact, high-power stack that can run at high temperatures and low humidity, addressing technical barriers to using hydrogen fu...
A new educational activity using WaterPuzzle, a 3D-printable magnetic model, helps students understand how water molecules interact. The model allows students to physically construct and investigate molecular networks, developing a deeper appreciation of molecular interactions.
A national study of nearly 1,000 elementary and middle school teachers found that prompting teachers to communicate high expectations and confidence in students' potential leads to more detailed feedback, but also surfaces small race- and gender-linked differences in feedback about students' math ability and effort.
A recent study found that about 1 in 4 patients who took lemborexant experienced frightening nights and groggy mornings, leading to high discontinuation rates. The researchers suggest that the medication's side effects, including vivid dreams and sleep paralysis, may be contributing factors.
Researchers developed a membrane technology that enables faster and more precise molecule separation, reducing energy consumption and increasing efficiency in industrial processes. The breakthrough addresses a longstanding challenge in membrane science, allowing molecules to move faster while maintaining exceptional separation precision.
The study found sustained disease control with estimated progression-free survival of 60% and overall survival of 71% at 10 years. Long-term outcomes also showed improved lung function and skin score, but highlighted the importance of careful patient selection and monitoring.
Researchers have developed a highly efficient photoelectrode that produces hydrogen using sunlight through a water-based, low-voltage process. The new technology significantly reduces the use of organic solvents and reliance on high voltages, making it a major breakthrough in eco-friendly hydrogen production.
A new study from King's College London found that the parts of fruits and vegetables most thrown away contain significantly higher levels of dietary fibre than commonly consumed parts. This discovery could address the global dietary fibre deficit and reduce food waste. By incorporating often-overlooked parts into meals, people can incr...
Nurses draw on clinical expertise, ethical judgement, and close observation to guide care during a patient's final days. The study highlights the importance of knowing a patient's cues and wishes, with decisions linked to family engagement and care needs.
Two international studies provide strongest evidence for non-invasive tests to diagnose and measure liver disease severity, targeting patients for specialist care and advancing MASH clinical trials.
A team of researchers, led by University of Florida professor Sumit Jha, has developed a system called ATLAS to detect and correct AI agents that drift from their assigned tasks. The system works inside large language models, steering them back on track without retraining or significant computing demands.
The new 'Four As' framework for AI governance aims to balance competition and innovation with safeguards against harmful capabilities. It identifies four key areas: Action, Access, Authority, and Allocation, and requires proportionate safeguards, human control, and regular reassessment.
Penn's Fast Feature Field transforms event-camera data into information that many different kinds of robots can use, improving robots' ability to recognize objects, estimate distances and perceive motion. The tool could transform robotics by allowing for the widespread use of event cameras in self-driving cars and drones.
Researchers suggest that tectonic forces on the opposite side of the Pacific Ocean may have accelerated the Gulf of California rifting, with the process being sped up by 30-80 million years. The study used computer simulations to model the impact of double subduction zones on plate interactions.
The open-source platform NetZero Brazil 2050 uses energy modeling and land-use data to guide decarbonization policies, simulating carbon-neutrality scenarios for Brazil by 2050. The tool calculates the lowest-cost decarbonization pathways in real-time, facilitating transparent and evidence-based energy transition strategies.
Researchers at the University of São Paulo found that crop diversification and cover crops can increase productivity and protect fields from extreme weather events. The study used cover crops as a biological buffer against droughts and floods, and showed yields above the state average, with greater stability from year to year.
Researchers at Chiba University have identified a protein called OMC1 that maintains chromosome cohesion in eggs from fetal development to adulthood, potentially mitigating age-related decline in egg quality. This discovery has significant implications for reproductive health in societies where childbirth is increasingly delayed.
Researchers found that microplastics aged under UV light can convert highly toxic hexavalent chromium into trivalent chromium, reducing its mobility and toxicity. The process involves two distinct chemical pathways, one through environmentally persistent free radicals and the other through microplastic-derived dissolved organic matter.
A collaboration between the University of Illinois and Notre Dame has developed a record-setting 2.75 GHz LED for fast and energy-efficient data centers. The device has an optical modulation bandwidth of 2.75 GHz while consuming just 25 milliwatts of power, making it suitable for short-range communication.
Researchers at UC San Francisco found that a high-fat diet for just a few days can cause a significant immune response, even after returning to a low-fat diet. The study showed that rapid-response immune cells were activated, leaving the tissue primed for the next time, and that diet can have a rapid impact on immune health. The findin...
A new AI tool can accurately read right upper quadrant ultrasounds, diagnose common health conditions, and suggest next steps, saving radiologists time and improving patient care. The tool, designed to work alongside trained radiologists, can rapidly identify patients who need emergency surgery, enabling them to receive faster treatment.
A new study aims to investigate testosterone's effects on binge eating risk in women, building upon existing data from the Michigan State University Twin Registry. The researchers hope to develop a more comprehensive understanding of how gonadal hormones influence binge eating risk.
A system combining drones and AI maps cattle growth, allowing for precise monitoring of fattening and slaughter decisions. This reduces animal stress and optimizes profits for producers, with results demonstrating a 5-10% increase in operation profit.
Researchers at Stanford University have developed a non-invasive gene editing technique using ultrasound and light-emitting nanoparticles, enabling precise control over gene editing in specific locations of the brain and body. This breakthrough could lead to new treatments for neuropathic pain and other conditions, offering a more targ...
MIT researchers have created Social.Wiki, a system that enables users to easily edit any social application made within the platform, and choose which edits they want to see. The platform empowers users to create a range of websites, including social sites, and includes a decentralized infrastructure that protects user data.
Scientists at UNM identified a 4.1 billion-year-old Martian meteorite that provides new insights into Mars' earliest geological history and potential for life. The discovery, Teghaza 001, features high levels of manganese oxide, a compound indicative of environments conducive to life.
Researchers developed a personalized indicator that analyzes ten blood substances to predict health problems and guide healthy aging in middle age. The tool shows promise in reducing the risk of chronic diseases, with a one-point increase corresponding to a 14-year delay in cardiometabolic disease onset.
The SETI Institute welcomes three artists-in-residence to explore life beyond Earth and the nature of intelligence through bioart, biotechnology, and consciousness. Artists Amy Karle, Dorotea Dolinšek, and Johannes Heldén will bring fresh perspectives to fundamental questions about life, intelligence, and consciousness.
Researchers found that a breakdown product from dietary fat can trigger psoriasis and atopic dermatitis by binding to a specific receptor, leading to inflammation and itch. A potential therapy target has been identified in the form of GPR35, a receptor that is connected to both autoimmune and allergic diseases.
Concordia researchers developed a kerosene-based gel that addresses a longstanding challenge in space propulsion: keeping fuel stable during storage while allowing it to flow efficiently when engines need it. The gel's viscosity drops significantly under force, making it easier to flow under fuel injection conditions.
A new study by WashU researchers suggests Martian dust may be less abrasive and irritating than lunar dust, with particles showing little visible wear. The fine particles, some as small as 100 nanometers, pose a health risk to astronauts, requiring engineers to account for them when designing habitats and air filters.
The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) has released a new framework to assist clinicians in safely prescribing obesity medications in older adults. The framework considers age-related factors such as sarcopenia and frailty, risk of lean muscle loss, malnutrition, and dehydration.
Seabirds' internal clocks can become out of sync with local time during long-distance flights, causing predictable errors when navigating by the sun. Researchers analyzed 20 years of GPS tracking data from 1,045 Manx shearwaters and found systematic deviations consistent with this effect.
A new study from the Planetary Science Institute suggests that asteroids near white dwarfs don't break into dust immediately, but instead form larger fragments that can remain intact due to internal strength. This finding challenges previous models and has implications for understanding debris formation around dying stars.
The study identifies Europe and Northwest Africa as the hardest-hit regions, with amphibians and insects primarily threatened by agricultural activities. The research provides a new, freshwater-specific baseline for conservation, highlighting areas that require urgent action.
A new study reveals that premature birth fundamentally alters brain development, disrupting cerebellar growth and neural connections. The findings suggest that premature birth's lasting effects on neurodevelopment are rooted in altered cellular and molecular mechanisms, potentially impacting later motor and cognitive outcomes.
Researchers found that seabirds' navigation becomes predictably skewed when rapid eastward or westward travel disrupts their internal clocks and local solar time. The birds rely heavily on the Sun to navigate, even when alternative cues like coastline following are available.
A study comparing bird songs and human speech/music found shared patterns, including complex sequences, coordinated vocal movements, and variations shaped by social context. These similarities suggest that bird vocalizations may offer insights into human communication's biological and evolutionary foundations.