A stray SpaceX rocket has crashed into the Moon, forming a crater near a famous lunar landmark and giving scientists a unique research opportunity that could help future missions. The empty upper stage of a Falcon 9 rocket struck the Moon near the Einstein crater at a speed of about 5,400mph (8,700km/h) on Wednesday. The…
Dark matter is usually described as an invisible substance that responds only to gravity. But scientists are now exploring a more complex possibility: dark matter particles may also interact through a hidden force of their own. A new study in the Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics (JCAP) examined what would happen if dark matter…
For decades, physicists wrestled with a fundamental mystery of the universe. They wanted to know why certain particles — like the protons in atoms — have mass, while particles of light do not. Whatever the reason was, it was crucial to understanding the origins of planets, galaxies and life itself. The leading theory stated that…
Stanford Medicine researchers have identified a naturally occurring molecule that may suppress appetite and reduce body weight in a way that resembles semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic. In animal studies, the molecule also appeared to avoid several problems associated with the drug, including nausea, constipation and substantial muscle loss. The molecule, known as BRP,…
Skeletal muscle often begins to deteriorate relatively early in the aging process. Over time, this can cause loss of strength, increased scarring, fat buildup within muscle tissue, and a decline in fast twitch fibers, which support rapid and powerful movements. Researchers led by Professor Ryuichi Tatsumi of Kyushu University’s Faculty of Agriculture have identified a…
Scientists in France say they have discovered the building blocks of the incredible diversity of birdsong. A team analysed the songs of more than 100,000 songbirds and revealed that the world’s birdsongs are composed of eight fundamental types of sound that the researchers call “motifs”. Birdsong all around the world, they say, is made up…
An international research team led by Hiroshima University has developed a technique that can reveal extremely early changes in human skin collagen, long before the damage becomes visible under conventional imaging. The findings, published in ACS Nano on July 16, 2026, suggest that collagen begins losing its precise molecular organization before its fibers become thinner,…
Witt added: “By combining generations of angler knowledge with state-of-the-art animal tracking technology, we’re building the evidence needed to secure a future for these remarkable species.” The shark project also involves the Angling Trust, the Marine Biological Association (MBA) and the Pat Smith Database. MBA senior research fellow Dr Bryce Stewart said: “Important and vulnerable…
A newly identified branch of the marsupial family tree is adding a surprising twist to the history of Australia’s most distinctive mammals. The finding suggests that their evolution was more complicated, and more mysterious, than scientists previously understood. Marsupials first reached Australia more than 55 million years ago. Since then, they have spread into an…
Commonly used sweeteners can directly interfere with the growth of bacteria that help support a healthy gut, according to laboratory research from the University of Cambridge. The strongest effect appeared when researchers combined isosteviol, a sweetener used by the food and beverage industry, with the antidepressant duloxetine. Together, the two compounds sharply reduced the growth…
