Valeriy Polyakov in Russian space station Mir’s window, taken from the space shuttle Discovery in 1995 NASA In the 64 years since Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space, fewer than 700 people have followed him. But space flight becomes more affordable and accessible every year, and that number is set to rise dramatically….
Illustration of Chiron’s rings Dan Durda For the first time, astronomers are watching a ring system form in real time. The rings in question encircle Chiron, a comet-like object that takes a path around the sun between the orbits of Saturn and Uranus. Every time we look at Chiron, its rings seem to be a…
People who had lost their sight have regained the ability to read after receiving an innovative electronic eye implant paired with augmented-reality glasses, according to a clinical trial involving researchers from UCL (University College London) and Moorfields Eye Hospital. Published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the European trial reported that 84% of participants…
Scientists have developed a promising cancer therapy that uses LED light and ultra-thin flakes of tin to eliminate cancer cells while protecting healthy tissue. Unlike traditional chemotherapy and other invasive treatments, this new method avoids the painful side effects patients often endure. The breakthrough comes from a partnership between The University of Texas at Austin…
Since 2015, dermatologists have advised many patients with a history of skin cancer to consider taking nicotinamide, a form of vitamin B3. That recommendation was based on a clinical trial involving 386 participants, which found that those who took nicotinamide developed fewer new cases of skin cancer compared with those who did not. Expanding the…
A research group led by the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity (Doherty Institute) has uncovered new details about how lymph nodes help the body fight persistent infections and cancer by coordinating key immune cell activity. Published in two Nature Immunology papers, the findings show that lymph nodes create the ideal setting for stem-like…
Scientists believe that the remarkable longevity of naked mole-rats may be tied to subtle changes in just four amino acids. A recent study found that small evolutionary mutations in cGAS — an enzyme in the innate immune system that detects DNA and triggers immune defenses — could make these animals better at repairing age-related genetic…
People living with knee osteoarthritis may find the greatest relief from aerobic activities such as walking, cycling, or swimming, according to a new study published in The BMJ. Researchers found that these forms of exercise were the most effective for easing pain, improving movement, and enhancing overall quality of life. Although other exercise types can…
Rebecca MorelleScience Editor and Alison FrancisSenior Science Journalist Tony Jolliffe/BBC News Cate Blanchett has teamed up with Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank She’s a Hollywood A-lister, with a mantelpiece groaning under the weight of awards. But Cate Blanchett has taken an unexpected diversion from her day job – to immerse herself in the world of the…
Justin RowlattBBC Panorama and Anna LamcheBBC News Getty Images Housing Secretary Steve Reed says his job should be “on the line” over a pledge to build 1.5 million new homes in England – but two leading experts have told BBC Panorama the government looks set to miss its target. Prof Paul Cheshire, who has advised…
