A surprising cellular defensive strategy could inspire new antibiotics. When faced with bacterial invaders, some human cells dispense a surprising substance: soap. These cells, which aren’t part of the immune system, unleash a detergent-like protein that dissolves chunks of the inner membranes of bacteria, killing the infiltrators, researchers report inContinue Reading
Here are 10 of the most beautiful places on Earth — from cascading waterfalls and towering mountains, to tropical islands and picturesque cities. Despite ills such as pollution, climate change, ecological disasters and the destruction of many wild places, Earth is a beautiful place. From waterfalls and islands to forestsContinue Reading
Science journalist Sarah Everts’ new book revels in the science and history of sweat. The telltale darkened patches under our arms before a presentation. The cold slide of a clammy handshake. Sweat reveals what we often want to hide: our nervousness, fears and exertions, all with the slight odor ofContinue Reading
Around 100 cases of Guillain-Barré have been reported in people who received the J&J vaccine. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to announce a new warning for Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine, following preliminary reports of a rare nerve condition that developed in a very small fraction ofContinue Reading
About two-thirds of pet cats and more than 40% of pet dogs in the study caught COVID-19 after their owners had the disease. Pet cats and dogs often catch COVID-19 from their owners, a new study suggests. The study researchers found that, among the pets of people who had recoveredContinue Reading
Massive projects need much more planning and follow-through to succeed – and other tree protections need to happen too. Trees are symbols of hope, life and transformation. They’re also increasingly touted as a straightforward, relatively inexpensive, ready-for-prime-time solution to climate change. When it comes to removing human-caused emissions of theContinue Reading
The vaccine generates neutralizing antibodies against the delta variant. The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine is highly effective against the highly transmissible delta variant, the company announced on Thursday (July 1). Though the analysis was conducted on only a small number of participants and hasn’t yet been peer-reviewed, it suggestsContinue Reading
For the last few weeks, the imminent release of a U.S. intelligence report on unidentified flying objects (UFOs) had stirred excitement across the United States. So it’s not surprising to find that most Americans believe in intelligent life inhabiting other worlds, according to a survey conducted before the report wasContinue Reading
Mice carry a teeming community of bacteria in their guts, and these gut bugs influence how the rodents’ brains work, according to a new study. Specifically, researchers wanted to find out how gut bacteria influence the activity of brain networks involved in mouse social behavior. Normally, when a mouse encountersContinue Reading
A 6- to 8-foot-long great white shark bit the right leg of a 35-year-old man body-boarding off Grey Whale Cove State Beach in San Mateo County, California, Saturday (June 26) morning. Though the bite was “severe,” the man was able to make his way to shore, Bay Area news siteContinue Reading
