On October 19, 3M and Discovery Education crowned the first place winner of the 2022 3M Young Scientist Challenge: an annual competition that’s been awarding middle school science enthusiasts for their creative problem-solving for the past 15 years. This year, Leanne Fan from San Diego, California, took home the grand prize with her innovative approach […]
A team of researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has identified a gene that plays a key role in the growth of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a rare and lethal brain cancer that has no known cure. The new research suggests that focusing on this gene, called P300, could help provide a therapeutic target
Gene Identified as a Possible Target in Fatal, Treatment-Resistant Brain Cancer Continue Reading »
Billions of years ago, Mars may have been teeming with life. But these days, with its dry, arid landscape, ionizing radiation, and temperatures averaging negative 80 degrees Fahrenheit, the red planet is no longer habitable. However, a new paper published in Astrobiology suggests a certain type of bacteria might have endured the planet’s harsh environment
We know that certain sounds can improve our overall mood when we’re conscious — but what about when we’re asleep? A recent study out of Switzerland suggests that specific frequencies played while sleeping can reduce the chance of nightmares. It isn’t the sound specifically that may prevent unpleasant dreams, but instead a form of emotional
Sleeping Soundly: Scientists Find a New Way to Reduce Recurring Nightmares Continue Reading »
November’s night sky brings us a number of aquatic constellations, Uranus at its closest and brightest, meteor showers, and a special moment Smithsonian Magazine listed as one of its top celestial events of 2022: a total lunar eclipse that happens to accompany this month’s full moon! Read on for more details on all that and
Self-regulation — the capacity to manage and moderate one’s emotions and actions — can be challenging for plenty of adults. And if you have a young person in your life, you’ll likely agree that of all the gifts that come with youth, impulse control is not necessarily one of the most prominent. But a new
Communication is a fundamental building block for living creatures to form connections within their communities, and some of that communication is obvious: dogs bark, birds chirp, lions roar, and humans speak. Some animals, however, including turtles, have long been assumed to be silent — until now. A recent study authored by Gabriel Jorgewich-Cohen at the
Can a smile a day keep bad feelings at bay? A global collaborative study led by Stanford University research scientist Nicholas Coles has provided more evidence for the “facial feedback hypothesis,” which theorizes that a smile can indeed improve your mood — even when you’re not feeling so cheery. The facial feedback hypothesis has been
How Simply Smiling Can Boost Your Happiness, According to Science Continue Reading »
The human brain is considered by many to be the most complicated thing yet discovered in the universe — so it stands to reason that brain surgery would be one of the most complicated medical procedures. On October 10 in Italy, a patient turned that procedure into an even more impressive showcase of human capability:
Man Played His Saxophone While Undergoing Nine-Hour Brain Surgery Continue Reading »
Constellations, planets, and other celestial events aren’t the only exciting things happening in the world of astronomy this month. A new study is heralding an exciting development in space sciences: a method by which a supernova — the massive explosion marking a star’s death — can be observed as it transpires in real-time. Lead researcher
