Research and methodology — new papers, grant news, and the process of scientific discovery.
Superheated magma may power towering lava fountains
Researchers analyzing magma from La Palma's 2021 Tajogaite eruption have identified a mechanism that explains how volcanic fountains reach dramatic he…
Scientists may have found a way to prevent statin muscle pain
Researchers have pinpointed an immune mechanism underlying statin-induced muscle pain, a side effect that affects roughly 10 percent of patients takin…
Could we prevent dementia? A new trial may point the way.
Researchers are increasingly shifting focus toward dementia prevention rather than waiting to treat the disease after it develops. A new clinical tria…
Earth’s hidden “gold kitchen” lies beneath the seafloor
Researchers have discovered that Earth's mantle beneath submarine volcanoes concentrates gold through a natural geological process operating like a ch…
A unique antibody system may help explain bats' unusual tolerance of viruses
Vesper bats possess a rare dual antibody system that could explain their remarkable ability to tolerate viruses without getting sick, according to res…
Inflammation may trigger persistent 'out-of-body' experiences, emerging research hints
Researchers are exploring a novel hypothesis linking immune system dysfunction to dissociative disorders, which involve persistent out-of-body experie…
Scientists put cameras on whale sharks for the first time and saw something they'd never seen before
Researchers attached cameras to whale sharks and discovered the massive fish feed substantially more underwater than previously documented. The findin…
Hidden charcoal reveals the true age of ancient cave paintings
Scientists have precisely dated ancient cave paintings in France's Font-de-Gaume cave using charcoal hidden within black pigments, revealing artwork s…
Q&A: Training the next generation of coastal scientists
# Training Coastal Scientists Through Hands-On Seaweed Research Students on Hornby Island participate in an unconventional but effective science less…
Are we overlooking signs of alien life that aren't technological or biological? 'Bread would be a signature of intelligence'
A growing cadre of researchers argues that humanity's search for extraterrestrial life may be blind to forms of intelligence that bypass both biology …
'Feynman and followers, you guys are off': Physicists disprove decades-old Richard Feynman theory on 'silly' sprinklers
Physicists have settled a decades-long debate about reverse sprinklers, proving wrong a theoretical framework developed by Nobel Prize winner Richard …
Neuroscience findings often can't be replicated — and it's a big problem for what we know about the brain
Researchers have discovered that many landmark neuroscience studies produce results that cannot be replicated in follow-up investigations, undermining…
Why losing the wrong fat can trigger diabetes
Researchers have identified a metabolic paradox: the body needs healthy fat tissue to prevent diabetes, and losing the wrong type of fat can actually …
A hidden Alzheimer’s tipping point may decide who gets dementia
Researchers have identified a critical threshold in Alzheimer's disease development where the brain's immune response to toxic protein plaques and tau…
Inside the Backrooms: The internet’s creepiest place is becoming a tourist attraction
The Backrooms, a collaborative internet horror universe born from a single creepy image of endless yellow corridors, has evolved into a sprawling fict…
The best way to save giant sequoias may be more fire
A new analysis reveals controlled burns offer the most effective protection for giant sequoias facing increasingly severe wildfires. Researchers exami…
Tigray's old grapevines have survived against the odds: New research uncovers their genetic and historic value
Researchers have identified ancient grapevines in Ethiopia's Tigray region that represent a unique genetic heritage with both historical and agricultu…
Research context
Research and methodology — new papers, grant news, and the process of scientific discovery.