Concentrations of antibiotics found in some of the world’s rivers exceed ‘safe’ levels by up to 300 times, the first ever global study has discovered. Source: Antibiotics found in some of the world’s rivers exceed ‘safe’ levels, global study finds

The first humans who settled in Scandinavia more than 10,000 years ago left their DNA behind in ancient chewing gums, which are masticated lumps made from birch bark pitch. This is shown in a new study conducted at Stockholm University… Read More ›

People who see themselves as being in a higher social class may tend to have an exaggerated belief that they are more adept than their equally capable lower-class counterparts, and that overconfidence can often be misinterpreted by others as greater… Read More ›

Every summer, tens of thousands of newly minted doctors start the most intense year of their training: the first year of residency, also called the intern year. A new study suggests that the experience will make their DNA age six… Read More ›

Patients who had their appendix removed were more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease than those whose appendix remained in place, according to the largest study to address the relationship between the two conditions. The retrospective study involving more than 62… Read More ›

Death rates due to heart failure are now increasing, and this increase is most prominent among younger adults under 65, considered premature death, reports a new study. The increase was highest among black men. This study shows for the first… Read More ›

Adults who played Pokémon videogames extensively as children have a brain region that responds preferentially to images of Pikachu and other characters from the series. Source: A brain region for Pokémon characters?

A swarm of micro-robots, directed by magnets, can break apart and remove dental biofilm, or plaque, from a tooth. The innovation arose from a cross-disciplinary partnership among dentists, biologists, and engineers at the University of Pennsylvania. Source: An army of… Read More ›

If someone in the workplace is mistreated, their colleagues may respond with empathy — or with schadenfreude. The latter emotion, according to a new study by the University of Zurich, occurs primarily in highly competitive working environments, when one person’s… Read More ›

The brain is more resilient than previously thought. In a groundbreaking experiment published in this week’s issue of Nature, neuroscientists created an artificial circulation system that successfully restored some functions and structures in pig brains. The result challenges the notion… Read More ›

New research exploring American liberals and conservatives shows that regardless of political affiliation, tribal instincts kick in and people’s ability to think logically suffers when it comes to arguments related to their political belief systems. When confronted with the unsound… Read More ›

Tapping into the unique nature of DNA, Cornell engineers have created simple machines constructed of biomaterials with properties of living things. Source: Engineers tap DNA to create ‘lifelike’ machines

A Harvard physicist has shown that wormholes can exist: tunnels in curved space-time, connecting two distant places, through which travel is possible. But don’t pack your bags for a trip to other side of the galaxy yet; although it’s theoretically… Read More ›

Patients who died within one month of being newly diagnosed with metastatic cancer in the United States received ineffective surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and hormonal therapy. Source: Some patients with imminently fatal cancer still receive treatment

Lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol reduces the risk of heart attacks and stroke, with an ideal value below 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). But can it be too low? A new study finds that women who have levels of LDL… Read More ›

In this study, researchers found evidence that poverty can become embedded across wide swaths of the genome. They discovered that lower socioeconomic status is associated with levels of DNA methylation (DNAm) — a key epigenetic mark that has the potential… Read More ›

A new study by an Ohio University faculty member showed that acetaminophen limited positive empathy a person has for others while taking it. Source: OHIO study: Acetaminophen can reduce positive empathy for others

A Columbia University study maps out the increase and spread of the Asian longhorned tick, a new species identified last summer in Westchester and Staten island. What’s particularly alarming is that the tick is notorious for its ability to quickly… Read More ›

Scientists at the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology ranked metropolitan areas where, due to a combination of light pollution and geography, birds are at the greatest risk of becoming attracted to and disoriented by lights and crashing into buildings. Source:… Read More ›

After more than a century of shrinking, the gap between rich and poor communities has increased dramatically over the past four decades, and Robert Manduca believes a large measure of the change can be chalked up to rising income inequality…. Read More ›

A new study out of Loma Linda University Health suggests that eating red and processed meats — even in small amounts — may increase the risk of death from all causes, especially cardiovascular disease. Source: Eating small amounts of red… Read More ›

A new Australian study has found that more than half of car drivers think cyclists are not completely human, with a link between the dehumanisation of bike riders and acts of deliberate aggression towards them on the road. Source: Face… Read More ›