Teardrop-shaped star is driving another to go supernova

Supernovae usually appear suddenly in the sky, but now astronomers have spotted one in advance. The telltale sign is a star with a “teardrop” shape, as it gets stretched out by the gravitational pull of a companion.Continue ReadingCategory: Space, Scie… Continue reading Teardrop-shaped star is driving another to go supernova→

World-first CRISPR-edited sugarcane helps reduce environmental impact

Sugarcane is an important food crop, but it’s large environmental impact means there’s plenty of room for improvement. Unfortunately it’s tricky and time-consuming to breed new varieties, but now researchers have used CRISPR gene-editing to do so quick… Continue reading World-first CRISPR-edited sugarcane helps reduce environmental impact→

Protective protein prevents cancer cells spreading into the bloodstream

Cancer becomes far more dangerous when it spreads through the body. Now, researchers at Johns Hopkins University have identified a protein that stops cells getting into the bloodstream – and found that metastasizing cancer cells ignore it. This may rev… Continue reading Protective protein prevents cancer cells spreading into the bloodstream→

xScreen turns the Xbox Series S into a “portable” laptop

Nintendo has the monopoly on gaming consoles that pull double duty as home and portable devices, but soon you could take your Xbox Series S out on the road too. The xScreen is a plug-in accessory currently on Kickstarter that turns Microsoft’s console … Continue reading xScreen turns the Xbox Series S into a “portable” laptop→

3D-printable phase-change materials insulate buildings better at scale

Heating and cooling systems are some of the biggest energy guzzlers in use, so passive temperature control could be a good way to reduce emissions. Phase-change materials (PCMs) show promise for this, and now engineers at Texas A&M have developed a new… Continue reading 3D-printable phase-change materials insulate buildings better at scale→

Microbiome metabolites may boost cancer immunotherapy effectiveness

It’s hard to overstate the incredible influence our gut microbiome has on our health. Now, researchers have found that certain metabolites from intestinal bacteria could boost the cancer-killing effect of immunotherapy.Continue ReadingCategory: Medical… Continue reading Microbiome metabolites may boost cancer immunotherapy effectiveness→

Bizarre star may have been forged in a gigantic “hypernova”

A bizarre star may have its origins in one of the most energetic events in the cosmos. Astronomers have found that a star with a very unusual composition may have formed in the wake of a new type of hypernova – a stellar explosion with 10 times the ene… Continue reading Bizarre star may have been forged in a gigantic “hypernova”→

Natural beetle juice outperforms Teflon as a lubricant

No matter how good a design humans have come up with, chances are nature has beaten us to it, and done a better job to boot. The latest innovation to join that list is lubricant, with researchers discovering that beetles naturally lubricate their knees… Continue reading Natural beetle juice outperforms Teflon as a lubricant→

Methane in plumes from Saturn’s moon could be signs of microbial life

Something is making methane on Saturn’s moon Enceladus. A new study has found that methane levels detected from the icy moon are far higher than can be explained by known geochemical processes – but they are consistent with microbes.Continue ReadingCat… Continue reading Methane in plumes from Saturn’s moon could be signs of microbial life→

Cancer immunotherapy breakthrough reactivates tumor suppressor protein

Researchers at Karolinska Institute in Sweden have made a breakthrough in the arms race that is cancer immunotherapy. The team has blocked a protein that silences an important tumor-suppressing protein, allowing the latter to get back to work.Continue … Continue reading Cancer immunotherapy breakthrough reactivates tumor suppressor protein→