1+ hour, 10+ min ago (606+ words) Hydrogen is often described as a clean fuel of the future. It can power trucks, help make fertilizer, and store large amounts of energy from renewable sources. The big problem is that most hydrogen today is still produced using fossil fuels such as natural gas and coal, which release huge amounts of carbon dioxide. Scientists have long known that hydrogen can also be made by splitting water using electricity, a process called electrolysis, which creates hydrogen and harmless oxygen gas. The challenge is that this cleaner method is still too expensive for widespread use. Now, a team led by Professor Shannon Boettcher at the University of California, Berkeley has developed a new approach that could dramatically reduce the cost and improve the lifespan of the machines that make hydrogen from water. Their work focuses on a key weak point in…...

1+ hour, 12+ min ago (667+ words) Scientists have taken an important step toward solving one of the biggest mysteries in planetary science: why Earth is covered in moving tectonic plates, while its nearly identical sister planet, Venus, has a very different surface. A new international study suggests the answer lies in the way a planet's outer shell, or "lid," behaves over billions of years. Earth, Venus, and Mars are all rocky, Earth-like planets known as terrestrial planets. But their surfaces and internal activity look very different. Earth has shifting plates that cause earthquakes, form mountains, and recycle gases and water through volcanoes. Mars has a mostly frozen, unmoving surface. Venus has a strange, cracked landscape but no clear plate tectonic system like Earth's. Until now, scientists did not clearly understand how such similar planets developed such different surface behavior. Researchers from the University of Hong Kong…...

1+ hour, 13+ min ago (775+ words) Alzheimer's disease is one of the most common and devastating brain disorders in the world. It slowly destroys memory, thinking ability, and even basic functions like speaking and recognizing loved ones. For many years, scientists believed that most of the damage in Alzheimer's came from harmful protein clumps and constant inflammation in the brain. However, new research is now revealing that some of the brain's own immune cells may actually have the power to protect the brain if they are guided in the right way. In this new study, researchers worked with Alzheimer's mouse models, human brain cells grown in the lab, and donated brain tissue from people. They focused on a special type of brain immune cell called microglia. Microglia live in the brain and act like cleaners and guards. They remove waste, fight infections, and help keep brain…...

1+ hour, 15+ min ago (1140+ words) Diabetes is a condition that affects how the body uses sugar, which is also known as glucose. Glucose is the main source of energy for the body's cells. When a person has diabetes, the level of sugar in the blood becomes too high. Over time, this extra sugar can damage many parts of the body, including the eyes, nerves, heart, and especially the kidneys. One of the most serious long-term problems linked to diabetes is a condition called chronic kidney disease. The kidneys are two small, bean-shaped organs located in the lower back. Even though they are small, they have a very important job. They filter waste and extra water from the blood and send it out of the body in the form of urine. They also help control blood pressure and keep the right balance of salts and minerals…...

1+ hour, 16+ min ago (555+ words) A new study has found that young women who live with ongoing stress may have a higher risk of stroke. The research, published in the medical journal Neurology, focused on adults between the ages of 18 and 49. It found that women who reported moderate to high stress levels were more likely to experience a type of stroke called ischemic stroke. This is a serious condition that happens when blood flow to the brain is blocked. It can cause problems like weakness, difficulty speaking, vision loss, or even death. The study was led by Dr. Nicolas Martinez-Majander from Helsinki University Hospital in Finland. He explained that many young adults face high levels of stress, often due to work pressure, long hours, job insecurity, and financial worries. While past research has already shown that chronic stress is bad for both mental and physical…...

1+ hour, 17+ min ago (569+ words) A new clinical trial has brought hope to people with glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain cancer. Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) found that using MRI-guided focused ultrasound to open the blood-brain barrier, combined with standard chemotherapy, helped patients live longer. The trial included 34 patients and showed that those who received the focused ultrasound treatment lived, on average, over 30 months. This is compared to just 19 months for patients who only received chemotherapy. Their cancer also took longer to return'about 14 months versus 8 months. This is the first time focused ultrasound has shown a survival benefit in brain cancer patients. The technique helps more of the chemotherapy drug temozolomide reach the brain by temporarily opening the blood-brain barrier. Normally, less than 20% of this drug reaches the brain because the barrier blocks it. Glioblastoma is the deadliest…...

1+ hour, 19+ min ago (527+ words) A new study has found that people who don't treat their sleep apnea have a higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease. The good news is that using a machine called CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) to improve sleep quality may help reduce this risk. The research looked at medical records from over 11 million U.S. military veterans who received care through the Department of Veterans Affairs between 1999 and 2022. It was led by scientists from Oregon Health & Science University and the Portland VA Health Care System. Their findings were published in the journal JAMA Neurology. Parkinson's disease is a serious condition that affects the brain and causes movement problems. It affects about 1 million people in the U.S., and the risk of getting it increases as people get older, especially after age 60. The researchers discovered that people with untreated obstructive sleep apnea were more likely…...

1+ hour, 21+ min ago (605+ words) Salt substitutes could be a simple and low-cost way to help people lower their blood pressure, but very few people in the United States are using them. This finding comes from new research presented at the American Heart Association's Hypertension Scientific Sessions 2025, a major event where experts share the latest research on blood pressure and related health issues. High blood pressure, also called hypertension, happens when the force of blood moving through the blood vessels is too strong. Over time, it can lead to serious problems like heart attacks and strokes. According to data from 2017 to 2020, nearly 122 million adults in the U.S. had high blood pressure, and it contributed to more than 130,000 deaths. Eating too much sodium and not enough potassium are two key factors that raise blood pressure. Salt substitutes are one way to address this. These products replace some…...

1+ hour, 22+ min ago (533+ words) A new study from researchers at the University of Naples "Federico II" has found that people with lower levels of LDL cholesterol'the type often called "bad cholesterol'may have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This surprising link appears even in people who are not taking cholesterol-lowering statin medications. The researchers looked at past genetic studies that showed people with certain genes that lower LDL cholesterol are more likely to develop diabetes. On the other hand, people with a rare genetic condition called familial hypercholesterolemia'which causes very high LDL cholesterol'are actually less likely to get type 2 diabetes, even though they face more heart problems. These patterns raised an important question: Is low LDL cholesterol itself linked to diabetes risk, no matter how it is lowered? To answer this, the team ran a large study that followed over 13,000 adults in Naples,…...

1+ hour, 24+ min ago (602+ words) Scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine have made an exciting discovery that could lead to new treatments for diseases like Alzheimer's and frontotemporal dementia. They found that harmful molecules called free radicals, made in a specific part of certain brain cells, may be a major reason why these diseases develop. The study was published in the journal Nature Metabolism. Free radicals are also known as reactive oxygen species (ROS). They are created by mitochondria, which are small parts of cells that make energy from food. Normally, small amounts of ROS help cells work properly. But too much ROS can damage cells and cause inflammation. For years, scientists have tried using antioxidants to block ROS and prevent brain damage. But these treatments didn't work well in clinical trials. Dr. Adam Orr and Dr. Anna Orr, who led this new study, think that's…...