New results pin down the distance to the galaxy next door. After nearly a decade of careful observations an international team of astronomers has measured the distance to our neighbouring galaxy, the Large Magellanic Cloud, …

News tips from the 20th annual conference on retroviruses and opportunistic infections (croi), march 3-6, Atlanta. Two separate reports by a team of researchers from Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, the University of Mississippi Medical Center …

The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope is one of the most powerful available to astronomers, but sometimes it too needs a helping hand. This comes in the form of Einstein’s general theory of relativity, which makes …

Using new technology at the telescope and in laboratories, researchers have discovered an important pair of prebiotic molecules in interstellar space. The discoveries indicate that some basic chemicals that are key steps on the way …

Geological detectives are piecing together an intriguing seafloor puzzle. The Indian Ocean and some of its islands, scientists say, may lie on top of the remains of an ancient continent pulled apart by plate tectonics …

Earth Hour, the world’s largest movement for the planet, has launched its 2013 campaign on the back of record environmental outcomes it achieved in 2012. Andy Ridley, CEO and Co-Founder of Earth Hour, spoke at …

NASA’s Van Allen Probes mission has discovered a previously unknown third radiation belt around Earth, revealing the existence of unexpected structures and processes within these hazardous regions of space. Previous observations of Earth’s Van Allen …

New research by the University of Maryland School of Medicine indicates there may be a biological reason why women talk more than men. Girl’s brains have higher levels of a “language protein” called Foxp2, according …

The walls of the human heart are a disorganised jumble of tissue until relatively late in pregnancy despite having the shape of a fully functioning heart, according to a pioneering study. A University of Leeds-led …

Plunging new depths in hunt for life-saving antibiotics. The hunt for new life-saving antibiotics is taking researchers to some of the deepest and coldest places on Earth. Led by the University of Aberdeen, scientists from …

Avocado consumption is associated with better diet quality and nutrient intake, and lower metabolic syndrome risk in US adults: results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001–2008. Background: Avocados contain monounsaturated fatty …

Resveratrol, a substance found in red grapes and red wine, may have the potential to protect against hearing and cognitive decline, according to a published laboratory study from Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.The study shows …

…and a waiting-list control: A randomised trial for treating depression. Objectives: To determine whether tango dancing is as effective as mindfulness meditation in reducing symptoms of psychological stress, anxiety and depression, and in promoting well-being. …

Bees and flowers communicate using electrical fields, researchers discover. Flowers’ methods of communicating are at least as sophisticated as any devised by an advertising agency, according to a new study, published today in Science Express …

Backpackers scored 50 percent better on a creativity test after spending four days in nature disconnected from electronic devices, according to a study by psychologists from the University of Utah and University of Kansas. “This …

UTS research published today in the journal PLOS ONE proves that manuka is the most effective honey to inhibit the growth of bacteria. However, the researchers warn that synthetic versions of honey are no match …

ANN ARBOR—Traces of water have been detected within the crystalline structure of mineral samples from the lunar highland upper crust obtained during the Apollo missions, according to a University of Michigan researcher and his colleagues.The …

…says philosopher Pärttyli Rinne. BIGTALK is a interview series, where big questions are asked from the scientists of Helsinki University.Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love and affection. It has long traditions, possibly dating back to …