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Not all immune cells are created equal: Memory T cells in tissues outlast those in blood Memory T cells are a special type of white blood cell that "remember" past infections and vaccines, helping our bodies to quickly respond if we encounter the same germs again.

Memory T cells residing in tissues persist longer and maintain protective functions better than those circulating in blood, highlighting their key role in lifelong immunity and resilience to aging. doi.org/hbb7dj

Neanderthal women and children were the victims of selective cannibalism at Goyet, study reveals The study of an assemblage of Neanderthal human bones discovered in the Troisième caverne of Goyet (Belgium) has brought to light selective cannibalistic behavior primarily targeting female adults and children between 41,000 and 45,000 years ago.

Analysis of Neanderthal bones from Goyet indicates selective cannibalism primarily targeted women and children from outside groups, likely reflecting territorial tensions in late Middle Paleolithic Europe. doi.org/hbb69x

Hydrogenases spill the beans: Key catalytic moves revealed Hydrogenases catalyze the reversible splitting and production of hydrogen gas (H2), using complex catalytic cofactors comprising Earth-abundant nickel and/or iron ions.

New insights into [NiFe]-hydrogenases reveal that a rigid catalytic core is key to efficient hydrogen conversion, offering guidance for the design of robust synthetic hydrogen catalysts. doi.org/hbb69d

Ancient Maya game board with unique mosaic design discovered in Guatemala Centuries before Monopoly, there was Patolli, a high-stakes Mesoamerican game of strategy and luck where players wagered crops and wealth as they raced their opponents around a cross-shaped board.

A mosaic Patolli game board, dating to the Early Classic period, has been discovered embedded in the floor of a Maya structure in Guatemala, offering new insights into ancient gaming and social practices. doi.org/hbb68g

Direct approach can bond and debond 2D semiconductors without any glue-like materials A key objective of electronics engineers is to further reduce the size of devices, while also boosting their speed, performance and efficiency.

A direct bonding method enables 2D semiconductor wafers to adhere without intermediate materials, supporting cleaner interfaces and precise control for advanced electronic device fabrication. doi.org/hbb68f

Quantum ground states: Scalable counterdiabatic driving technique enables reliable and rapid preparation Quantum ground states are the states at which quantum systems have the minimum possible energy. Quantum computers are increasingly being used to analyze the ground states of interesting systems, which could in turn inform the design of new materials, chemical compounds, pharmaceutical drugs and other valuable goods.

A new scalable counterdiabatic driving technique enables rapid and reliable preparation of quantum ground states, offering potential advances in quantum computing and materials design. doi.org/hbb655

Macrophage-killing bacterial toxin weakens the gut's defenses against ulcerative colitis Ulcerative colitis (UC) is one of the most common inflammatory bowel diseases, a lifelong condition that can cause chronic inflammation and ulcers in the lining of the large intestine.

A bacterial toxin that destroys macrophages has been linked to weakened gut defenses in ulcerative colitis, suggesting that targeting this toxin may offer a new therapeutic strategy. doi.org/qfh8

Tea leaf experiments suggest tropical forests may better withstand climate change Researchers at Northern Arizona University and the Smithsonian found an unconventional method to understand how rainforests will survive with climate change—making tea with living leaves at the top of the rainforest canopy.

Experiments simulating heat stress in rainforest canopy leaves indicate that tropical forests may be less sensitive to climate change impacts than previously estimated. doi.org/hbb647

Nasal nanomedicine delivers immune-boosting therapy to fight brain tumors Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, along with collaborators at Northwestern University, have developed a noninvasive approach to treat one of the most aggressive and deadly brain cancers.

A nasal nanomedicine has demonstrated effective delivery of immune-activating therapy to the brain in mice, offering a less invasive approach to treating glioblastoma tumors. doi.org/hbb644

Scientists track recent solar flare disruptions in Earth's ionosphere As this month's string of powerful X-class solar flares sparked brilliant auroras that lit up skies across an unusually wide swath of the globe—from northern Europe to Florida—researchers at NJIT's Center for Solar-Terrestrial Research (CSTR) captured a less visible, but crucial, record of the storm's impact on Earth's upper atmosphere.

A recent sequence of intense X-class solar flares disrupted Earth's ionosphere, impacting radio signals and GPS accuracy while producing auroras at unusually low latitudes.

When trade routes shift, so do clouds: Researchers uncover ripple effects of new global shipping regulations When militia attacks disrupted shipping lanes in the Red Sea, few imagined the ripple effects would reach the clouds over the South Atlantic.

New global shipping routes and cleaner marine fuels have significantly reduced the impact of ship emissions on cloud formation, offering clearer insights for climate modeling and policy decisions. doi.org/hbb6zc

Metasurfaces etched into 2D crystals boost nonlinear optical effects at nanoscale In January, a team led by Jim Schuck, professor of mechanical engineering at Columbia Engineering, developed a method for creating entangled photon pairs, a critical component of emerging quantum technologies, using a crystalline device just 3.4 micrometers thick.

Etched metasurfaces in ultrathin 2D crystals significantly enhance nonlinear optical effects, enabling efficient photon generation at the nanoscale for compact quantum photonic devices. doi.org/hbb6x8

Lab-grown diamond coatings shown to prevent mineral scale in industrial pipes In industrial pipes, mineral deposits build up the way limescale collects inside a kettle ⎯ only on a far larger and more expensive scale.

Lab-grown diamond coatings have been shown to significantly reduce mineral scale buildup in industrial pipes, offering a durable alternative to traditional chemical and mechanical methods. doi.org/hbb6x4

When gifts sting: Self-improvement presents may spark backlash and bad reviews New research from FIU Business shows that well-intended presents like weight-loss teas or gym memberships can unintentionally send the wrong message—and ultimately trigger negative online reviews that hurt brands.

Self-improvement gifts, such as weight-loss teas or gym memberships, can make recipients feel judged, often leading to negative online reviews that impact brands. Marketing strategies may benefit from careful timing and framing of these products. doi.org/hbb6xz

Flu activity is low, but experts worry about a new strain and vaccination rates The U.S. flu season is starting slowly, and it's unclear if it will be as bad as last winter's, but some health experts are worried as U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data posted Friday shows a new version of the virus has emerged.

Flu activity in the U.S. remains low, but a new H3N2 variant is driving most cases. Early data suggest current vaccines offer partial protection, while vaccination rates remain a concern.

Info to decipher secret message in Kryptos sculpture at CIA headquarters sells for close to $1M The information needed to decipher the last remaining unsolved secret message embedded within a sculpture at CIA headquarters in Virginia sold at auction for nearly $1 million, the auction house announced Friday.

The archive containing the information needed to decipher the final unsolved message in the Kryptos sculpture at CIA headquarters sold at auction for nearly $1 million.

Wargaming: The surprisingly effective tool that can help us prepare for modern crises Consider the following scenario. There's a ransomware attack, enhanced by AI, which paralyzes NHS systems—delaying medical care across the country.

Wargaming offers a structured way to simulate complex crises, helping decision-makers identify vulnerabilities and improve responses to interconnected risks in an evolving world. doi.org/gpvdds

Arginine supplementation curbs Alzheimer's disease pathology in animal models Alzheimer's disease (AD), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, is one of the leading causes of dementia worldwide, and currently has no definitive cure.

Oral arginine supplementation reduced amyloid accumulation, neuroinflammation, and behavioral deficits in animal models of Alzheimer's disease, suggesting potential for accessible therapeutic strategies. doi.org/hbb533

Experimental vaccine offers rapid, long-lasting protection against deadly tick-borne virus Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is one of the world's most dangerous yet overlooked infectious diseases. Spread by ticks and livestock, the virus causes sudden fever, organ failure, and internal bleeding, killing up to 40% of those infected.

An experimental vaccine using a virus-like particle offers rapid and durable protection against Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in mice, with immunity lasting up to 18 months after a single dose. doi.org/hbb5x3

Reducing inflammation may protect against early age-related macular degeneration-like vision loss University of Minnesota Medical School researchers have shown that reducing chronic inflammation can significantly protect against age-related macular degeneration (AMD)-like pathology in preclinical models.

Reducing chronic inflammation in preclinical models has been shown to protect against early age-related macular degeneration-like vision loss, suggesting potential for preventive therapies. doi.org/hbb5wd

Hidden immune cells linked to early type 1 diabetes detected in lymph nodes Type 1 diabetes (T1D) impacts nearly two million Americans, and by the time most people learn they have it, most of the body's insulin-producing cells are destroyed.

A distinct group of immune cells in pancreatic lymph nodes has been identified in early type 1 diabetes, offering potential for earlier detection and intervention before symptoms develop. doi.org/hbb5wc

Diagnostics for pancreatic cancer can improve with the help of AI Pancreatic cancer is the deadliest form of cancer worldwide, mainly because the disease is often discovered late. Symptoms associated with these tumors are often non-specific, so patients and doctors do not immediately suspect cancer.

AI models have demonstrated higher accuracy than average radiologists in detecting pancreatic cancer on CT scans, suggesting potential to support earlier and more reliable diagnostics. doi.org/hbb5wb

New membrane sets record for separating hydrogen from CO₂ When designing membranes that separate industrial gases, scientists often incorporate structures that attract the gas they want to obtain.

A new crosslinked polyamine membrane achieves record selectivity, allowing hydrogen to pass through 1,800 times more easily than CO₂, offering potential for more energy-efficient gas separation. doi.org/hbb5v9

Laser-induced break-up of C₆₀ fullerenes caught in real-time on X-ray camera The understanding of complex many-body dynamics in laser-driven polyatomic molecules is crucial for any attempt to steer chemical reactions by means of intense light fields.

Real-time X-ray imaging has captured the structural dynamics and fragmentation of C₆₀ fullerenes under intense laser fields, providing new insights into complex molecular behavior. doi.org/hbb5v8

How T cells transform to defend our organs We owe a lot to tissue resident memory T cells (TRM). These specialized immune cells are among the body's first responders to disease.

A newly identified cell signaling pathway involving GPR25 has been shown to drive the development of tissue resident memory T cells, offering potential targets for future immunotherapies. doi.org/hbb5v7

Current heart attack screening tools fail to identify half the people who are at risk, study shows Current cardiac screening tools used to prevent heart attacks fail to identify nearly half of the people who are actually at risk of having one, according to a new study led by Mount Sinai researchers.

Nearly half of individuals who experience a first heart attack would not have been identified as at risk by current cardiac screening tools, highlighting a significant gap in prevention strategies. doi.org/hbb5v6

Potentially distinct structure in Kuiper belt discovered with help of clustering algorithm A vast region of our solar system, called the Kuiper belt, stretches from the orbit of Neptune out to 50 or so astronomical units (AU), where an AU is the distance between Earth and the sun.

A clustering algorithm has identified a potentially distinct structure, termed the "inner kernel," within the Kuiper belt, though its separation from known regions remains uncertain. doi.org/qfcw

Brain circuit controlling compulsive behavior mapped Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have identified a brain circuit that can drive repetitive and compulsive behaviors in mice, even when natural rewards such as food or social contact are available.

A specific brain circuit has been mapped that drives compulsive, repetitive behaviors in mice, even when natural rewards are present, offering new insights into mechanisms underlying OCD and addiction. doi.org/hbb5v5

Atoms passing through walls: Quantum tunneling of hydrogen within palladium crystal At low temperatures, hydrogen atoms move less like particles and more like waves. This characteristic enables quantum tunneling, the passage of an atom through a barrier with a higher potential energy than the energy of the atom.

Hydrogen atoms can move through palladium metal at low temperatures by quantum tunneling, a process influenced by lattice vibrations and conduction electrons. This insight may inform future atomic-scale technologies. doi.org/hbb5v4

Understanding intrinsically disordered protein regions and their roles in cancer Every function in a cell is associated with a particular protein or group of proteins, typically in a well-defined three-dimensional structure.

A new algorithm organizes intrinsically disordered protein regions into functional classes, offering insights into protein behavior and the mechanisms underlying cancer proliferation. doi.org/hbb5v2