Science | The Guardian

The solution" to today's puzzleEarlier today I set a puzzle which is extremely hard to answer if you are not a soap bubble.The four towns Continue reading...

Oliver Chu from California first person to have the one-off treatment for Hunter syndromeDoctors are cautiously optimistic about a groundbreaking gene therapy for children affected by a devastating inherited disorder after seeing positive results in the first boy to receive the treatment.Three-year-old Oliver Chu from California became the first patient to have the therapy nine months ago as part of a clinical trial run by researchers in Manchester. It is too early to call the therapy a success, but doctors are encouraged by his progress so far. Continue reading...

Conchologists, and citizen scientists team up to seek out endangered mollusc species along River ThamesIt is tiny, hairy and German" - and it could be hiding underneath a piece of driftwood near you. Citizen scientists and expert conchologists are teaming up to conduct the first London-wide search for one of Britain's most endangered molluscs.The fingernail-sized German hairy snail (Pseudotrichia rubiginosa) is found in fragmented patches of habitat mostly along the tidal Thames. Continue reading...

The minimum you can doUPDATE: Read the solution hereToday's puzzle is about transport links and soapy water.The four towns Continue reading...

Visible from urban locations, pairing takes on special meaning when seen with minimal light pollutionThis week, the moon will pass close to the planet Saturn in the evening sky. Although visible from urban locations, the pairing takes on a special meaning when seen from a location with minimal light pollution. The brilliant silver glow of the moon and the steady golden light of Saturn contrast beautifully.The chart shows the view looking south from London on 29 November at 19.00 GMT. The conjunction is easily visible to the naked eye from both hemispheres. Continue reading...

The prehistoric birch tar found in Estonia contained traces of saliva that were analysed by genetics expertsA piece of stone age gum" chewed by a teenage girl 10,500 years ago has been discovered by archaeologists in Estonia.The Institute of History and Archaeology at the University of Tartu discovered the prehistoric birch tar had impressions of teeth marks and traces of saliva. Continue reading...

New technologies can reduce our reliance on animal experiments. This isn't just morally right, it could have scientific and economic benefits tooScience is a slaughterhouse. We rarely acknowledge the degree to which animal life underwrites the research that provides us with medicines, or theregulation that keeps us safe. Live animals were used in 2.64m officially sanctioned scientific procedures in the UK in2024, many of them distressing or painful and manyof them fatal. But the government's new strategyto phase out animal testing - published earlier this month - suggests that in the near future emerging technologies can largely replace the use of animals in our scientific endeavours.The UK previously banned cosmetics testing on animals, and has already taken steps to regulate and reduce their use in research. But some needlessly cruel experiments still take place: the forced swim test (FST) for example, in which a rodent is placed in a body of water it cannot escape and researchers measure whether antidepressants extend the time it struggles for life. The government says no new FST licences will be granted, in effect banning it. Similar targets are set over the next few years to end the testing of caustic chemicals on eyes and skin. Continue reading...

Multi-year studies announced after Cass review found insufficient evidence' about effects on children with gender dysphoriaTwo studies to investigate the impact of puberty blockers in young people with gender incongruence have been announced by researchers in the UK after an expert view said gender medicine was built on shaky foundations".Puberty blockers were originally used to treat early onset puberty in children but have also been used off-label in children with gender dysphoria or incongruence. Continue reading...

UK academics say latest chemicals are wake-up call' and urge global action to stop weaponisation of neuroscienceSophisticated and deadly brain weapons" that can attack or alter human consciousness, perception, memory or behaviour are no longer the stuff of science fiction, two British academics argue.Michael Crowley and Malcolm Dando, of Bradford University, are about to publish a book that they believe should be a wake-up call to the world. Continue reading...

Scientists say plant's resilience suggests it could help with oxygen generation or soil formation on space missionsMatt Damon grew potatoes for survival in The Martian, but researchers say mosses could one day help turn the dust and rocks of other planets into fertile soil.Physcomitrella patens, or spreading earthmoss, is already known as a pioneering species - albeit for being an early plant on the scene in areas of barren mud. Now researchers have found that spores of the moss can survive for at least nine months stuck to the outside of the International Space Station (ISS) and still reproduce once back on Earth. Continue reading...

The story has sparked debates about cryogenics and fidelity. But it also tells us something deeper about our responses to lossOne of the last remaining fun things about the internet is getting to pass judgment on the goings-on in households that you would never hear about otherwise. On Reddit, for instance, there is a whole thriving sub for just this purpose called Am I the Asshole?, where people describe conflicts from their lives and ask strangers to adjudicate on them.This week, a story on the BBC threw up a particularly juicy piece of other people's business that has been sparking debates on Chinese social media. It starts in 2017, when Gui Junmin decided to cryogenically freeze his wife, Zhan Wenlian, after she died of lung cancer. She was the first person in China to undergo this procedure, which was paid for by a science research institute in Jinan, east China, that agreed with Gui to preserve his wife's body for 30 years. Reports suggest Zhan herself consented to the process before she passed away.Imogen West-Knights is a writer and journalistDo you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...

As the Cop30 climate talks continue in Brazil, Madeleine Finlay hears about a landscape at the opposite end of the planet facing the direct impacts of the climate crisis. The Guardian reporter Leyland Cecco recounts a recent trip to Qikiqtaruk (also known as Herschel Island) off the coast of Canada's Yukon territory, where he saw first hand how indigenous groups and scientists are reckoning with an ecosystem collapsing into the sea. He tells Madeleine about efforts to preserve the history of the island and how scientists are racing to understand what it means for the fate of other arctic communities.The land is tearing itself apart': life on a collapsing Arctic isleSupport the Guardian: theguardian.com/sciencepod Continue reading...

The interstellar visitor, known as 3I/Atlas, will be seen just in this instance, never to come back againNasa released close-up pictures on Wednesday of the interstellar comet that's making a quick one-and-done tour of the solar system.Discovered over the summer, the comet known as 3I/Atlas is only the third confirmed object to visit our corner of the cosmos from another star. It zipped harmlessly past Mars last month. Continue reading...

Study calls for depression treatment to be suspended for more research after reports of heart problems and emotional bluntingElectroconvulsive therapy could be causing a wider range of adverse effects when used to treat depression than previously understood, according to a paper that calls for the practice to be suspended pending more robust research.Although short- and long-term memory loss is widely known to result from ECT, the research identified 25 further concerning side effects, which included cardiovascular problems, fatigue and emotional blunting. Continue reading...

Molecular profiles will give detailed snapshot of person's physiology and predict diseases from diabetes to cancer and dementiaThe world's largest study into key substances in the bloodstream has paved the way for a swathe of pinprick tests that can detect early signs of disease more than a decade before symptoms appear, researchers say.Work on the tests follows the completion of a project by UK Biobank to measure the levels of nearly 250 different proteins, sugars, fats and other compounds in blood collected from half a million volunteers. Continue reading...

Move comes after French scientists issued urgent appeal to prevent La Pascaline from leaving the countryA rare example of the first functioning calculating machine in history looks likely to stay in France after Christie's withdrew it from auction pending a definitive ruling from a Paris court on whether or not it can be exported.La Pascaline, developed by the French mathematician and inventor Blaise Pascal in 1642, when he was just 19, and billed as the most important scientific instrument ever offered at auction", had been expected to fetch more than 2m (1.8m). Continue reading...

Sorfequiline shows stronger action than existing treatments against illness that killed 1.23 million last yearA new treatment for tuberculosis could boost cure rates and shorten the time needed to treat the disease by months, trial results suggest.Globally, an estimated 10.7 million people fell ill with TB last year and 1.23 million died from it. Continue reading...

The bursera plant's leaves can squirt chemicals 1.5 metres, but over millions of years, some beetles have learned to disarm itInsects get a nasty surprise if they try biting into the leaves of bursera shrubs and trees: they use a sort of squirt gun to shoot a high-pressure stream of liquid resin at the attacking insect. This liquid is thoroughly repellent and poisonous, but for good measure the resins in the liquid can turn solid when exposed to air and seal a small insect in a tomb.The squirt gun stores its chemicals in a network of canals in the leaf. When an insect bites a leaf canal, the liquid squirts out as far as 1.5 metres, drenching a small insect in deadly secretions. Larger insects that survive the attack suffer reduced growth and life expectancy. Continue reading...

Study from University of Oxford looks into evolutionary origins of kissing and its role in relations between speciesFrom Galapagos albatrosses to polar bears, chimpanzees to orangutans, certain species appear to kiss. Now researchers suggest Neanderthals did it too - and might even have locked lips with modern humans.It is not the first time scientists have suggested Neanderthals and early modern humans were intimately acquainted. Among previous studies, researchers have found humans and their thick-browed cousins shared the same mouth microbe for hundreds of thousands of years after the two species split, suggesting they swapped saliva. Continue reading...

World's largest scientific review warns consumption of UPFs poses seismic threat to global health and wellbeingUltra-processed food (UPF) is linked to harm in every major organ system of the human body and poses a seismic threat to global health, according to the world's largest review.UPF is also rapidly displacing fresh food in the diets of children and adults on every continent, and is associated with an increased risk of a dozen health conditions, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and depression. Continue reading...

While every self-aware doctor knows no one is an expert on everything, the average person turning to the internet cannot distinguish evidence from glossOne of my children is irate at my deletion of an important school email. I claim that so many useless emails rain into my inbox that some useful ones will surely be missed. This excuse attracts zero sympathy but prompts me to comb through the hundreds of deleted emails. They are from every part of the world - Lisbon to London, Athens to Ankara - and almost all of them are an invitation to shine at a research publication.In recognition of your scholarly achievements and contributions to the advancement of knowledge in your field, we request you to submit a research paper on a topic of your choice. Continue reading...

This year's flu season has begun more than a month earlier than usual, with a mutated strain spreading widely among younger people and expected to drive a wave of hospital admissions as it reaches the elderly. Science editor Ian Sample speaks to Madeleine Finlay about what we know so far and Prof Ed Hutchinson of the University of Glasgow explains how people can best protect themselves and each otherUK hospitals bracing for once-in-a-decade flu surge this winterSupport the Guardian: theguardian.com/sciencepod Continue reading...

Dentists also saw improvements in patients' cholesterol and fatty acid levels, both associated with heart healthIf a looming root canal treatment is putting a dampener on the week, take heart: having the procedure can drive health benefits that are felt throughout the body, according to research.Patients who were successfully treated for root canal infections saw their blood sugar levels fall significantly over two years, suggesting that ridding the body of the problematic bacteria could help protect against type 2 diabetes. Continue reading...

Decision over routine PSA testing is due at end of this month, though some feel the supporting data is unclearJunior Hemans was having a routine health check in 2014 when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, at the age of 51. He knew there was an increased risk of the disease in black men so asked to have a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test, which was not initially included.And when I went, they said I had a raised PSA level for my age," Hemans said. [The diagnosis] was a shock ... because I had no symptoms." Continue reading...

Cetus, also known as the whale, is one of the faint constellations but you have a week to trace its outlineThis week, track down the constellation Cetus, variously referred to as the whale or sea monster. It is one of the faint constellations, but it sprawls across the sky, taking up roughly 1,230 square degrees, which makes it the fourth largest of the 88 modern constellations. Although it lacks bright stars, there is something hypnotic about tracing its faint outline across the sky.The chart shows the view looking south-southeast from London on 17 November at 20:00 GMT. However, the view will not change much all week. Since it lies close to the celestial equator, Cetus is visible in northern and southern hemispheres. Continue reading...

More and more people are turning to egg freezing to increase their chances of becoming a parent. Here's what you need to know if you're considering it - from the hidden costs to the chances of successWhen I first told my mother I was freezing my eggs, she asked: So my grandchildren are going to be stored next to some Haagen-Dazs?" (Very funny, Mum.) I'm one of an increasing number of women in the UK who have chosen to put their eggs on ice in order to preserve their fertility, although this does - as discussed later - have clear limitations.According to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), the UK's regulator forthe fertility industry, there was a 170% increase in the number of egg freezing cycles between 2019 and 2023. The technology has been around since the80s, but became more accessible in the 00s withvitrification, a flash-freezing technique. Now, celebrities such as Florence Pugh and Michaela Coel openly discuss their experiences of it, and companies such as Meta, Spotify and Goldman Sachs subsidise the procedure for employees. Continue reading...

Once escapees from the pet trade, Los Angeles's feral parrots have become a vibrant part of city life, and could even aid conservation in their native homelandsA morning mist hung over the palm trees as birds chattered and cars roared by on the streets of Pasadena. It was a scene that evoked a tropical island rather than a bustling city in north-east Los Angeles county.It feels parrot-y," says Diego Blanco, a research assistant at Occidental College's Moore Laboratory of Zoology, nodding to the verdant flora that surrounds us: tall trees and ornamental bushes with berries. Continue reading...

Respected ocean expert Katy Soapi continues to advocate to protect Tetepare, one of the last untouched places in Solomon IslandsScientist Katy Soapi's earliest memories are of the sea. She grew up on Rendova, a lush island in western Solomon Islands, and life centred around the ocean.I remember when the big waves came, we would dive under them and come up laughing on the other side. Being part of those natural elements brought me so much joy." Continue reading...

Third series of TV drama spiked interest in anti-anxiety drug amid warnings over illicit production of benzos'In the third series of the hit TV show The White Lotus, the entitled North Carolina housewife Victoria Ratliff is often shown reaching for her lorazepam. Now researchers say internet searches for the anti-anxiety drug surged after the show's release.Lorazepam, also known by its brand name Ativan, is a type of drug known as a benzodiazepine, or benzo". It is thought to work by boosting the effect of a neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. Continue reading...

Officials urge vaccination against mutated strain of virus that may be more transmissible than usualHospitals are bracing for a once-in-a-decade flu season, with a mutated version of the virus that is spreading widely in younger people expected to drive a wave of admissions when it reaches the elderly.The threat has prompted NHS managers to redouble efforts to vaccinate staff and communities, expand same-day emergency care and treat more patients in the community to reduce the need for hospital stays. Continue reading...

Blue Origin successfully launches its huge New Glenn rocket on Thursday with a pair of Nasa spacecraft destined for Mars. It is only the second flight of the rocket that Jeff Bezos's company and Nasa are counting on to ferry people and supplies to the moon. The 321ft (98-meter) New Glenn blasts into the afternoon sky from the Cape Canaveral space force station, sending Nasa's twin Mars orbiters on a long journey to the red planet. Company employees cheer wildly as the booster lands upright on a barge 375 miles (600km) offshore while an ecstatic Bezos watches the action from launch control

It certainly sounds like fun until you walk under a tree and...

Well-preserved oak and maple boats used for transport and fishing to be displayed in PeterboroughAfter lying undisturbed in mud for more than 3,000 years, three rare bronze and iron age log boats have emerged to offer fresh insights into prehistoric life.The boats were among nine discovered in a Cambridgeshire quarry 13 years ago - the largest group of prehistoric boats found in the same UK site. Most were well preserved, with one still able to float despite its long incarceration. Continue reading...

A huge New Glenn rocket successfully took off to place two spacecraft in orbit for a later boost to the red planetBlue Origin successfully launched its huge New Glenn rocket on Thursday with a pair of Nasa spacecraft destined for Mars. It was only the second flight of the rocket that Jeff Bezos's company and Nasa are counting on to ferry people and supplies to the moon.The 321ft (98-meter) New Glenn blasted into the afternoon sky from the Cape Canaveral space force station, sending Nasa's twin Mars orbiters on a long journey to the red planet. Liftoff was stalled for four days by inclement local weather as well as solar storms strong enough to paint the skies with auroras as far south as Florida. Continue reading...

Research among women finds those who eat more UPFs have greater risk of early onset of polyp that can lead to cancerWomen under 50 who have a diet high in ultra-processed foods (UPFs) stand a greater risk of having abnormal growths in their bowel that can lead to cancer, research suggests.Ultra-processed foods are typically defined as industrially produced products that are often ready-to-eat, contain little in the way of whole foods, fibre and vitamins, and are typically high in saturated fat, sugar, salt and food additives. Continue reading...

Study estimates 53,000 females have died on South Georgia since 2023, with dramatic impact' on future of the speciesBird flu has wiped out half of South Georgia's breeding elephant seals, according to a study that warns of serious implications" for the future of the species.The remote island in the South Atlantic Ocean is home to the world's largest southern elephant seal population. Researchers estimate 53,000 females died after bird flu hit in 2023. Continue reading...

Was the wartime chant about his solitary testicle correct? Did he have Jewish ancestry? New documentary Hitler's DNA is trying to answer these, and more contentious, questions - but should it have gone there at all?If a TV programme sets about sequencing the genome of Adolf Hitler - the person in modern history who comes closest to a universally agreed-upon personification of evil - there are at the very least two questions you want the producers to ask themselves. First: is it possible? And second, the Jurassic Park question: just because scientists can, should they?Channel 4's two-part documentary Hitler's DNA: Blueprint of a Dictator is not the first time the self-consciously edgy British broadcaster has gone there. In 2014's Dead Famous DNA, it inadvertently answered both these questions in the negative. Having first cast aside ethical integrity by paying Holocaust denier David Irving 3,000 for a lock of hair purporting to belong to Adolf Hitler, the programme's makers then discovered it not to be Hitler's and thus useless for DNA sequencing. Continue reading...

Ian Sample joins Madeleine Finlay to discuss some of the most intriguing science stories from the week. They discuss the complicated legacy of James Watson, who won the Nobel Prize for the discovery of the structure of DNA; a new breakthrough in the quest to understand the autoimmune disease lupus; and why everyone from Joe Rogan to Kim Kardashian is talking about comet 3I/Atlas.Clips: PBS, Fox 32 Chicago, NBC News, Joe Rogan, News NationJames Watson obituary Continue reading...

The geomagnetic storm, caused by powerful bursts of energy from the sun, also postponed the launch of two Mars-bound Nasa spacecraft in the US

Data also shows an average of nearly 400 newly reported cases of antibiotic-resistant infections a week last yearThe number of deaths linked to superbugs that do not respond to frontline antibiotics increased by 17% in England last year, according to official figures that raise concerns about the ongoing increase in antimicrobial resistance.The figures, released by the UK Health Security Agency, also revealed a large rise in private prescriptions for antibiotics, with 22% dispensed through the private sector in 2024. Continue reading...

Connection of near-ubiquitous EBV to autoimmune disease affecting about 1 in 1,000 people may spur hunt for vaccineA common childhood virus appears to be the trigger for the autoimmune disease lupus, according to groundbreaking research.The study suggests that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which for most people is harmless, can cause immune cells to go rogue" and mistakenly attack the body's own tissues. The team behind the work said that uncovering the cause of lupus could revolutionise treatments. Continue reading...

Aurora borealis reported in over a dozen states, stretching from New York to Texas and TennesseeA powerful geomagnetic storm lit up skies across much of the US late Tuesday and early Wednesday, giving people in dozens of states a rare chance to see the northern lights, and forecasters say that more auroral activity could be visible on Wednesday night too.The aurora borealis, commonly known as the northern lights, was reported in more than a dozen states, stretching from New York to Washington state to Texas, Oklahoma and Tennessee. Photos of the glowing colorful skies also poured in on social media from Nevada, Massachusetts, Georgia, Alabama, Montana, Alaska, Wyoming, California, Louisiana, New Mexico, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Nebraska, Iowa, Idaho, South Dakota and more. Continue reading...

Animal behaviourists tested 61 gulls in Cornwall to find most effective method of countering feathery threatSome people respond to the unwanted attentions of a gull eyeing up a bag of chips or a Cornish pasty by frantically flapping their hands at the hungry bird while others beat a rapid retreat into the nearest seaside shelter. But researchers have found that a no-nonsense yell - even a relatively quiet one - may be the best way to get rid of a pesky herring gull.Animal behaviourists from the University of Exeter tried to establish the most effective method of countering a feathery threat by placing a portion of chips in a place where gulls were bound to find them. Continue reading...

New funding for researchers and streamlined regulation part of roadmap for phasing out use of animals in scienceAnimal testing in science would be phased out faster under a new plan to increase the use of artificial intelligence and 3D bioprinted human tissues, a UK minister has said.The roadmap unveiled by the science minister, Patrick Vallance, backs replacing certain animal tests that are still used where necessary to determine the safety of products such as life-saving vaccines and the impact pesticides have on living beings and the environment. Continue reading...

Do you have an uncanny recall for faces? Have you ever recognised the same extra in TV shows that are decades apart? If so you could be part of the small number of super recognisers. Research from the University of New South Wales indicates they naturally pick out the most useful parts of a given face to help commit it to memory.So what else have scientists uncovered about this elite cohort? Dr David Robertson, a senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Strathclyde, talks to Ian Sample about what life is like for super recognisers, and how their powers could be put to use for the public goodAre you a super recogniser? Take one of these tests to find out: Continue reading...

The solution to today's poison puzzlerEarlier today I set you the following puzzle. Here it is again with the solution.Two dead at the drink-off Continue reading...

Blue Origin says it is aiming for another attempt as soon as Wednesday as competition with Musk's SpaceX intensifiesBlue Origin, the space company owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos, was forced on Sunday to postpone the anticipated launch of its New Glenn rocket due to unfavorable weather conditions in Cape Canaveral, Florida.Rain and a ground system issue caused delays that were followed by cumulus cloud cover as the 88-minute launch window closed, leaving managers with the only option of pushing back the rocket's planned second mission. Competition between Blue Origin and Elon Musk's SpaceX has been intensifying in recent months. Continue reading...

Tearing up, sweating and other bodily functions are all signs that the body is trying to expel spicy foods as quickly as possible. But there is a simple reason why some people enjoy those sensationsThe first thing to understand about eating spicy food is that it really isn't a matter of taste. Capsaicin, the active chemical in capsicum plants that are a key ingredient in anything you'd think of as spicy", evolved as an irritant to stop mammals from chewing and destroying plant seeds. It acts on the nervous system directly through receptors in the tongue, throat and skin - no taste buds required - and, in theory, tells our bodies that the thing we've just ingested is something to get rid of as soon as possible. The obvious question, then, is: why do some of us like the sensation so much?To start to understand that, it's helpful to know a bit more about what's going on in the body. Think of an engineering brief where we have to detect irritants in a system and clear them rapidly," says Liam Browne, an associate professor at UCL who specialises in the neuroscience of sensory perception and pain. Capsaicin binds to a receptor in the body called TRPV1, which is found in a specialised class of neurons called nociceptors that usually detect things that are potentially damaging to the body." When that happens, it's like a little fire alarm goes off and activates parts of the autonomic nervous system, which regulates various involuntary bodily functions without conscious control. That's what leads to all these physiological effects like tearing up, sweating, or your nose running," says Browne. It's your body trying to get rid of the irritant." Continue reading...

Who poisoned whom?UPDATE: Read the solution hereToday's puzzle is credited to Michael Rabin, the legendary computer scientist, who in the late 1980s posted it to an electronic bulletin board at Carnegie Mellon University.It has recently been brought to light by a puzzle enthusiast who thinks it deserves to be better known. I agree - it's an all time classic. Continue reading...

Wrap up warm, grab a deck chair and take your place to spot about 10-15 bright meteors an hourIt is time again for one of the more reliable meteor showers of the year: the Leonids. Active between early November and early December, the shower experiences a sharp peak this week, expected on the night of 16-17 November.The meteors take their name from the constellation Leo, the lion, and appear to emanate from the region of the lion's head", an asterism known as the sickle because of its shape. Continue reading...