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Science News

Latest science news, discoveries and scientific developments.

Mitochondrial protein complexes: A single amino acid can jeopardize their stability
Science News

Mitochondrial protein complexes: A single amino acid can jeopardize their stability

Removing a single amino acid can determine whether new proteins assemble into stable complexes within mitochondria. An enzyme carries out this precise trimming at the start of mitochondrial proteins. Without it, numerous protein complexes lose their stability, according to a study led by Dr. Nora Vögtle of Heidelberg University and Dr. Pitter Huesgen of the University of Freiburg. In their work published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, the scientists identified a previously unknown mechanism by which human cells maintain the balance of proteins in their mitochondria.

📅 2026-09-25 21:00:01    •    Phys.org
NASA teases new PRIMA telescope that could see what even the James Webb telescope can't
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NASA teases new PRIMA telescope that could see what even the James Webb telescope can't

NASA is moving forward with designing a new space telescope that can see even deeper into the infrared universe than the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) can. The new mission, called PRIMA (Probe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics), is continuing its development to Phase B — the preliminary design and tech phase — according to a NASA statement. Managers will review the mission's progress before officially beginning the telescope's journey to launch; if all goes to plan, PRIMA will embark on a five-year mission no earlier than 2033.PRIMA's objective is to use a 5.9-foot [1.8 meters] telescope to examine the cosmos in the far-infrared, in a different set of wavelengths than the more famous...

📅 2026-09-25 20:56:29    •    Live Science
Blood pressure enzyme reveals second job: Making sulfur rings for cellular antioxidants
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Blood pressure enzyme reveals second job: Making sulfur rings for cellular antioxidants

Antioxidants such as vitamins C and E protect cells by neutralizing free radicals, such as reactive oxygen species, before they can damage genetic material or cell membranes. Such damage can contribute to the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Antioxidants therefore help prevent cellular damage.

📅 2026-09-25 20:40:01    •    Phys.org
New kind of AI audio chip transforms earbuds into always-on 'intelligent' devices that run without a smartphone. How does it work?
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New kind of AI audio chip transforms earbuds into always-on 'intelligent' devices that run without a smartphone. How does it work?

MAUI, Hawaii — Engineers have built a first-of-its-kind artificial intelligence (AI) audio chip for wearable devices that they say will let users engage with AI assistants without needing to maintain a smartphone connection. Devices with the new chip will also harvest audio ‪—‬ and even video ‪—‬ data from the world around you to better serve these virtual agents.The new chip, called Snapdragon Sound Elite Gen 2, will pave the way for new features that are currently unavailable directly in portable devices such as headphones, smart glasses and speakers. Qualcomm representatives announced the new chip at the company's annual Snapdragon Summit, hosted here Sept. 21-24. Unlike current earbuds, ...

📅 2026-09-25 20:35:00    •    Live Science
Natural proteins can guide active ingredients to diseased cells
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Natural proteins can guide active ingredients to diseased cells

After taking a pill, the drugs it contains are distributed throughout the body, reaching the tissues and cells affected by disease and performing their intended function. However, they also enter healthy cells, where they often cause more harm than good.

📅 2026-09-25 20:20:05    •    Phys.org
How a century-old solvent can enable efficient amide synthesis
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How a century-old solvent can enable efficient amide synthesis

Amide bonds are chemical linkages essential to biology, medicine and materials chemistry. Peptide bonds, a class of amide bonds, link amino acids to form proteins. Amide bonds are also important in medicines and polymers. Efficient synthesis of amide bonds remains a major focus in green chemistry.

📅 2026-09-25 20:00:01    •    Phys.org
An overlooked era of cosmology is stealing the show in the quest to understand the cosmos
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An overlooked era of cosmology is stealing the show in the quest to understand the cosmos

Could you imagine if pagers made a comeback? Sure, your smartphone would still be your notepad-flashlight-camera-personal assistant-MP3 player-wallet-social media browser. But imagine if pagers made it so easy to do that one important thing—pinging your friends and associates—that we all brought them back into our lives, or adopted them for the first time.

📅 2026-09-25 19:20:01    •    Phys.org
'Everything we know about space travel is going to change within a decade': The fusion breakthrough that could unlock a path to the stars
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'Everything we know about space travel is going to change within a decade': The fusion breakthrough that could unlock a path to the stars

Fusion-powered space travel has long held the promise of rapid trips across the solar system: Mars in weeks, Saturn in months, Pluto in years. For decades, such possibilities have remained theoretical, like something plucked out of a science fiction novel. But several companies are now working to build practical nuclear fusion propulsion engines, with significant milestones being hit. Pulsar Fusion, a U.K.-based startup, hopes to launch a demonstration mission to space in 2027, while Princeton University and Helicity Space in the U.S. are continuing their own work on fusion drives.Richard Dinan, the CEO of Pulsar Fusion, displays the Sunbird spacecraft at the company's facility in Bletchley,...

📅 2026-09-25 15:00:00    •    Live Science
Best binoculars 2026: The ultimate buying guide for birdwatching, stargazing and more
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Best binoculars 2026: The ultimate buying guide for birdwatching, stargazing and more

The problem when you're buying a new pair of binoculars is that you need different specs and characteristics for different purposes, and if you don't know exactly what you need, it's easy to buy a pair that's totally wrong for you. Birdwatching requires sharp, chromatic aberration-free optics, while astronomy needs large objective lenses and tripod compatibility — and a general purpose binocular should sit somewhere in the middle. We've rounded up the best options for each usage case, based on our reviews and experience, to bring you the top models on the market.Best for everything Excellent optics for the price Celestron Regal ED 10x42 The Celestron Regal ED 10x42 are an ideal all-rounder f...

📅 2026-09-25 14:16:22    •    Live Science
Scientists discovered two bizarre new sea spiders that are “nightmare fuel”
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Scientists discovered two bizarre new sea spiders that are “nightmare fuel”

Scientists discovered two strange new sea spider species in the Salish Sea, including a hairy-legged, red-eyed species that can groom itself with comb-like appendages. Another is frequently covered in tiny parasites, and researchers say many more undiscovered sea spiders may still be hiding in the region.

📅 2026-09-25 13:56:06    •    ScienceDaily
This “rare” autism-linked genetic disorder may be far more common than scientists thought
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This “rare” autism-linked genetic disorder may be far more common than scientists thought

A major analysis suggests Phelan-McDermid syndrome, a genetic disorder closely linked to autism, may affect about 1 in 7,300 people and more than 45,000 Americans. Researchers warn that thousands of cases may remain hidden because genetic testing is often not performed, even as targeted treatments move into clinical trials.

📅 2026-09-25 13:32:46    •    ScienceDaily
CRISPR could help doctors attack blood cancer without destroying healthy cells
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CRISPR could help doctors attack blood cancer without destroying healthy cells

Researchers used CRISPR to remove CD33 from donor stem cells, potentially giving doctors a way to attack aggressive blood cancers without destroying the healthy cells patients need after a transplant. In a 30-patient trial, the edited cells successfully took hold and appeared to shield blood cells from a CD33-targeted cancer treatment.

📅 2026-09-25 13:13:03    •    ScienceDaily
CERN has begun disconnecting the Large Hadron Collider
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CERN has begun disconnecting the Large Hadron Collider

CERN has started replacing some of the Large Hadron Collider’s most important magnets as part of its High-Luminosity upgrade. The new superconducting magnets will produce fields about 40% stronger, allowing particle beams to be squeezed more tightly before they collide. That should create far more collisions for the ATLAS and CMS experiments to analyze, giving physicists a much larger window into the fundamental workings of the universe.

📅 2026-09-25 13:01:20    •    ScienceDaily