Science

Scientific illustration depicting the TMEM175 lysosomal ion channel preventing over-acidification and toxic buildup in neurons, relevant to Parkinson’s disease research.

Study links lysosomal ion channel TMEM175 to protection against over-acidification, with implications for Parkinson’s research

March 27, 2026 Reported by AI Image generated by AI Fact checked

Researchers at LMU Munich, Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, TU Darmstadt and Nanion Technologies report that the lysosomal ion channel TMEM175 helps prevent excessive acidification inside lysosomes, a malfunction that the team says could contribute to toxic buildup associated with Parkinson’s disease. The findings were reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Vivid dreams linked to deeper feeling of sleep

Researchers have found that vivid, immersive dreams can make sleep feel deeper and more restorative, even during periods of high brain activity. A study analyzing brain recordings from 44 healthy adults showed that participants reported their deepest sleep after intense dream experiences. The findings challenge traditional views of deep sleep as minimal brain activity.

Jungle animals in Costa Rica share latrines in strangler fig trees

March 26, 2026 Reported by AI

A variety of canopy-dwelling mammals in Costa Rica's cloud forests have been observed using communal latrines in strangler fig trees. Ecologist Jeremy Quirós-Navarro discovered the sites high in the canopy, where 17 species leave feces and scent marks. The finding highlights unusual social behavior among typically solitary animals.

Health

Benzene leaks from gas cookers exceed safety limits in European homes

Health

Overactive brain hinders balance recovery in older adults and Parkinson's patients

Health

UC Berkeley scientists detect alcohol in floral nectar drunk by bees and hummingbirds

Honey bees refine waggle dance based on audience size

Honey bees perform their waggle dance more precisely when more hive mates watch, according to a new study. Researchers found that dancers adjust their movements to attract followers, sacrificing accuracy for engagement when audiences are small. The findings highlight the social dynamics of bee communication.

Study shows cloned mice accumulate harmful mutations

March 25, 2026 Reported by AI

A 20-year experiment cloning mice has revealed that clones develop significantly more genetic mutations than naturally reproduced mice, accumulating to fatal levels after multiple generations. Researchers led by Teruhiko Wakayama at Yamanashi University in Japan found over 70 mutations per clone generation on average, three times higher than in controls. The findings, published in Nature Communications, raise concerns for applications in farming, conservation and de-extinction efforts.

Unicamp researcher arrested, then released, over theft and irregular disposal of biosafety lab viral samples

Argentine researcher Soledad Palameta Miller, a University of Campinas (Unicamp) professor, was arrested in flagrante on March 23, 2026, for allegedly stealing and irregularly discarding viral samples from a level 3 biosafety (NB3) lab. She faces charges of endangering lives and procedural fraud but was granted provisional release the next day.

Re-analysis confirms Neanderthal hunt of ancient elephant

March 25, 2026 Reported by AI

Researchers have re-examined a 125,000-year-old straight-tusked elephant skeleton found in Germany in 1948, confirming that Neanderthals hunted and butchered the animal with a wooden spear lodged in its ribs. The findings, detailed in a recent Scientific Reports study, provide vivid evidence of Neanderthal big-game hunting skills. The elephant, a prime male over 3.5 metres tall, shows clear cut marks from flint tools.

March 26, 2026 20:54