discoveries

Read the latest news stories about recent scientific discoveries on Newser.com

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Ozempic, Wegovy Have 'Eye-Opening' Effects on Health

Scientists find GLP-1 drugs lower risk for dozens of other conditions—but there are caveats

(Newser) - Once we crossed the Rubicon to use diabetes drugs like Wegovy, Ozempic, and Mounjaro for weight loss, it seemed inevitable that scientists would investigate what else these apparent wonder drugs might tackle. Now, the first study to look at how the medications affect overall health is done, and it's...

Ants May Solve Our Traffic Jams
Ants May Solve Our
Traffic Jams
new study
Jan 20, 2025 10:36 AM CST

Ants May Solve Our Traffic Jams

They stay in their lanes, may provide a model for autonomous traffic systems

(Newser) - You know that guy who tries to pass everyone on the shoulder of a road during a traffic jam? Even ants would think he's a jerk. A new study suggests that the tiny creatures have a knack for avoiding jam-ups when they're marching along together—and one of...

Women Likely Inherited the Wealth in Pre-Roman Britain
Ancient Celtic Society
Revolved Around Women
NEW STUDY
Jan 16, 2025 11:39 AM CST

Ancient Celtic Society Revolved Around Women

Men had to depend on their wives (and wives' families) in pre-Roman Britain

(Newser) - For millennia leading up to 800BC, communities in Britain were centered around male bloodlines, meaning that upon marriage, women left their homes to join the communities of their husbands. But that appears to have changed with the dawning of the Iron Age. New research, based in part on a Celtic...

Cancer Hitting Women, Young People More Often
Cancer Hitting Women,
Young People More Often
NEW STUDY
Jan 16, 2025 11:17 AM CST

Cancer Hitting Women, Young People More Often

New stats document a 'really shocking' shift, says one doctor

(Newser) - Historically, men have had a higher overall rate of cancer than women. But times are changing. While 1.6 men were diagnosed with cancer for each woman in 1992, that number fell to 1.1 in 2021. And middle-aged women now have a higher risk of cancer than men of...

To See Mummies' Tats, They Turned Skin 'Into a Light Bulb'

Scientists used lasers to view ink akin to 'good electric tattooing of today' on preserved Peruvians

(Newser) - For more than 5,000 years, humans have adorned themselves with tattoos. In a new study, researchers used lasers to uncover highly intricate designs of ancient tattoos on mummies from Peru. The preserved skin of the mummies and the black tattoo ink used show a stark contrast—revealing fine details...

Archaeologists Hit a Funerary Mother Lode

Near Egypt's Luxor, ancient rock-cut tombs, burial shafts dating back 3.6K years are found

(Newser) - Egypt unveiled several discoveries near the famed city of Luxor on Wednesday, including ancient rock-cut tombs and burial shafts dating back 3,600 years. They were unearthed at the causeway of Queen Hatshepsut's funerary temple at Deir al-Bahari on the Nile's West Bank, the Zahi Hawass Foundation for...

1 in 4 Freshwater Species at Risk of Extinction
24% of Freshwater Species
at Risk of Extinction
new study
Jan 8, 2025 1:54 PM CST

24% of Freshwater Species at Risk of Extinction

Study sees a wide range of culprits, including pollution and invasive species

(Newser) - Nearly a quarter of animals living in rivers, lakes, and other freshwater sources are threatened with extinction, according to new research published Wednesday. "Huge rivers like the Amazon can appear mighty, but at the same time freshwater environments are very fragile," said study co-author Patricia Charvet, a biologist...

It's Better to Be Fit Than Thin
If You're Obese but
Fit, Some Good News
NEW STUDY
Jan 8, 2025 1:26 PM CST

If You're Obese but Fit, Some Good News

Being aerobically fit cancels early death risk from excess weight, researchers say

(Newser) - More than 40% of US adults are obese . If you're one of them and struggling to lose weight, this is your sign to step off the scale and get moving. Prior studies have found obesity boosts one's risk of diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and premature death. However,...

'Dinosaur Highway' Sheds Light on Ancient Creatures

Discovery of hundreds of tracks dating back 166M years is made in Oxfordshire, England

(Newser) - A worker digging up clay in a southern England limestone quarry noticed unusual bumps that led to the discovery of a "dinosaur highway" and nearly 200 tracks that date back 166 million years, researchers said Thursday. The extraordinary find, made after a team of more than 100 excavated Oxfordshire'...

Having to Drive Everywhere Is Linked to Unhappiness

Study on car dependency finds a 'tipping point' at which it becomes too much

(Newser) - A new study out of Arizona State University finds that Americans have a tricky line to navigate when it comes to cars: Being able to get in one and drive somewhere tends to increase life satisfaction. But having to get in one too often can have the opposite effect. The...

One Danger of Walmart: 'Monopsony'
One Danger of Walmart:
'Monopsony'
new studies
Dec 29, 2024 9:30 AM CST

One Danger of Walmart: 'Monopsony'

Research suggests company pays workers lower wages because they have few local alternatives

(Newser) - Two new studies suggest that having a Walmart in a particular neighborhood makes that neighborhood poorer, reports the Atlantic . The company and its advocates have long argued that Walmart's cheap prices provide an overall benefit to poor or middle-class families by saving them money on their grocery bills. But...

A Graveyard Find Alters a Narrative of Christianity
A Graveyard Find Alters
a Narrative of Christianity
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Dec 28, 2024 12:00 PM CST

A Graveyard Find Alters a Narrative of Christianity

Silver amulet suggests it spread in Europe north of the Alps earlier than thought

(Newser) - A man who died in what is now Germany about 1,800 years ago went to his grave wearing a religious amulet around his neck that may change what we know about the spread of Christianity, reports Live Science . Details:
  • Archaeologists found the 1.4-inch-long amulet on a skeleton in
...

'Adorable, Fluffy' Predator Is Decimating a Habitat's Invaders

Surging population of native sea otters has almost wiped out invasive green crabs in one California ecosystem

(Newser) - The West Coast has been plagued by an invasive crab species for decades—but scientists now say a native resident is helping to remedy the issue, at least in one California ecosystem. That helper is an "adorable, fluffy, and hungry friend," per USA Today —the resident southern...

Taxi, Ambulance Drivers Fare Better With Alzheimer's

Study suggests all that real-time navigating keeps their brains sharp

(Newser) - A new study suggests that turning off GPS in the car and instead navigating by your own wits may help stave off Alzheimer's. The study in the British Medical Journal found that taxi drivers and ambulance drivers died of the ailment less than people in other professions, reports HealthDay...

That's No Elephant. That's a Mammoth.

50K-year-old juvenile mammoth carcass discovered in Russia's thawing permafrost

(Newser) - Russian scientists have unveiled what they say is the best-preserved mammoth carcass ever discovered—that of a juvenile dubbed "Yana." The female mammoth, believed to have been about a year old when she died an estimated 50,000 years ago, was discovered this summer in thawing permafrost in...

She Sang on One of the Most Famous Disco Songs Ever

Alfa Anderson of Chic has died at age 78

(Newser) - The name Alfa Anderson may not be of the household variety, but it's a safe bet most people have heard her sing. Anderson—who has died at age 78—can be heard on "Le Freak," a song by the group Chic that is one of the most...

Squirrels Turn Out to Be Murderous Carnivores
Squirrels Turn Out to Be
Murderous Carnivores
in case you missed it
Dec 22, 2024 11:00 AM CST

Squirrels Turn Out to Be Murderous Carnivores

For first time, the rodents have been caught hunting, killing, and eating meat in California

(Newser) - Squirrels noshing on nuts is a common sight, but don't be fooled—they're apparently no vegans. Scientists looking into the habits of the California ground squirrel have discovered that the species is actually a bona fide meat eater, "killing and decapitating en masse," as SFGate puts...

Microplastics Could Become 'One of the Great Human Crises'

Review of human, animal studies suggests link to certain cancers, infertility

(Newser) - Microplastics thrown into the air from degrading tires, clothing, and other items may be contributing to cases of lung and colon cancer, as well as male and female reproductive issues, new research suggests. Researchers at UC San Francisco reviewed some 3,000 studies of humans and animals, largely mice, to...

Mastodon Jaw Found After Homeowner Spots Teeth

Researchers unearthed complete jaw, bone fragments from NY resident's backyard

(Newser) - A complete mastodon jaw was found in a backyard in New York's Orange County after a homeowner spotted a couple of teeth protruding from the ground, concealed by the fronds of a plant. The homeowner in Scotchtown, around 70 miles north of New York City, contacted experts after finding...

Panel: Calcium, Vitamin D Won't Stop Grandma From Falling

Independent task force recommends against such supplements for older adults

(Newser) - Don't start pushing calcium and vitamin D pills on your older family members for bone strength just yet—at least not if you're trying to prevent falls and fractures. That's because an independent panel of health experts on Tuesday said there's not enough evidence that such...

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