James Allison knew he was onto something: He and colleagues had found a compound that acted as a brake on immune system cells called T-cells. His colleagues wanted to investigate this protein as a gateway to treating autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. But Allison had another target in mind: cancer. What if you could […]

Researchers at the University of Zurich have developed a nanoparticle type for novel use in artificial photosynthesis by adding zinc sulfide on the surface of indium-based quantum dots. These quantum dots produce clean hydrogen fuel from water and sunlight — a sustainable source of energy. They introduce new eco-friendly and powerful materials to solar photocatalysis. […]

With an upcoming auction of the astronaut’s keepsakes, his sons reflect on an unusual childhood. DALLAS — In the summer of 1969, Rick Armstrong was 12 and whacking the baseball in the Houston-area Little League. He was selected to play in the all-star game — but he had to skip it, because he was at Cape Canaveral […]

In news with several layers of weird, researchers have determined that the mix of bacteria that live inside your nose — yes, there are organisms living inside your nose — correlates with the type and severity of cold symptoms you develop. For example, people whose noses are rich in Staphylococcusbacteria had more severe nasal symptoms than […]

If life got a foothold in the Martian subsurface long ago, it could have tapped into a plentiful chemical energy source, a new study suggests. That source was hydrogen, generated when radiation split underground water into its constituent parts. And there was probably enough available hydrogen down there to sustain a sizable community of Mars microbes for […]

The Big Falcon Rocket system underwent a growth spurt since it was unveiled in 2017. SpaceX’s Mars-colonizing Big Falcon Rocket (BFR) spaceflight system just went through a growth spurt. The reusable rocket-spaceship duo will stand 387 feet (118 meters) tall at launch, SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk said Monday (Sept. 17) during a webcast event at […]

The rocky body at the outer edge of our solar system was downgraded to a dwarf planet in 2006. And that decision has been hotly debated ever since. Maybe Pluto is a planet after all. The icy ball at the outer edge of the solar system was considered a planet from its discovery in 1930 […]

The majority of Gen Z shoppers prefer to do their shopping in brick-and-mortar stores— especially when the locations are convenient. According to a survey of Gen Z shoppers (aged 18 to 22) by prescriptive analytics provider Profitect, 42% of respondents prefer to shop in-stores vs online. A further 34% prefer to shop in-stores and online […]

Gene therapists have developed a stem cell implant that could help overcome addiction and prevent overdoses A radical gene therapy for drug addiction has been shown to dampen down cravings for cocaine and protect against overdoses of the substance that would normally be lethal. The therapy uses implants of stem cells which have been genetically […]

It’s taken a little longer than expected but the Solar Orbiter probe is built and ready to begin testing. UK engineers are putting the finishing touches to the satellite this week before sending it to Germany to begin a year-long test campaign. Such attention to detail is necessary because of the punishing conditions the spacecraft […]