Jul 10th, 2025 - Researchers at Princeton University and the Simons Foundation have identified four clinically and biologically distinct subtypes of autism, marking a transformative step in understanding the condition's genetic underpinnings and potential for personalized care. Analyzing data from over 5,000 children in SPARK, an autism cohort study funded by the Simons Foundation, the researchers used a computational model to group individuals based on their combinations of traits. The team used a "person-centered" approach that considered a broad range of over 230 traits in each individual, from social ... [Read More]

Jul 10th, 2025 - By & Researchers have described proteins that they say are among the most ancient ever sequenced. Two teams, which analysed molecules from extinct relatives of rhinos and other large mammals, have pushed back the genetic fossil record to more than 20 million years ago. The studies — out in Nature today — suggest that proteins survive better than researchers thought. This raises the possibility of gleaning molecular insights about evolutionary relationships, biological sex and diet from even older animals — maybe even dinosaurs. "You're just opening up a whole new set of ... [Read More]

Jul 10th, 2025 - The mega museum, set to open in December, will fund projects aimed at enriching understanding of UAE's cultural and historical legacy The world's oldest natural pearl and an 1,100-year-old Qur'an will be among the star exhibits at Zayed National Museum. The mega museum, on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi and designed by the British firm Foster + Partners, will open in December 2025, it was announced today. The museum centres on the story of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (1918-2004), the venerated first president of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), born as a country in ... [Read More]

Jul 10th, 2025 - A rare mosaic death mask made of jadeite and vessels in the shapes of an owl, a monkey and coati-mundi were found with the ruler. The archaeologists worked in the shadow of towering Maya ruins, piercing the floor of a structure they had searched years before. Below, they found an even more ancient chamber, still holding a body and the treasures it was buried with: a rare mosaic death mask and jadeite jewelry, shells from the Pacific and elaborate designs on pottery and bone. It was the 1,700-year-old tomb of a Maya ruler — the first ever found at Caracol , the largest Maya site in ... [Read More]

Jul 9th, 2025 - Newest COVID-19 Strain XFG May Cause Hoarseness An emerging variant nicknamed 'Stratus' is growing worldwide, and many people infected are reporting a new symptom. Nicknamed "Stratus," the XFG strain was recently designated a "variant under monitoring" by the World Health Organization (WHO), as it accounts for a growing proportion of cases globally, particularly in Southeast Asia, where the new variant is connected to a simultaneous rise in new cases and hospitalizations. Nationally, the wastewater viral activity level for COVID-19 is currently very low, according to the Centers for ... [Read More]

Jul 9th, 2025 - For decades, scientists have theorized about how Mars reached its current state. Many believe that the Red Planet's surface may have once been covered in rivers and oceans. But, if that's really the case, what happened to all of the water on Mars? Well, new research could fundamentally change everything we know about our neighboring planet. According to a new study conducted by the University of Chicago, data captured by NASA's Curiosity rover may hold the key to learning more about Mars' history as a whole. While some theories say that Mars was once covered with water and then evolved to ... [Read More]

Jul 9th, 2025 - Skygazers can look toward the horizon this week to catch a glimpse of the full moon around its peak illumination. This month's full moon, also called the buck moon, will be at its fullest at around 4:37 p.m. ET on Thursday, according to EarthSky . That is, of course, during a time when the moon is below the horizon for people in North America, who can catch their best views of the peak a few hours after sunset, according to The Old Farmer's Almanac . "The nice thing about the full moon is it looks full about a day on either side of it, so on the night of the 9th, for instance, if you go out ... [Read More]

Jul 9th, 2025 - Koalas spend 99% of their lives in trees but the other 1% is deadly. For most of the day and night, koalas barely move. They nap curled into tree forks, or chew carefree on eucalyptus leaves. But for a few fleeting minutes, usually just 10 out of 1,440, they come down to the ground. And that's when they're most likely to die. New research reveals that these brief terrestrial forays account for two-thirds of all recorded koala deaths, mostly from dog attacks and car strikes. The findings offer an unusually detailed look into a long-overlooked sliver of the koala's daily life, but also ... [Read More]