Phys.org
Ancient teeth from Siberia rewrite the plague's timeline, dating back to over 5,500 years ago
The bubonic plague's origins have been pushed back further than ever, with scientists extracting evidence of the pathogen from ancient teeth unearthed in Siberia dating over 5,500 years ago. The discovery predates the previously accepted timeline by roughly 200 years, reshaping what researchers know about how and when the disease first emerged in human populations. Understanding the plague's deep history offers critical insight into how infectious diseases evolve and spread across civilizations.
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Spain data on 5.5 million convictions challenges immigration-crime link
A landmark study from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, drawing on 5.5 million conviction records, finds that immigrants in Spain do not commit crime at higher rates than natives once age and gender are accounted for. The perceived gap stems from the fact that immigrant populations skew younger and more male — demographics that drive higher crime rates across all groups. The findings strike a significant blow against the narrative linking immigration to increased criminality.
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Scientists may have finally solved the black hole information paradox
Black holes may not fully evaporate after all — new research suggests they halt at the final moment, leaving behind microscopic remnants that retain all the information they once contained. This would resolve a decades-long paradox that pitted quantum mechanics against general relativity. As a bonus, the seven-dimensional geometry underpinning the theory may also shed light on why elementary particles have mass.
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A hidden weakness in deadly cancers could lead to powerful new treatments
Researchers at UCLA have pinpointed a critical vulnerability in small cell cancers that have defied effective treatment for decades: tumors lacking the RB gene become fatally dependent on the protein E2F3 to survive. Blocking E2F3 halted tumor growth in lab models, and existing FDA-approved drugs may already be capable of exploiting this weakness. The finding could dramatically accelerate the path to more effective therapies for some of the deadliest cancers on record.
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Scientists discover the deep sleep circuit that builds muscle, burns fat, and boosts the brain
Deep sleep does far more than rest the mind — scientists have now mapped the brain circuitry that connects slow-wave sleep to growth hormone release, uncovering a feedback loop that governs muscle repair, fat metabolism, and cognitive function. Disruptions to this system help explain why chronic poor sleep is linked to metabolic dysfunction and neurodegenerative decline. The discovery opens a promising avenue for therapies targeting sleep disorders and conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
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