Hyacinths could lead to a cure for blindness ‘because they contain potent compounds that stop growth of abnormal blood vessels in the eyes’ The unexpected growth of blood vessel cells in the eyes is linked to blindness Tests found homoisoflavonoids can halt the growth of abnormal blood vessels Researchers say they could create synthetic versions … Read more
Hiding in plain sight: Scientists discover 19 interstellar asteroids between Jupiter and Neptune that may have been orbiting the Sun for more than 4.5 billion years The 19 asteroids were found orbiting the sun between Jupiter and Neptune They joined the solar system around 4.5billion years ago and never left As the universe expanded and the … Read more
Rocking all over the Moon: Scientists create the first geological map of the lunar surface showing exactly what our nearest neighbour is made of to help NASA plan future missions The lunar map used data from Apollo missions and recent satellite observations It shows a mixture of elevation and rock type information for the entire … Read more
Scientists have created a portable machine that can analyse coronavirus swabs and give results in as a little as 20 minutes. The kit, developed by experts at the University of South Wales, costs less than £100 to manufacture and is currently being evaluated. It works by analysing a nasal swab for traces of the virus’ … Read more
Ten years after a well blew wild under a BP platform in the Gulf of Mexico, killing 11 men and touching off the nation’s worst offshore oil spill, gulf waters sparkle in the sunlight, its fish are safe to eat, and thick, black oil no longer visibly stains the beaches and estuaries. Brown pelicans, a … Read more
Scientists have dismantled cancer piece-by-piece and found its weak spots, in a possible breakthrough. In one of the largest studies of its kind ever conducted, researchers turned off every genetic instruction inside 30 types of cancer. And they discovered 600 genes that can be targeted by drugs that won’t damage healthy cells in the body. … Read more
Drinking too much alcohol may be caused by a gene which makes a pint of beer or glass more pleasurable than it should be, scientists claim. Tens of thousands of people had their genome analysed to investigate whether their DNA affects how much alcohol they consume. Researchers found those who drink a lot – at … Read more
Mosquitoes can be genetically engineered to stop them spreading dengue fever to humans, a study has revealed. Working in a lab, scientists created mosquitoes which were immune to the tropical disease and therefore unable to pass it on through bites. They injected the insects with human immune system proteins which were able to fight off … Read more
Mysterious 300-million-year-old ‘Tully monster’ may not be the creature scientists thought it was – as new research reveals it wasn’t a vertebrate after all Tullimonstrum, also known as the Tully monster, lived 300 million years ago It has baffled scientists since fossils were first discovered 60 years ago A 2016 discovery of stiffened cartilage classified Tully … Read more
Victims of a devastating form of blindness have been given hope by a new stem-cell treatment that rejuvenates the eyes. There is no cure for retinitis pigmentosa, an inherited condition that slowly constricts vision, but a British firm has reported early success with a revolutionary procedure that helps to repair a damaged retina. The treatment … Read more