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Queen’s University Belfast students find Neptune’s elusive Trojan asteroids

An international team led by researchers at Queen's University Belfast has made a discovery that has eluded astronomers for decades. Beginning in 1906, telescope observations revealed a population of asteroids leading and trailing Jupiter, which came to be known as the "Trojan" and "Greek" populations. Since then, astronomers have discovered similar "families" orbiting Saturn and Uranus, but not Neptune. Thanks to the Queen's-led team, the mystery of the missing Trojans has now been resolved.

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When to move is key to mobile retail

In recent years, the principle behind the humble ice cream truck has been getting a high-tech makeover. Retailers are reinventing mobile stores—both people-piloted and self-driving—often selling perishable items such as baked goods or fresh meals. BPM Analytics projects sales from retail on wheels will grow to $30 billion worldwide by 2030.

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Scientists reverse liver cell aging and cut Alzheimer’s-linked protein in half

A surprising discovery suggests that rejuvenating the liver could help protect against Alzheimer’s disease and heart disease. USC researchers found that an experimental drug restored aging liver cells in rats, cutting levels of an Alzheimer’s-linked protein in half and bringing bad cholesterol down to youthful levels. The treatment also revived a previously unknown communication system that helps liver cells remove harmful substances from the bloodstream.

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Microbes at the end of the Earth: Antarctica’s hidden biodiversity

When we think about Antarctica, many people imagine penguins, seals and whales. However, the majority of Antarctica's scientific wonders cannot be seen without a microscope. These microbial communities form the foundation of Antarctic ecosystems yet remain largely invisible to most visitors.

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Telltale furrows: What the Baltic Sea seafloor reveals about bottom trawling

To what extent does bottom trawling impact the seafloor of the Baltic Sea—and how quickly does it recover? Two new studies from the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW) show that the marks on the seafloor provide a much clearer picture of the actual impact than vessel position data alone. Using high-resolution echo sounder measurements and AI, the researchers reveal previously insufficiently recorded impacts and also document surprisingly rapid changes of the seafloor condition. Furthermore, they found strong indications of fishing violations in a marine protected area. The study results were published in the journals Ecological Informatics and Anthropocene.

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Stem cells in deep sleep may point to a secret reserve for lifelong blood renewal

Researchers at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the HI-STEM Stem Cell Institute have discovered a group of particularly long-lived blood stem cells in mice. These cells remain in a dormant state for an exceptionally long time while retaining their ability to generate new blood cells. This newly discovered cell population may be responsible for sustaining blood regeneration and immune defense throughout a mouse's entire life.

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How competing reproductive needs shaped the evolution of liverworts

Liverworts reproduce through a life cycle involving two distinct stages. First, sperm fertilize eggs in the presence of water, producing embryos that develop into spore-producing structures called sporophytes. These structures then produce spores that can disperse and grow into new liverwort plants.

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Arctic plant roots may play key role in climate change

A new review involving researchers at Umeå University has revealed the critical role that plant roots play in shaping how Arctic tundra ecosystems respond to climate change. The paper, recently published in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, highlights how processes occurring beneath the soil surface could help scientists better understand how one of the fastest-changing ecosystems on Earth will influence the future climate.