Mitochondria can sense bacteria and trigger your immune system to trap them – revealing new ways to treat infections and autoimmunity

Not only do mitochondria serve as the engine of the cell – they also act as watchtowers for the immune system.

Andrew Monteith, Assistant Professor of Microbiology, University of Tennessee • conversation
June 25, 2025 ~7 min

More than half of US teens have had at least one cavity, but fluoride programs in schools help prevent them – new research

Fluoride varnish, easily and quickly applied to a child’s teeth, is an affordable and effective way to help prevent cavities.

Shillpa Naavaal, Associate Professor of Pediatric Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University • conversation
June 25, 2025 ~6 min


Light-powered reactions could make the chemical manufacturing industry more energy-efficient

Chemical manufacturing is an energy-intensive industry. A team of chemists is designing a technique that could power the necessary reactions with sunlight or LEDs.

Anna Wolff, Ph.D. Student in Chemistry, Colorado State University • conversation
June 19, 2025 ~7 min

When developing countries band together, lifesaving drugs become cheaper and easier to buy − with trade-offs

Pharmaceutical companies have little incentive to sell drugs to countries that can’t afford them. But bargaining together can increase access to vital treatments worldwide.

Nahim Bin Zahur, Assistant Professor of Economics, Queen's University, Ontario • conversation
June 17, 2025 ~10 min

Older adults with dementia misjudge their financial skills – which may make them more vulnerable to fraud, new research finds

Older adults are generally good at judging their capacity for handling their finances, but cognitive impairment degrades that skill. Proactive planning can help protect them from fraud.

Ian McDonough, Associate Professor of Psychology, Binghamton University, State University of New York • conversation
June 12, 2025 ~5 min

Teens say they can access firearms at home, even when parents lock them up, new research shows

Just one unlocked firearm may undo the protective effect of securing all other firearms in the home.

Rebeccah Sokol, Assistant Professor of Social Work, University of Michigan • conversation
June 10, 2025 ~5 min

Binge drinking brake found in mouse brains, offering future path to treating alcohol abuse – new research

Current treatments for alcohol abuse are limited in their effectiveness and come with side effects. Precisely targeting the neurons involved in binge drinking could lead to better options.

Gilles Martin, Associate Professor of Neurobiology, UMass Chan Medical School • conversation
June 10, 2025 ~5 min

LGBTQ+ patients stay up-to-date on preventive care when their doctors are supportive, saving money and lives throughout society

When LGBTQ+ patients can be open with their providers about their identity, they are much more likely to get essential care.

Nathaniel M. Tran, Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Administration, University of Illinois Chicago • conversation
June 10, 2025 ~5 min


New model helps to figure out which distant planets may host life

As NASA rolls out more powerful telescopes in the future, scientists will need a way to determine where to point them. A new approach could help.

Daniel Apai, Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Astronomy and Planetary Sciences, University of Arizona • conversation
June 2, 2025 ~11 min

Millions of US children have parents with substance use disorder, and the consequences are staggering − new research

Children of these parents are more likely to have mental health issues − and ultimately suffer from substance use disorder themselves.

Ty Schepis, Professor of Psychology, Texas State University • conversation
May 30, 2025 ~5 min

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