Science Daily

Major review finds vaping likely causes lung and oral cancer

Researchers have concluded that nicotine vapes are likely to cause lung and oral cancers, based on evidence ranging from human biomarkers to animal and laboratory studies. The findings challenge the idea that vaping is a harmless alternative to smoking and suggest health risks may be emerging much sooner than many expected.

science  Jun 21, 2026

The Guardian Science

‘A child goes to bed and doesn’t wake up’: the families left in shock after the sudden death of their healthy children

Sudden cardiac arrest is statistically rare but among the leading causes of death for children and young people. And families often have no idea of the risk until it’s too lateBefore Alexandra Thoms goes to sleep, she puts together a flat-pack dining table with her father, Gordon. She needs the table for her otherwise sparse two-bedroom Melbourne apartment which she has moved into just weeks earlier.At 23, Alexandra has met the milestones of an ambitious life at lightning speed. She is well trav

science  Jun 20, 2026

Science Daily

This simple twist could bring quantum computers closer to reality

Researchers found that twisting layered sheets of hexagonal boron nitride can dramatically change the light produced by quantum emitters embedded within the material. The technique offers an unexpected new level of control over components that could power future quantum computers, communications systems, and sensors.

science  Jun 20, 2026

Science Daily

Scientists found a cannabis compound that relieves pain without the high

Compounds responsible for the aroma of cannabis and many other plants may offer a surprising new way to relieve chronic pain. Researchers found that several cannabis-derived terpenes significantly reduced pain in mouse models of fibromyalgia and post-surgical pain, with one terpene, geraniol, showing especially strong effects. Unlike THC, these compounds are not associated with psychoactive effects, making them a potentially attractive alternative for pain treatment.

science  Jun 20, 2026

Science Daily

A single cobalt shock could trigger global EV battery supply chaos

The global cobalt supply chain is more interconnected—and more vulnerable—than previously thought, with disruptions capable of triggering far-reaching cascades across multiple countries and industries. Researchers warn that protecting battery supply chains will require system-wide coordination because critical bottlenecks can turn local shocks into global problems.

science  Jun 20, 2026

Science Daily

The first primates may have evolved in the cold, not the tropics

A surprising new study suggests the earliest primates didn't originate in tropical forests but in cold, dry parts of North America. Some may have even survived seasonal Arctic conditions by slowing their metabolism or hibernating. Researchers found that dramatic climate shifts, rather than warmth, played a major role in driving primate evolution and expansion. The discovery reshapes our understanding of how our own lineage began.

science  Jun 20, 2026

Science Daily

This DNA repair gene went rogue and exposed a cancer weakness

Scientists have discovered that a gene normally considered a DNA-protecting "good guy" can become dangerous when cells make too much of it. The gene, EXO1, acts like molecular scissors that help repair DNA, but when overproduced it starts cutting DNA it shouldn't, creating damage linked to cancer.

science  Jun 20, 2026

Science Daily

Ozempic changed obesity treatment, but experts say the real revolution is next

The obesity treatment landscape is changing fast, with GLP-1 drugs opening the door to more effective care than ever before. Experts now envision a future where medications, minimally invasive procedures, surgery, and precision medicine work together to deliver better long-term results.

science  Jun 20, 2026

The Guardian Science

Skeleton of the world’s rarest marine mammal preserved by digital imaging

The reconstruction of the vaquita, whose numbers barely reach double figures in the wild, is designed to help research and conservation effortsScientists have created a digital reconstruction of the world’s most endangered marine mammal, preserving its anatomy in three dimensions to aid research and conservation efforts as the species teeters on the brink of extinction.The project digitised the skeleton of a female vaquita, a small porpoise found only in Mexico’s northern Gulf of California, usi

science  Jun 20, 2026

Science Daily

Hidden geological process offsets carbon emissions from thawing permafrost

Scientists found that thawing permafrost can trigger increased rock weathering, a natural process that absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere. In some regions, this carbon uptake was strong enough to fully offset — or even surpass — river greenhouse gas emissions.

science  Jun 20, 2026

Science Daily

The secret language behind animal cooperation

Animals from different species often rely on surprisingly sophisticated communication to work together, whether finding food, cleaning parasites, or gaining protection. New research suggests these interspecies “conversations” are flexible, evolved, and far more important to life in nature than scientists once realized.

science  Jun 20, 2026

Science Daily

Think you're eating healthy? You may be missing this heart-protecting nutrient

Eating five servings of fruits and vegetables may not be enough if you're missing foods rich in flavanols, a group of compounds linked to better heart health. Researchers found that choices like blackberries, plums, apples, broad beans, cherries, and green tea can dramatically increase flavanol intake.

science  Jun 19, 2026

Science Daily

Scientists expected a black hole but found a neutrino factory powered by stars

A distant galaxy nicknamed Shadow Blaster may have revealed a surprising source of cosmic neutrinos: extreme star formation instead of a supermassive black hole. The discovery suggests that hidden, dust-filled starburst galaxies could account for a significant fraction of the Universe’s high-energy neutrinos.

science  Jun 19, 2026

Science Daily

Researchers found a Wordle strategy that wins 99% of the time

Researchers developed a Wordle-solving strategy that succeeds 99% of the time by focusing on information gain rather than likely answers. The method uses Shannon entropy to identify guesses that reveal the most about the hidden word. Each guess is designed to slash uncertainty and narrow the possibilities faster. The result significantly outperformed more traditional Wordle tactics.

science  Jun 19, 2026

The Guardian Science

New research links prenatal exposure to Pfas to later development of PMOS

Study suggests exposure to ‘forever chemicals’ may be a main driver of disease, formerly called PCOS, authors sayNew research for the first time links prenatal exposure to Pfas “forever chemicals” with the development of polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) later in life.PMOS, formerly known as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), is estimated to impact about 13% of women. Many cases are undiagnosed, and the disease’s cause largely remains a mystery. Continue reading...

science  Jun 19, 2026

Science Daily

Scientists reprogram brain immune cells to fight Alzheimer’s

A newly identified molecule called OLE helped restore the brain’s immune cells to a more protective state in Alzheimer’s models. The treatment reduced toxic plaque buildup and improved memory, raising hopes for a new therapeutic approach.

science  Jun 19, 2026

The Guardian Science

‘Termination shock’: trust our expert warnings on geoengineering’s planetary risks | Raymond Pierrehumbert, Julia Slingo, Michael Mann and Valerie Masson-Delmotte

Do we really want to play dice with our planet?A series in the Guardian recently declared “it’s time to talk about geoengineering.” So let’s talk about it. And let us start with some simple truths about this cluster of techno-optimistic “quick fixes” which purport to somehow offset our slow progress towards zeroing out planet-warming carbon emissions.Solar geoengineering proposals – reducing sunlight – have received the most attention, but a host of desperate schemes have been proposed in an eff

science  Jun 19, 2026

Science Daily

Einstein’s “biggest blunder” may finally have an explanation

Scientists have uncovered a surprising connection between quantum gravity and an exotic quantum state of matter that could explain why the universe isn’t expanding wildly fast. The study suggests that the very shape of space-time may protect the cosmological constant from disruptive quantum effects.

science  Jun 19, 2026

The Guardian Science

My trip to meet the scientists trying to refreeze the Arctic

In this week’s newsletter: The melting of the Arctic’s summer sea ice is the most visible upshot of the climate crisis. Refreezing it might be a long shot – but do drastic times call for drastic measures?• Don’t get Down to Earth delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereSpeeding across rapidly melting Arctic ice on a snowmobile gave me a vivid feel for its beauty and fragility. The brilliant white landscape gleamed ahead, while the sky blue pools of meltwater jetted up on to my boots.When I visited

science  Jun 19, 2026

Science Daily

This giant tropical fruit could help reverse gum disease damage

A new biomaterial made from jackfruit latex, pomegranate peel, and simvastatin could transform the treatment of severe gum disease. Early tests suggest it not only combats infection and inflammation but may also help rebuild lost bone and tissue around teeth.

science  Jun 19, 2026