A 24-hour fast triggers a surprising repair response in the gut

By modeling how a planet without life develops its atmosphere, astronomers hope to be able to better distinguish rocky planets without life from those that are inhabited.

MIT scientists have developed nanoparticles that reprogram immune cells directly inside the body to attack cancer and harmful immune cells, eliminating tumors and reversing liver damage in mouse experiments. The breakthrough could make powerful immune therapies dramatically simpler and less expensive while opening new possibilities for treating cancer and autoimmune diseases.

A nuclear explosion might save Earth from a deadly asteroid, but new research suggests that hitting the wrong side could make the difference between success and disaster. Scientists found that an asteroid's irregular shape can dramatically affect how it responds to an X-ray blast, with deflection effectiveness varying nearly fivefold depending on the angle.

A major international study tracking more than 26,000 men found that very low testosterone levels were associated with an 18% higher risk of dying from cancer later in life. Surprisingly, testosterone itself showed no clear link to prostate cancer, although two other sex hormones did. Researchers believe low testosterone could be an important early warning sign of future health risks, particularly when levels fall below 8.6 nmol/L.