Scientists have successfully constructed a synthetic cell from scratch using nonliving chemical components. Led by professor Kate Adamala at the University of Minnesota, the team created a fragile, prototype cell capable of feeding, growing, and replicating like a natural organism.The creation could help scientists understand the origins of life and be programmed to address major global biological issues.

Scientists say they have built a cell from scratch for the first time

Once hailed as a weight-loss miracle, slimming injections may come with a harsh reality check. A major Oxford study warns that rapid weight loss can reverse once medication stops, with biology pushing weight back faster than expected. Experts call it a long-term trap rather than a permanent fix.

Weight Loss Jabs: Weight Return Four Times Faster Than Other Weight Loss Plans, Study Reveals 

Discover the four major turning points that reshape your brain. From childhood sharpening to late-life resilience, watch how your brain rewires itself through life. Learn the science behind cognitive peaks, aging, and brain health, and uncover the hidden timeline of your mind’s transformation. Don’t miss this deep dive into how the brain evolves over a lifetime.


Does the Brain Become Dull With Age? New Study Shows How the Brain Gradually Changes

A new study has revealed that men across the world have gained height and weight twice as fast as women over the last century, leading to larger differences between the sexes.
The study &lsquo;The sexy and formidable male body: men&rsquo;s height and weight are condition-dependent, sexually selected traits&rsquo; was published in Biology Letters.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re seeing insights into how sexual selection has shaped the male and female body and how improved environments, in terms of food and a lower burden of disease, have freed us from our shackles,&rdquo; said Lewis Halsey, professor at the University of Roehampton, who led the research, according to the Guardian report.
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Halsey and his team used data from the World Health Organization, the UK, and overseas authorities records to observe the changes in height and weight compared with living conditions, which were measured by the human development index (HDI). The HDI is determined on the basis of life expectancy, time in education, and per capita income and lies between zero and one.
The records from dozens of countries were examined to determine changes in height and weight of both sexes for every 0.2 point increase in HDI. On average, women were 1.7 cm taller and 2.7 kg heavier, while men were 4 cm taller and 6.5 kg heavier.
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The study highlighted that as living conditions improved, both height and weight increased in humans. However, the increase was twice as fast in men than in women.
The researchers also delved into historical height records of the UK to see whether similar trends were prevalent within countries. The data indicated that HDI increased from 0.8 in 1900 to 0.94 in 2022. On average, female height increased 1.9 per cent during the first half of the century from 159 cm to 162 cm. In males, the height increased by 4 per cent, from 170 cm to 177 cm.&nbsp;
&ldquo;To put this in perspective, about one in four women born in 1905 was taller than the average man born in 1905, but this dropped to about one in eight women for those born in 1958,&rdquo; Halsey said.
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<h2>Sexual preferences and taller men</h2>
The scientists also speculate that the sexual preferences of women may have driven a trend for taller, more muscular men. According to Halsey, the prime indicators of health and vitality are physique and stature. Sexual selection also prefers men who are able to protect and defend their partner and children better.
&ldquo;Women can find men&rsquo;s height attractive because, potentially, it makes them more formidable, but also because being taller suggests they are well-made,&rdquo; said Halsey. &ldquo;As they&rsquo;ve grown up, they haven&rsquo;t been affected by the slings and arrows of a bad environment, so they&rsquo;ve reached more of their height potential. It&rsquo;s an indicator that they&rsquo;re well-made.&rdquo;
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The faster increase in male height and weight than in females was &ldquo;striking&rdquo;, said Michael Wilson, professor of ecology, evolution, and behaviour at the University of Minnesota. He said that these findings were consistent with the earlier idea that females are &ldquo;the more ecologically constrained&rdquo; sex due to demands of reproduction, which was especially the case in mammals where pregnancy and nursing are &ldquo;energetically expensive&rdquo;.
&ldquo;Investment in greater body size by males appears to be sensitive to nutritional conditions,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;When men grow up with more energy-dense food, they grow bigger bodies, to a greater extent than women.
(With inputs from agencies)

Science & Tech | Science: The study highlighted that as living conditions improved, both height and weight increased in humans. However, the increase was twice as fast in men than in women.

A new study has revealed that men across the world have gained height and weight twice as fast as women over the last century, leading to larger differences between the sexes. The study ‘The sexy and formidable male body: men’s height and weight are condition-dependent, sexually selected traits’ was published in Biology Letters. “We’re seeing insights into how sexual selection has shaped the male and female body and how improved environments, in terms of food and a lower burden of disease, have freed us from our shackles,” said Lewis Halsey, professor at the University of Roehampton, who led the research, according to the Guardian report. Also read | Weight-loss drugs show wide health benefits, but risks remain: Study Halsey and his team used data from the World Health Organization, the UK, and overseas authorities records to observe the changes in height and weight compared with living conditions, which were measured by the human development index (HDI). The HDI is determined on the basis of life expectancy, time in education, and per capita income and lies between zero and one. The records from dozens of countries were examined to determine changes in height and weight of both sexes for every 0.2 point increase in HDI. On average, women were 1.7 cm taller and 2.7 kg heavier, while men were 4 cm taller and 6.5 kg heavier. Also read | Coffee linked to lower dementia risk: Study highlights unsweetened, caffeinated coffee benefits The study highlighted that as living conditions improved, both height and weight increased in humans. However, the increase was twice as fast in men than in women. The researchers also delved into historical height records of the UK to see whether similar trends were prevalent within countries. The data indicated that HDI increased from 0.8 in 1900 to 0.94 in 2022. On average, female height increased 1.9 per cent during the first half of the century from 159 cm to 162 cm. In males, the height increased by 4 per cent, from 170 cm to 177 cm. “To put this in perspective, about one in four women born in 1905 was taller than the average man born in 1905, but this dropped to about one in eight women for those born in 1958,” Halsey said. Also read | In a first, UK surgeons remove brain tumour through eye socket via keyhole surgery Sexual preferences and taller men The scientists also speculate that the sexual preferences of women may have driven a trend for taller, more muscular men. According to Halsey, the prime indicators of health and vitality are physique and stature. Sexual selection also prefers men who are able to protect and defend their partner and children better. “Women can find men’s height attractive because, potentially, it makes them more formidable, but also because being taller suggests they are well-made,” said Halsey. “As they’ve grown up, they haven’t been affected by the slings and arrows of a bad environment, so they’ve reached more of their height potential. It’s an indicator that they’re well-made.” Also read | NHS to attempt brain implant that could boost mood by using ultrasound The faster increase in male height and weight than in females was “striking”, said Michael Wilson, professor of ecology, evolution, and behaviour at the University of Minnesota. He said that these findings were consistent with the earlier idea that females are “the more ecologically constrained” sex due to demands of reproduction, which was especially the case in mammals where pregnancy and nursing are “energetically expensive”. “Investment in greater body size by males appears to be sensitive to nutritional conditions,” he said. “When men grow up with more energy-dense food, they grow bigger bodies, to a greater extent than women. (With inputs from agencies)

Men have grown faster than women over last century, study reveals

Researchers have discovered a fascinating array of unusual creatures, including tubeworms and snails, thriving beneath the seafloor. These organisms inhabit extreme environments, such as hydrothermal vents and cold seeps, where they have adapted to survive in high-pressure, low-light conditions. The findings reveal insights into the diverse ecosystems that exist in the deep ocean and highlight the complex relationships between these species and their environments. This research not only expands our understanding of marine biology but also raises questions about the potential for life in extreme conditions elsewhere in the universe.

Tubeworms, Snails and Other Weird Creatures Found Under Seafloor

In human biology, blood type has a significant role to play and is known to impact a person's well-being in various ways.&nbsp;

In a new study, unravelling one of the major impacts of blood type, it has been found that some blood types carry the increased risk of triggering an early stroke.

In biology, human blood types have been distinguished using the ABO blood group system, which categorises them as A, B, AB, and O blood types.

The blood types are given these labels on the basis of particular chemical components present in their red blood cells.

<h2>Blood type and its connection with stroke</h2>

In 2022, a detailed research venture looked into the connections between the chances of having an early stroke and the gene responsible for the A1 subgroup.

The data from 48 genetic studies, which included 17,000 stroke patients and nearly 600,000 non-stroke individuals—all ranging between the ages 18 and 59—was scrutinised by the researchers.

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&nbsp;A genome-wide search was conducted by the researchers and two locations were found to be strongly associated with an earlier risk of stroke.&nbsp;

One of these locations was found to be coinciding with the site where the gene for blood type was present.

After the researchers closely looked at specific blood type genes, they found that those people whose genome had a version of the A group had a 16 per cent higher chance of suffering stroke before they turned 60 in comparison to other blood types.

Meanwhile, individuals who had a gene for group O1 were at 12 per cent lower stroke risk.&nbsp;

Senior author and vascular neurologist Steven Kittner from the&nbsp;University of Maryland shared these findings.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/this-biological-ageing-test-can-tell-if-you-are-going-to-die-in-one-year-heres-how-it-works-765902">This 'biological ageing' test can tell if you are going to die in one year. Here's how it works</a>

The experts emphasised that people with type A blood had extra stroke risk, however, it is not very high and they need to go through regular check-ups.

As per experts, the increased risk is likely related to components which are involved in blood clot&nbsp;formation, which include platelets, cells lining blood vessels, and other circulating proteins.

In the study, when people who suffered a stroke before 60 were compared to those who had one after that age, it was found that increased&nbsp;stroke risk&nbsp;with type A blood significantly declined in the late-onset stroke group.

(With inputs from agencies)

In human biology, blood type has a significant role to play and is known to impact a person's well-being in various ways. In a new study, unravelling one of the major impacts of blood type, it has been found that some blood types carry the increased risk of triggering an early stroke.

In human biology, blood type has a significant role to play and is known to impact a person's well-being in various ways. In a new study, unravelling one of the major impacts of blood type, it has been found that some blood types carry the increased risk of triggering an early stroke. In biology, human blood types have been distinguished using the ABO blood group system, which categorises them as A, B, AB, and O blood types. The blood types are given these labels on the basis of particular chemical components present in their red blood cells. Blood type and its connection with stroke In 2022, a detailed research venture looked into the connections between the chances of having an early stroke and the gene responsible for the A1 subgroup. The data from 48 genetic studies, which included 17,000 stroke patients and nearly 600,000 non-stroke individuals—all ranging between the ages 18 and 59—was scrutinised by the researchers. Also Read: A new 'game-changing' blood test will detect 12 types of cancers. Here's all about it A genome-wide search was conducted by the researchers and two locations were found to be strongly associated with an earlier risk of stroke. One of these locations was found to be coinciding with the site where the gene for blood type was present. After the researchers closely looked at specific blood type genes, they found that those people whose genome had a version of the A group had a 16 per cent higher chance of suffering stroke before they turned 60 in comparison to other blood types. Meanwhile, individuals who had a gene for group O1 were at 12 per cent lower stroke risk. Senior author and vascular neurologist Steven Kittner from the University of Maryland shared these findings. Also Read: This 'biological ageing' test can tell if you are going to die in one year. Here's how it works The experts emphasised that people with type A blood had extra stroke risk, however, it is not very high and they need to go through regular check-ups. As per experts, the increased risk is likely related to components which are involved in blood clot formation, which include platelets, cells lining blood vessels, and other circulating proteins. In the study, when people who suffered a stroke before 60 were compared to those who had one after that age, it was found that increased stroke risk with type A blood significantly declined in the late-onset stroke group. (With inputs from agencies)

Does your blood type carry a high risk of triggering a stroke? Here's what a study says

Human senses allow us to perceive things around us, detected by stimuli. It is the process of gathering and sending information to the brain for understanding. Our senses allow us to experience things like listening to music or smelling an aromatic fragrance.

It is commonly believed that humans have five primary senses: touch, sight, smell, sound, and taste. First classified by Aristotle as the sensory organs of skin, eyes, nose, ears, and mouth, the idea was universally accepted. However, these are not the only senses that humans have.

<h2>Do humans have more than 5 senses?</h2>

Traditionally, only five human senses were accepted. But today it is considered that humans have some more senses other than the basic five ones.&nbsp;

Neuroscientists believe humans can sense much more than the five senses taught in school. While the exact number of senses remains a debate, there can be 9, 21, or more senses depending on how you perceive and define them.

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<h2>The 9 human senses</h2>

Apart from the five senses, the other four senses that humans have can be defined as:

Equilibrioception (Balance)

Humans can balance and coordinate themselves which is controlled by the vestibular system. It is located in the inner ear and helps walk, stand, and sit upright. When it is disturbed, it causes dizziness and nausea.

Nociception (Pain)

Nociception is our body's awareness of pain. This sense protects us by triggering the pain receptors, nociceptors, and making us known of the danger to keep us safe.

Thermoception (Temperature)

Thermoception is the body's perception of the temperature of the surrounding environment. If we bring our hands close to a stove, we can feel it is hot. This sense keeps us aware of our surroundings and helps protect ourselves from getting injured.

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Proprioception (Body awareness)

Proprioception or kinesthesia is awareness of our body's movement, actions, and position. Our body can sense these using the receptors in muscles, joints and tendons. This sense allows us to climb stairs without looking below.

<h2>The 21 human senses</h2>

Another theory on human senses suggests there are 21 senses in total.&nbsp;

The 21 senses include interoception, which is the brain's awareness of our body's internal state. It sends signals to the brain from internal organs to make the brain aware of our well-being.&nbsp;

This sense allows us to understand our inner state through heart rate, hunger, thirst, lung inflation, and others. It can play a significant role in regulating emotions and affect our mental health.&nbsp;

There can also be more senses beyond 21, depending on how you classify them. For example, taste can be defined as one sense or five as salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and savoury.

(With inputs from agencies)

Human senses allow us to perceive things around us, detected by stimuli. It is the process of gathering and sending information to the brain for understanding. Our senses allow us to experience things like listening to music or smelling an aromatic fragrance.

Human senses allow us to perceive things around us, detected by stimuli. It is the process of gathering and sending information to the brain for understanding. Our senses allow us to experience things like listening to music or smelling an aromatic fragrance. It is commonly believed that humans have five primary senses: touch, sight, smell, sound, and taste. First classified by Aristotle as the sensory organs of skin, eyes, nose, ears, and mouth, the idea was universally accepted. However, these are not the only senses that humans have. Do humans have more than 5 senses? Traditionally, only five human senses were accepted. But today it is considered that humans have some more senses other than the basic five ones. Neuroscientists believe humans can sense much more than the five senses taught in school. While the exact number of senses remains a debate, there can be 9, 21, or more senses depending on how you perceive and define them. Also read | If you think Mount Everest is the tallest mountain, you’re wrong The 9 human senses Apart from the five senses, the other four senses that humans have can be defined as: Equilibrioception (Balance) Humans can balance and coordinate themselves which is controlled by the vestibular system. It is located in the inner ear and helps walk, stand, and sit upright. When it is disturbed, it causes dizziness and nausea. Nociception (Pain) Nociception is our body's awareness of pain. This sense protects us by triggering the pain receptors, nociceptors, and making us known of the danger to keep us safe. Thermoception (Temperature) Thermoception is the body's perception of the temperature of the surrounding environment. If we bring our hands close to a stove, we can feel it is hot. This sense keeps us aware of our surroundings and helps protect ourselves from getting injured. Also read | Damage to brain network linked with increased religious fundamentalism: Study Proprioception (Body awareness) Proprioception or kinesthesia is awareness of our body's movement, actions, and position. Our body can sense these using the receptors in muscles, joints and tendons. This sense allows us to climb stairs without looking below. The 21 human senses Another theory on human senses suggests there are 21 senses in total. The 21 senses include interoception, which is the brain's awareness of our body's internal state. It sends signals to the brain from internal organs to make the brain aware of our well-being. This sense allows us to understand our inner state through heart rate, hunger, thirst, lung inflation, and others. It can play a significant role in regulating emotions and affect our mental health. There can also be more senses beyond 21, depending on how you classify them. For example, taste can be defined as one sense or five as salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and savoury. (With inputs from agencies)

If you think humans have five senses, you’re wrong

Two life forms have merged into a single organism for the first time in at least a billion years. Primary endosymbiosis, or two life forms merging into one, has occurred only twice in the history of Earth.

Two life forms have merged into a single organism for the first time in at least a billion years. Primary endosymbiosis, or two life forms merging into one, has occurred only twice in the history of Earth. The first time, it gave rise to all complex life as we know it through mitochondria. The second time, it caused the emergence of plants. An international team of scientists have observed the evolutionary phenomenon between a species of algae commonly found in the ocean and a bacterium. Tyler Coale, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Santa Cruz, said, "The first time we think it happened, it gave rise to all complex life." Coale, the lead researcher on one of the two studies that uncovered the phenomenon, added, "Everything more complicated than a bacterial cell owes its existence to that event. A billion years ago or so, it happened again with the chloroplast, and that gave us plants." According to the study published in Science and Cell, the algae engulfed the bacterium, providing it nutrients, energy and protection in return for functions. The algae could not perform some functions earlier, like the ability to "fix" nitrogen from the air. ALSO READ | Chang’e 6 mission’s experimental satellites beam back eerie image of Moon and Earth Then, the algae incorporated the bacterium as an internal organ. This organelle became crucial to the host's ability to function. "That's exactly what happens with organelles," said Jonathan Zehr, one of the study's authors. "If you look at the mitochondria and the chloroplast, it's the same thing: they scale with the cell." Researchers from the United States and Japan who made the discovery said it will offer new insights into evolution. This rare phenomenon also has the potential to change agriculture fundamentally. Dr Coale stated, "This system is a new perspective on nitrogen fixation, and it might provide clues into how such an organelle could be engineered into crop plants." The scientists involved came from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the University of Rhode Island, the University of California, San Francisco, UC Santa Cruz, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Institut de Ciències del Mar in Barcelona, National Taiwan Ocean University, and Kochi University in Japan. (With inputs from agencies)

Two life forms merge into one organism in a phenomenon that occurs once in a billion years

A theory suggests that when life first emerged on Earth roughly four billion years ago, it looked like a volcanic landscape devoid of flora and fauna rather than an ocean setting.

A theory suggests that when life first emerged on Earth roughly four billion years ago, it looked like a volcanic landscape devoid of flora and fauna rather than an ocean setting. According to a study published in Nature, Last Chance Lake, a shallow, salty body of water on a volcanic rock in the Canadian province of British Columbia, holds a clue that carbonate-rich lakes in ancient Earth could have been the "cradle of life." David Catling, the study co-author and a professor of geosciences at the University of Washington, said, "We were able to look for the specific conditions that people use to synthesise the building blocks of life in nature. We think that we have a very promising place for the origin of life." The research team made the lake a point of study after a literature review unveiled an unpublished thesis from the 1990s, reporting high phosphate levels there. The Last Chance Lake, located on a volcanic plateau in British Columbia, is only a foot deep. It contains the highest levels of concentrated phosphate recorded in any natural body of water on Earth. Phosphate is a critical component of biological molecules, as the chemical compound contains the life-sustaining element phosphorus. RNA and DNA contain phosphate, and it's also present in ATP, a molecule necessary for energy production in all life forms. ALSO READ | ISRO successfully launches INSAT-3DS satellite, adds another feather in its cap According to Sebastian Haas, a postdoctoral researcher studying microbiology and chemistry of aquatic environments at the University of Washington, the abundance of phosphate at Last Chance Lake is over a thousand times more than what is typical for oceans or lakes. The research team visited Last Chance Lake to collect and analyse water and sediment samples between 2021 and 2022. They discovered that the lake has an abundance of phosphate and the mineral dolomite. Dolomite allows phosphorus to build in such an environment. "We are adding credibility to the idea that this environment would be favourable to the origin of life and is plausible," Haas said. However, Last Chance Lake wasn't four billion years old. It's estimated to have been around less than 10,000 years. Although the site is a natural snapshot of the past or a modern analogue, it offers scientists to understand what primordial Earth may have looked like outside of a lab. "There’ a every reason to believe that similar lakes would have occurred on the first land about 4 billion years ago, because the volcanic rocks that Last Chance Lake sits on are basically a prerequisite for forming soda lakes," Haas said. "And what we're partially showing here is that soda lake water chemistry is the prerequisite for these high phosphate levels." (With inputs from agencies)

A shallow, salty lake in Canada may have an explanation for the origin of life on Earth

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