Leo Wilson 
Blood fat-lowering statins could slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, at least for some patients. This is the result of a new study led by Karolinska Institutet published in Alzheimer Research and Therapy. But the researchers are cautious in their interpretations and see the results as a first step in a research journey that may … Read more
Image of a flame burning one of the BASS tests on extinguishing burning fuels. Credit: NASA Research on the International Space Station is helping scientists to understand how fire spreads and behaves in different environments and learn how to prevent and extinguish fires in space. Combustion investigations contribute to the safety of crew members, equipment, … Read more
Sign up to Roisin O’Connor’s free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free It’s usually no trouble to find at least 10 emerging musicians we’re excited about going into the new year, but The Independent’s class of 2024 was harder to … Read more
A study appearing in Nature Communications based on field and greenhouse experiments at the University of Kansas shows how a boost in agricultural yield comes from planting diverse crops rather than just one plant species: Soil pathogens harmful to plants have a harder time thriving. “It’s commonly observed that diverse plant communities can be more … Read more
Bees need hives to store honey and feed themselves in winter. In northeast Colombia, police guard warehouses stacked high with confiscated timber with a noble new destiny: transformation into homes for bees beleaguered by pesticides and climate change. The illegally harvested wood is used in the Santander department’s “Timber Returns Home” initiative, building hives since … Read more
Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter For those of us who’ve been watching the progress of Kia Motors over the decades, the arrival of the EV9 feels like something … Read more
New research into large language models shows that they repeat conspiracy theories, harmful stereotypes, and other forms of misinformation. In a recent study, researchers at the University of Waterloo systematically tested an early version of ChatGPT’s understanding of statements in six categories: facts, conspiracies, controversies, misconceptions, stereotypes, and fiction. This was part of Waterloo researchers’ … Read more
Oil sludge is seen on a beach near the El Palito oil refinery in Venezuela’s Carabobo state on December 27, 2023. An oil spill is sloshing tarry ooze onto beaches in the state of Carabobo along Venezuela’s western coastline, several environmental groups said on Wednesday. The spill was first detected on Tuesday, Yohan Flores, a … Read more
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Doctors in California who mail abortion pills to patients in other states will be protected from prosecution. Workers will receive more paid sick leave on the heels of … Read more
A major report for the United Nations has put forward solutions to halve nitrogen pollution from agriculture and the food system in Europe, including reducing meat and dairy consumption, fertiliser use and food waste. Nitrogen, which is vital for plant growth, is present in animal excreta and synthetic fertilisers that are applied to land to … Read more
