Friday, August 14, 2026

Newsdesk — page 2 | CountOn2 News

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Newsdesk

News desk

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Health

Sitting up straight may improve your mood and decision-making

A simple change in posture may subtly affect how people feel and make decisions. Participants who sat upright reported greater feelings of pride and took more successful risks in a virtual balloon game than those who hunched over. Most did not realize researchers had influenced their posture, helping rule out the possibility that they were merely responding to expectations. The results suggest workplace ergonomics could influence more than physical comfort.

Newsdesk23 hours ago3 min read

Health

Dirty air may trigger painful rheumatoid arthritis flares

Tiny pollution particles from smoke, soot, and dust may worsen rheumatoid arthritis and raise the risk of painful flares, particularly after prolonged exposure. The findings suggest that avoiding poor air quality could become an important part of managing the disease.

Newsdesk23 hours ago4 min read

Health

Inside Health - Where are we at with long Covid? - BBC Sounds

Millions of people still have long Covid, yet a cure still isn't quite within reach.

Newsdesk23 hours ago2 min read

Science

518-million-year-old creature reveals the origins of spider fangs

A tiny 518-million-year-old sea creature has revealed the earliest known evidence of the structures that eventually became spiders’ fangs. Hidden inside the fossil were pincerlike limbs and preserved soft tissues that help explain how the ancestors of spiders and scorpions evolved into formidable hunters.

Newsdesk23 hours ago3 min read

Science

Your brain may be wired to regain lost weight

Weight loss is not simply a test of willpower. The human brain evolved to protect body fat during times of scarcity, and it can treat a previously higher weight as the new normal, triggering stronger hunger, cravings, and lower energy use after weight loss. This biological “memory” helps explain why many people regain weight after dieting and why medications such as Wegovy and Mounjaro can help by reducing appetite signals, although their effects may fade when treatment ends.

Newsdesk23 hours ago4 min read

Science

Scientists catch a “jumping gene” mid-leap between species

Scientists have uncovered a surprising way that “jumping genes” may move between species and speed up evolution. While these mobile genetic elements were thought to travel mainly inside viruses or plasmids, researchers found circular intron RNA from a tiny predatory bacterium inside the dead cells of another microorganism. Because the RNA forms a stable ring that resists breakdown, it may provide jumping genes with a previously unknown route for spreading between species.

Newsdesk23 hours ago2 min read

Science

Stanford scientists discover immune cells that explode like microscopic bombs

Stanford researchers discovered immune cells in flatworms that explode within minutes, killing nearby bacteria and foreign cells before vanishing completely. Their unusually fast and localized attack could offer clues for developing targeted treatments against infections and cancer.

Newsdesk23 hours ago5 min read

Science

Cancer-fighting chewing gum cuts HPV levels by up to 93%

A specially engineered chewing gum reduced HPV by up to 93% and nearly eliminated two bacteria linked to head and neck cancer. The treatment preserved beneficial mouth bacteria, raising hopes for a safer and more affordable therapy.

Newsdesk23 hours ago3 min read

Science

Nearly half of dementia cases may be linked to risks you can change

A long-term brain study found that common risks such as smoking, high blood pressure, heart disease, and high blood lipids were strongly linked to damage associated with vascular dementia. The findings suggest that healthier lifestyle choices could help delay dementia by reducing several harmful brain changes at once.

Newsdesk23 hours ago3 min read

Science

567-million-year-old fossils rewrite the dawn of animal life

A spectacular fossil site in Canada contains 567-million-year-old creatures that may represent some of the earliest animals to move, reproduce sexually, and develop recognizable body plans. The discovery pushes key evolutionary milestones back by up to 10 million years and suggests complex animal life may have first flourished in the deep ocean.

Newsdesk23 hours ago5 min read

Science

Scientists discover the brain cells that keep you motivated

A group of brain cells called orexin neurons appears to help us keep working when reaching a reward becomes increasingly difficult. Blocking their activity weakened motivation in rats, pointing to a possible new target for understanding why people sometimes struggle to sustain goal-directed behavior.

Newsdesk23 hours ago3 min read

Science

80-million-year-old snake brain reveals a surprising evolutionary secret

An exceptionally preserved snake fossil from Brazil reveals that early snakes were far more diverse than scientists once thought. Detailed brain reconstructions show that Tametara mirim was adapted for burrowing, while another ancient snake was suited to life above ground. Other fossils point to marine lifestyles as well. By 80 million years ago, snakes were already experimenting with very different habitats and sensory systems.

Newsdesk23 hours ago2 min read

Science

Forget the sperm race: Fertilization may depend on teamwork

Millions of sperm do not always compete alone—some species send them into action as coordinated teams. A sweeping evolutionary study found that this cooperation is widespread among arthropods and has repeatedly emerged and vanished over hundreds of millions of years. The discovery challenges the classic “fastest sperm wins” story and could influence future fertility research and pest-control strategies.

Newsdesk23 hours ago5 min read

Science

Scientists rediscover lost Megalodon fossils—and reveal a 79-foot giant

Several enormous Megalodon vertebrae thought to have been destroyed in 1989 were found sitting unnoticed on a museum shelf. Their analysis strengthens evidence that the giant shark could exceed 24 meters (79 feet) in length and live for nearly a century. Researchers also estimate that its newborns may have measured an astonishing 3.6 meters (12 feet).

Newsdesk23 hours ago4 min read

Science

A drug already used for osteoporosis blocked spinal damage in a new study

Genetic changes may set off a chain reaction that causes the spine’s natural shock absorbers to harden and deteriorate. Zebrafish with a faulty collagen-related gene developed mineral buildup and spinal fusion similar to human disc disease. Researchers were able to reduce the damage using an existing osteoporosis drug and by targeting fat metabolism. The discovery points to several exciting possibilities for future back pain treatments.

Newsdesk23 hours ago3 min read

Science

BBC Inside Science - Are we alone in the universe? - BBC Sounds

What if the Goldilocks zone is for idiots?

Newsdesk23 hours ago1 min read

Science

BBC Inside Science - The state of our substrate: What is drought doing to our soil? - BBC Sounds

The surprising science of how drought affects the health of our soils.

Newsdesk23 hours ago1 min read

Technology

Tech Now - Rainforests: Can Tech Help to Protect Trees?

Yasmin Morgan-Griffiths finds out how new technologies are being used to measure the world's forests in more detail than ever before. Suranjana Tewari takes us inside a robotics factory in Beijing.

Newsdesk23 hours ago1 min read