University of Chicago

Whether it's watching the news or checking a bank account, adults often deal with uncertainty by switching off – even when that knowledge is useful. Now, scientists have identified when it is we start to go down the "ignorance is bliss" path, and why.

A carotenoid widely available in fruit and vegetables, and as a supplement, has been found to bolster the cancer-killing capacity of immune cells. It could be a valuable ally in immunotherapy treatment, helping to shrink tumors more effectively.

New discoveries by NASA's Curiosity Mars rover may not only explain why the Red Planet is a dry, lifeless desert, but that it may have been on an inevitable path to being a dead world despite being so similar to Earth. And the Sun is to blame.

Antibiotics can be literal lifesavers, but they are particularly hard on the gut thanks to their indiscriminate destruction of both good and bad bacteria in the body. New research shows a possible way to fight their negative effects based on diet.

As more bacteria become increasingly resistant to antibiotics, we need more ways to fight infections. That's where this new patch comes in. With a gentle electric zap, this wearable could prevent bacteria from doing a number on us through our skin.

A new pacemaker is thinner than a human hair, wireless and operated entirely by light from an optic fiber. The non-invasive device could help regulate heart activity or even stimulate neurons in a set pattern to treat conditions like Parkinson’s.

The debate rages on about the identity of fossils of small tyrannosaurs. A new study claims to have found evidence that a mini tyrannosaur species stomped around alongside its famous, giant cousin – but other scientists aren’t convinced.

A study has found that a fatty acid found in meat and dairy may boost the cancer-killing abilities of the immune system’s T cells. Also found to enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy, the nutrient could be used to complement cancer treatments.

An ‘inverse vaccine’ has been developed that reverses the damage caused when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s healthy organs and tissues. It could pave the way to a treatment for autoimmune diseases like MS, type 1 diabetes and arthritis.

Scientists have detected the first evidence of a phenomenon called “quantum superchemistry.” Long predicted but never confirmed, this effect could speed up chemical reactions, give scientists more control over them, and inform quantum computing.

Astronomers have put together one of the most comprehensive maps of all the matter in the universe. The huge undertaking hints at a slightly smoother universe than we thought, suggesting that something might be missing from our models.

Seeking a passive way to keep buildings cool in hot weather and warmer in the colder months, researchers have developed a new electrochromic shape-shifting material. It switches from solid to liquid and from clear to opaque at set temperatures.