Catherine Griffin : Science World Report

Jun 02, 2014 12:47 PM EDT

New Type of Massive, Rocky Planet Discovered in Our Universe: The Mega-Earth

There's a new type of planet in our universe--and it's a big one. Astronomers have discovered a rocky world weighing 17 times as much as Earth, making it much larger than the previously-known "super-Earth."

Jun 02, 2014 12:10 PM EDT

The World's Most Sensitive Thermometer Can Measure to 30 Billionths of a Degree

The world's best thermometer isn't made of mercury; it's made of light. Physicists have created the most sensitive thermometer yet that's three times more precise than the best thermometers in existence today.

Jun 02, 2014 11:26 AM EDT

NASA IRIS Captures its First Ever Gigantic Solar Eruption from Sun (VIDEO)

NASA astronomers have caught a coronal mass ejection with the help of its newest solar observatory. Scientists can now study the ejection of solar particles with the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) in extraordinary detail.

Jun 02, 2014 10:44 AM EDT

New Breakthrough for Obesity: Leptin Influences Brain Cells that Control Appetite

About 20 years after learning that the hormone, leptin, regulates metabolism, appetite and weight through brain cells called neurons, researchers have found that the hormone also acts on other types of cells to control appetite.

Jun 02, 2014 09:47 AM EDT

New Epilepsy Treatment May Prevent Seizures with a Pill

There may be a new way for those with epilepsy to suppress seizures. Researchers may have created a new treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy that allows someone to take a pill in order to keep a seizure at bay.

Jun 02, 2014 08:45 AM EDT

Scientists Erase a Memory and then Restore it: Implications for Alzheimer's Disease

There may not only be a way to erase a memory, but also to restore it. Scientists have managed to erase a memory in rats before reactivating it, profoundly altering the animals' reactions to past events.

Jun 02, 2014 08:10 AM EDT

Smokers with Dangerous Gene Defect Have One in Four Chance of Developing Lung Cancer

Environmental influences can play a role in whether or not you develop cancer, but genetics also has a major role. Scientists have found that one in four smokers who carry a defect in the BRCA2 gene will develop lung cancer at some point in their lifetime.

Jun 02, 2014 07:39 AM EDT

Environmental Influences May Cause Autism: Children of Older Mothers at Risk

Could environmental influences cause autism? That's exactly what scientists have found in this latest study. They've discovered that some cases of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can result from environmental influences rather than gene mutations.

Jun 02, 2014 07:16 AM EDT

Butterfly Eyespots Reveal How Evolution Works with New Traits

Scientists are learning a bit more about evolution, thanks to the colorful patterns on butterfly wings. Researchers have taken a closer look at the "eyespots" on certain butterflies in order to answer some fundamental questions about evolution.

May 31, 2014 06:49 AM EDT

Stress Impacts Male Fertility by Degrading Sperm Quality

Don't stress if you're trying to have kids. Scientists have found that psychological stress is harmful to sperm and semen quality, affecting its concentration, appearance and ability to fertilize an egg.

May 31, 2014 06:49 AM EDT

Australia's Deadly Volcanic Eruptions Caused the World's First Mass Extinction

About 510 million years ago, volcanic eruptions in Australia spewed ash and greenhouse gases into the air. Now, scientists have found that they may have been the cause of the first known mass extinction in the history of complex life.

May 31, 2014 06:49 AM EDT

Want to Lose Weight? Eat Some Prunes

Want to lose weight? Then you may want to try some prunes. Scientists have found that eating prunes as part of a weight control diet can actually improve weight loss.