Science Daily

1. A 70-year-old pregnancy drug just revealed a hidden weakness in brain cancer

   Researchers have solved the decades-old mystery behind how a common pregnancy drug lowers blood pressure. It turns out the medication blocks a fast-acting “oxygen alarm” inside cells. That same alarm helps brain tumors survive, meaning the drug unexpectedly weakens them, too. The discovery could inspire better treatments for both preeclampsia and brain cancer.

2. Scientists discover first gene proven to directly cause mental illness

   Scientists have discovered that a single gene, GRIN2A, can directly cause mental illness—something previously thought to stem only from many genes acting together. People with certain variants of this gene often develop psychiatric symptoms much earlier than expected, sometimes in childhood instead of adulthood. Even more surprising, some individuals show only mental health symptoms, without the seizures or learning problems usually linked to GRIN2A.

3. Dead stars aren’t so dead after all: The hidden force inflating white dwarfs

   Some white dwarfs in rapid binary orbits are far hotter and larger than theory predicts. Researchers found that powerful tidal forces between them generate enough heat to inflate their sizes and change their orbital behavior. This leads the stars to interact much sooner than expected, potentially triggering dramatic cosmic events. The new model may offer clues about the origins of type Ia supernovae.

4. Scientists boost lifespan by 70% in elderly male mice using simple drug combo

   Scientists found that combining oxytocin with an Alk5 inhibitor revitalized extremely old male mice, boosting their lifespan and strength. Female mice showed only short-term improvements, highlighting a major sex difference in aging biology. The therapy restored youthful protein patterns in blood and targeted key pathways that drive tissue decline. Because the components are already clinically accessible, this approach could move toward human testing.

5. Monumental Roman basin hidden for 2,000 years unearthed near Rome

   Archaeologists excavating the ancient Roman city of Gabii have uncovered a massive stone-lined basin that may represent one of Rome’s earliest monumental civic structures. Its central placement hints that early Romans were already experimenting with dramatic public spaces centuries before the iconic Forum took shape. The site’s remarkable preservation—made possible because Gabii was abandoned early—offers an unprecedented look at how Romans adapted Greek architectural ideas into powerful symbols of politics, ritual, and identity.