Science Daily

1. Simple nutrient mix delivers surprising autism breakthrough in mice

   A low-dose mix of zinc, serine, and branched-chain amino acids boosted neural function and social behavior in autism mouse models. The combination restored more typical synaptic protein patterns and reduced excessive amygdala activity. Individual supplements had no effect, showing that the nutrients must work together. The findings point toward a promising multi-nutrient strategy for influencing brain circuits involved in autism.

2. 3.3 billion-year-old crystals reveal a shockingly active early Earth

   Fresh evidence suggests early Earth wasn’t locked under a rigid stagnant lid but was already experiencing intense subduction. Ancient melt inclusions and advanced simulations point to continents forming far earlier than expected. The findings overturn long-held assumptions about the planet’s infancy and reveal a surprisingly active Hadean world.

3. Astronomers find a planet orbiting at a wild angle no one can explain

   A network of powerful ground-based telescopes captured rare starspot-crossing events on TOI-3884b, revealing cooler patches on the star’s surface and rapid changes tied to its rotation. By combining multicolor transit observations with months of high-cadence brightness monitoring, researchers nailed down the star’s rotation period with impressive precision. These measurements allowed them to map the system’s geometry—and what they found was surprising: the planet's orbit is wildly tilted relative to the star’s spin.

4. A simple oxygen hack creates 7 new ceramic materials

   Penn State researchers created seven new high-entropy oxides by removing oxygen during synthesis, enabling metals that normally destabilize to form rock-salt ceramics. Machine learning helped identify promising compositions, and advanced imaging confirmed their stability. The method offers a flexible framework for creating materials once thought impossible to synthesize.

5. Daily coffee may slow biological aging in mental illness

   Researchers studying people with major psychiatric disorders found that drinking up to four cups of coffee a day is associated with longer telomeres. This suggests a potential slowing of biological aging by about five years. However, drinking five or more cups showed no benefit and may even contribute to cellular damage. Coffee’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties may help explain the effect.