When summer temperatures soar across Texas, the cool shade of oak trees might seem like a safe refuge. Yet new research from Texas A&M University shows that heat waves can turn even these leafy havens into pockets of toxic air. Scientists found that high temperatures trigger chemical reactions between natural tree emissions and car exhaust molecules, creating harmful ozone and fine particles that threaten human health.
Everyday routines may soon be transformed by advanced technologies currently under development. From 3-D printed fashion to robots making meals and wearable devices predicting illness, engineers across the globe are testing prototypes that could become part of our homes.
A fresh look at fossil footprints suggests that long-standing equations used to calculate dinosaur speeds may be misleading. Researchers in England have tested the accuracy of these formulas with living animals and found significant differences between estimated and actual movement.
Vitamin and mineral supplements have become a $32.7bn (£24.2bn) global industry, with over 74% of Americans and two-thirds of Britons admitting to regular use. While these products are marketed as an easy solution to nutritional gaps, research shows their benefits are far from guaranteed. Scientists, including JoAnn Manson from Harvard and Bess Dawson-Hughes from Tufts University, have conducted large-scale studies that question whether these pills truly improve health or, in some cases, may even cause harm.