Astronomers Discover a Second Giant Planet In a Nearby Star System

Posted on Categories Discover Magazine

Beta Pictoris c, the large planet in the foreground of this artist’s concept, orbits the star Beta Pictoris much more closely than Beta Pictoris b, which is a similarly massive planet located farther out in the system. (Credit: P. Rubini/A.M. Lagrange) The Beta Pictoris system swirls with activity — a dusty disk of debris, comets falling toward the central star, and at least one giant planet. And now, astronomers have uncovered evidence for yet another planetary Goliath, some nine ...read more

Pollution May Be a Hidden Factor in Mental Illness, Study Finds

Posted on Categories Discover Magazine

(Credit: Shutterstock) The roots of mental illness are still a mystery. But researchers think our mental health is shaped by a combination of factors, like genetics, our developmental environment and our life experiences. But there’s one factor that scientists say may have gone unnoticed. It appears that where we live, and how polluted it is, can increase our likelihood of developing a mental illness. That's according to a new large-scale population study published in PLOS Bi ...read more

What Science Says About Using Sleep Medications

Posted on Categories Discover Magazine

Medications for better sleep are ubiquitous. But they're no cure-all. (Credit: YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV/Shutterstock) The importance of a good night’s rest cannot be overstated. Poor sleep is linked to all-cause mortality, which means getting too little or too much sleep are “significant predictors of death,” according to a 2010 meta-analysis study. But good sleep is increasingly a privilege, as stress, workloads and the trappings of a modern lifestyle squeeze out valuable shut- ...read more

Scientists Develop a Blood Test That Predicts Risk of Death

Posted on Categories Discover Magazine

(Credit: Olena Yakobchuk/Shutterstock) If you've ever wondered how likely you are to die in the next five to 10 years, scientists may now have an answer for you. Researchers identified 14 molecules in blood that are associated with dying from any cause. They say a score based on the molecules can predict one’s risk of death. But the ominous foretelling is not all bad. Scientists say it may encourage lifestyle interventions and help with treatment decisions. “The association of ...read more

Skeleton Lake: Genetic Surprise Deepens Riddle Of The Dead

Posted on Categories Discover Magazine

Skeleton Lake, formally known as Roopkund Lake, sits at more than 16,000 feet above sea levels in the Himalayas. (Credit: Atish Waghwase) At the mysterious Skeleton Lake in northern India, the dead are talking, revealing surprises through centuries-old DNA. And it's not what anyone expected. New research suggests the site is not the scene of a single natural disaster that killed hundreds, as once thought. Skeleton Lake's emerging truth is far more mysterious. The human bones littering its ...read more