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Vitamin C has long been promoted as a possible cancer treatment, but new research suggests its potential may be more complicated than the idea that taking large amounts of the vitamin can cure the disease. The debate goes back to Nobel Prize-winning scientist Linus Pauling, who became a strong supporter of high-dose vitamin C late in his career. In the 1970s, Pauling and Scottish doctor Ewan Cameron treated patients with advanced cancer using large amounts of vitamin C. They reported that some patients receiving the treatment lived longer and experienced a better quality of life. However, later clinical trials conducted by the Mayo Clinic found no clear benefit from taking high-dose vitamin C tablets. The results largely ended mainstream interest in Pauling's theory for many years. But there was an important difference between the treatments. Pauling and Cameron initially gave vitamin C directly into patients' veins, while the Mayo Clinic studies used tablets. The body can absorb only a limited amount of vitamin C from the digestive system, meaning very high blood levels cannot normally be achieved by swallowing tablets. Intravenous treatment, on the other hand, can produce blood levels many times higher than oral supplements. How high-dose vitamin C may work At normal levels, vitamin C acts mainly as an antioxidant, helping protect cells from damage. At very high concentrations, however, researchers have found that it can have different effects. Laboratory studies suggest that high-dose vitamin C can increase the production of hydrogen peroxide, a substance that can damage cells. Cancer cells may be particularly vulnerable because they are already under considerable stress and often have weaker systems for dealing with such damage. Researchers therefore believe very high doses of vitamin C could act more like a drug than a regular nutritional supplement, potentially damaging cancer cells while leaving healthy cells less affected. Such concentrations cannot generally be achieved through vitamin C tablets. Evidence in patients remains mixed Research involving cancer patients is still at an early stage. Small studies have examined intravenous vitamin C in people with difficult-to-treat cancers, including ovarian, pancreatic and brain cancers. Many patients have been able to receive high doses several times a week without serious problems. However, the treatment can carry risks, particularly for people with kidney problems or certain rare inherited conditions. Some studies suggest that intravenous vitamin C used alongside chemotherapy may help certain patients live somewhat longer or better manage treatment-related side effects. Other studies have found no clear benefit. Because the studies have generally involved small numbers of patients and used different treatment methods, researchers say there is not yet enough evidence to draw firm conclusions. One potentially encouraging finding involves quality of life. Some patients receiving vitamin C alongside chemotherapy have reported less fatigue, pain and nausea. Researchers are exploring other effects Scientists are also investigating whether vitamin C may influence cancer in other ways. The vitamin plays a role in enzymes involved in how DNA is regulated, how cells divide and how they respond to low-oxygen conditions — all processes that can affect cancer growth. Laboratory experiments have suggested that high levels of vitamin C may slow the growth of some cancer cells or make them more sensitive to other treatments. There are also early indications that it could influence the immune system's ability to recognise cancer cells, although researchers say this possibility remains unproven. Pauling was partly right So, was Pauling right? Researchers say the answer is more complicated than a simple yes or no. He was wrong to promote vitamin C tablets as a powerful cancer cure. Large clinical studies have not shown that taking high doses orally helps people with established cancer live longer. He also went too far in presenting vitamin C as a broad treatment for many diseases. But his idea that vitamin C could have a different role when given in very high doses directly into the bloodstream has gained renewed scientific interest. Modern research confirms that intravenous vitamin C can reach much higher levels in the blood and produce biological effects that are not seen with ordinary supplements. Still, there are no large, definitive clinical trials showing that high-dose intravenous vitamin C clearly extends the lives of most cancer patients. For now, researchers consider the treatment experimental. It may be worth further study, but it should not replace established cancer treatments and should only be used under proper medical supervision or as part of clinical research. The story of vitamin C and cancer is a reminder that scientific ideas can change over time. An idea once dismissed may later deserve a closer look — but promising early findings still need to be tested through large, carefully designed studies before they can become accepted medical treatment. Source: Science Daily

Shares of Elon Musk's SpaceX rose Thursday despite the expiration of restrictions that allowed many company insiders to sell their shares for the first time. Investors had pushed SpaceX shares lower in recent days amid concerns that employees and other insiders would sell their holdings after the first of several lockup periods expired. More than 900 million additional shares became eligible for trading Thursday, roughly doubling the number previously available. SpaceX shares gained 6.1% to close at $114.92, recovering from a nearly 14% drop a day earlier in one of the steepest declines since the company became publicly traded. Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas said the end of the lockup period could give investors an opportunity to buy the stock at a lower price. He has projected that SpaceX shares could reach $300 by the middle of next year, nearly three times their current level. Morgan Stanley was among the investment banks that earned substantial fees from helping SpaceX go public last month. Earlier this week, SpaceX reported a loss of $541 million, or 9 cents per share, for the three months ending in June. The loss was less than half what analysts had expected. The company reported revenue of $7.8 billion, an increase of more than 90% from the same period a year earlier. However, SpaceX sharply increased spending on research and development and infrastructure, particularly on artificial intelligence and other major projects. Investors have become increasingly concerned about heavy capital spending by technology companies, which has triggered sell-offs in some cases. In June, SpaceX sold shares to the public for the first time in what was the largest initial public offering ever. The stock surged as high as $225, briefly pushing Musk's wealth above the trillion-dollar mark. The subsequent decline has erased hundreds of billions of dollars from SpaceX's market value, with the shares now trading below their initial offering price of $135.

Scientists have produced the most detailed images ever captured of the Sun’s surface, uncovering a remarkably dynamic and unusual landscape. Although viewing the Sun directly is unsafe without proper eye protection, researchers were able to examine its intensely hot surface using the National Science Foundation’s Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope on Maui, Hawaii. The images were initially taken to calibrate and test the telescope’s performance. However, the team soon realized they had recorded the Sun’s bright outer layer with a level of clarity never achieved before. Among the most striking discoveries were delicate, feather-like patterns spreading across the solar surface. Solar physicist Ruizhu Chen of Stanford University, who was not involved in the study, said the swirling structures reminded her of the dramatic skies depicted in Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night. The researchers identified these patterns as ripples caused by magnetized plasma moving at varying speeds, creating instabilities similar to waves formed when wind blows across water. While this fluid-dynamics phenomenon has been observed on Earth and on planets such as Jupiter and Saturn, study co-author Friedrich Wöger of the National Solar Observatory noted that it has never before been seen so clearly on the Sun’s surface.  

A long-running scientific study of marmots in Colorado has found an unusual way to raise money after losing federal funding — by posting family-friendly videos of the animals on OnlyFans. The project is led by Colorado-based biologist Dr Daniel Blumstein, who said he created an account on the platform, best known for adult-oriented content, as an “act of desperation” after funding cuts threatened the future of the research. Under the name “OnlyMarms,” the account features uncensored but family-friendly footage of marmots running around their natural habitat and emerging from their burrows. The videos have so far raised more than $5,000. After OnlyFans takes its share, about $4,000 will go to the UCLA-affiliated Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Colorado. The Marmot Project has been running for more than 60 years and is the world's second-longest study of individually identified mammals, after Jane Goodall's famous chimpanzee research in Tanzania. The project focuses on yellow-bellied marmots, one of 15 recognized marmot species found across the Northern Hemisphere. Although the animals are not threatened or endangered, researchers say studying them over many years helps scientists understand what causes changes in animal populations. Blumstein said long-term studies are highly valuable but securing federal funding has become increasingly difficult. He does not expect the OnlyMarms account to raise enough money to prevent cuts to the project. However, he said the unusual fundraising effort is helping bring attention to the research. An unusual ideaThe idea came to Blumstein while he was sitting in a meadow waiting for marmots to emerge from their burrows. He had recently watched the TV show “Margot's Got Money Troubles,” in which a character creates an OnlyFans account to earn money. “Marmots' got money troubles,” Blumstein thought. “Maybe we should do something a little risqué.” He discussed the idea with students at his lab, who came up with the name OnlyMarms. One student helped him create the account. There was one unexpected problem during registration. OnlyFans required Blumstein to verify his identity by uploading a photo of his driver's license. The platform initially flagged the account because his identification photo did not match the marmot used as the profile picture. A short exchange with the platform resolved the issue, allowing the researchers to begin posting videos. Life in the marmot worldThe videos show Rocky Mountain marmots in their natural surroundings. Blumstein said the animals are less social than some alpine marmots and that female marmots tend to become more irritable as they grow older. One video shows a female marmot chasing a male out of her burrow after he gets too comfortable. Another features a female marmot sitting in the sun, described by researchers as “the queen of the town.” The researchers avoid giving the animals human-like names because they do not want to introduce bias into their scientific observations. Instead, the marmots are identified using dye markings and labels such as “dans_hat,” “open_kite” and “Citroën.” Fat Marmot WeekThe researchers have also created “Fat Marmot Week,” inspired by the popular Fat Bear Week event. At the end of August, the public will be able to vote for their favorite marmot in a tournament-style competition. Marmots gain weight before winter because they hibernate and need enough stored energy to survive the long, cold season. Blumstein said the competition may be entertaining, but the animals’ struggle to build up enough body fat before winter is ultimately a matter of survival. Source: BBC

A new study has found a possible link between fructose, a common dietary sugar, and the spread of an aggressive form of ovarian cancer. Researchers at The Wistar Institute found that cancer cells that survive chemotherapy can release fructose, which may act as a chemical signal and encourage nearby cancer cells to spread. The findings, published in Nature Aging, point to a previously unknown way in which cancer cells left behind after treatment may contribute to the spread of the disease. “Some cancer cells that survive chemotherapy aren't dividing anymore, but they're still biologically active,” said Aidan Cole, a postdoctoral fellow at The Wistar Institute and the study’s first author. “Instead, they continue to release molecules that send signals to nearby cells. Our study is among the first to show that a nutrient — in this case, fructose — can act as one of those signals,” he said. Why ovarian cancer often returnsMost ovarian cancer patients receive platinum-based chemotherapy, which can initially be effective. However, the disease often returns and spreads through the abdominal cavity. This spread, known as metastasis, is responsible for about 90% of deaths from ovarian cancer, according to the researchers. Earlier studies suggested that cancer cells that survive chemotherapy may contribute to recurrence by releasing various chemical signals. To study this process, Cole and his colleagues separated the surviving cancer cells from the substances they produced. They then exposed other cancer cells to those substances. The researchers found that the released substances alone significantly increased the ability of other cancer cells to spread. “As far as we know, this is the first time anyone has shown, in a preclinical model rather than just a dish, that it's the molecules these cells release — not the cells themselves — that drive the cancer's spread,” Cole said. Fructose may act as a signalThe researchers then looked for the specific substance responsible for the effect. Their analysis showed that chemotherapy-surviving cancer cells produced fructose, which acted as a signal that encouraged nearby cancer cells to spread. They also found that high levels of dietary fructose, similar to amounts found in some sugary drinks, could promote cancer spread in their experimental models even without chemotherapy. The finding raises questions about whether diet could influence cancer progression. Fructose is widely consumed, particularly in the United States, where high-fructose corn syrup can account for a significant share of daily calorie intake for some people. However, the researchers stressed that they have not yet tested whether reducing fructose intake improves outcomes for cancer patients. How fructose may help cancer cells spreadThe researchers next examined how fructose could make cancer cells more likely to move. Using several analytical techniques, including a CRISPR-based screening method, they found that fructose reduced cholesterol production in nearby cancer cells. Cholesterol helps maintain connections between cells, acting partly like biological glue. When cholesterol levels decrease, those connections can weaken, potentially allowing cancer cells to separate and move more easily. The researchers said this could help explain how a common nutrient may influence the physical behaviour of cancer cells. Questions about cholesterol-lowering drugsThe findings also raised questions about statins, drugs commonly used to lower cholesterol. In their experiments, the researchers found that statins alone weakened connections between cancer cells and made it easier for them to separate. However, the researchers stressed that the findings do not mean patients should stop taking statins or any other prescribed medicines. “We haven't tested this effect in patients yet, but it raises questions about combining cholesterol-lowering drugs with chemotherapy,” said Katherine Aird, a professor and senior author of the study at The Wistar Institute. She noted that the issue may be particularly relevant because ovarian cancer is more common among postmenopausal women, many of whom may already take statins. Could other cancers be affected?The researchers are now investigating whether the same fructose-related mechanism could also play a role in other cancers. “We think other cancers that spread within the torso — pancreatic, colon, liver — could behave similarly,” Aird said. “We can't call it universal yet, but we think the effects are not just limited to ovarian cancer,” she added. Aird and Cole have begun planning further studies to determine whether similar findings occur in other types of cancer. The researchers emphasised that the current findings are preclinical and do not yet establish that eating fructose causes cancer to spread in people. Source: Science Daily

Researchers have discovered that two highly poisonous flowering plants—wolfsbane and larkspur—could help pave the way for new medicines to treat pain, malaria and cancer, while also offering safer ways to control agricultural pests. The study, led by scientists from Michigan State University (MSU) and the Czech Academy of Sciences, identified a method to reproduce part of the plants' complex chemical process in the laboratory. The findings were published in the journal Molecular Plant. Although both plants can cause nerve damage and paralysis even in very small amounts, they also produce natural compounds with promising medicinal properties. "These plants have been used in different forms of medicine throughout the world for thousands of years," said Garret Miller, a former MSU researcher and now an assistant professor of biotechnology at the University of Michigan-Flint. He said understanding how these compounds are produced could open new opportunities for medical research and drug development. Researchers said plants are remarkable natural chemists that have evolved over millions of years to produce complex chemicals for survival. Many everyday products and medicines, including caffeine, menthol and vanillin, either come directly from plants or are inspired by plant chemistry. The research focused on a group of toxic compounds known as diterpenoid alkaloids, which are found in wolfsbane and larkspur. While these chemicals are highly poisonous, scientists believe they could also have valuable medical uses. For decades, researchers have struggled to understand how plants produce these complicated molecules. One of the best-known compounds in this group, aconitine, was first isolated nearly 200 years ago, but scientists have still been unable to fully produce it in a laboratory. The breakthrough came after researchers from the United States and the Czech Republic joined forces to trace the plants' natural chemical production process. The team studied several species of both plants and examined thousands of genes to identify those involved in producing the toxic compounds. After identifying key genes, the researchers inserted them into tobacco plants, which acted as living "biofactories" to test whether they could recreate the chemical pathway. The modified tobacco plants successfully produced atisinium, a member of the diterpenoid alkaloid family, using six different enzymes. Scientists said this marks an important first step toward understanding how these complex compounds are made and could eventually enable sustainable production of plant-based chemicals for medical research. Researchers believe the findings could support the future development of new medicines inspired by these natural compounds while reducing the need to harvest toxic plants from the wild. Source: Science Daily

For the first time in more than a century, a total solar eclipse is coming to mainland Spain with an even longer encore next summer. Toss in a crescendoing meteor shower and a six-planet parade on the same day, and the heavens will be overflowing with awe. Daytime darkness will descend Aug. 12 across the Iberian Peninsula close to sunset — plus slivers of Greenland and Iceland — as the sun, moon and Earth align perfectly in the sky. Starting near the North Pole before tracking south, totality will last up to two minutes and 18 seconds, an appetizer for an even longer solar show next year — a 6 ½-minute extravaganza that will sweep from Spain to North Africa and the Middle East. It will take 1 ½ hours for the umbra, or moon’s sun-blocking shadow, to race along the 5,130-mile (8,260-kilometer) course, most of it over an empty Atlantic. Maximum totality will occur off Iceland’s west coast. By the time it reaches a small patch of Portugal and then Spain with its massive crowds, totality will have dwindled to a minute or so. The spectacle will end in the Mediterranean. Eclipse chasers gear up for the solar spectacle Hundreds of millions more on the sidelines are in for a treat as well. A partial eclipse will delight as far away as Alaska and Siberia, enveloping Canada, the northern U.S., and much of Europe and West Africa. The closer to totality’s course, the more the sun will vanish behind the moon – 94% coverage in Dublin and 83% in Oslo, Norway. Montreal will see an 18% bite out of the sun, tapering to 9% in New York and 2% in Norfolk, Virginia. Special eclipse glasses are crucial. even if a morsel of sun is showing. Adding to the cosmic wonder, the day begins with six of our neighboring planets forming an arc in the sky before dawn and end with the Perseid meteor shower peaking after nightfall under the new moon. Streaking meteors could photobomb totality, with some of the brighter planets and stars visible in the background. Eclipse mapmaker Michael Zeiler is chasing an even more elusive interloper: the northern lights. For his 13th total solar eclipse, Zeiler will be on a cruise ship in a Greenland fjord, sailing as a guest lecturer. He’ll point a video camera toward the north to capture any aurora forming during totality. A massive outburst from the sun would be the icing on his eclipse cake. “What gets me excited is viewing rare phenomena,” Zeiler said in an email. He’s not the only one revved up. See who's hosting solar eclipse watch parties and science experiments The European Space Agency will host a live webcast from Spain’s Astrophysical Observatory of Javalambre and a public celebration in Leon. NASA will provide its own coverage, as will the Italian-based Virtual Telescope Project and others. “For me, it’s not just a scientific moment. It’s not just an incredible alignment of heavenly bodies. It’s also a very human moment,” said ESA’s director of science Carole Mundell. “It’s a real human connection between us with our feet planted on the Earth and the cosmos.” Two of ESA’s space telescopes will observe the eclipsed sun and its corona, or outer atmosphere. Proba-3, the space agency’s artificial eclipse-making satellite duo, will be in the wrong part of its orbit during totality as seen from Earth, but will try to sneak in some before-and-after shots. U.S. college research teams are also pitching in, launching more than 60 high-altitude balloons from Spain and Iceland to study Earth’s atmosphere and other changes during the eclipse when the temperature momentarily drops. They launched 10 times as many balloons during the 2024 total solar eclipse that captivated North America. “A couple of minutes isn’t a lot of time, but it’s still plenty to affect the atmosphere and to make that cold, dark shadow of the moon on Earth,” said Montana State University’s Angela Des Jardins, who leads the NASA-funded balloon project. Southwest Research Institute’s Amir Caspi also expects a scientific bonanza from his study aboard a NASA high-altitude plane. Four cameras will record the corona in nine wavelengths as the jet chases the eclipse at 460 mph (740 kph), extending totality to nearly three minutes in the air. Caspi anticipates thousands of images gathered from each camera during those precious 180 seconds. "It’s true the eclipse is short, but it’s still incredibly valuable," he said. And there's more to come An exceptionally long total solar eclipse is in store for 2027, yielding nearly three times more observation time. The southern tip of Spain will take center stage on Aug. 2, 2027, with up to six minutes and 23 seconds of totality extending into Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Somalia. Then on Jan. 26, 2028, a ring-of-fire eclipse will round out Spain’s celestial trifecta — “a lucky coincidence,” according to ESA’s Mundell. It’s all the more extraordinary considering Spain’s last full solar eclipse — not counting the Canary Islands — occurred two days before the Titanic’s sinking in 1912. Because that rare hybrid eclipse toggled between a ring-of-fire and just a few seconds of totality for Spain, some consider 1905 for the country’s last pull-out-all-the-stops solar eclipse. The Royal Observatory of Belgium’s Andrei Zhukov can’t get enough of them regardless of their length or origin. His Proba-3 science mission has created more than 60 simulated total solar eclipses over the past two years, with the longest lasting five hours and 38 minutes from two satellites flying in formation. “We’re looking forward to more eclipses,” Zhukov said, “natural or artificial.”

Skywatchers are set for a rare celestial spectacle on August 12 when a total solar eclipse sweeps across parts of Spain, Iceland and Greenland, accompanied by a planetary alignment before dawn and the peak of the Perseid meteor shower after sunset. The eclipse will begin near the North Pole before moving south across the Atlantic. The moon’s shadow will travel about 8,260 kilometres in roughly 90 minutes, with maximum totality lasting up to two minutes and 18 seconds off Iceland’s west coast. In mainland Spain, the eclipse will occur near sunset, with total darkness lasting around one minute in most locations. Small parts of Portugal, Greenland and Iceland will also experience totality before the event ends over the Mediterranean. A partial eclipse will be visible across much of Europe, West Africa, Canada, the northern United States, Alaska and Siberia. Scientists have stressed that certified eclipse glasses are essential for safe viewing, even where only part of the sun is obscured. The eclipse coincides with several other astronomical events. Before sunrise, six planets will form an arc across the sky, while the Perseid meteor shower is expected to peak after nightfall under dark, moonless conditions. Space agencies and research institutions are preparing extensive observation campaigns. The European Space Agency (ESA) will host a live webcast from Spain’s Astrophysical Observatory of Javalambre and organise public viewing events in Leon. NASA and the Virtual Telescope Project will also provide live coverage. ESA’s Proba-3 mission and two of its solar telescopes will observe the sun’s outer atmosphere, or corona, while NASA-backed university teams plan to launch more than 60 high-altitude balloons from Spain and Iceland to study atmospheric changes during the eclipse. A NASA high-altitude aircraft will also chase the moon’s shadow, allowing scientists to extend totality to nearly three minutes while collecting thousands of images of the solar corona. Astronomers say the Aug. 12 eclipse is only the beginning of an extraordinary period for eclipse enthusiasts. On Aug. 2, 2027, an exceptionally long total solar eclipse lasting up to six minutes and 23 seconds will cross southern Spain before continuing over North Africa and the Middle East. Spain will also witness an annular, or "ring of fire," solar eclipse on Jan. 26, 2028, completing a rare sequence of three major solar eclipses in less than three years. Spain has not experienced a full mainland total solar eclipse since the early 20th century, making the upcoming events especially significant for scientists and skywatchers alike.

A scientist has solved a mystery that began more than 40 years ago after confirming the discovery of a rare new seaweed species found in the UK's ancient underwater maerl beds. Professor Christine Maggs first spotted the tiny pink-striped seaweed while studying maerl beds during her PhD research in the 1980s. Believing it could be an unknown species, she spent decades searching for enough material to identify it. Maerl beds are made up of thousands of pieces of hard, coral-like seaweed that form rich underwater habitats for a wide variety of marine life. Although Prof Maggs occasionally found small traces of the seaweed over the years, she never collected a large enough sample to confirm its identity. The breakthrough came two years ago when researchers surveying maerl beds off the coast of Cornwall discovered a specimen they believed matched the mysterious seaweed. Prof Maggs carefully stored the sample in a wine fridge, using its cool, dark conditions to preserve and grow the seaweed before carrying out DNA testing. "I just kept hoping that one day I would find out. It's been more than four decades," she told the BBC. The discovery has now been confirmed, and a sample of the newly identified species has been added to the Natural History Museum's collection. The seaweed was found during a project led by Natural England to monitor the health of Cornwall's maerl beds. Scientific diver Lucy May said exploring the underwater habitat is a unique experience. "It's magical. You feel completely surrounded by nature," she said. The research team regularly encounters marine creatures such as spider crabs, starfish, king scallops and goby fish during their dives. Marine biologist Francis Bunker, who collected the crucial samples, said he often examines seaweed closely with a magnifying glass while diving. He recognised that the tiny pink-banded seaweed could be the species Prof Maggs had been searching for and gathered as many samples as possible before sending them to her. Because the seaweed was extremely small, Prof Maggs needed to grow it before DNA sequencing could be carried out. "Getting the genetic information was essential," she said. "That's why solving this mystery has taken 40 years." Source: BBC

China launched new satellites into space on Thursday to test communication technologies, according to the China National Space Administration. The satellites were launched at 9:00 a.m. Beijing time from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China’s Shanxi Province aboard a modified Long March-6 rocket. The satellites successfully entered their planned orbits after the launch. They will be used mainly for satellite communications, television and broadcasting services, and data transmission. They will also support tests and verification of related technologies. Thursday’s launch marked the 660th mission of the Long March rocket series.