Smoking cigarettes may raise dementia risk by triggering harmful chemical signals from the lungs to the brain, a new study has found. Researchers identified a previously unmapped lung-to-brain route via pulmonary neuroendocrine cells (PNECs). When exposed to nicotine, these cells release exosomes that disrupt iron balance in neurons, triggering symptoms often found in dementia patients.

A new study has found that rising screen time among children is causing behavioural changes, including poor concentration, loneliness and sleep disturbances. Conducted on 150 children aged 10-16, it found 60% had trouble focusing while studying, 48% showed irritability and aggression, and 41% faced sleep issues. Additionally, 35% of the children had reduced communication with family members.

Artemis II mission commander Reid Wiseman took to X to share video of Earthset shot on iPhone from Orion spacecraft's docking hatch window. He wrote, "I could barely see Moon through docking hatch window but iPhone was the perfect size to catch the view...this is uncropped, uncut with 8x zoom which is quite comparable to view of human eye. Enjoy."

Study published in Science Advances found that critically endangered Pacific pocket mice have the genetic diversity to adapt to climate change. Researchers identified 14 genes associated with adaptation to temperature and moisture and suggested that adaptation is ongoing in them. Once thought extinct before being rediscovered in 1990s, the species would need conservation efforts, they added.

Jeff Bezos-led Blue Origin on Sunday said it reused its New Glenn rocket booster for first time, marking a key milestone for lowering launch costs. The rocket lifted off from Florida's Cape Canaveral, and booster landed successfully minutes later. The mission carried a commercial satellite to orbit, strengthening the American space technology firm's position in the reusable rocket race.

A study on ancient DNA from nearly 16,000 people over last 10,000 years in West Eurasia revealed that natural selection favoured genes such as red hair, light skin tone, and lower body fat. Scientists identified 479 genetic variants seeming to have been favoured. A previous study found people with red hair and fair skin can produce vitamin D more efficiently.

Russia's St Petersburg witnessed a jellyfish-like light trail in the sky following the launch of a Soyuz-2.1b rocket. This phenomenon occurs when a rocket is launched shortly before sunrise or after sunset, i.e., when the sun isn't illuminating the surface but its rays strike the gases released by the spacecraft at high altitude. Visuals showing the glowing trail surfaced online.

A Northwestern University study has found that species in animal kingdom tend to communicate at a nearly universal tempo of 2 hertz (two beats/second). This tempo may be a rhythmic "sweet spot" that enables brains to detect and process signals more easily, the researchers said. The same principle may be affecting human perception of beats in popular music, they added.

People with dark personality traits are more likely to become leaders and show interest in careers like business, politics, and law, a study has found. The participants with Machiavellian views, along with a tendency to manipulate or exploit others, were more drawn to leadership roles. These patterns held true across the board for both women and men, the study stated.

A study published in the Journal of Intelligence found that men and women tend to possess different relative cognitive strengths. The research suggested that when comparing an individual's skills against their own personal average, women generally show a relative strength in literacy, while men show a relative strength in numeracy. In contrast, no sex differences were observed in problem-solving.