The Other Side

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260127010142.htm

Bright white rocks spotted by NASA’s Perseverance rover are rewriting what we thought we knew about ancient Mars. These aluminum-rich clays, called kaolinite, usually form on Earth only after millions of years of heavy rainfall in warm, humid environments—conditions similar to tropical rainforests. Their presence on today’s cold, dry Mars suggests the planet once had abundant rain, flowing water, and possibly lush oases long ago. Even more puzzling, the rocks are scattered across the landscape with no obvious source nearby, hinting at dramatic ancient events like floods, river transport, or asteroid impacts.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260127010142.htm

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260127010208.htm

Scientists have found compelling new evidence that humans, not glaciers, brought Stonehenge’s bluestones to the site. Using advanced mineral analysis, researchers searched nearby river sediments for signs glaciers once passed through the area—and found none. That missing signature strongly suggests the stones were intentionally moved by people. How they did it remains a mystery, but ice is now largely ruled out.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260127010208.htm

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260127010156.htm

Carbohydrates don’t just fuel the body—they may also influence how the brain ages. A large long-term study found that diets high in fast-acting carbs that rapidly raise blood sugar were linked to a higher risk of dementia. People who ate more low-glycemic foods like fruit, legumes, and whole grains had a noticeably lower risk of Alzheimer’s. The quality of carbs, not just the amount, appears to matter for brain health.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260127010156.htm

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260126231847.htm

A new genetic study suggests that obesity and high blood pressure may play a direct role in causing dementia, not just increasing the risk. By analyzing data from large populations in Denmark and the U.K., researchers found strong evidence that higher body weight can damage brain health over time, especially when it leads to elevated blood pressure. Much of the dementia risk appeared to be tied to vascular damage in the brain, which affects blood flow and cognitive function.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260126231847.htm

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260125083418.htm

Our genome isn’t as peaceful as it looks—some DNA elements are constantly trying to disrupt it. Scientists studying fruit flies discovered that key proteins protecting chromosome ends must evolve rapidly to counter these internal threats. When these proteins fall out of sync, chromosomes fuse and cells die. The work reveals how essential biological systems survive by constantly reinventing themselves.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260125083418.htm