Science & Research

Science

Breakthroughs from labs, observatories, and clinical trials worth your attention.

3 stories · Edition of 2026-07-03 · Curated by AI at Invalid Date

SCIENCE

Sitting Longer than 30 Minutes Associated with Higher Cancer Death Risk

114d ago · Source: guardian

Sitting or lying down for more than 30 minutes at a time each day was associated with a higher risk of dying from cancer, according to a study published in PLOS Medicine. The research analysed data from more than 91,000 UK Biobank participants who wore wearable devices and were followed for an average of 12 years.

The study found that each additional hour of continuous inactivity increased the risk of cancer death by about 10 percent. Replacing one hour of sedentary time per day with light physical activity such as ironing or washing up was linked to a 12 percent lower risk of cancer death. Substituting 30 minutes of sitting with 30 minutes of moderate‑pace walking corresponded to an 8 percent reduction, and replacing five minutes of sitting with five minutes of vigorous activity was associated with a 22 percent lower risk.

The authors noted that the analysis was observational and could not prove causation. Professor Kevin McConway of the Open University, who was not involved in the research, said the findings were interesting but further investigation was needed.

The investigators said that future clinical trials could help develop personalised strategies for breaking up prolonged sitting periods.

SCIENCE

India Orders WhatsApp to Pause Username Feature Over Fraud Concerns

India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has asked WhatsApp to halt the rollout of a planned feature that would let users chat using unique usernames instead o...

114d ago · Source: bbc · 1 min read

India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has asked WhatsApp to halt the rollout of a planned feature that would let users chat using unique usernames instead of phone numbers. The ministry said the feature could increase online fraud, phishing, digital arrest scams and impersonation attacks. In a notice sent on Wednesday, the government cited provisions of the Information Technology Act and said it needed to consult before the feature is introduced. WhatsApp said the feature is not yet live and that it has built safeguards, including reserving high‑profile usernames, limiting how many new contacts an account can add, and using systems to detect impersonation and abuse. The company added that users would still need a phone number to create an account and that it would show first‑time contact information to help recipients decide whether to respond. The notice is the latest in a series of regulatory moves by Indian authorities targeting global technology platforms. In February the government amended its rules to require social media services to remove unlawful content within three hours of notification. Cybercrime cases rose 18 percent in 2024, with nearly three‑quarters involving online fraud. The Internet Freedom Foundation criticised the notice, saying it lacks a clear legal basis and that the government cannot require prior permission for a software feature.

SCIENCE

Artificial Cell Undergoes Several Rounds of Division

114d ago · Source: arstechnica

Researchers at the University of Minnesota reported a synthetic cell system that can undergo a few rounds of division. The system encloses a set of seven circular DNA molecules within a membrane and imports small molecules through an engineered pore protein. It uses viral-derived enzymes to replicate DNA and to produce RNA, and it relies on purified translation factors to make proteins. When nutrients are supplied externally, the cells grow and then divide, producing offspring that inherit a random subset of the genetic material. After five divisions, most cells are missing at least one DNA segment. The team, led by Kate Adamala, noted that selection for faster growth was observed in the population. The manuscript describing the work has been posted online but has not undergone peer review. The researchers suggest the system can be used to explore questions about the origin of life and the minimal requirements for a living cell.