Core of Omega Centauri - NASA Science (.gov)

Americans spend more than $1 billion each year on fish oil supplements, largely because of claims that the omega-3 fatty acids they contain can support brain health. These essential nutrients help build and maintain the connections between brain cells that are important for thinking and memory. But new research from Keck Medicine of USC suggests that boosting omega-3 levels through supplements may not provide the brain benefits many people expect. The study, published in eBioMedicine, found that although omega-3s from fish oil successfully reached the brain, they did not improve measures of brain health in older adults at increased risk of Alzheimer's disease.

As It HappensScientists at Stanford University in California stumbled on a promising discovery when two coral fragments in the lab — one bleached and one healthy — tipped over in a tank and touched.'This could open a door to possible reef restoration,' says Stanford researcherSheena Goodyear · CBC News · Posted: Oct 23, 2026 1:37 PM EDT | Last Updated: 28 minutes agoListen to this articleEstimated 5 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results. Scientists at Stanford University in California found that when a bleached coral fragment makes contact with a healthy one, the dying fragment can make a full recovery. (Danny Collins)The best medicine for a dying coral may be the power of touch. Scientists at Stanford University in California stumbled on a promising discovery when two coral fragments in the lab — one bleached and one healthy — tipped over in a tank and touched.

The oceans are in trouble. Rising temperatures due to climate change not only raise sea levels but also put enormous stress on coral reefs. When waters get too warm, healthy coral will expel the helpful algae living inside them. The coral then becomes drained of color, severely weakened, and vulnerable to disease. In other words, "bleached coral" is dying coral. The loss of coral and coral reefs devastates vast amounts of ocean wildlife, and humans too. So finding ways to stop, slow, or reverse coral bleaching is of major interest to scientists. And the latest breakthrough was completely unintentional. Lab studying coral encounters a "happy accident"Steve Palumbi is a professor of marine sciences at Stanford and an ocean researcher. One of his major research areas is coral, and his work recently led him to notice something pretty strange in his lab. According to Science Alert, Palumbi had collected various samples from the same coral colony when two of the samples "fell" into each other inside their tank. One was bleached, or dying, and the other was completely healthy.