Frequency of a diagnosis of glaucoma in individuals who consume coffee, tea and/or soft drinks, British Journal of Ophthalmology (2017). DOI: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2017-310924

But hot coffee, iced tea, and soft drinks don’t seem to make any difference, say researchers. But drinking decaffeinated and caffeinated coffee, decaffeinated tea, iced tea and soft drinks doesn’t seem to make any difference to glaucoma risk, the findings show. Glaucoma causes fluid pressure to build up inside the eye (intraocular pressure), damaging the optic nerve. It is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide, and currently affects 57.5 million people, and is expected to increase to 65.5 million by 2020.

Previous research suggests that caffeine can alter intraocular pressure, but no study so far has compar...

NGC 5256 is a pair of galaxies in its final stage of merging. It was previously observed by Hubble as part of a collection of 59 images of merging galaxies, released on Hubble’s 18th anniversary on April 24, 2008. The new data make the gas and dust being whirled around inside and outside the galaxy more visible than ever before. Credit: ESA/Hubble, NASA

A riot of colour and light dances through this peculiarly shaped galaxy, NGC 5256. Its smoke-like plumes are flung out in all directions and the bright core illuminates the chaotic regions of gas and dust swirling through the galaxy’s centre. Its odd structure is due to the fact that this is not one galaxy, but two – in the process of a galactic collision...

During the eclipse (L-R) Mimosa previously exposed to 72 hours of dark showed no response to totality. Mimosa exposed to 72 hours of light was partially closed during totality. Mimosa with prior normal light exposure closed completely during totality. Oxalis leaves opened up and the flowers did not fold. Credit: University of Missouri Academic Support / Stephanie L. Sidoti

On August 21, 2017, about 215 million American adults watched one of nature’s most dramatic events: a total solar eclipse. The University of Missouri-Columbia lies directly on that path of totality. Scientists there knew they had a once-in-a-generation opportunity to study how a total eclipse affects plants. During the event, there would be 45 minutes of gradually decreasing light. Temperatures would also fall...

A radio frequency identification tag. Credit: Cornell University

What if your vital signs could be gathered, without contact, as you sit in the waiting room or the comfort of your own home? Cornell University engineers have demonstrated a method for gathering blood pressure, heart rate and breath rate using a cheap and covert system of radio-frequency signals and microchip “tags,” similar to the anti-theft tags department stores place on clothing and electronics.

The cracker-sized tags measure mechanical motion by emitting radio waves that bounce off the body and internal organs, and are then detected by an electronic reader that gathers the data from a location elsewhere in the room. The system works like radar, according to Edwin Kan, professor of electrical and computer engineering...