Washington DC, May 12 -- Scientists at McGill University have uncovered a hidden molecular "switch" that turns on a powerful calorie-burning system in brown fat, the body's heat-generating fat linked to metabolism and weight control.

The breakthrough centers on glycerol, a molecule released when fat is broken down in the cold, which activates an enzyme called TNAP and triggers an alternative heat-producing pathway that scientists had struggled to explain for years.

Scientists have uncovered a molecular "switch" in mice that turns on a hidden energy-burning system inside brown fat, a discovery that could eventually help researchers develop new treatments for bone disease.

The findings, published in Nature, provide new insight into how b...