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Science X Newsletter Wed, Feb 21

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for February 21, 2024:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

The modeling and simulation of self-organized intracellular twisters in the Drosophila oocyte

Marine microplastics: How water mass dispersal impacts transport trajectories

Possible atmospheric destruction of a potentially habitable exoplanet

Quantum annealers and the future of prime factorization

Neanderthals' usage of complex adhesives reveals higher cognitive abilities, scientists discover

Plasma scientists develop computer programs that could reduce the cost of microchips, stimulate manufacturing

Electrons become fractions of themselves in graphene, study finds

Scientists invent ultra-thin, minimally-invasive pacemaker controlled by light

Universal antivenom for lethal snake toxins developed by researchers

Smallest star ever observed is part of an exotic binary system

A new phase of matter: Physicists achieve first demonstration of non-Abelian anyons in a quantum processor

Activity levels of four genes linked to pediatric appendicitis severity diagnosis

How AI can help spot early risk factors for Alzheimer's disease

Why are fish getting smaller as waters warm? It's not their gills, finds study

Scientists track world's largest turtles to previously unknown foraging locations

Nanotechnology news

Spinning, magnetic micro-robots help researchers probe immune cell recognition

Researchers at the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering and the Department of Chemistry at the University of Chicago have engineered tiny, spinning micro-robots that bind to immune cells to probe their function. The robot, or "hexapod," gives scientists a new, highly adaptable way to study immune cells and to aid in the design of immunotherapies against cancer, infection, or autoimmune diseases.

Membrane technology: Looking deep into the smallest pores

Membranes of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VaCNT) can be used to clean or desalinate water at high flow rate and low pressure. Recently, researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and partners carried out steroid hormone adsorption experiments to study the interplay of forces in the small pores.

Angle-dependent holograms made possible by metasurfaces

Recently, a research team from Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) has employed metasurfaces to fabricate angle-dependent holograms with multiple functions. This technology allows holograms to display multiple images based on the observer's viewing angle. The findings were published in Nano Letters.

Research team develops nanoscale device for brain chemistry analysis

Longstanding challenges in biomedical research such as monitoring brain chemistry and tracking the spread of drugs through the body require much smaller and more precise sensors. A new nanoscale sensor that can monitor areas 1,000 times smaller than current technology and can track subtle changes in the chemical content of biological tissue with sub-second resolution, greatly outperforming standard technologies.

VPNVax: Crafting enhanced viral structure in vaccines through polymer restructuring

Generally speaking, the higher the degree of information restoration of a vaccine to a virus, the greater its potential efficacy. The virus itself is the most authentic vaccine, such as the varicella-zoster virus, which provides lifelong immunity after a single infection. However, viruses also evolve mechanisms to evade immune surveillance during their long evolutionary history, such as evading the immune system's pursuit by frequently changing disguises through high mutability.

Physics news

Plasma scientists develop computer programs that could reduce the cost of microchips, stimulate manufacturing

Fashioned from the same element found in sand and covered by intricate patterns, microchips power smartphones, augment appliances and aid the operation of cars and airplanes.

Electrons become fractions of themselves in graphene, study finds

The electron is the basic unit of electricity, as it carries a single negative charge. This is what we're taught in high school physics, and it is overwhelmingly the case in most materials in nature.

A new phase of matter: Physicists achieve first demonstration of non-Abelian anyons in a quantum processor

Our physical, 3D world consists of just two types of particles: bosons, which include light and the famous Higgs boson; and fermionsā€”the protons, neutrons, and electrons that comprise all the "stuff," present company included.

Engineers use AI to wrangle fusion power for the grid

In the blink of an eye, the unruly, superheated plasma that drives a fusion reaction can lose its stability and escape the strong magnetic fields confining it within the donut-shaped fusion reactor. These getaways frequently spell the end of the reaction, posing a core challenge to developing fusion as a non-polluting, virtually limitless energy source.

New cloud model could help with climate research

When clouds meet clear skies, cloud droplets evaporate as they mix with dry air. A new study involving researchers from the University of Gothenburg has succeeded in capturing what happens in a model. Ultimately, this could lead to more accurate climate modeling in the future.

14 parameters in one go: New instrument for optoelectronics

An HZB physicist has developed a new method for the comprehensive characterization of semiconductors in a single measurement. The "Constant Light-Induced Magneto-Transport (CLIMAT)" is based on the Hall effect and allows the recording of 14 different parameters of transport properties of negative and positive charge carriers.

Physicists discover a quantum state with a new type of emergent particles: Six-flux composite fermions

If the fractional quantum Hall regime were a series of highways, these highways would have either two or four lanes. The flow of the two-flux or four-flux composite fermions, like automobiles in this two- to four-flux composite fermion traffic scenario, naturally explains the more than 90 fractional quantum Hall states that form in a large variety of host materials. Physicists at Purdue University have recently discovered, though, that fractional quantum Hall regimes are not limited to two-flux or four-flux and have discovered the existence of a new type of emergent particle, which they are calling six-flux composite fermion.

Accurate quantitative analysis of information loss from digital metasurfaces caused by mutual coupling

Research by Dr. Ruiwen Shao and Prof. Junwei Wu (Institute of Electromagnetic Space, Southeast University, Nanjing, China) teaches us about how digital metasurfaces lose information.

Earth news

Marine microplastics: How water mass dispersal impacts transport trajectories

Marine microplastics (1 Ī¼mā€“5 mm diameter) are an ever-pressing concern, given their longevity in the environment (>100 years) and the effects they have on the organisms inhabiting them, particularly as ocean currents carry the particles vast distances, even reaching polar basins.

Highways through historically redlined areas likely cause air pollution disparities today

As part of the New Deal, several governmental programs were created to expand homeownership through mortgages and loans. However, neighborhoods with primarily Black or immigrant communities often were rated "hazardous" for repayment under the discriminatory, "redlining" practice that restricted lending.

Africa's ice is disappearing: Tropical ice fields demonstrate speed of climate change

The few glaciers in Africa have long since become an important indicator of how rapidly and severely climate change is changing our planet. The ice on the high summits of the continent is rapidly disappearing, and Africa may lose its white peaks by the middle of our century.

Study finds home heating fuel is direct source of sulfate in Fairbanks's winter air

Use of residential heating fuel is the main contributor of primary sulfate pollution in Fairbanks's wintertime air, according to research conducted during an international science program in the community in 2022.

High resolution techniques reveal clues in 3.5 billion-year-old biomass

To learn about the first organisms on our planet, researchers have to analyze the rocks of the early Earth. These can only be found in a few places on the surface of Earth. The Pilbara Craton in Western Australia is one of these rare sites; there are rocks there that are around 3.5 billion years old containing traces of the microorganisms that lived at that time.

Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats has long been in flux, new research finds

It has been long assumed that Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats was formed as its ancient namesake lake dried up 13,000 years ago. But new research from the University of Utah has gutted that narrative, determining these crusts did not form until several thousand years after Lake Bonneville disappeared, which could have important implications for managing this feature that has been shrinking for decades to the dismay of the racing community and others who revere the saline pan 100 miles west of Salt Lake City.

Chicago sues oil and gas companies for their role in contributing to climate change

The city of Chicago is suing five oil and gas companies and a trade group that represents them over their role in contributing to climate change and its effects, arguing that the companies have misled the public about how the use of fossil fuels affects city residents' well-being.

Contamination around Fort Story base is under control, Navy's five-year review says

The Navy released recently a five-year review of an environmental restoration program at Virginia's Joint Expeditionary Base Fort Story, finding that environmental contamination of industrial solvents and arsenic at two sites is under control.

Meteorologist explains how climate change will affect the back-and-forth La NiƱa, El NiƱo weather patterns

This is a simple question with perhaps not so simple an answer.

Scientists simulate Lahaina Fire to improve prediction of wildland-urban fires

Scientists have successfully applied a pair of advanced computer models to simulate last year's wildfire that devastated the Hawaiian town of Lahaina. The development could lay the groundwork for more detailed predictions of wildfires that advance into towns and cities, eventually helping with firefighting efforts and safer evacuations as well as the design of wildfire-resistant communities.

How global warming is reshaping winter life in Canada

As we begin to emerge out of yet another mild winter, Canadians are once again being reminded of just how acutely global warming has changed Canada's winter climate.

Fire is a chemical reactionā€”here's why Australia is supremely suited to it

Over the last 15 million years, Australia has slowly dried out. After humans arrived more than 65,000 years ago, they learned to use fire to their advantage. Today, fire weather is getting more frequentā€”and fires are following as the world heats up. This month, fires have flared in Victoria, destroying 46 houses, while Western Australia endures a heat wave and braces for potential fires.

Indigenous Colombians fret as sacred mountain glaciers melt

In the shade of a sacred tree, Indigenous wise men chew coca leaves as they mull the threats to their home among the melting, snow-capped peaks of Colombia's Sierra Nevada mountains.

How to dim the consequences of global light pollution

Our ancestors could look up and see the Milky Wayā€”our galaxyā€”as a large band of white light stretching across the sky. Because of light pollution, that's no longer the case. One study estimated that 60% of Europeans and 80% of Americans have never seen it at all.

Winter drought grips southern Europe, northern Africa

Drought plaguing the Mediterranean has failed to recede over winter months that brought below-average rainfall, the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service has reported, prompting water restrictions and state of emergency declarations.

A new tool can help protect California and Nevada communities from floods while preserving their water supply

At the dawn of the new year in 1997, the Truckee River transformed. The winter season had thus far been great for snow, but when a subtropical storm from near the Hawaiian Islands rolled in, it carried with it unseasonably warm rain. The warm rainfall combined with snowmelt to swell the rivers, with the Truckee burying much of downtown Reno under water. Two people were killed amidst the nearly $1 billion disaster, and it wasn't the first nor the last time that warm rains triggered severe flooding in the area.

Study: Replacing plastics with biodegradable alternatives would lead to significant carbon emissions reduction

Plastic pollution and its impact on the environment have become critical global issues in recent years. In response, the research teams have conducted a study to evaluate the carbon emissions associated with both traditional plastic products and biodegradable plastic products (BPPs). Their findings demonstrate a substantial reduction in carbon emissions by replacing traditional plastics with biodegradable alternatives, highlighting the potential for a more sustainable future.

New data can help better understand glaciers

On February 20, a dedicated team of researchers presented a new high-resolution calving front dataset from 149 glaciers in Svalbard, spanning from 1985 to 2023. This innovative dataset, featured in Earth System Science Data, offers an important tool to understand better the mechanisms behind glacier calving, or the breakup of icebergs, which can help to enhance our understanding of the climatic drivers behind glacier loss in Svalbard and the Arctic.

How do renewable energy and innovation impact environmental quality in different countries?

Renewable energy production leads to reduced carbon dioxide emissions in countries that are members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) but increased emissions in emerging economies, according to the results of a study published in the Natural Resources Forum.

'You can't imagine the damage': Dam threatens historic Laos town

A short boat ride upstream from the ancient Laotian royal capital of Luang Prabang, a massive dam is under construction that critics say threatens the riverside town's allure and heritage status.

China issues highest weather alert as temperatures plunge

Severe weather warnings were in place across swathes of China on Wednesday as temperatures plummeted across the south and Beijing shivered in snowy conditions.

Quality scores for forestry carbon credit types reveal complex landscape of integrity risks, transparency issues

The Carbon Credit Quality Initiative (CCQI) released new scores for two types of forestry carbon credits: improved forest management (IFM) and commercial afforestation. Together, these project types comprise approximately 10% of recent credit issuances in the voluntary carbon market.

Astronomy and Space news

Possible atmospheric destruction of a potentially habitable exoplanet

Astrophysicists studying a popular exoplanet in its star's habitable zone have found that electric currents in the planet's upper atmosphere could create sufficient heating to expand the atmosphere enough that it leaves the planet, likely leaving the planet uninhabitable.

Smallest star ever observed is part of an exotic binary system

A large international team of astronomers has discovered the smallest known star to date, and found that it is paired with another, somewhat larger star. Their paper is published in the journal Nature Astronomy,.

The most outstanding solar-flare eruptions are not always the most influential

While many studies have compared the magnetic properties of confined and eruptive solar flares, few have considered the thermodynamic properties of confined flares and even fewer in comparison to eruptive ones.

Black hole fashions stellar beads on a string

Astronomers have discovered one of the most powerful eruptions from a black hole ever recorded. This mega-explosion billions of years ago may help explain the formation of a striking pattern of star clusters around two massive galaxies, resembling beads on a string.

Commercial spaceship set for lunar touchdown, in test for US industry

A company from Texas is poised to attempt a feat that until now has only been accomplished by a handful of national space agencies, but could soon become commonplace for the private sector: landing on the Moon.

SpaceX lines up satellite launch from Cape Canaveral

SpaceX is set to send up the 11th launch from the Space Coast this afternoon with a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Base.

SpaceX launches 11th Space Coast mission of 2024

SpaceX knocked out the 11th launch from the Space Coast for the year under clear blue skies on Tuesday afternoon.

Researcher: A long voyage to Mars in a confined space could raise stress levels and make the journey more challenging

Within the next few decades, NASA aims to land humans on the moon, set up a lunar colony and use the lessons learned to send people to Mars as part of its Artemis program.

Private US spacecraft enters orbit around the moon ahead of landing attempt

A private U.S. lunar lander reached the moon and eased into a low orbit Wednesday, a day before it will attempt an even greater featā€”landing on the gray, dusty surface.

JWST sees a Milky Way-like galaxy coming together in the early universe

The gigantic galaxies we see in the universe today, including our own Milky Way galaxy, started out far smaller. Mergers throughout the universe's 13.7 billion years gradually assembled today's massive galaxies. But they may have begun as mere star clusters.

Why do we need leap years? Astrophysicists explain this month's extra date

This year is a leap year. Many people will know this means that February gets an extra dayā€”a total of 29, as opposed to 28ā€”but often do not know why. Space experts Dr. Minjae Kim and Dr. James McCormac shed light on the phenomenon.

Einstein telescope E-TEST prototype passes its first series of tests

The Einstein telescope project has reached a new stage, with the E-TEST prototypeā€”developed in the ULiĆØge and CSL laboratoriesā€”being sent to the LiĆØge Space Centre to undergo a battery of cryogenic and vibration tests. To function optimally, the future mirror of the Einstein telescope has to withstand being cooled to extreme temperatures and be subjected to almost no vibration.

Technology news

Quantum annealers and the future of prime factorization

Researchers at the University of Trento, Italy, have developed a novel approach for prime factorization via quantum annealing, leveraging a compact modular encoding paradigm and enabling the factorization of large numbers using D-Wave quantum devices.

Dual-energy harvesting device could power future wireless medical implants

Implantable biomedical devicesā€”like pacemakers, insulin pumps and neurostimulatorsā€”are becoming smaller and utilizing wireless technology, but hurdles remain for powering the next-generation implants. A new wireless charging device developed by Penn State scientists could dramatically improve powering capability for implants while still being safe for our bodies, the researchers said.

Artificial intelligence recognizes and learns to predict patterns in behavior from video

Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University, the University Hospital Bonn and the University of Bonn have created an open-source platform known as A-SOiD that can learn and predict user-defined behaviors, just from video. The results of the study have now been published in the journal Nature Methods.

Automated method helps researchers quantify uncertainty in their predictions

Pollsters trying to predict presidential election results and physicists searching for distant exoplanets have at least one thing in common: They often use a tried-and-true scientific technique called Bayesian inference.

Charting new paths in AI learning: How changing two variables leads to vastly different outcomes

In an era where artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming industries from health care to finance, understanding how these digital brains learn is more crucial than ever. Now, two researchers from EPFL, Antonia Sclocchi and Matthieu Wyart, have shed light on this process, focusing on a popular method known as Stochastic Gradient Descent (SGD).

Neural networks made of light: Research team develops AI system in optical fibers

Artificial intelligence is pivotal in advancing biotechnology and medical procedures, ranging from cancer diagnostics to the creation of new antibiotics. However, the ecological footprint of large-scale AI systems is substantial. For instance, training extensive language models like ChatGPT-3 requires several gigawatt-hours of energyā€”enough to power an average nuclear power plant at full capacity for several hours.

New 'water batteries' stay cool under pressure

A global team of researchers and industry collaborators led by RMIT University has invented recyclable 'water batteries' that won't catch fire or explode.

Researchers develop AI that can understand light in photographs

Despite significant progress in developing AI systems that can understand the physical world like humans do, researchers have struggled with modeling a certain aspect of our visual system: the perception of light.

Tiny power converters that run on vibrational energy

University of California San Diego and CEA-Leti scientists have developed a ground-breaking piezoelectric-based DC-DC converter that unifies all power switches onto a single chip to increase power density. This new power topology, which extends beyond existing topologies, blends the advantages of piezoelectric converters with capacitive-based DC-DC converters.

High persuasiveness of propaganda written by AI

Research participants who read propaganda generated by the AI large language model GPT-3 davinci were nearly as persuaded as those who read real propaganda from Iran or Russia, according to a study published in the journal PNAS Nexus.

3D printing promises more efficient ways to make custom explosives and rocket propellants

Imagine you're driving to work on a rainy day, when a distracted, reckless driver hits your car out of nowhere. With a "boom," an air bag deploys faster than you can blink your eyes to save your life.

Cybersecurity for satellites is a growing challenge as threats to space-based infrastructure grow

In today's interconnected world, space technology forms the backbone of our global communication, navigation and security systems. Satellites orbiting Earth are pivotal for everything from GPS navigation to international banking transactions, making them indispensable assets in our daily lives and in global infrastructure.

'It's frightening': YouTubers split over OpenAI's video tool Sora

US firm OpenAI debuted a tool last week that can generate highly realistic snippets of video from just a few lines of text, leading content creators to wonder if they are the latest professionals about to be replaced by algorithms.

New system combines human, artificial intelligence to improve experimentation

Though artificial intelligence decreases human error in experimentation, human experts outperform AI when identifying causation or working with small data sets.

Freezing electronics to control diamond spin qubits

Researchers from Fujitsu and QuTech have developed new and ultra-cold electronic circuits to control diamond-based quantum bits. As a result of their joint research project, it becomes possible to build larger quantum computers, through overcoming the "wiring bottleneck," while maintaining high-quality performance.

Cybersecurity and data protection: Does ChatGPT really make a difference?

An analysis published in the Journal for International Business and Entrepreneurship Development has looked at the various approaches to cybersecurity and data protection taken by key global players, namely the European Union (EU), the United States of America (U.S.), and China.

ChatGPT cranks out gibberish for hours

ChatGPT spewed nonsensical answers to user's queries for hours Tuesday into Wednesday before eventually returning to its apparent senses.

Semi-transparent perovskite solar cells achieve efficiency of 21.68%

The Photovoltaics Research Department of the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER), working with the KIER Energy AI and Computational Science Lab, has achieved advancements in the stability and efficiency of semi-transparent perovskite solar cells.

Sodium-ion batteries: How doping works

Sodium-ion batteries still have a number of weaknesses that could be remedied by optimizing the battery materials. One possibility is to dope the cathode material with foreign elements. A team from HZB and Humboldt-UniversitƤt zu Berlin has now investigated the effects of doping with scandium and magnesium.

New research suggests artificial intelligence agents can develop trust similar to that of humans

Artificial intelligence (AI) has made great strides in the past few years, even months. New research in the journal Management Science finds that AI agents can build trustā€”like that of humans.

An ultrafast SnOā‚‚ passivation strategy for low-temperature manufacture of perovskite solar cells

SnO2 has been widely used as electron transport layers (ETLs) for efficient perovskite solar cells (PSCs) due to its high transparency, high electron mobility, and favorable band alignment. PSCs based on chemical bath deposition (CBD)-prepared SnO2 have demonstrated the best performance so far.

Kiribati's government not responsible for viral post, sorry

It was too good to be true. The government of Kiribati on Wednesday said it was not responsible for a light-hearted social media smackdown that went viral, prompting laughs around the world.

Biden is boosting cybersecurity at US ports, where online attacks can be more ravaging than storms

President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed an executive order and created a federal rule aimed at better securing the nation's ports from potential cyberattacks.

Researchers develop automated toolchain for future mobility

Development of embedded electronic systems for future mobility, be it self-driving cars or autonomous air taxis, depends on complex processing and application services. To better manage this challenge, eight European partners have developed an automated toolchain within the XANDAR collaboration coordinated by Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).

In-depth analysis: Automated machine learning from the perspective of bilevel optimization

Recently, professors Risheng Liu from Dalian University of Technology and Zhouchen Lin from Peking University collaborated on an opinion article published in the National Science Review (NSR). Their article delves deeply into AutoML from the perspective of bilevel optimization, achieving unified modeling of various AutoML tasks while exploring challenges and opportunities. This article will be included in the NSR's special topic on "Automating Machine Learning."

Chemistry news

Unraveling the pH-dependent oxygen reduction performance on single-atom catalysts

A group of researchers has answered some pressing questions regarding a new, promising class of catalysts known as single-atom catalysts (SACs).

New class of 'intramolecular bivalent glue' could transform cancer drug discovery

A breakthrough class of molecular glue identified at the University of Dundee could pave the way for a new generation of drugs to target cancers and neurodegenerative diseases.

Exploring microstructures for high-performance materials

In just the first few months of 2024, the journal Nature has published two scientific papers co-authored by Kun Luo, an Iowa State University postdoctoral research associate in materials science and engineering.

Pharmacists propose ways to increase the activity of levofloxacin and overcome bacterial resistance

The antibacterial drug levofloxacin is used to treat pneumonia, sinusitis, genitourinary infections, and other diseases. It is included in the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines. In terms of its chemical structure, it is a third-generation fluoroquinoloneā€”a completely synthetic substance of the quinolone type.

Solar-driven green synthesis of epoxides

Research published in the journal Science China Chemistry is expected to serve as comprehensive background knowledge and to provide researchers with insight into the recent developments of solar-driven green synthesis of epoxides.

Biology news

The modeling and simulation of self-organized intracellular twisters in the Drosophila oocyte

Cytoplasmic streaming is the large-scale motion of cytoplasm (i.e., gelatinous liquid inside cells) inside a living cell. This flow, known to regulate various intracellular processes, can vary greatly between different cell types at different stages of a cell's development. Examining and modeling the different types of cytoplasmic flows can help us understand how they emerge in specific types of cells.

Universal antivenom for lethal snake toxins developed by researchers

Scripps Research scientists have developed an antibody that can block the effects of lethal toxins in the venoms of a wide variety of snakes found throughout Africa, Asia and Australia.

Why are fish getting smaller as waters warm? It's not their gills, finds study

A collaborative team of scientists led by the University of Massachusetts Amherst recently found that there is no physiological evidence supporting a leading theoryā€”which involves the surface area of fish gillsā€”as to why many fish species are "shrinking" as waters grow warmer due to climate change. Known as the Gill Oxygen Limitation (GOL) theory, it has been proposed as the universal mechanism explaining fish size and has been used in some predictions of future global fisheries yields.

Scientists track world's largest turtles to previously unknown foraging locations

Leatherback sea turtles, the largest of all living turtles, undertake extensive migrations that can span multiple years. They travel from subtropical and tropical nesting locations to temperate foraging areas. Despite decade-long tracking efforts, there are still regionsā€”including the northwest Atlantic Oceanā€”about which little is known in terms of turtle migration routes and foraging areas.

Learning how cells dispose of unwanted materials is key to potential new therapeutics, say scientists

Are you sick and tired of getting sick and tired? A UNLV-led research team is exploring whether the reason we sometimes feel ill in the first place is because our body's cells suffer from trash that accumulates within them.

Mercury levels in tuna remain nearly unchanged since 1971, study says

Tuna is one of the most popular seafoods worldwide. But this protein-rich fish can build up high levels of methylmercury from feeding on contaminated prey, like smaller fish or crustaceans. Despite efforts to reduce mercury emissions into the environment, researchers report in ACS' Environmental Science & Technology Letters that levels in tuna appear to be unchanged since 1971. They warn that more aggressive emission reduction targets are needed to start nudging down tuna mercury levels.

Weedy rice gets competitive boost from its wild neighbors

Rice feeds the world. But a look-alike weed has many ways of getting ahead. Weedy rice is an agricultural pest with a global economic impact. It is an aggressive weed that outcompetes cultivated rice and causes billions of dollars in yield losses worldwide. In the U.S. alone, crop losses attributed to weedy rice could feed an additional 12 million people annually.

Centuries-long analysis suggests biodiversity is differentiating and homogenizing to a comparable extent

The tendency of communities and the species within them to become more similar or more distinct across landscapesā€”biotic homogenization and differentiationā€”are approximately balanced, according to a new study published in Science Advances.

Meat, legume or rice-based dishes tend to have a larger biodiversity footprint, study shows

Dishes like Brazilian steak and Indian kidney bean curry have an especially large biodiversity footprint, or impact on biodiversity, according to a study published in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Elissa Cheng from the National University of Singapore, Singapore, and colleagues.

Baleen whales evolved a unique larynx to communicate but cannot escape human noise

Baleen whales are the largest animals to have ever roamed our planet and as top predators play a vital role in marine ecosystems. To communicate across vast distances and find each other, baleen whales depend critically on the production of sounds that travels far in murky and dark oceans.

Hungry turtles jeopardize seagrass meadows

There's a hidden threat looming among subtropical seagrass meadowsā€”turtles in search of milder temperatures.

Researchers reveal what makes some bacteria life-threatening

Queensland researchers have discovered that a mutation allows some E. coli bacteria to cause severe disease in people while other bacteria are harmless, a finding that could help combat antibiotic resistance. The findings have been presented in Nature Communications

Analysis shows butterfly and moth genomes are mostly unchanged despite 250 million years of evolution

The most extensive analysis of its kind reveals how butterfly and moth chromosomes have remained largely unchanged since their last common ancestor over 250 million years ago. This stability exists despite the incredible diversity seen today in wing patterns, sizes, and caterpillar forms across over 160,000 species globally.

Scientists discover the real-life impacts of northern elephant seal bottleneck

New research of northern elephant seals has revealed their reproductive and foraging success has been affected by a population bottleneck which nearly caused their extinction and could make them vulnerable as the environment changes in the future.

Researchers discover how cells modulate macropinocytic activity

Macropinocytosis is one of the major pathways by which cells non-selectively internalize extracellular fluids. The laboratory strain Dictyostelium discoideum serves as a valuable model for studying the regulation of macropinocytosis.

Reusing failed bee colony resources may curb rearing of queens

As pollinators of flowers, trees and more than 50 crops, whereby they add an estimated $34 billion per year to the U.S. economy, honey bees offer value both ecological and economicā€”even before accounting for their signature product.

Sea lamprey offers clues to how the brains of vertebrates evolved

The sea lamprey, a 500-million-year-old animal with a sharp-toothed suction cup for a mouth, is the thing of nightmares. A new study from the Stowers Institute for Medical Research discovered that the hindbrainā€”the part of the brain controlling vital functions like blood pressure and heart rateā€”of both sea lampreys and humans is built using an extraordinarily similar molecular and genetic toolkit.

New technique developed for targeted protein degradation

A new study published in Nature Communications from researchers at Karolinska Institutet solves a long-standing problem by establishing a system that allows site-specific protein degradation within mitochondria, the cellular hubs for energy production and metabolism.

Study details toxic elements found in stranded whales, dolphins over 15 years

Whales and dolphins get their nutrients and essential elements through their diet. While eating fish, squid, octopus, crustaceans, and other marine mammals, they are also exposed to heavy metal contaminants.

A botanical Pompeii: Researchers find spectacular Australian plant fossils from 30 million years ago

The Australian continent is now geologically stable. But volcanic rocks, lava flows and a contemporary landscape dotted with extinct volcanoes show this wasn't always the case.

Cracking the code to a healthier potato chip

In a breakthrough for the snack food industry, a team of scientists led by Michigan State University professors Jiming Jiang and David Douches has discovered a key mechanism behind the darkening and potential health concerns associated with cold-stored potatoes.

Climate change could push bowhead whales to cross paths with shipping traffic

The population of bowhead whales that migrates between the Bering and Beaufort Seas each year is a conservation success story, with today's population nearingā€”if not exceedingā€”pre-commercial whaling numbers. But climate change is shifting the whales' feeding grounds and migration patterns, potentially pushing them to spend more time in the paths of oncoming ships, according to a new study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.

A new RNA editing tool could enhance cancer treatment

Cell therapies for cancer can be potentially enhanced using a CRISPR RNA-editing platform, according to a new study published Feb. 21 in Cell.

Researchers develop molecules for a new class of antibiotics that can overcome drug resistant bacteria

About a decade ago, researchers in UC Santa Barbara chemistry professor Guillermo Bazan's lab began to observe a recurring challenge in their research: Some of the compounds they were developing to harness energy from bacteria were instead killing the microbes. Not good if the objective of the project was to harness the metabolism of living bacteria to produce electricity.

Diesel exhaust may harm the immune system, trigger inflammation

Exposure to diesel exhaust particles triggers higher levels of inflammation, especially during a respiratory infection, according to researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Researchers found that diesel exhaust exposure impedes a process that boosts immune responses and modifies the body's protective response to tissue-damaging immune cells.

Ridding Macquarie Island of pests pays off as seabirds come back from the brinkā€”but recovery has just begun

One of the largest publicly funded conservation investments in history is starting to pay off on Macquarie Island, our newly published study shows.

Overcoming barriers to climate-smart agriculture in South Asia

Despite the possibility of climate-smart agriculture improving food security, most CSA practices and technologies are not widely adopted in South Asia.

Murderous mice attack and kill nesting albatrosses on Midway Atollā€”scientists struggle to stop them

At the far end of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands lies Kuaihelaniā€”also known as Midway Atollā€”a small set of islands home to the world's largest albatross colony. Over a million albatrosses return to Kuaihelani each year to breed. These seemingly pristine islands appear safe, but there's a predator lurking among the seabirds.

Potato plant radiation sensors could one day monitor radiation in areas surrounding power plants

While expanding nuclear energy production would provide carbon-free power and can help countries around the world meet their climate goals, nuclear energy could also come with some inherent risk. Radioactive pollution damages the environment, and it's nearly impossible to detect without specialized equipment. But what if plants growing in the facility's surrounding area could detect radiation pollution?

Antibiotic use on Kenya's dairy farms is putting consumers and animals at risk

Farmers often use antibiotics to keep their livestock healthy. They're sometimes used as "quick fixes", to avoid more costly management measures like regular disinfection, waste management, routine vaccination or provision of clean drinking water.

Danish grasslands are behaving strangely and researchers don't know why

Nature slowly begins to change if meadows and grasslands are allowed to grow wild without human interference or grazing animals. Weeds do well with disturbance from cows and sheep that graze and tramp on the soil, for example. However, weeds have a harder time if there is no disturbance, and other plants then begin to take their place. The competition for sunlight and good soil increases.

Research explores how people make a snap judgment about unfamiliar dogs

It's no secret that people can be quick to judge others, particularly when it comes to how a person looks. There have been tons of studies on how physical facial appearance, like makeup or facial hair, impacts a person's perception of someone else.

New aging mechanism discovered in nematodes

Even the genes and proteins that have been most closely studied are still far from having given up all their secrets. Like a Swiss Army knife, they have many different, often unknown functions.

An environmentally friendly way to turn seafood waste into value-added products

Reduce, reuse, recycle, and repurpose: These are all ways we can live more sustainably. One tricky aspect of recycling, though, is that sometimes the recycling process is chemically intensive, and this is the case for recycling one of the world's most abundant materialsā€”chitin.

A plan to protect the biodiversity of US waters

Marine biodiversity is in crisis around the globe. Climate change, overfishing, habitat destruction and other extractive industries are causing species losses at an alarming rate. Scientists, managers, and governments are taking steps to protect marine life, but this requires a network of protected areas that are ecologically representative, foster connectivity between habitats, and consider the dynamic nature of coastal and marine habitats.

New evidence shows UK solar parks can provide for bees and butterflies

A new study shows that U.K. solar parks, if managed correctly, can provide vital resources to help stem the decline in the nation's bees and butterflies.

Using citizen scientists to mitigate the environmental crisis in the marine ecosystem

Citizen science can help to improve conservation and management strategies for Mediterranean marine ecosystems, and to mitigate the impact of the environmental crisis. This is the conclusion of a study by the University of Barcelona and the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC), which highlights the scientific rigor of the work carried out by volunteers in assessing the state of conservation of corals and gorgonians on the Mediterranean coast.

How bats survive Norwegian winter nights

You have probably seen bats flying at dusk. They suddenly appear on summer evenings, when other flying creatures have settled down for the night. However, they are not a common sight in Norway, because there aren't that many of them. In addition, bats are not so easy to spot, seeing as they only emerge from their hiding places once darkness descends.

New tool helps users track fruit-plant readiness for growing season

Purdue University's Midwestern Regional Climate Center (MRCC) has launched its new interactive chilling hours tool. Growers now can more closely monitor accumulated chilling hours, an important factor that tracks how long fruit plants have been exposed to an ideal range of cool temperatures throughout the dormant season.

Australian citizen scientists hop to it with rabbit virus tracking project

Australia's national science agency, CSIRO, is calling on rural and regional Australians to join in the longest-running citizen science survey of rabbit diseases in the world, to help keep the invasive pest in check.

Medicine and Health news

Scientists invent ultra-thin, minimally-invasive pacemaker controlled by light

Sometimes our bodies need a boost. Millions of Americans rely on pacemakersā€”small devices that regulate the electrical impulses of the heart in order to keep it beating smoothly. But to reduce complications, researchers would like to make these devices even smaller and less intrusive.

Activity levels of four genes linked to pediatric appendicitis severity diagnosis

A multi-institutional team of medical researchers has found that measuring the activity of four specific genes in pediatric patients suspected of having appendicitis can predict whether the case is simple or perforated. In their study, reported in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, the group studied gene expression signatures in children diagnosed with appendicitis to learn more about associations between such signatures and severity of the ailment.

How AI can help spot early risk factors for Alzheimer's disease

UC San Francisco scientists have found a way to predict Alzheimer's disease up to seven years before symptoms appear by analyzing patient records with machine learning.

Study finds high number of persistent COVID-19 infections in the general population

A new study led by the University of Oxford has found that a high proportion of SARS-CoV-2 infections in the general population lead to persistent infections lasting a month or more. The findings have been published in the journal Nature.

Study offers new clues into the causes of post-infectious chronic fatigue syndrome

In a detailed clinical study, researchers at the National Institutes of Health have found differences in the brains and immune systems of people with post-infectious myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (PI-ME/CFS). They also found distinct differences between men and women with the disease. The findings were published in Nature Communications.

Intravascular imaging shown to significantly improve survival, safety and outcomes in stenting procedures

Using intravascular imaging to guide stent implantation during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in heart disease patients significantly improves survival and reduces adverse cardiovascular events compared to angiography-guided PCI alone, the most commonly used method.

Uptake of HIV prevention medication doubles with mix of digital health interventions, study finds

A UCLA Health-led study found a combination of interventions of one-on-one telehealth coaching, peer support forums, and automated text messages more than doubled the use of the HIV prevention strategy, called PrEP, among younger, at-risk Americans, a group that historically has had low use of the medication.

Researchers reveal mechanism of drug reactivating tumor suppressors

Researchers have revealed the mechanism of a drug shown to be effective in treating certain types of cancer, which targets a protein modification silencing the expression of multiple tumor suppressor genes. They also demonstrated in clinical trials the efficacy of the drug in reducing tumor growth in blood cancer.

Long COVID linked to persistently high levels of inflammatory protein: A potential biomarker and target for treatments

SARS-CoV-2 triggers the production of the antiviral protein IFN-Ī³, which is associated with fatigue, muscle ache and depression. New research shows that in long COVID patients, IFN-y production persists until symptoms improve, highlighting a potential biomarker and a target for therapies.

Air pollution linked to increased hospital admission for major heart and lung diseases

Short and long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution is linked to an increased risk of hospital admission for major heart and lung diseases, find two large U.S. studies, published by The BMJ today.

US study finds children born in October least likely to get flu

Children born in October are both more likely to be vaccinated against influenza and least likely to be diagnosed with influenza compared with children born in other months, finds a US study published by The BMJ.

Neuroscientists explore how the brain makes decisions

Scientists have gained new insights into how neurons in the brain communicate during a decision, and how the connections between neurons may help reinforce a choice.

'Movies' with color and music visualize brain activity data in beautiful detail

Complex neuroimaging data can be explored through translation into an audiovisual formatā€”a video with accompanying musical soundtrackā€”to help interpret what happens in the brain when performing certain behaviors.

TB vaccine shrinks liver cancer tumors in mice

A UC Davis Health study found that a single dose of Bacillus Calmette-GuƩrin (BCG), the vaccine for tuberculosis (TB), reduced liver tumor burden and extended the survival of mice with liver cancer. The study, published in Advanced Science, is the first to show the promising effects of the vaccine in treating liver cancer.

Bio-inspired neuroprosthetics: Sending signals the brain can understand

A few years ago, a team of researchers working under Professor Stanisa Raspopovic at the ETH Zurich Neuroengineering Lab gained worldwide attention when they announced that their prosthetic legs had enabled amputees to feel sensations from this artificial body part for the first time.

Study finds ancestry-driven disparities in pathogenic variation

A lack of diversity in large genomic studies presents a major challenge in understanding how pathogenic variants impact different populations. To address this problem and advance precision medicine for all populations, the National Institutes of Health's All of Us Research Program aims to collect health data, including whole-genome sequences, for at least 1 million volunteers from diverse backgrounds.

Deciphering cell-to-cell conversations: AI predicts anti-cancer immunotherapy response

A recent study introduces a novel approach to cancer treatment using artificial intelligence (AI) trained on cell-to-cell communication networks.

Researchers find possible predictor of COVID-19 severity

The degree of severity to which someone experiences COVID-19 has a lot to do with the body's immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the infection it causes. Our immune system tailors antibodies to fight infections, so they are often used as an indicator to determine what type of illness we're up against or how sick it's likely to make us.

Sleep improves ability to recall complex events, shows study

Researchers have known for some time that sleep consolidates our memories of facts and episodic events. However, the research to date has concentrated mainly on simple associationsā€”that is to say, connections between elements, such as we make when learning new vocabulary.

Digital therapy app significantly improves speech in stroke patients

A UCL-developed app that provides speech therapy for people with the language disorder aphasia has been found to significantly improve their ability to talk.

Study shows early success of a novel drug in treating a rare and chronic blood cancer

A novel treatment for polycythemia vera, a potentially fatal blood cancer, demonstrated the ability to control overproduction of red blood cells, the hallmark of this malignancy and many of its debilitating symptoms in a multi-center clinical trial led by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

'Switchable' bispecific antibodies pave way for safer cancer treatment

In the ever-evolving battle against cancer, immunotherapy presents a turning point. It began with harnessing the body's immune system to fight cancer, a concept rooted more than a century ago but only gaining significant momentum in recent years.

ADHD linked with proclivity to explore: Research suggests it may have helped early hunterā€“gatherer groups

A team of neuroscientists and psychologists from the Perelman School of Medicine and the Indian Institute of Technology has found evidence suggesting that early hunterā€“gatherer groups may have benefited from the behavior of individuals with ADHD.

Using phages to eradicate Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections

A new study describes the use of phage therapy to eradicate multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in a living organism (in vivo) with important new implications for antibiotic resistance.

New findings on the link between myotonic dystrophy 2 and autoimmune diseases

Myotonic dystrophy 2 (DM2) is a form of muscular dystrophy, a disease that leads to progressive muscle degeneration. It is caused by the expansion of a repetitive DNA sequence containing multiple CCTG bases in the CNBP gene. In general, the sequence of nucleobases in the DNA carries the genetic information.

Study of usefulness of lockdowns during epidemics identifies alternate solution

The COVID-19 pandemic raised questions about when and to what extent costly nonpharmaceutical interventions (e.g., lockdowns) should be used to slow the contagious spread of the virus. In a new study, researchers tackled that question with a dynamic optimization model. They found that small changes can tip the optimal response between very different approaches and identified an alternate approach that has previously not been recognized as effective.

Possible trigger for autoimmune diseases discovered: B cells teach T cells which targets must not be attacked

Immune cells must learn not to attack the body itself. A team of researchers from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU) has discovered a previously unknown mechanism behind this: other immune cells, the B cells, contribute to the "training" of the T cells in the thymus gland.

'Virtual biopsy' uses AI to help doctors assess lung cancer

Imperial researchers have used artificial intelligence (AI) to extract information about the chemical makeup of lung tumors from medical scans. For the first time, they have demonstrated how combining medical imaging with AI can be used to provide a 'virtual biopsy' for cancer patients.

Researchers find links between human, canine brain tumors

Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS), Baylor College of Medicine, and Texas Children's Hospital researchers have discovered that meningiomasā€”the most common type of brain tumor in humans and dogsā€”are extremely similar genetically.

Hippo signaling pathway gives new insight into systemic sclerosis

Systemic sclerosis causes the skin to tighten and harden resulting in a potentially fatal autoimmune condition that is associated with lung fibrosis and kidney disease.

Outsmarting chemo-resistant ovarian cancer with nanoparticle treatment

Women diagnosed with ovarian cancer may initially respond well to chemotherapy, but the majority of them will develop resistance to treatment and die from the disease. Now Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered the Achilles heel of chemotherapy-resistant ovarian cancerā€”its hunger for cholesterolā€”and how to sneakily use that to destroy it.

Researchers design novel drug delivery system that could reverse Alzheimer's disease impact

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers have developed a new drug delivery platform that harnesses helical amyloid fibers designed to untwist and release drugs in response to body temperatures.

Study finds menthol cigarette ban would lead a lot of people to quit smoking

A new paper published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research finds that banning the sale of menthol cigarettes would likely lead to a meaningful reduction in smoking rates.

Guideline now recommends fecal microbiota transplant for the majority of recurrent C. diff patients

In the first comprehensive evidence-based guideline on the use of fecal microbiota-based therapies for gastrointestinal disease, the American Gastroenterological Association recommends fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) for most patients with recurrent Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infection.

People who eat a healthy, plant-based diet are less likely to suffer from dangerous snoring, finds study

People who eat a healthy, plant-based diet that is high in vegetables, fruit, whole grains and nuts are less likely to suffer with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), according to a study published today (Feb. 20) in ERJ Open Research. However, people eating an unhealthy plant-based diet, high in refined carbohydrates, sugary drinks, high-sugar and high-salt foods, are at a higher risk of OSA.

Research suggests yoga benefits individuals with chronic back pain

New research published in the Journal of Orthopaedic Research suggests that the physical postures, breathing exercises, and mindfulness practices of yoga may benefit individuals with back pain.

Red light can reduce blood glucose levels, says study

In a new study appearing in the Journal of Biophotonics, researchers have found that 670 nanometers (nm) of red light stimulated energy production within mitochondria, leading to increased consumption of glucose. In particular, it led to a 27.7% reduction in blood glucose levels following glucose intake, and it reduced maximum glucose spiking by 7.5%.

Chronic inflammation and inactivity may affect age-related changes in gene and protein expression in skeletal muscle

New research indicates that some age-related changes in gene and protein expression in the skeletal muscles of older individuals may be affected more by physical inactivity and chronic inflammation than primary aging, or intrinsic maturational processes.

Study shows importance of coaching as part of lifestyle programs for women planning pregnancy

Personalized support by health professionals is critical to optimizing women's engagement and motivation in lifestyle programs, and improves outcomes for women planning to conceive, Monash University research has found.

A pacemaker for the brain helped a woman with crippling depression. It may soon be available to more

Emily Hollenbeck lived with a deep, recurring depression she likened to a black hole, where gravity felt so strong and her limbs so heavy she could barely move. She knew the illness could kill her. Both of her parents had taken their lives.

Musk says patient moves cursor with brain implant

Elon Musk says the first human patient with a brain implant from his Neuralink startup is able to move a computer mouse with thought.

Higher exercise volume after concussion tied to lower symptom burden in multicenter study

For children with concussion, higher cumulative moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (cMVPA) during the first and second weeks post-injury is associated with lower symptom burden, according to a study published online Feb. 16 in JAMA Network Open.

Study finds most sudden unexplained infant deaths occur on shared surfaces

Almost 60 percent of sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUID) occur on shared sleep surfaces, according to a study published online Feb. 20 in Pediatrics.

Dengue fever: An expert explains the mosquito-borne infection

Recent outbreaks of dengue fever in Brazil have prompted public health officials to launch an immunization campaign targeting children ages 10 to 11.

Focus on patient experience can improve diabetes care

Health care providers who treat diabetes need to think beyond the clinical numbers, such as solely focusing on a person's glucose goals. Taking the patient experience into account can improve the quality of care and facilitate attainment of treatment goals, according to a new position statement published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Compounds in female ginseng could lead to new osteoporosis treatments

With ever-increasing life expectancy comes the challenge of treating age-related disorders such as osteoporosis. Although there are effective drugs for treating this metabolic bone disease, they can be expensive and have side effects, limiting their availability to some people.

The continued rise of maternal mortality in Georgia leaves families broken in its wake

Women who die during pregnancy or within a year after giving birth are closely studied by state health officials. Policymakers have worked in earnest for a decade to improve pregnancy outcomes, yet Georgia remains one of the least safe states in the country for women to give birth.

Severe maternal grief associated with increased risk of heart failure in child

Prenatal stress is a potential risk factor for cardiovascular disease in offspring later in life. In a new study published today in JACC: Heart Failure, maternal loss of a partner or child shortly before or during pregnancy was found to be associated with increased risk of heart failure up to middle-age in the child.

Maternal mental conditions drive climbing death rate in US, according to study

Painting a sobering picture, a research team led by Children's National Hospital culled years of data demonstrating that maternal mental illness is an under-recognized contributor to the death of new mothers. They are calling for urgent action to address this public health crisis in the latest edition of JAMA Psychiatry.

New study suggests target steps per day for reduced risk of heart failure

The science is clear that movement is good for our bodies as we age. But just how much physical activity is beneficial for people over 60? A new study from the University at Buffalo provides an answer, and it's not 10,000 steps per day.

Study finds raised blood pressure is the leading risk factor for death in Australia

Raised blood pressure has been the leading risk factor for death in Australia for the past three decades, according to a study published February 21, 2024, in the open-access journal PLOS ONE led by Alta Schutte and Xiaoyue Xu from The George Institute for Global Health and UNSW, Sydney, with colleagues across Australia. It is also the main contributor to deaths from cardiovascular disease (CVD) specifically.

More than 40% of Americans know someone who has died of a drug overdose

More than 40% of Americans know someone who has died of a drug overdose and about one-third of those individuals say their lives were disrupted by the death, according to a new RAND study.

Child tax credits provided significant relief to families experiencing economic shocks during COVID, study finds

As a proposal to reinstate expanded Child Tax Credits (CTC) in the United States awaits a vote in the Senate, a new study led by Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) researchers reveals that the now-expired 2021 CTC expansion benefited families experiencing financial setbacks due to health or employment challenges spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Traffic-related air pollution linked to more signs of Alzheimer's in brain

People with higher exposure to traffic-related air pollution were more likely to have high amounts of amyloid plaques in their brains associated with Alzheimer's disease after death, according to a study published in the February 21, 2024, online issue of Neurology. Researchers looked at fine particulate matter, PM2.5, which consists of pollutant particles of less than 2.5 microns in diameter suspended in air.

80% of premature baby deaths happen in poorer countries. Five simple measures that can help save them

Worldwide in 2020 a baby died every 40 seconds because of complications of prematurity. Preterm birth is the leading cause of death among children under 5 years old.

Helping patients with low income overcome eating disorders

Individuals with eating disorders who have low income are frequently misdiagnosed and lack adequate access to appropriate therapy, according to researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine and Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Preventing relapse by restoring an opioid-weakened brain pathway governing behavior

Medical University of South Carolina scientists report in Neuron that they have uncovered a way to restore an opioid-weakened brain pathway in a preclinical model.

Children's hospital advocates to close the gap in pediatric heart care

Ochsner Children's Hospital, ranked among the top hospitals in the nation for pediatric cardiology and congenital heart surgery, is raising awareness of the need for more pediatric-specific heart devices.

Inaccurate oximeter readings could limit transplants, heart pumps for Black patients with heart failure study finds

Racially biased readings of oxygen levels in the blood using pulse oximeters may further limit opportunities for Black patients with heart failure to receive potentially lifesaving treatments, such as heart pumps and transplants, a Michigan Medicine study finds.

Adults with ADHD exhibit camouflaging behavior

Adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) exhibit camouflaging behavior, but to a lesser extent than those with autism, according to a study published online Feb. 7 in Autism Research.

Outcomes similar for therapy-related, de novo MDS after haplo-HSCT

Patients with therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome (t-MDS) and de novo MDS have comparable outcomes after haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haplo-HSCT), according to a study published online Feb. 8 in Clinical and Experimental Medicine.

Parents scrambling after asthma inhaler Flovent removed from market

A popular asthma inhaler was discontinued on Jan. 1, and the business move has left families scrambling to find a replacement for their kids.

Worse overall survival seen for adults with leukemia with CNS involvement

For adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), those with central nervous system (CNS) involvement have worse overall survival, according to a review published in the February issue of Leukemia Research.

Move to electric vehicles could prevent millions of child asthma attacks each year

If all cars and trucks sold in America were "zero emission" by 2040 and the country's electric grid was also powered by clean energy, nearly 2.8 million child asthma attacks would be prevented annually, a new report finds.

Alabama Supreme Court rules frozen embryos are children

In a ruling that could drastically limit future infertility care, the Alabama Supreme Court has ruled that frozen embryos can be considered children under state law.

Clinical markers improve with IV ertapenem for hidradenitis suppurativa

Treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) with intravenous ertapenem is associated with improvement in clinical and inflammatory markers, according to a study published online Feb. 19 in JAMA Dermatology.

Researchers: If you're worried about inflammation, stop stressing about seed oils and focus on the basics

You've probably seen recent claims online seed oils are "toxic" and cause inflammation, cancer, diabetes and heart disease. But what does the research say?

1 million people in England may have undiagnosed type 2 diabetes

Around 5 million people in England (about one in nine adults) are on the cusp of developing type 2 diabetes, according to new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Screen time doesn't have to be sedentary: Three ways it can get kids moving

There have been concerns about screens making kids more sedentary and less active since TV was introduced more than half a century ago.

A pharmacologist explains the controversy and addictive potential of the herbal substance kratom

The herbal substance kratom, derived from the leaves of a Southeast Asian tree, is used by nearly 2 million people in the United States annually. It can be easily purchased at gas stations and convenience stores, smoke shops and online, and is marketed as an "herbal supplement."

Alzheimer's disease: Viagra is seen as a potential treatment, but the research shows contradictory findings

A recent study reported that sildenafil, sold under the brand name Viagra, and other medicines from the same group called phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease. But other research has found no effect.

New study aims to define the progeria phenome

Progeroid disorders are a heterogenous group of rare and complex hereditary syndromes presenting with pleiotropic phenotypes associated with normal aging. Due to the large variation in clinical presentation the diseases pose a diagnostic challenge for clinicians which consequently restricts medical research.

Novel combination therapy offers promising results for treatment-refractory hepatoblastoma

Hepatoblastoma (HB) is the most common liver cancer in children. Researchers and physicians in the field are concerned because in the last decade HB has been rising rapidly worldwide and has seen the most rapid increase among all pediatric solid tumors.

Research shows older adults with a history of stroke at high risk of pandemic-induced depression

A new longitudinal study from the University of Toronto highlights the substantial mental health toll of the COVID-19 pandemic on older adults with a history of stroke.

Japan versus UK: Impact of social camouflage on mental health in autistic adults

As people with autism grow up, they face unique challenges. They find it difficult to deal with mental health issues. There is a big gap in understanding how pretending to fit in (known as social camouflage), cultural beliefs, and mental well-being are connected. This is especially true for non-Western countries like Japan.

Novel treatment strategy reduces inflammation and cardiometabolic risk in adolescents with obesity

After a one-year interdisciplinary therapy program that included clinical, nutritional, psychological and exercise counseling, a group of 22 obese adolescents not only lost weight but also exhibited lower blood levels of inflammatory and cardiovascular risk mediators.

Study examines medical mystery of child hepatitis outbreak

An analysis of the sudden global outbreak of hepatitis in children finds that although the primary suspect is highly likely to be an infection by multiple viruses, many questions still puzzle researchers.

Bad influence: Study shows social media is unreliable for nutrition advice

Relying on social media for dietary advice and nutritional information could prove to be an unhealthy strategy, as a national audit of influencer posts revealed nearly half contained inaccurate information.

Study finds mitochondrial activation in transplanted cells promotes regenerative therapy for heart failure

Heart failure stands as a leading cause of mortality worldwide, demanding advanced treatment options. Despite the urgency for more effective treatments, options for severe heart failure remain limited. Cell transplantation therapy has emerged as a promising ray of hope, as it can be used in regenerative therapy to heal the heart.

Machine learning can help optimize medical resource sharing in a crisis

Addressing supply shortages in an organization can be like hitting a moving targetā€”the problem may shift along with immediate supply and demand as the situation evolves.

Q&A: COVID rebound can happen whether or not you take Paxlovid

What initially was referred to as "Paxlovid rebound"ā€”a return of COVID symptoms or test positivity after starting a course of the antiviralā€”is now more accurately referred to as "COVID rebound," because rebound can happen regardless of whether someone takes antivirals.

Self-administered blood test shows promise for checking heart health

Researchers at Murdoch University's Australian National Phenome Center have delivered a self-administered blood test that could revolutionize the landscape of cardiovascular risk assessment.

New research suggests boosting potassium is key for blood pressure control

While reducing salt intake has been the focus of dietary advice to control high blood pressure (hypertension), a new study suggests that upping your potassium intake can be at least as important.

Heart rhythm holds the key to treating psychological trauma, suggests study

Researchers from Murdoch University have discovered that a simple measure of heart rate variability, taken at rest or during sleep, can identify a person's optimal treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.

Analysis of research grants pipeline illustrates systematic disadvantages

Of the more than 3,000 extramural K99 awards granted between 2008 and 2021, none were to an investigator at a Historically Black College or University (HBCU), based on a new analysis published in eLife.

Detecting pathogens faster and more accurately by melting DNA

A new analysis method can detect pathogens in blood samples faster and more accurately than blood cultures, which are the current state of the art for infection diagnosis. The new method, called digital DNA melting analysis, can produce results in under six hours, whereas culture typically requires 15 hours to several days, depending on the pathogen.

Heavy alcohol, drug use linked to increased risk of falls among people with HIV

The consequences of a fall can be devastating, particularly among people who are at higher risk of a fracture such as people with HIV. Alcohol consumption and drug use are important risk factors for falls or fractures, but there are no standard medical guidelines on the level of consumption or type of alcohol or other drug use (AOD) that increases one's risk for falls and fall-related injuries, particularly among populations with conditions that already affect balance.

Giant, online drug company may offer savings for urology drugs

An online pharmacy offering standardized, transparent pricing can reduce out-of-pocket costs for patients taking common medications prescribed by urologists, suggests a study in Urology Practice.

Research may offer relief to migraine sufferers

Research from the University of Virginia School of Medicine could pave the way for new treatments to manage migraines and chronic pain in women, improving their quality of life. The work is published in The Journal of Pain.

New findings suggest life span can be increased by making cells less efficient at producing energy

A new study has shown that BAM15, a compound that makes mitochondria less efficient at producing energy, extended life span in fruit flies and was associated with less body fat and increased muscle function.

Research progress reveals faster, more accurate blood flow simulation to advance treatment of vascular diseases

A review has shed light on the advancements in the simulation of blood flow within the intricate vascular system that could transform medical treatment and device innovation for vascular diseases.

Team develops accurate and inexpensive approach for optical biopsy

Detecting cancer during its early stages, that is, before it spreads to other parts of the body, almost always leads to better treatment outcomes and lower mortality rates. However, for people without good access to health care, such as those with low resources or who live in rural areas, timely diagnosis is rare. This is in great part due to the lack of simple, quick, and cost-effective diagnostic techniques for many types of cancer.

New study highlights disparities in mental health outcomes among immigrants before and after birth

In a new study, researchers at Oregon Health & Science University highlight disparities in maternal mental health care among low-income immigrants, and call on more states to expand Medicaid access in order to address mental health conditions new parents face during the perinatal period, or the time before and after birth.

Researchers report on muscle as a heart-health predictor

Body compositionā€”often expressed as the amount of fat in relation to muscleā€”is one of the standard predictors of cardiac health. Now, new research from the University of California San Diego indicates more muscle doesn't automatically mean lower risk of heart trouble.

Climate change shown to increase the risk of preterm births by 60%

Increased numbers of preterm births, higher incidence of respiratory disease and death, and more children in hospitals are some of the stark health outcomes the world is facing from the impacts of extreme climate change.

Breastfed babies less likely to be given treats, sweetened drinks before 12 months: Study

Babies who are breastfed, or partially breastfed, for more than six months are less likely to be given sugar-sweetened drinks and sweet or salty snacks before they are 12 months old, according to new research.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy tested for post-COVID conditions

Hyperbaric oxygen therapyā€”giving patients 100% oxygen at a pressure corresponding to 10ā€“20 meters below sea levelā€”has been around for almost 100 years. But the method lacks modern evidence from clinical studies, which also means that there is a lack of knowledge about dosage, all patients receive the same dose.

Study shows tendency for infection and bacterial flora explain caries

Researchers at UmeƄ University have for the first time been able to show that individual variation in susceptibility to infection and bacterial flora together explain recurrent caries disease and that others are asymptomatic. The results, which are important for the diagnosis and treatment of caries and other diseases, have been published in the journal eBioMedicine.

New approach to real-time monitoring after pancreatic surgery

Complications after pancreatic surgery are common and can be life-threatening. One of the most serious yet common complications is postoperative pancreatic fistula. This condition is diagnosed based on increased concentrations of the pancreatic enzyme alpha-amylase in drainage secretions.

New diagnostic tool for femoral osteoporosis improves the efficacy and viability of current methods

Osteoporosis can be detected and prevented more effectively thanks to a new diagnostic tool created by a team made up of researchers from the UPF BCN MedTech unit, the companies 3D-Shaper Medical and CETIR Medical Group, and Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau.

Age, sex, race among top risk factors for revision knee surgery

Patients who are younger than about 40, male, or Black are among those most at risk for revision surgery after having had a total knee replacement, according to researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center. The study, published in the Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, was the first to explore relationships among risk factors for revision after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Blood test could determine diabetes risks

A blood test could potentially be used to assess a patient's risk of type 2 diabetes, a new study from Edith Cowan University (ECU) has found.

Food additive E551 could promote celiac disease

E551, more commonly known as silicon dioxide, is a powder composed of nanoparticles (i.e., particles < 100 nm in size). It serves as an anti-caking agent in an array of dry and powdered foods, including soups, spices, cereal-based infant formula, instant coffee, cocoa mix, and freeze-dried pasta. It can be found among the ingredients of over 2,600 processed foods worldwide.

Disruption of mitochondrial unfolded protein response yields shortening of telomeres in mouse oocytes, somatic cells

A new research paper titled "Disruption of mitochondrial unfolded protein response results in telomere shortening in mouse oocytes and somatic cells" has been published in Aging.

Combining causal and correlative approaches to discover response biomarkers to paclitaxel

A new research perspective titled "Combining causal and correlative approaches to discover biomarkers of response to paclitaxel" has been published in Oncotarget.

New research identifies air pollution's role in childhood cancersā€”and how greenness might help mitigate it

In a new study led by the University of Minnesota's Masonic Cancer Center and the U of M Medical School, researchers found that exposure to air pollution and vegetation may impact childhood cancer development. The study was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

New tool can assess the climate of equity and inclusion in medical schools

Yale researchers have developed a new tool that can assess the state of equity and inclusion in medical school learning environments and provide feedback on how schools can make improvements. Using the tool could yield the timely and recurrent information needed to develop effective, evidence-based interventions, said the researchers.

Investigating the most allergen-inducing drugs

Anaphylaxis is a variant of an extremely severe allergic reaction. Contact with the allergen can lead to a sharp drop in blood pressure and a lack of oxygen, which causes the body's systems to shut down and death can occur. Anaphylaxis occurs spontaneously, and its severity is often impossible to predict. Therefore, it is important to follow the statistics of real cases of anaphylaxis. RUDN University doctors analyzed almost 30 thousand cases of drug allergies over four years and presented them in the form of statistical data.

Home health care linked to increased hospice use at end-of-life, study reveals

Home health care use in the last three years of a patient's life is associated with a higher likelihood of hospice care at the end of life, according to a Rutgers Health study.

Study finds association between watching TV or videos during the day and nighttime urination

In a study published in Neurourology and Urodynamics, adults who spent 5 or more hours a day watching TV and/or videos were more likely to develop nocturia, or the need to urinate multiple times during the night.

Maryland lawmakers announce $111 in mental health funding for child-serving organizations

Maryland state lawmakers, on Feb. 20, announced $111 million in grant funding for child-serving organizations across the state to help them bolster their behavioral health service offerings, including counseling, early intervention and parent encouragement programs.

The powerful constraints on medical care in Catholic hospitals across America

Nurse midwife Beverly Maldonado recalls a pregnant woman arriving at Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital in Maryland after her water broke. It was weeks before the baby would have any chance of survival, and the patient's wishes were clear, she recalled: "Why am I staying pregnant then? What's the point?" the patient pleaded.

Food watchdog lodges complaint over Nestle mineral water 'fraud'

Consumer watchdog Foodwatch said it was filing a legal complaint Wednesday against food giant Nestle and another group over them allegedly fraudulently treating water for their top mineral water brands.

This election year, health care costs top voter concerns: Poll

Unexpected medical bills and high health care costs are dominating an election where kitchen table economic problems weigh heavily on voter's minds, a new KFF poll has found.

Why do I keep getting urinary tract infections? And why are chronic UTIs so hard to treat?

Dealing with chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs) means facing more than the occasional discomfort. It's like being on a never ending battlefield against an unseen adversary, making simple daily activities a trial.

Hepatocellular carcinoma incidence and mortality in the US by sex, age, and race

Over the past two decades, there has been a significant increase in the incidence of primary liver cancer in the U.S., with higher rates observed in men. Its burden increases with age and disproportionately affects men, with mortality rates three times higher in men than in women. The higher incidence in men can be partially attributed to a greater prevalence of risk factors such as alcohol abuse and chronic HBV and HCV infections.

Worse survival rates, different care for cancer patients who live further from the hospital in Scotland

Patients who live further away from cancer centers are likely to receive different care and experience worse outcomes than those who live closer according to new research on patients in the north-east of Scotland and the Northern Isles. This is despite patients from further away being referred and diagnosed as quickly as people close to the center.

Video: Know the warning signs of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

It's often silent but can be a deadly killer. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a genetic condition that occurs in 1 in 500 people.

Other Sciences news

Neanderthals' usage of complex adhesives reveals higher cognitive abilities, scientists discover

Neanderthals created stone tools held together by a multi-component adhesive, a team of scientists has discovered. Its findings, which are the earliest evidence of a complex adhesive in Europe, suggest these predecessors to modern humans had a higher level of cognition and cultural development than previously thought.

Can't stand gossip? New research suggests that gabbing about others is 'not always a bad thing'

Rumormongers, blabbermouths, busybodiesā€”no matter what you call them, gossipers get a bad rap. But new theoretical research conducted by University of Maryland and Stanford University researchers argues that gossipers aren't all that bad. In fact, they might even be good for social circles.

New approach to carbon-14 dating corrects the age of a prehistoric burial site

How old are these bones? This standard question in archaeology can be answered quite precisely in many cases with the help of the carbon isotope 14C. But there are exceptions. Certain living habits, such as that of prehistoric hunter-gatherer-fisher communities, can distort 14C dating, because carbon in aquatic ecosystems typically contains less 14C than carbon from terrestrial plants and animals.

Do immigrant deaths at the border influence white and Latinx Americans' belief in the American dream?

The American dream narrative posits that anyone who works hard can become successful in the US, whereas the systemic racism narrative argues that the US is a racist country where minorities are systemically held back.

Unraveling the genetic and environmental influences on trust

Trust, a cornerstone of human interaction, has a significant genetic component, with around 33% of the variation between individuals attributed to our genes, according to new Australian research using data from twins and a meta-analysis of previous studies on the heritability of trust.

Research highlights power of interactive, gesture-based lessons when teaching abstract math concepts

Researchers at Colorado State University are exploring how non-verbal communication could be leveraged by faculty to reach educational goals and support individual learning around abstract math concepts.

Taiwan's Indigenous languages are under threatā€”what can NZ learn from their successes and failures?

There has been a global push to revitalize Indigenous languages since the late 1980s.

Are fears of saying 'no' overblown?

Everyone has been there. You get invited to something that you absolutely do not want to attendā€”a holiday party, a family cookout, an expensive trip. But doubts and anxieties creep into your head as you weigh whether to decline.

Australia wants navy boats with lots of weapons, but no crew. Will they run afoul of international law?

The Australian Navy is set to be transformed. On top of existing plans for nuclear submarines, the government yesterday announced a scheme for an "enhanced lethality surface combatant fleet" including six new "optionally crewed" vessels.

Christchurch terrorist discussed attacks online a year before carrying them out, new research reveals

In March and August 2018, up to a year before he attacked two Christchurch mosques, Brenton Tarrant posted publicly online that he planned to do so. Until now, these statements have not been identified.

More bang for the buck in influencer marketing: Focus on influencers with smaller followings, say study

Researchers from University of Mannheim, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Reichman University, and University of Basel published a new study that examines the effectiveness of paid influencer endorsements, particularly for DTC firms.

Teachers' growth mindset appears more important than warmth, research suggests

Students tend to like friendly teachers, but they like those who believe they can improve even more, new research indicates.

Half-price fares benefit people experiencing transport poverty, shows study

New research from the University of Otago, Christchurch, has found reduced cost public transport can play an important role in affordability and accessibility, specifically for those on lower incomes who face transport difficulty.

Lessons from the pandemic: The trouble with working from home

Remember when COVID-19 hit, and suddenly everyone was working from home? Well, a team of researchers in Montreal and Paris decided to dig deeper into how this shift affected office workers during the pandemic.

Wide variation in rates of police killings suggests unnecessary deaths

One in three police homicides could have been avoided without endangering police or the public, according to a study published in PNAS Nexus. Eight percent of all homicides of adult men in the United States are committed by police.

Racial disparities in the application of welfare sanctions in England

Ethnic minority claimants living in rural areas of England are more likely to face sanctions when claiming Jobseeker's Allowance compared to their white counterparts.

New research reveals the children with 'no voice' in the family courts

Important decisions are made about a child's life during private law proceedingsā€”but a strikingly large proportion of children are not seen by the professionals involved, and have no voice, new research shows.

Study explores perceptions of US Veterans Treatment Courts

A new study by researchers at the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Lowell, San Diego State University, and Penn State Harrisburg has examined perceptions of team members who work with a U.S. program called Veterans Treatment Courts (VTCs) regarding the viability and longevity of the program. The study identified team members' expectations and hopes for the future, including the importance of expansion of and continued funding for a program that considers the unique and ongoing needs of U.S. veterans.

How Americans really feel about the teaching of controversial topics in schools

While Americans overwhelmingly agree on the fundamental value of public education, a new study by researchers at USC reveals deep partisan divides on sensitive topics like LGBTQ+ inclusion and racial justice in K-12 curricula.

Science in times of crisis: Lessons from Fukushima and WWII

Collective memory is one way to ensure that past mistakes in the evolution of science systems are not repeated after a crisis, disaster or conflict according to a University of Tokyo historian who has contributed to the International Science Council's latest report: "Protecting Science in Times of Crisis."

Marriage is not as effective an antipoverty strategy as you've been led to believe

Brides.com predicts that 2024 will be the "year of the proposal" as engagements tick back up after a pandemic-driven slowdown.

Canada is a suburban nation because of post-Second World War government policy

Canada is a suburban nation, not only because of consumer preferences, but also because of federal government policy in the years following the Second World War.

Too many Aussies are starting a family and raising their kids in poverty, researchers say

Australia is a high-income country with universal health, education and social services. But, like many countries around the world, Australia is in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis.

Death and grief in Swedish children's books

Death is blue, or a flying animal. This is how death is most commonly illustrated in Swedish children's literature, according to a new study from Uppsala University based on analyses of 62 books. Just 6 out of 10 books use the word "dead," which may be a problem.

Net zero policy risks are making the poor poorer, says UK report

The poorest 40% of U.K. households will be most impacted by existing net zero policies, leading to further deprivation and exclusion, new research reveals.

A 500-year-old law laid the foundation for how Norwegians understandā€”and trustā€”the law today

In 1274, King Magnus VI, the Law Mender, united the entire Norwegian kingdom under one common law. The Norwegian Code of the Realm remained in force for over 400 years, and in it lie the seeds that would grow into Norway's rule of law and the idea of popular co-determination.

Mapping the future of rural revitalization: Study sheds light on China's rural dynamics

Globally, rural areas face challenges such as population decline, job shortages, and deepening urban-rural divides, exacerbated by rapid urbanization and industrialization. In China, these issues threaten rural sustainability, making the study of rural development patterns, especially the interaction between population dynamics, land use, and industrial activities, critical for devising effective revitalization strategies.


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