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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for April 4, 2024:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Nanotechnology news
 | Unlocking exotic physics: Exploring graphene's topological bands in super-moiré structuresIn a new study, scientists from Singapore and Spain have presented a new avenue for exploring exotic physics in graphene. They focus on electronic interactions in graphene when it is sandwiched in a three-layer structure which provides a platform to exploit unique electronic band configurations. |
 | Improving infectious disease testing with gold nanoparticlesBy harnessing the power of composite polymer particles adorned with gold nanoparticles, a group of researchers have delivered a more accurate means of testing for infectious diseases. Details of their research are published in the journal Langmuir. |
 | Biodegradable aerogel: Airy cellulose from a 3D printerAt first glance, biodegradable materials, inks for 3D printing and aerogels don't seem to have much in common. All three have great potential for the future; however, "green" materials do not pollute the environment, 3D printing can produce complex structures without waste, and ultra-light aerogels are excellent heat insulators. |
Physics news
 | Researchers create stable superconductor enhanced by magnetismAn international team including researchers from the University of Würzburg has succeeded in creating a special state of superconductivity. This discovery could advance the development of quantum computers. The results are published in Nature Physics. |
 | Self-assembly of complex systems: Hexagonal building blocks are betterComplex systems in nature, like their synthetic counterparts in technology, comprise a large number of small components that assemble of their own accord through molecular interactions. Gaining a better understanding of the principles and mechanisms of this self-assembly is important for the development of new applications in domains such as nanotechnology and medicine. |
 | Team presents new path to long-term data storage based on atomic-scale defectsWith the development of the internet, social media and cloud computing, the amount of data created worldwide on a daily basis is sky-rocketing. This calls for new technologies that could provide higher storage densities combined with secure long-term data archiving far beyond the capabilities of traditional data storage devices. |
 | 'It's ultimately about predicting everything'—theory could be a map in the hunt for quantum materialsA breakthrough in theoretical physics is an important step toward predicting the behavior of the fundamental matter of which our world is built. It can be used to calculate systems of enormous quantities of quantum particles, a feat thought impossible before. |
 | Physics of complex fluids: Ring polymers show unexpected motion patterns under shearThe shearing of fluids—meaning the sliding of fluid layers over each other under shear forces—is an important concept in nature and in rheology, the science that studies the flow behavior of matter, including liquids and soft solids. Shear forces are lateral forces applied parallel to a material, inducing deformation or slippage between its layers. |
 | New focused approach can help untangle messy quantum scrambling problemsThe world is a cluttered, noisy place, and the ability to effectively focus is a valuable skill. For example, at a bustling party, the clatter of cutlery, the conversations, the music, the scratching of your shirt tag and almost everything else must fade into the background for you to focus on finding familiar faces or giving the person next to you your undivided attention. |
 | Surface emitting semiconductor laser achieves efficiency breakthroughSince its inception, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of edge-emitting laser (EEL) technology has been continuously breaking records, achieving a historically high efficiency of 85% at -50°C in 2006. Following this, in 2007, EEL also reached a high efficiency of 76% at room temperature. However, over the next 15 years, no new efficiency records were set and these achievements have remained the pinnacle for semiconductor lasers. |
 | Team develops portable swept-source Raman spectrometer for chemical and biomedical applicationsIn 1928, Indian physicist Sir C. V. Raman and his colleague K. S. Krishnan discovered that when light interacts with matter, parts of the scattered light undergo changes in energy due to interaction with molecular vibrations, resulting in what is known as Raman scattering. The discovery laid the foundation for Raman spectroscopy, a technique that takes advantage of these energy changes to create a unique fingerprint of the molecular structure of the material. |
Earth news
 | Pristine Finnish peatland offers glimpse into pre-industrial atmosphereAn international group of researchers has uncovered significant insights into pre-industrial aerosol formation processes through a study conducted in a pristine Finnish peatland. The investigation aimed to understand atmospheric particle formation in an environment with minimal human influences, shedding light on historical climate conditions. |
 | With the planet facing a 'polycrisis,' biodiversity researchers uncover major knowledge gapsA scientific review has found almost no research studying the interconnections across three major threats to planetary health, despite UN assessments suggesting 1 million species are at risk of extinction, a global pandemic that resulted in over 6 million excess deaths, and a record-breaking year of global temperatures. |
 | Ancient ocean oxygenation timeline revealedDr. Uri Ryb and Dr. Michal Ben-Israel from the Institute of Earth Sciences at the Hebrew University, along with their collaborators, have made an important discovery in Earth sciences. Their study, published in Nature Communications, introduces a new approach to reconstruct the rise of oxygen in ancient marine environments using U and Pb measurements in dolomite rocks spanning the last 1.2 billion years. |
 | Researchers find the link between human activity and shifting weather patterns in western North AmericaWestern North America seems to be experiencing more extreme weather events more frequently. From scorching droughts to torrential floods, the climate is changing rapidly, with no signs of slowing down. From 2011 to 2015, California and neighboring states experienced extended periods of drought, while 2017 saw heavy rains trigger catastrophic floods. |
 | Unlocking Arctic mysteries: How melting ice shapes our climateRecent decades have witnessed rapid changes in the Arctic climate, with warming rates surpassing global averages by three to four times. This puzzling "Warm Arctic, Cold Eurasia" climate phenomenon has profound implications, sparking scientific curiosity into its underlying mechanisms. |
 | Electric vehicles may be lowering Bay Area's carbon footprint: Monitors record small decrease in CO₂ emissionsAn extensive CO2 monitoring network set up around the San Francisco Bay Area by an atmospheric chemist from the University of California, Berkeley, has recorded the first evidence that the adoption of electric vehicles is measurably lowering the area's carbon emissions. The findings have been published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology. |
 | Pacific rock samples offer glimpse of active Earth 2.5 billion years agoIn Earth science, small details can help explain massive events. Rita Parai, an assistant professor of Earth, environmental and planetary sciences in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, uses precision equipment to measure trace levels of noble gases in rocks, samples that can provide key insights into planetary evolution. |
 | Researchers envision sci-fi worlds involving changes to atmospheric water cycleHuman activity is changing the way water flows between the Earth and atmosphere in complex ways and with likely long-lasting consequences that are hard to picture. |
 | Why is Taiwan so exposed to earthquakes and so well prepared to withstand them?Taiwan was struck Wednesday by its most powerful earthquake in a quarter of a century. At least nine people were killed and hundreds injured, buildings and highways damaged and dozens of workers at quarries stranded. |
 | Despite gains in Brazil, forest destruction still 'stubbornly' high: ReportThe world lost 10 football fields of old-growth tropical forest every minute in 2023 and despite uplifting progress in the Amazon, the picture elsewhere is less rosy, researchers said on Thursday. |
 | What we know about how 'forever chemicals' affect healthInvisible, omnipresent "forever chemicals" have been linked to a wide range of serious effects on human health, prompting growing calls for them to be banned. |
 | Out of alignment: How clashing policies make for terrible environmental outcomesPolicy alignment sounds dry. But think of it like this: you want to make suburbs cooler and more liveable, so you plant large trees. But then you find the trees run afoul of fire and safety provisions, and they're cut down. |
 | New study flags alarmingly high levels of microplastics in Nigeria's Osun RiverThe Osun River is one of the major rivers in southern Nigeria. It flows from its source in Ekiti State, through several states, before emptying into Lagos state's Lekki Lagoon. It is an important source of water for the communities that live around it, whether for irrigation or for personal use. |
 | Only 57 producers are responsible for 80% of all fossil fuel and cement CO₂ emissions since 2016: ReportJust 57 companies and nation states were responsible for generating 80% of the world's CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and cement over the last seven years, according to a new report released by the thinktank InfluenceMap. This finding suggests that net zero targets set by the Paris climate change agreement in 2015 are yet to make a significant impact on fossil fuel production. |
 | Climate engineering carries serious national security risks—countries facing extreme heat may try it anywayThe historic Paris climate agreement started a mantra from developing countries: "1.5 to stay alive." It refers to the international aim to keep global warming under 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.8 Fahrenheit) compared with preindustrial times. But the world will likely pass that threshold within a decade, and global warming is showing little sign of slowing. |
 | Electric cars credited with lower carbon dioxide emissions in US neighborhoodsThe booming use of electric vehicles in parts of California is reducing CO2 emissions in those areas, a study showed Thursday, bolstering a key pillar of the state's drive towards net zero. |
 | The omnipresence of PFAS—and what we can do about themPer- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—also known as "forever chemicals"—are everywhere. Created in the 1940s, these synthetic compounds are an unseen ingredient in many items that we use in our daily lives, like cleaning products, food packaging, nonstick cookware, cosmetics, personal care items like dental floss, water-repellent clothing, as well as stain-resistant carpets and upholstery. Since the 1970s, they have also been used in firefighting foams and by the military. |
 | How Taiwan managed to keep its death toll so low during the 7.4-magnitude earthquakeA 7.4 magnitude earthquake has rocked the east coast of Taiwan—the largest the island nation has seen in more than 25 years. |
 | Textiles and food packaging biggest source of PFAS in Yangtze RiverThe first study of toxic "forever chemicals" along the full length of Asia's longest river, the Yangtze, has found 13 different types of PFAS, nearly half of them coming from textile treatments and food packaging. |
 | Mercury contamination rampant in Brazil Indigenous group: StudyResearchers in the Brazilian Amazon found universal mercury contamination among members of the Yanomami Indigenous group living in a region awash in illegal gold mining, said a study published Thursday, warning of devastating health impacts. |
 | Africa's carbon sink capacity is shrinkingThe population of Africa, the second-largest continent in the world, currently sits at about 1.4 billion, but is set to exceed 2 billion by 2040. This means greater swaths of land than ever before are being used for agriculture, and livestock numbers are increasing. A new estimate of Africa's greenhouse gas budget between 2010 and 2019 quantifies just how much these changes in land use have affected Africa's role in the global carbon cycle. The research is published in the journal Global Biogeochemical Cycles. |
 | The Anthropocene epoch that isn't—what the decision not to label a new geological epoch means for Earth's futureFor almost 15 years, scientists have debated whether the Anthropocene should be an official geological epoch marking the profound influence of humans on the planet. Then in March, an international panel of scientists formally rejected the proposal for a new Anthropocene epoch. |
Astronomy and Space news
 | Observations reveal complex morphology of Big Three DragonsUsing the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the Atacama Large Millimeter/sub-millimeter Array (ALMA), an international team of astronomers has observed a merging galaxy system known as B14-65666, dubbed "Big Three Dragons." As a result, they found that the system has a complex morphology and experiences dusty starbursts. The finding was detailed in a paper published March 25 on the pre-print server arXiv. |
 | Researchers use the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument to make the largest 3D map of our universeWith 5,000 tiny robots in a mountaintop telescope, researchers can look 11 billion years into the past. The light from far-flung objects in space is just now reaching the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), enabling us to map our cosmos as it was in its youth and trace its growth to what we see today. |
 | Three companies in the running for NASA's next moon roverThree companies are in the running to provide NASA's next moon rover for crewed missions planned later this decade, the space agency said Wednesday. |
 | New research traces the fates of stars living near the Milky Way's central black holeDespite their ancient ages, some stars orbiting the Milky Way's central supermassive black hole appear deceptively youthful. But unlike humans, who might appear rejuvenated from a fresh round of collagen injections, these stars look young for a much darker reason. |
 | Tracing the largest solar storm in modern times from tree rings in LaplandA research group coordinated by the University of Helsinki was able to measure a spike in radiocarbon concentration of trees in Lapland that occurred after the Carrington flare. This discovery helps to prepare for dangerous solar storms. The study is published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. |
 | How NASA's Roman Telescope will measure the ages of starsGuessing your age might be a popular carnival game, but for astronomers it's a real challenge to determine the ages of stars. Once a star like our sun has settled into steady nuclear fusion, or the mature phase of its life, it changes little for billions of years. One exception to that rule is the star's rotation period—how quickly it spins. By measuring the rotation periods of hundreds of thousands of stars, NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope promises to bring new understandings of stellar populations in our Milky Way galaxy after it launches by May 2027. |
 | One Tech Tip: How to use apps to track and photograph the total solar eclipseMonday's total solar eclipse might become one of the most filmed and photographed events of the year. |
 | Boeing 1 month out from 4 years of catchup to SpaceX with 1st crewed Starliner flightAfter nearly four years of playing catchup, Boeing is finally set to join SpaceX as one of two commercial partners capable of flying NASA astronauts to the International Space Station. |
 | Scientists pursue the total solar eclipse with NASA jet planesThe April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse will produce stunning views across North America. While anyone along the eclipse path with a clear sky will see the spectacular event, the best view might be 50,000 feet in the air, aboard NASA's WB-57 jet planes. That's where a trio of NASA-funded teams are sending their scientific instruments to take measurements of the eclipse. |
 | Why there may be oceans inside dwarf planets beyond Pluto—and what this means for the likely abundance of lifeEarth was long thought to be the only planet in our solar system with an ocean, but it is beginning to look as though there are underground oceans inside even the most surprising icy bodies. |
 | Total solar eclipse forecast: Will your city have clear skies Monday?Some who hope to witness Monday's total solar eclipse may see the sun obscured by clouds instead of by the moon. |
 | ESA to launch Arctic weather satellite in JuneThe European Space Agency said Thursday it will launch a satellite in June which will improve weather forecasting in the Arctic—a region highly exposed to the effects of global warming. |
 | Space scientists' new sensors shine spotlight on sun-Earth studiesSmall, low-cost sensors developed by space scientists at The University of Texas at Dallas to study the Earth's upper atmosphere recently—and unexpectedly—provided information about the sun, something the devices were not designed to do. |
 | ESA's solar eclipse maker, Proba-3Hundreds of millions of people will witness next week's total solar eclipse across North America, and solar physicists from around the globe are flocking to join them. Eclipses offer a brief glimpse of the sun's ghostly surrounding atmosphere—the solar corona—normally kept invisible by the sun's sheer glare. But the corona will soon be opened up for more sustained study: today in Belgium ESA has unveiled the pair of spacecraft making up its new Proba-3 mission, planned to produce orbital solar eclipse events on demand. |
 | Mapping lava tubes on the moon and Mars from spaceSometimes, all you need for a new discovery is some creative math. That was the case for a new paper by Edward Williams and Laurent Montési of the University of Maryland's Department of Geology. They released a brief paper at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC 2024) last month that describes a mathematical way to estimate the size of a lava tube using only remote sensing techniques. |
 | A robot hopper to explore the moon's dangerous terrainIntuitive Machines recently had a major breakthrough, successfully becoming the first non-governmental entity to land on the moon in February. At least the landing was partially successful—the company's Odysseus lander ended up on its side, though its instruments and communication links remained at least partially functional. That mission, dubbed IM-1, was the first in a series of ambitious missions the company has planned. And they recently released a paper at the LPSC 2024 conference detailing features of a unique hopping robot that will hitch a ride on its next moon mission. |
 | NASA to launch three sounding rockets during solar eclipseThree Black Brant IX sounding rockets for the Atmospheric Perturbations around Eclipse Path (APEP) mission are scheduled to launch from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility launch range in Virginia. The launch window opens April 8, 2024, at 2:40 p.m. EDT. |
 | What's the earliest the moon could have formed?Astronomers are pretty sure they know where the moon came from. In the early solar system, a Mars-sized object dubbed Theia smashed into Earth. This cataclysmic collision knocked a huge mass of material into orbit, which coalesced and cooled into the moon. But establishing exactly when this occurred is a difficult task. |
 | Which type of clouds make it harder to see the April 8 solar eclipse?With less than a week away from the solar eclipse, weather forecasters are keeping an eye on the cloud cover, which can make or break a person's chance to see the event. |
 | Is the universe really a 'dark forest' full of hostile aliens in hiding?We have no good reason to believe that aliens have ever contacted Earth. Sure, there are conspiracy theories and some rather strange reports about harm to cattle, but nothing credible. Physicist Enrico Fermi found this odd. His formulation of the puzzle, proposed in the 1950s and now known as "the Fermi Paradox", is still key to the search for extraterrestrial life (SETI) and messaging by sending signals into space (METI). |
Technology news
 | Exploring the resilience of the Texas power grid against extreme weather conditionsThe Gulf Coast of the United States is often hit by tropical cyclones (TCs), hurricanes and other extreme weather phenomena, which can cause widespread electricity outages. Climate change and global warming are expected to increase the risk of these events occurring, which could significantly disrupt activities in the area. |
 | Researchers 3D print key components for a point-of-care mass spectrometerMass spectrometry, a technique that can precisely identify the chemical components of a sample, could be used to monitor the health of people who suffer from chronic illnesses. For instance, a mass spectrometer can measure hormone levels in the blood of someone with hypothyroidism. |
 | Developing artificial skin that can regenerate skin and transmit sensation at the same timeDamage to nerve tissue due to skin defects such as burns, skin diseases, and trauma causes loss of sensory and cognitive functions that are essential for life-sustaining activities, as well as mental and physical distress. If the damage is severe enough that natural healing is not possible, surgical treatment is required to implant artificial skin in the affected area, but the artificial skin developed to date has focused on skin regeneration, providing a structure and environment similar to skin tissue, but has not restored sensation to patients. |
 | Researchers develop a novel ultra-low–power memory for neuromorphic computingA team of Korean researchers has developed a new memory device that can be used to replace existing memory or be used in implementing neuromorphic computing for next-generation artificial intelligence hardware for its low processing costs and its ultra-low–power consumption. |
 | 'Surprising' hidden activity of semiconductor material spotted by researchersNew research suggests that materials commonly overlooked in computer chip design actually play an important role in information processing, a discovery that could lead to faster and more efficient electronics. |
 | Study examines cost competitiveness of zero-emission trucksMedium- and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDVs) account for just 5% of vehicles on the road in the United States, yet they are responsible for 21% of transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing MHDV emissions is vital to mitigating the effects of climate change and improving air quality. Zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs)—such as battery electric vehicles (EVs) and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs)—offer a solution. |
 | Proof-of-principle demonstration of 3D magnetic recording could lead to enhanced hard disk drivesResearch groups from NIMS, Seagate Technology, and Tohoku University have made a breakthrough in the field of hard disk drives (HDD) by demonstrating the feasibility of multi-level recording using a three-dimensional magnetic recording medium to store digital information. |
 | New privacy-preserving robotic cameras obscure images beyond human recognitionFrom robotic vacuum cleaners and smart fridges to baby monitors and delivery drones, the smart devices being increasingly welcomed into our homes and workplaces use vision to take in their surroundings, taking videos and images of our lives in the process. |
 | Game theory research shows AI can evolve into more selfish or cooperative personalitiesResearchers in Japan have effectively developed a diverse range of personality traits in dialogue AI using a large-scale language model (LLM). Using the prisoner's dilemma from game theory, Professor Takaya Arita and Associate Professor Reiji Suzuki from Nagoya University's Graduate School of Informatics' team created a framework for evolving AI agents that mimics human behavior by switching between selfish and cooperative actions, adapting its strategies through evolutionary processes. Their findings were published in Scientific Reports. |
 | Tech companies want to build artificial general intelligence. But who decides when AGI is attained?There's a race underway to build artificial general intelligence, a futuristic vision of machines that are as broadly smart as humans or at least can do many things as well as people can. |
 | NYC's AI chatbot was caught telling businesses to break the law. The city isn't taking it downAn artificial intelligence-powered chatbot created by New York City to help small business owners is under criticism for dispensing bizarre advice that misstates local policies and advises companies to violate the law. |
 | South Korean computer chipmaker plans $3.87 billion Indiana semiconductor plant and research centerA major South Korean computer chipmaker said Wednesday it plans to spend more than $3.87 billion in Indiana to build a semiconductor packaging plant and research and development center. |
 | Apple explores making personal robots: ReportApple engineers are working on making personal robots, a report said on Wednesday, just weeks after the iPhone-maker abandoned its efforts to develop an electric car. |
 | US, EU to use AI to seek alternate chemicals for making chipsThe European Union and the U.S. plan to enlist artificial intelligence in the search for replacements to so-called forever chemicals that are prevalent in semiconductor manufacturing, according to a draft statement seen by Bloomberg. |
 | Beware businesses claiming to use trailblazing technology. They might just be 'AI washing' to snare investorsStaying competitive in the finance sector is vital, with many companies moving quickly to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) to reduce costs and streamline operations. |
 | Human error may have contributed to the Key Bridge disaster. Changing our approach to design can help reduce accidentsIn the early morning of March 26, a 948-foot vessel struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Md., causing its collapse. Preliminary evidence shows that the container ship Dali lost power while transitioning out of the Baltimore harbor, which resulted in the ship's crew losing control of its steering. |
 | An anonymous coder nearly hacked a big chunk of the internet. How worried should we be?Outside the world of open-source software, it's likely few people would have heard about XZ Utils, a small but widely used tool for data compression in Linux systems. But late last week, security experts uncovered a serious and deliberate flaw that could leave networked Linux computers susceptible to malicious attacks. |
 | Ford to delay production of new electric pickup and large SUV as US EV sales growth slowsWith U.S. electric vehicle sales starting to slow, Ford Motor Co. says it will delay rolling out new electric pickup trucks and a new large electric SUV as it adds gas-electric hybrids to its model lineup. |
 | Riding through: Researchers enhance reliability of electric vehicle chargingAmerican drivers have long been accustomed to quickly filling up at a gas station with plenty of fuel available, and electric vehicle drivers want their pit stops to mimic this experience. Driver uncertainty about access to charging during long trips remains a barrier to broader EV adoption, even as the U.S. strives to combat climate change by converting more drivers. |
 | Shifting power operations to reduce wildfiresA new method can help avoid public safety power shut-offs during fire-prone climate conditions. |
 | Computer scientists discover gap in the latest security mechanisms used by some chipsOver the past few years, hardware manufacturers have developed technologies that ought to make it possible for companies and governmental organizations to process sensitive data securely using shared cloud computing resources. Known as confidential computing, this approach protects sensitive data while it is being processed by isolating it in an area that is impenetrable to other users and even to the cloud provider. But computer scientists at ETH Zurich have now proven that it is possible for hackers to gain access to these systems and to the data stored in them. |
 | AI is already changing research and product development at Philly-based NextFabTech developers, tinkerers, device engineers, artists, and start-up founders are experimenting with ChatGPT and other generative artificial intelligence platforms—including at NextFab, a Philadelphia firm that offers digital hardware and software tools, know-how and venture funding to fee-paying users. |
 | Fantasy sports company PrizePicks says it will hire 1,000 in Atlanta as it leases new headquartersPrizePicks will expand its operations in Atlanta, hiring an additional 1,000 employees over seven years, the fantasy sports company announced Thursday. |
Chemistry news
 | A new method for storing and processing hydrogen chlorideA research team at Freie Universität Berlin has successfully developed a method for storing and electrolyzing gaseous hydrogen chloride in the form of an ionic liquid. The method allows the hydrogen chloride created as a by-product in traditional chlorination processes to be recovered and recycled in a safer manner. |
 | New method reveals secrets of protein interactions with potential for drug discoveryScientists from the University of Oulu (Finland) and Texas A&M University (U.S.), have developed a new method to study how proteins interact with small ligand molecules, paving the way, for example, for faster and more efficient drug discovery. |
 | Operando spectroscopy provides a window on water oxidationIridium oxide catalysts are effective for water oxidation making them very attractive for green technologies. A team including researchers from SANKEN (The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research) at Osaka University has therefore taken the closest look yet at how they work. |
 | Click chemistry: Research team creates 150 new compoundsCold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) chemists have created a new collection of molecular compounds and begun testing them as potential leads in the search for new drugs. Among these molecules, they found several that show promise for development as antibiotics and cancer therapies. Sounds like a eureka moment? Well, sort of. But it's more a case of hard chemistry made simple. |
 | Computational chemistry needs to be sustainable too, say researchersA diverse group of computational chemists is encouraging the research community to embrace a sustainable software ecosystem. That's the message behind a perspective article published in the Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation. The authors discuss possible scenarios of how to develop software in the face of a changing computational landscape. |
Biology news
 | Automated bioacoustics: Researchers are listening in on insects to better gauge environmental healthRecent research led by the University of Massachusetts Amherst evaluates how well machine learning can identify different insect species by their sound, from malaria-carrying mosquitoes and grain-hungry weevils to crop-pollinating bees and sap-sucking cicadas. |
 | Adult fish struggle to bounce back in marine protected areas, study findsAge matters when determining how to protect life in the ocean; every population needs a strong cohort of adults to produce the next generation. But many marine protected areas (MPAs) are falling short of their most basic purpose: to rebuild struggling fish populations. |
 | Some snakes show signs of self-recognition in olfactory testsA trio of psychologists at Wilfrid Laurier University, in Canada, has found evidence that at least one type of snake may have self-recognition. In their study, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, Troy Freiburger, Noam Miller and Morgan Skinner used the olfactory sense rather than vision to test for self-recognition in two kinds of snakes. |
 | 'Force-sensing' protein could better treat diseases that cause seizuresResearchers from The Australian National University (ANU) have made a discovery about a little understood protein in the human body that could help treat diseases that cause seizures, including epilepsy. The study is published in Nature. |
 | New research shows key molecules within nerve cells persist throughout lifeAfter two decades in the United States, Martin Hetzer returned home to Austria in 2023 to become the 2nd President of the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA). A year into his new role, the molecular biologist remains engaged in the realm of aging research. |
 | Researchers reveal assembly of critical molecular machine that removes non-coding information from genesOne of the most striking features of human genes is that genetic information required to produce proteins is stored in a discontinuous form, wherein the coding information (exons) is punctuated with non-coding segments known as introns. |
 | Study finds shy sea anemones are more likely to survive heat wavesA study by researchers from the University of Gothenburg shows that sea anemones that react more slowly to change can survive a heat wave better than individuals that change their behavior quickly. |
 | Lab experiments show material flowing through cracks can isolate molecules that may reveal early life on EarthA team of biophysicists at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, in Germany, has found via lab experiments that heated material seeping through tiny cracks in hardened material can result in isolation of molecules that could have served as the building blocks for life on Earth. |
 | Study shows impacts of invasive species transcend ecosystem boundariesInvasive species influence biodiversity across larger spatial extents than previously thought. In a recently published study, researchers from Eawag and the University of Zurich show that the impacts of invasive species extend far beyond the ecosystems they invade and that three mechanisms are primarily responsible for this. These findings are of great importance for the management of ecosystems. |
 | Scientists propose AI framework for mass-manufacturing of stem cells for regenerative medicineSome stem cells have a natural ability to divide into more cells and develop into various specialized blood, bone or muscle cells. These pluripotent stem cells offer great promise for new cell treatments and regenerative medicine, researchers say. |
 | New study paves the way for precision drugs to treat blood cancersThe Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) protein mediates signaling from several cytokine receptors in the regulation of hematopoiesis and immune responses. Somatic mutations in human JAK2 lead to constitutive activation and cytokine-independent signaling and underlie several hematological malignancies from myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) to acute leukemia and lymphomas. JAK2 contains an active kinase domain and an inactive pseudokinase domain. Interestingly, pathogenic mutations mainly occur in the regulatory pseudokinase domain. |
 | Chinese scientists reveal the spinning mechanism of the silkwormMulberry silk is a natural protein fiber that is light, soft and fine in nature, known as the "second skin of the human body" and "Queen of fibers." China is the origin of the world's sericulture industry. |
 | Attack and defense in the microverse: How small RNA molecules regulate viral infections of bacteriaViruses need hosts. Whether it's measles, the flu or coronavirus, viral pathogens cannot multiply or infect other organisms without the assistance of their hosts' cellular infrastructure. However, humans are not the only ones affected by viruses: animals, plants and even microorganisms can all serve as hosts. |
 | How plants heal wounds: Mechanical forces guide direction of cell divisionPlants are made up of very rigid cells. Much like bricks in a wall, this feature gives them the structural support to maintain their shape and to stand upright against gravity. However, just like any living organism, plants can be injured, for instance, by wind or animal grazing. While humans and animals have cells that move with the blood to detect and heal wounds, plants have to evolve a very different mechanism due to their rigidity and immobility. |
 | Researchers investigate possibility of collecting DNA from air-conditioning units at crime scenesScientists may one day be using a new technique to potentially pick up and record key airborne forensic DNA evidence from crime scenes wiped clean of fingerprints and other trace evidence. |
 | A natural history of the Red Sea and the uncertain future of its coralsEarly in May 2023, a small team of marine biologists arrived in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah. They'd flown into the local airport from Guam, the United States, Portugal, Spain and Japan, and they'd soon rendezvous with colleagues from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), a research university built along the banks of the Red Sea. |
 | Amphibians use scream inaudible to humans for self-defense against predators, study suggestsA study reported in the journal acta ethologica has recorded the use of ultrasound by amphibians for the first time in South America. It also describes the first documented case of the use of ultrasound for defense against predators, in a distress call of ear-piercing intensity to many animals, but inaudible to humans. |
 | The life aquatic: Why diurnal frog species kept genes adapted to night visionFrogs display a remarkable diversity of species as a whole, but does the same hold true for their visual abilities? A new study led by York University's Faculty of Science has sought to answer this question by collaborating with researchers in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Cameroon, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, French Guiana, Gabon, Seychelles, Sweden, United Kingdom and the United States, to get a sample of a diverse array of frogs to study the visual pigments found in their eyes. |
 | Rusty-patched bumblebee's struggle for survival found in its genesA team of researchers has uncovered alarming trends in the first range-wide genetic study of an endangered bee species. The study, led by Colorado State University and published in the Journal of Insect Science, will inform conservation and recovery efforts for the rusty-patched bumblebee—a species that was once common in the United States but has declined from about 90% of its historic range. |
 | Study reports that people and environment both benefit from diversified farming, while bottom lines also thriveA massive new global study led by the University of Copenhagen and University of Hohenheim has examined the effects of diversified agriculture. The conclusion is abundantly clear—positive effects increase with every measure, while negative effects are hard to find. |
 | What four decades of canned salmon reveal about marine food websAlaskan waters are a critical fishery for salmon. Complex marine food webs underlie and sustain this fishery, and scientists want to know how climate change is reshaping them. But finding samples from the past isn't easy. |
 | New fossil dolphin identifiedUniversity of Otago researchers have formally identified and named a fossil dolphin which they discovered has a unique feeding method. |
 | Rising temperatures upend migratory bird habitats in AlbaniaLong considered a Garden of Eden for migratory birds, the Vain Lagoon along the northern Albanian coast has been increasingly abandoned by a range of species as rising temperatures wreak havoc on wetlands across the country. |
 | Shrinking birds change their tune: Birdsong may sound different in a warmer futureBirds' bodies are changing and so are their songs. Over the last 70 years, birds worldwide have been noticeably shrinking in mass or expanding in wing length. |
 | Turning microalgae into light-controlled, soft bio-microrobotsMicro/nanorobots, due to their small size, high controllability and precise navigation capabilities have emerged as an important tool to execute biomedical tasks in microenvironments. However, it is still a big challenge to maneuver rigid microrobots in complicated and sinuous narrow spaces (such as blood vessels and intestines) due to their inability to deform. |
 | Hummingbirds are 'on the go' in California: What you'll see and how to attract themWhether sipping nectar from flowers and zipping through the air, hummingbirds are a sure sign of spring in California. |
 | Salmon populations are struggling, bringing economic woes for California's fishing fleetOn the docks at Pillar Point Harbor, fishing crews have been arriving with loads of freshly caught Dungeness crab. |
 | Understanding how fire shapes plants can help protect themFire is an important part of plant life in Australia, influencing where plants grow and how abundant a species will be. |
 | More than 80% of the EU's farming subsidies support emissions-intensive animal productsThe vast majority of the EU's agricultural subsidies are supporting meat and dairy farming rather than sustainable plant alternatives. That's the key finding of our new research, published in Nature Food, in which for the first time we were able to fully account for crops and other plants grown to feed animals. |
 | Q&A: How do animals react to a solar eclipse?On April 8, many of us will be huddling behind protective glasses and feasting our eyes on a rare solar stunner. But the sun's eye-catching performance won't be the only thing on display. You may also notice our animal friends behaving oddly. |
 | An orca calf stranded in a Canadian lagoon will be airlifted out to reunite with pod, rescuers sayPlans are underway by to airlift a stranded killer whale calf out of a remote tidal lagoon off northern Vancouver Island in an effort to reunite the young orca with its extended family, Canadian authorities said Wednesday. |
 | Tokyo crowds revel as cherry blossoms reach full bloomTourists and residents packed Tokyo's top cherry blossom spots on Thursday to enjoy the full bloom that has arrived in the Japanese capital later than usual this year because of cold weather. |
 | How agroecology can be part of a 'just transition' for Canada's food systemProblems in Canada's food system are being felt from field to fork—and they are increasingly hard to swallow. |
 | Phosphorus fertilization boosts young almond tree growthYoung almond orchards face numerous biotic stressors during their early growth stages, particularly when replanted in areas where old stone fruit orchards once stood. Among these challenges is the almond/stone fruit replant disease (ARD), which can significantly hinder growth and yields and is caused, in part, by a soil microbial complex. |
 | Factors impacting yield and size of day-neutral strawberriesStrawberries are a vital crop for California, the leading producer of fresh market strawberries in the United States, with a production value of more than $2 billion in 2021. The Central Coast region, encompassing areas like Watsonville and Salinas, plays a pivotal role in strawberry production, contributing significantly to the state's overall production. |
Medicine and Health news
 | New report presents a global plan to combat prostate cancerAnnual prostate cancer cases worldwide are projected to double by the year 2040, and annual deaths are projected to increase by 85% to almost 700,000 over the same timeframe—mainly among men in low- and middle-income countries. A commissioned report published in The Lancet highlights the future landscape of prostate cancer and seeks to guide cancer experts worldwide on how to manage the massive influx of prostate cancer patients projected over the next two decades. |
 | Scientists identify rare gene variants which confer up to 6-fold increase in risk of obesityA study led by Medical Research Council (MRC) researchers has identified genetic variants in two genes that have some of the largest impacts on obesity risk discovered to date. |
 | Diabetes drug shows promise against Parkinson's in clinical studyA drug used to treat diabetes slowed the progression of motor issues associated with Parkinson's disease, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine said Wednesday. |
 | Organoids reveal an overlooked protein's role in traumatic brain injuryClinicians often find limited success in treating patients with traumatic brain injury, a condition long linked to contact sports and military services. A new study, published in the journal Cell Stem Cell, may offer new clues to better solutions. |
 | Study finds lonely women experience increased activation in regions of the brain associated with food cravingsA new UCLA Health study has found that women who perceive themselves to be lonely exhibited activity in regions of the brain associated with cravings and motivation towards eating especially when shown pictures of high calorie foods such as sugary foods. The same group of women also had unhealthy eating behaviors and poor mental health. |
 | Body mapping links responses to music with degree of uncertainty and surpriseMusic holds an important place in human culture, and we've all felt the swell of emotion that music can inspire unlike almost anything else. But what is it exactly about music that can bring on such intense sensations in our minds and bodies? A new study reported in the journal iScience has provided insight from studies that systematically examine the way perception of unique musical chords elicits specific bodily sensations and emotions. |
 | Nerve stimulation for sleep apnea found to be less effective for people with higher BMIsA nerve-stimulation treatment for obstructive sleep apnea that originally was approved only for people with body mass indexes (BMIs) in the healthy range recently was extended to patients with BMIs up to 40, a weight range generally described as severely obese. A healthy BMI ranges from 18.5 to 24.9. |
 | Mistreatment in childbirth is common in the US especially among the disadvantaged, study findsLack of respectful maternity care in the U.S. culminating in mistreatment in childbirth is a regular occurrence, according to a new study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. Yet until now experiences of this mistreatment had not been widely documented in the United States. The findings are published in JAMA Network Open. |
 | Running style may be linked to personality type, study suggestsA team of human biomechanics specialists at Volodalen SportLab, has found evidence that suggests running style may be related to personality type. The researchers conducted an experiment with 80 adult volunteers engaging in running and testing trials and published their study in PLOS ONE. |
 | A potential method for interrupting the misfolding of tau protein that underlies neurodegenerative diseaseA spectrum of neurodegenerative diseases, including frontotemporal dementia (FTD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and corticobasal degeneration (CBD) are due to the accumulation of abnormal, misfolded tau proteins in the brain. A team of researchers led by UC Santa Barbara scientists has found potential ways to interrupt this process by targeting "sticky" sites along the long form of mutated tau, preventing the misfolding and spreading of the neurofibrillary tangles. |
 | New study reveals how T cells gain and maintain tolerance to gut bacteriaThe immune system in the intestine maintains a careful balance, tolerating our long-term resident (commensal) gut bacteria while defending against invading pathogens. Under certain circumstances, dysregulation of our intestinal immune response to commensal and pathogenic microbes can drive inflammatory disease. |
 | Autism and ADHD are linked to disturbed gut flora very early in lifeDisturbed gut flora during the first years of life is associated with diagnoses such as autism and ADHD later in life. This is according to a study led by researchers at the University of Florida and Linköping University and published in the journal Cell. |
 | Study questions effectiveness of brain stimulation for memory enhancementA study by the University of Sheffield has cast doubt on the efficacy of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques in improving visual working memory. |
 | Using machine learning to track the evolution of COVID-19Scientists have developed a machine-learning approach to track the evolution of SARS‑CoV‑2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and potentially other viruses, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. |
 | Researchers unveil faster and more accurate COVID testWith new cases, hospitalizations and mortality rates holding steady in many parts of the world, University of Georgia researchers have developed a faster detection technique for COVID-19. |
 | Mitochondrial roles in antiviral immunity modify manifestations of neurological diseasesA multidisciplinary team of scientists led by University of Helsinki reports that a progressive neurodegenerative disease can be triggered by a viral infection. The mechanism relates to mitochondrial roles in antiviral defense mechanisms. |
 | Researchers say around 10% of deaths from coronary stenting, balloon angioplasty are preventableEach year more than 500,000 Americans undergo percutaneous coronary intervention, or PCI, a minimally invasive procedure to unclog the arteries that feed the heart. |
 | Stool transplant shows promise for Parkinson's diseaseParkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease that affects millions worldwide. Now, a groundbreaking clinical study conducted by researchers at Ghent University Hospital, VIB, and Ghent University has demonstrated the potential of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to improve symptoms in patients with PD. |
 | Discovery of how to limit asthma attack damage could stop diseaseScientists at King's College London have discovered a new cause for asthma that sparks hope for treatment that could prevent the life-threatening disease. |
 | Research details adaptation tactics of pancreatic cancerLike alien invaders in a sci-fi movie, pancreatic cancer cells quickly adapt to the weapons used against them and find ways to survive, even in the harshest of conditions. |
 | Study reveals that the brain's cerebellum can shape cognitionIf you reward a monkey with some juice, it will learn which hand to move in response to a specific visual cue—but only if the cerebellum is functioning properly. So say neuroscientists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Columbia University, who recently published findings in Nature Communications that show the brain region plays a crucial role in reward-based learning. |
 | Gene editing technique shows promise for effectively curing a hereditary liver diseaseArgininosuccinate lyase deficiency (ASLD), also known as argininosuccinic aciduria, is a severe metabolic disease where the body does not process proteins normally, instead resulting in a very dangerous accumulation of argininosuccinic acid and ammonia. Excess ammonia causes disturbances of consciousness, coma and even death. |
 | Small protein plays big role in chronic HIV infectionNeuroHIV refers to the effects of HIV infection on the brain or central nervous system, and to some extent, the spinal cord and peripheral nervous system. A collection of diseases, including neuropathy and dementia, neuroHIV can cause problems with memory and thinking and compromise our ability to live a normal life. |
 | Scientists discover potential treatment approaches for polycystic kidney diseaseResearchers have shown that dangerous cysts, which form over time in polycystic kidney disease (PKD), can be prevented by a single normal copy of a defective gene. This means the potential exists that scientists could one day tailor a gene therapy to treat the disease. They also discovered that a type of drug, known as a glycoside, can sidestep the effects of the defective gene in PKD. The discoveries could set the stage for new therapeutic approaches to treating PKD, which affects millions worldwide. |
 | New research identifies three distinct multiple sclerosis endophenotypes for personalized treatmentIn a transformative study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, an international team of researchers has made a significant breakthrough in the understanding and potential treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). |
 | Scientists call for urgent action to prevent immune-mediated illnesses caused by climate change and biodiversity lossThe ecosystems we live in don't work the way they used to—and that's bad for our health. Climate change, pollution, and falling biodiversity are all damaging our immune systems. The lack of positive environmental exposures to build the strength of our immune systems, and the increasing negative exposures that attack those systems, are combining to cause a dramatic rise in immune-mediated diseases like asthma and cancer. |
 | Bringing dental care to kids in schools is helping take care of teeth neglected in the pandemicTucked away inside the teachers lounge at a New Hampshire elementary school, Amber Warner was having her teeth checked out for the first time. |
 | Microbial signature of colorectal cancer-associated mutations identifiedFor about 40% of people diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC), the tumor carries a mutation in a gene called KRAS. Many of those mutations have been linked to shorter survival and more aggressive forms of disease. The onset and growth of CRC tumors has also been associated with imbalances in the gut microbiome, but the interplay between these two characteristics—gut dysbiosis and KRAS mutations—remains poorly understood. |
 | Study shows 'feasibility' of ending specialist follow-up in patients with low-risk chronic lymphocytic leukemiaA study published in Blood Advances showed that among patients in Denmark who had slow-growing chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with no symptoms and a low risk for ever needing treatment, those who stopped seeing their doctors for specialized follow-up had fewer hospital visits, fewer infections, and similar survival after three years compared to those who continued to undergo specialized follow-up. |
 | Early coronary disease, impaired heart function found in asymptomatic people with HIVA new study has found that increased coronary vessel wall thickness is significantly associated with impaired diastolic function in asymptomatic, middle-aged individuals living with HIV. The study is published in Radiology: Cardiothoracic Imaging. |
 | Patient engagement and surgical outcomes improved by digital health platformCoupling a smart phone app with a real-life health coach appears to be key to helping patients adhere to pre-surgical preparation and post-surgical recovery guidance and improving surgical outcomes, according to new findings led by UPMC and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine physician-scientists. |
 | Suicides among US college student athletes have doubled over past 20 years: StudyThe number of suicides among US college student athletes has doubled over the past 20 years, finds an analysis of data from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. |
 | Post-COVID not necessarily a barrier to exercise, finds studyPeople suffering from post-COVID have been discouraged from exercising because early observations suggested it could be harmful. In a study published in JAMA Network Open, researchers from Karolinska Institutet show that post-COVID does not mean that exercise must be strictly avoided. |
 | Exercise habits in youth create better health outcomes for someForming a long-term recreational exercise habit as a young person has a beneficial impact on physical and mental health later in life, but some groups, such as females and academic high-achievers, miss out on these benefits disproportionately. |
 | Connection is the key to retaining rural GPs, according to Australian studyA supportive workplace, work-life balance and a connection to rural communities are all key to retaining doctors in rural and remote areas of Australia, according to a new study from The Australian National University (ANU). |
 | Clinical trial: Less extensive breast cancer surgery results in fewer swollen armsIt is possible to leave most of the lymph nodes in the armpit, even if one or two of them have metastases larger than two millimeters. This is shown in a trial enrolling women from five countries, led by researchers at Karolinska Institutet and published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The results open up for gentler surgery for patients with breast cancer. |
 | California is expanding insurance access for teenagers seeking therapy on their ownWhen she was in ninth grade, Fiona Lu fell into a depression. She had trouble adjusting to her new high school in Orange County, California, and felt so isolated and exhausted that she cried every morning. |
 | Four years after shelter-in-place, COVID-19 misinformation persistsFrom spring break parties to Mardi Gras, many people remember the last major "normal" thing they did before the novel coronavirus pandemic dawned, forcing governments worldwide to issue stay-at-home advisories and shutdowns. |
 | New Kaiser genomics lab uses robots for faster, cheaper routine genetic testsAn archway of blue and white balloons adorned the entrance of an otherwise unremarkable office building in San Jose this week, marking the grand opening of a new high-tech laboratory for Kaiser Permanente Northern California, which serves 4.5 million people in the region. |
 | Prenatal care providers need to know more about the underlying causes of obesity, says researcherIncreasing numbers of pregnant women in Norway are overweight. Heidi Sandsæter has studied what overweight and obese pregnant women perceive as the cause of this trend. |
 | Few newly diagnosed type 2 diabetics succeed in losing weight, study showsA registry-based study from Finland identified three distinct BMI trajectory groups among patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. In a four-year follow-up, most patients followed a stable trajectory without much weight change. |
 | Chemotherapy in pediatric mice linked to long-term muscle defectsRecent progress in research related to cancer treatment has made it possible for children with cancer to survive into adulthood. However, the long-term physiological consequences of chemotherapy are understudied. |
 | Research shows social media boundaries can improve teen sleepUniversity of Queensland research has shown intense and problematic social media use is linked to sleep difficulties in adolescents. |
 | Study finds high amounts of silica exposure in previously deployed military veteransSince the conflicts that followed 9/11 in 2001, military veterans deployed to areas in Southwest Asia, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Horn of Africa have been developing respiratory diseases caused by inhaling particulate matter linked to their deployment locations and job duties. |
 | Study finds active workstations may improve cognitive performanceA recent Mayo Clinic study suggests that active workstations incorporating a walking pad, bike, stepper and/or standing desk are successful strategies for reducing sedentary time and improving mental cognition at work without reducing job performance. Extended sedentary behavior, whether at work or home, increases a person's risk of preventable chronic diseases. |
 | Strep A: Cases of rare fatal infection hit record levels in JapanThere has been a sharp increase in the number of people in Japan suffering with the rare but dangerous bacterial condition, streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS). According to reports, cases of this potentially fatal strep A illness have more than tripled in Tokyo compared with this time last year. |
 | Higher vitamin D levels found to cut bowel resection risk with IBDAn increased serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) is independently associated with a lower risk for bowel resection with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), according to a study published online March 25 in the International Journal of Surgery. |
 | Second primary malignancy risk increased after cutaneous B-cell lymphomaPatients with primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas (PCBCLs) have an increased risk for second primary malignancies (SPMs), according to a study published online March 19 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. |
 | Cancer cases will keep rising worldwide: ReportCancer cases will continue to climb for the next two decades, spurred on by an aging worldwide population, a new report shows. |
 | Hyperangulated video laryngoscopy beneficial for achieving intubationFor patients who require single-lumen endotracheal intubation for general anesthesia, hyperangulated video laryngoscopy reduces the number of attempts needed to achieve intubation, according to a study published online March 18 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). |
 | What is metabolism? How different people convert energy differently and why that matters for your healthIf you've spent any time scrolling through the health and wellness corners of social media, you've likely come across many products claiming to improve your metabolism. But what exactly is your metabolism? |
 | US company withdraws ALS drug after it fails in trialAmylyx Pharmaceuticals announced Thursday it was withdrawing its approved treatment against the deadly neurodegenerative disease ALS after clinical data found no evidence the drug worked. |
 | Online child safety laws could help or hurt—two pediatricians explain what's likely to work and what isn'tSociety has a complicated relationship with adolescents. We want to protect them as children and yet launch them into adulthood. Adolescents face risks from testing out independence, navigating peer relationships, developing an identity and making mistakes in these processes. |
 | Research explores liberalization of medical marijuana and mental health in the USThe approval of marijuana for medical use has had little effect on the mental health of the general population in the US. But legalization for therapeutic purposes does benefit those for whom it is intended. This is the conclusion of a study by researchers at the University of Basel. The research is published in the journal Health Economics, Policy and Law. |
 | Study finds less invasive, safer option for removing benign pancreatic tumorsInsulinomas are abnormal tumors, usually benign, that grow in the beta cells of the pancreas. Insulinomas make extra insulin, more than the body can use. They can cause hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. Low blood sugar can cause confusion, sweating, weakness, confusion, and even coma. Surgery is the only treatment for patients with insulinoma. However, it is usually associated with a longer time to recover, and loss of healthy pancreatic tissue can lead to diabetes. |
 | Fans are not a magic bullet for beating the heat, modeling study showsA new study by researchers at the University of Ottawa throws cold water on the idea that fans can effectively cool you down during extremely hot weather events. |
 | Research offers insight into future understanding of MS and its treatmentsThe test that was developed using an existing diagnostic procedure as its basis and has the potential to be applied in clinical trials that target the Epstein Barr Virus. |
 | Perinatal women of Mexican descent propose solutions to pandemic-related stressors affecting LatinosPublic policies blocked many families of Mexican descent living in the U.S. from accessing vital services such as food and mental health care during the COVID-19 pandemic, even though these communities experienced some of the highest infection and mortality rates. |
 | Researchers explain what you know about racial inequities in health care can hurt youA new study finds that the extent to which people understand existing racial inequities in access to health care can have an effect on how white and Black people view their own health. The finding has ramifications for how we understand self-reported health findings, and underscores the extent to which a lack of awareness regarding racial inequities can have adverse effects for both Black and white populations. |
 | Vaping additives harm a vital membrane in the lungs, researchers findThe health risks associated with the consumption of tobacco and cannabis products are well-established by now. Much less understood are the risks associated with vaping, particularly flavored products popular with young adults. |
 | Fontan circulation link to changes in the genetic code may lead to new treatment for heart conditionsPatients who have had surgery to create a Fontan circulation show changes in their genetic code, which may provide a new treatment opportunity to reduce premature aging. |
 | Chemical regulates light processing differently in the autistic and non-autistic eye, new study findsKing's College London researchers have shown that the brain chemical GABA regulates activity in the retina of the eye in autistic and non-autistic individuals differently. Autistic people have larger responses to single light flashes in the retina of the eye and this new study shows that increasing GABA activity can reduce this response. |
 | App designed for dental teams offers step-by-step guidance in an emergencyIn a crisis, a checklist can bring clarity over confusion. First widely adopted by the U.S. military after the fatal crash of an early-model B17 "Flying Fortress" in the years before World War II, checklists have since become a staple for fields such as aviation, nuclear energy, and medicine. |
 | One-third of ride-share drivers have had a crash on the job, survey findsOne-third of ride-share drivers surveyed in a new study reported being involved in a crash while working. Using a cellphone, driving while tired or driving on unfamiliar roads increased the likelihood of a crash, according to the study by University of Illinois Chicago researchers. |
 | Review identifies disrupted mitochondrial metabolism as a trigger for diabetic cardiomyopathyDiabetes is a global health burden. A whopping 536 million people worldwide struggle with diabetes. Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DC) is a serious condition characterized by impaired heart function due to diabetes-related metabolic abnormalities. |
 | Engineers create 3D-bioprinted blood vesselThe model blood vessel was made using 3D bioprinting to help investigate how weightlessness changes the cardiovascular systems of astronauts in orbit. |
 | Pediatric study sheds light on new tool for identifying infants with tongue tie requiring frenotomyThe World Health Organization and several national health organizations recommend exclusive breastfeeding for infants, at least for the first six months of their life to protect the health of infants and mothers. Among breastfeeding infants, however, variations in the thickness of the membrane underlying their tongues (also known as lingual frenulum), are known to result in a condition known as tongue tie (or TT). |
 | Study discovers how chronic lung conditions affect children's immune systemResearchers have made a breakthrough into how two chronic respiratory diseases in childhood affect the immune system, paving the way for better treatments. |
 | Cystic fibrosis: Why infections persist despite therapyCystic fibrosis is a genetic disease that causes serious and sometimes fatal respiratory and digestive disorders. A new treatment, available since 2020, improves lung function and quality of life. However, it does not always eradicate the bacteria responsible for respiratory infections. |
 | Key mechanism governing bone marrow stem cells opens door to new therapiesA key mechanism controlling how bone marrow stem cells work has been revealed in a new study, shining a light on the principles of stem cell biology and opening the door to new therapeutic pathways. |
 | Study finds link between cortisol and social support in couplesCouples feel more understood and cared for when their partners show positive support skills—and it's evidenced by levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the body—according to new research from Binghamton University. |
 | Prairie voles display signs of human-like depression, show promise as animal modelPsychology researchers at The University of Texas at El Paso are making progress towards understanding the biological underpinnings of depression, a leading cause of disability that affects approximately 280 million people around the world. |
 | Hospitals cash in on a private equity-backed trend: Concierge physician careNonprofit hospitals created largely to serve the poor are adding concierge physician practices, charging patients annual membership fees of $2,000 or more for easier access to their doctors. |
 | Testing found recalled medicine can have a deadly bacterial contaminationA drug used to treat a form of pneumonia has been recalled after testing found it might be as deadly as the infection it's supposed to treat. |
 | Medical leaders paint grim picture for maternal health unless Idaho alters abortion lawNampa OB-GYN Dr. Megan Kasper recently saw a young pregnant patient who, in her second trimester, was experiencing painful contractions. Her cervix had dilated 5 centimeters. Still, she was several weeks away from the earliest gestational age where a premature infant is viable. |
 | Racism, harassment and discrimination take a terrible toll on ethnic minority NHS staff, says researcherDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, a time filled with uncertainty and fear, ethnically minoritised NHS staff have not only had to contend with the virus but also a workplace fraught with inequalities. |
 | Summating potential and action potential area ratio best for detecting Meniere disease: StudyCompared with summating potential (SP) amplitude value by tone burst stimulation, SP/action potential (AP) area ratio by click stimulus has higher sensitivity and specificity for detecting Meniere disease (MD), according to a study published online Feb. 28 in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. |
 | Sanofi says to reach settlement on Zantac lawsuits in USFrench pharmaceutical giant Sanofi said Thursday it had reached a preliminary agreement on settling thousands of US lawsuits concerning its heartburn drug Zantac. |
 | The man who received a pig kidney transplant is discharged from hospitalThe Weymouth man who received the world's first successful transplant of a genetically-edited pig kidney has been discharged from Massachusetts General Hospital, calling it "one of the happiest moments of my life." |
 | New book challenges the assumption that youth drinking is in decline globallyThe harmful use of alcohol causes an estimated 3 million deaths every year, of which a significant proportion occur in the young. While alcohol consumption among youth appears to be decreasing in North America and Europe, a new book by University College Dublin (UCD)'s Dr. Emeka Dumbili challenges the assumption that youth drinking is "in decline" globally. |
 | One in five school-aged children in England experience cyberbullyingNew research carried out by Kent's Center for Health Services Studies as part of the Health Behavior of School Age Children Survey (HBSC) for England has found that cyberbullying among school-aged children has risen, with 1 in 5 adolescents reporting being victims. The HBSC is part of an international program led by the World Health Organization (WHO). |
 | Rural pharmacists are pivotal to home-based palliative care, Australian study showsPharmacists are being recognized for their vital role in supporting home-based rural palliative care patients, as new research shows that they not only enable patients to choose to stay at home, but also provide significant relief, comfort, and peace of mind for patients, caregivers, and family members. |
 | Q&A: How worried should we be about US measles outbreaks?It's one of the most contagious viral diseases in the world—and outbreaks are popping up across the United States. More than 60 measles cases have been reported so far this year in 17 states, from Washington to Florida; that's more than were confirmed in all of 2023. The spike comes amid an ominous jump in global infections: last November, the World Health Organization reported an 18% increase in cases from 2021 to 2022, to 9 million, and a 43% jump in deaths, to 136,000. |
Other Sciences news
 | Early herding communities used a wide variety of livestock management strategies, study findsThe study of the feeding pattern of sheep in the Cueva de El Toro, Malaga, some 7,200 years ago demonstrates that livestock management practices of the Western Mediterranean during the Old Neolithic were far more varied than believed until now. |
 | Study shows link between partner gender and orgasm expectations for womenA study published in Social Psychological and Personality Science investigated the factors influencing orgasm rates for women across sexual orientations. The researchers report that partner gender plays a significant role in how women approach sex. and their likelihood of reaching orgasm. |
 | If you have money anxiety, knowing your financial attachment style can helpThe number of people struggling with money in Britain is at a record high. Financial charities say that people are contacting them for help with debt, paying bills and insolvency. The campaign group Debt Justice found in a survey that 29% of 18- to 24-year-olds and 25% of 25- to 34-year-olds had missed three or more bill payments in the last six months. |
 | Be humble to succeed in the workplace, says studyWhile a dominant personality can help you climb the corporate ladder, new research shows there is also a "humble route" to career advancement. |
 | Asian-American social workers witness rise in anti-Asian racismAmid the aftermath of heightened xenophobia and racism toward Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic, faculty from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health exposed the challenges and resilience of these communities in three publications. |
 | Research shows direct link between state income taxes and migrationAfter the introduction of the income tax in the United States, there has been a migration of higher income earners toward states with lower or no income tax, a new study reveals. |
 | Climate change impacts terrorist activity, study findsChanging weather patterns induced by climate change are contributing to shifts in the location of terrorist activity, according to new research. |
 | Cocoa price has doubled in mere months, but it shouldn't add much to the price of chocolateSince the start of this year, the price for cocoa traded on the futures exchange has doubled, climbing from US$4,275 a ton to US$9,481 after earlier hitting an all-time high of US$10,274. |
 | Viewpoint: Kenya's wildlife conservancies make old men rich, while making women and young people poorerKenya once had an exceptional abundance and diversity of wildlife. But as the country's population boomed, wildlife lost space to people, buildings, roads and agriculture. |
 | Children born of rape: The devastating legacy of sexual violence in post-genocide RwandaTrigger warning: this article contains accounts of sexual violence. |
 | Awe and dread: How religions have responded to total solar eclipses over the centuriesThroughout history, solar eclipses have had profound impact on adherents of various religions around the world. They were viewed as messages from God or spiritual forces, inducing emotions ranging from dread to wonder. |
 | Academic freedom declining globally, index findsJust one in three people live a nation that guarantees the independence of universities and research, according to an annual index warning that academic freedom is declining worldwide, particularly in Russia, China and India. |
 | Nudging in a virtual supermarket for more animal welfareIt may be possible to change the purchasing behavior of consumers noticeably using some simple strategies. At least this is what a study, carried out by the University of Bonn and the Technical University of Munich, indicates. The researchers investigated the effect of nudging on the sale of products produced with high animal welfare standards in a virtual supermarket. |
 | 'Nudging' consumers is a common marketing tactic, but study finds it carries riskMarketers have found so-called "nudging" to be an effective way to influence consumer behavior—but new research suggests those who are prompted, either subtly or directly, to select a particular product or service may be quicker to abandon it. |
 | Q&A: The impact of China's rapidly aging societyDue to its economic growth and large population, the People's Republic of China is widely viewed as a rising economic and military superpower. But declining fertility rates and increased life expectancies over the last few decades have conspired to make China one of the more rapidly aging societies in the world. |
 | Scientists use AI to evaluate dental anthropologyMario Modesto Mata, a researcher in the Dental Anthropology Group at the Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH), is the lead author of a paper published in The Anatomical Record, on the use of artificial neural networks to reconstruct the number of perikymata, which are the growth lines in the enamel, but which are absent in worn teeth. |
 | Students as teachers: The key to learning a language in virtual conversation exchangesCurrent levels of interest in learning a foreign language are unprecedented, and there have never been so many ways to learn. The internet has given rise to a wide variety of tools for listening, reading and writing in another language. It has also led to the emergence of platforms where students can improve their speaking skills through virtual conversation exchanges. |
 | Eight ways to ensure Indonesia's nickel sector is sustainablePresident Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's ambition to turn Indonesia into a global hub for electric vehicle (EV) battery production has thrust the nation's mining commodities, particularly nickel, into the spotlight. |
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