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press releases.

Science22 May 2025

From "non-essential" to life-saver: the spleen’s hidden role as a built-in bioreactor

Groundbreaking Discovery What if the human body contained a natural bioreactor capable of regenerating vital organs? A collaborative team from ​Wenzhou Medical University, Nanjing University, and University of Macau has redefined the spleen’s potential, transforming it into a ​self-sustaining hub for organ regeneration, as published in Science Translational Medicine (May 21). This breakthrough could revolutionize treatments for type 1 diabetes and beyond. Redesigning the Spleen: From Filter to "Living Bioreactor" Confronting ...

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Science22 May 2025

New study reveals how competition between algae is transforming the gulf of Maine

As the ocean warms across its temperate regions, kelp forests are collapsing and turf algae species are taking over. This shift from dense canopies of tall kelp to low-lying mats of turf algae is driving biodiversity loss and altering the flow of energy and nutrients through reef ecosystems. It’s also fundamentally altering the chemical ecology of coastal ecosystems. New research in Science, led by researchers at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, has shown for the first time how turf algae release ...

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Science22 May 2025

Habitat and humans shaped sloth evolution and extinction

Ancient sloths ranged in size from tiny climbers to ground-dwelling giants. Now, researchers report this body size diversity was largely shaped by sloths’ habitats, and that these animals’ precipitous decline was likely a result of increasing human pressures, which also triggered the extinction of the large-bodied ground-dwelling animals. Today’s small arboreal sloths are the last remnants of a once-diverse group, surviving likely because they inhabited secluded forest canopies and avoided direct human pressures, say the authors. While only two small, tree-dwelling genera survive today – confined largely to the tropical rainforests of South ...

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Science22 May 2025

Turf algae chemically inhibit kelp forest recovery in warming coastal waters

As kelp forests decline in the warming coastal waters of the Gulf of Maine, turf algae – dense mats of red algae replacing kelp in many regions – may chemically interfere with kelp recovery, a new study reports. This complicates efforts to restore these crucial marine ecosystems. Kelp forests are ecologically and economically vital marine ecosystems that support diverse life forms and functions. However, despite their widely recognized importance, kelp forests worldwide are threatened with collapse due to climate change and/or overfishing. In many regions where kelp forests have disappeared, they have ...

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Science22 May 2025

Why Europe’s fisheries management needs a rethink

As legally required by the European Union, sustainable fisheries may not extract more fish than can regrow each year. Yet, about 70 per cent of commercially targeted fish stocks in northern EU waters are either overfished, have shrunken population sizes or have collapsed entirely. So why does the EU continue to miss its sustainable fisheries targets, despite a wealth of scientific data and policy instruments? Researchers at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel and Kiel University examined this question using the well-explored ...

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Science22 May 2025

Biological markers for teen depression

Using a novel lab method they developed, McGill University researchers have identified nine molecules in the blood that were elevated in teens diagnosed with depression. These molecules also predicted how symptoms might progress over time. The findings of the clinical study could pave the way for earlier detection, before symptoms worsen and become hard to treat. “Alarmingly, more and more adolescents are being diagnosed with depression, and when it starts early, the effects can be long-lasting and severe,” said senior author Cecilia Flores, James ...

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Science22 May 2025

Two-step method to prevent biofilm regrowth is a SLAM dunk

Most people have encountered the black, grey, or pink stains of bacterial biofilms built up on the bathroom tiles or kitchen sink. Even with vigorous scrubbing and strong cleaning chemicals, this grime can be difficult to remove and often returns with vengeance. A new study, published in Chemical Engineering Journal, reports a novel, two-step method to effectively dismantle bacterial biofilms and prevent regrowth. “Biofilms are everywhere, from bathrooms to food factories,” said Hyunjoon Kong (M-CELS leader/EIRH/RBTE), a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering. “Biofilms are also responsible for cross contamination ...

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Science22 May 2025

SwRI’s Robin Canup receives 2025 AAS DDA Dirk Brouwer Career Award

SAN ANTONIO — May 22, 2025 — Southwest Research Institute’s Dr. Robin Canup has received the 2025 Dirk Brouwer Career Award from the American Astronomical Society’s Division on Dynamical Astronomy (AAS DDA). As the vice president of SwRI’s Solar System Science and Exploration Division in Boulder, Colorado, Canup leads a team of about 120 contributing to a wide variety of space programs. Canup is best known for studies concerning the formation of planets and their satellites, including research that demonstrated how the Earth-Moon system could have been produced from a giant impact ...

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Science22 May 2025

Sounding out coral larval settlements #ASA188

NEW ORLEANS, May 22, 2025 – Coral reefs are vital to marine biodiversity, but their livelihood is under threat due to climate instability and the impacts of human activities. Rehabilitating marine environments requires innovative solutions. Océane Boulais, a doctoral student at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, studies one of these potential solutions: the impacts of acoustics on coral larval recruitment and settlement. After spawning, coral larvae drift or swim through the water column, seeking suitable sites to find a home to attach to along the ocean floor. “Multiple chemical compounds have already been identified as ...

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Science22 May 2025

Infrared contact lenses allow people to see in the dark, even with their eyes closed

Neuroscientists and materials scientists have created contact lenses that enable infrared vision in both humans and mice by converting infrared light into visible light. Unlike infrared night vision goggles, the contact lenses, described in the Cell Press journal Cell on May 22, do not require a power source—and they enable the wearer to perceive multiple infrared wavelengths. Because they’re transparent, users can see both infrared and visible light simultaneously, though infrared vision ...

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Science22 May 2025

New study reveals impact of neighborhood disadvantage on menopause onset

Key Findings Women living in neighborhoods with high vulnerability had a higher risk of earlier natural menopause onset, primarily due to socioeconomic status and household conditions. No significant association was found between neighborhood disadvantage and the severity of menopause symptoms. Boston, MA – A new study led by the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute highlights the significant impact of living in disadvantaged neighborhoods on the onset of menopause. The research followed 691 women from pregnancy to midlife and found that those residing in highly vulnerable neighborhoods, particularly within 10 years of perimenopause onset, experienced menopause approximately two ...

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Science22 May 2025

Early-life factors and BMI trajectories among children in the ECHO cohort

About The Study: In this cohort study of children in the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) cohort, analyses identified children on the path to obesity as early as age 3.5 years. Modifiable factors could be targeted for early prevention and intervention programs aimed at reducing childhood obesity. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Chang Liu, PhD, email c.liu@wsu.edu. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.11835) Editor’s ...

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Science22 May 2025

Tuberculous meningitis: metabolism drives mortality

Radboudumc researchers Kirsten van Abeelen, Edwin Ardiansyah, Sofiati Dian, Vinod Kumar, Reinout van Crevel and Arjan van Laarhoven used metabolomics to study cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from tuberculous meningitis patients in Vietnam and Indonesia, with long-standing collaborators from Bandung and Jakarta (Indonesia), the Broad Institute (Boston) and the Oxford University Research Unit in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam). Meningitis is the most severe form of tuberculosis. Damaging inflammation contributes to its poor prognosis. Corticosteroids reduce mortality, but ...

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Science22 May 2025

Motorcycle helmet laws save lives: Study shows universal laws increase helmet use and reduce injury severity

Key Takeaways Helmet laws work (when they’re universal): Motorcycle riders in North Carolina (with a universal helmet law) wore a helmet 94% of the time compared with 47% of riders in South Carolina (partial law). Helmets mean less severe injuries: Motorcyclists who wore helmets were less likely to die or require intensive care after an accident. Lost progress: Helmet laws have been rolled back in many states resulting in only 19 states now having universal helmet laws. CHICAGO — New ...

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Science22 May 2025

A potential ‘anti-spice’ that could dial down the heat of fiery food

COLUMBUS, Ohio – If you’ve ever regretted ordering a spicy meal, take note: A new study identifying molecules that suppress the heat of chili peppers hints at the possibility of adapting these compounds into an “anti-spice” condiment for food that’s too fiery to eat. The research helps explain differences in chili pepper pungency, or spiciness, by identifying three compounds in a range of pepper samples that chemical analysis predicted, and study participants on a tasting panel confirmed, are linked to lower heat intensity. The findings have multiple potential applications: customized chili pepper breeding, ...

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Science22 May 2025

Unravelling the origin of mysterious radiation

The universe is full of cosmic radiation that can be measured here on Earth. This cosmic radiation consists of –- produced by black holes, gigantic supernovae, or rotating neutron stars – a type of dead star. These particles contain energy. Sometimes, however, cosmic rays have a much higher energy than usual. We have known about this since 1962, but we still don’t know why. We also don’t know where this ultra-high-energy cosmic radiation comes from. Or do we? Supermassive ...

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Science22 May 2025

Why we trust people who grew up with less

When deciding whom to trust, people are more likely to choose individuals who grew up with less money over those who went to private schools or vacationed in Europe, according to research published by the American Psychological Association. "Trust is essential for healthy relationships. Without it, romantic partnerships can fail, workplaces can suffer and social divisions can grow,” said lead researcher Kristin Laurin, PhD, a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia. “But what makes people trust someone in the first place?” To find out, researchers ran a series of experiments with more than 1,900 participants. They explored whether someone's ...

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Science22 May 2025

Sriram Gubbi of NIDDK wins Endocrine Society’s 2025 Endocrine Images Art Competition

WASHINGTON—Sriram Gubbi, M.D., won the Endocrine Society’s 2025 Endocrine Images Art Competition with his microphotograph of follicular thyroid carcinoma cells titled “The Cosmic Bubble”. The art competition celebrates the beauty of endocrine science as seen through the lens of a microscope. More than 30 entries were judged by a panel of Society members who based their assessments on the aesthetic value of the images and their significance to endocrine research. Gubbi is a physician-scientist studying thyroid tumors and other thyroid conditions at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive ...

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Science22 May 2025

How modern dog ownership has redefined family and parenting

Birth rates are declining worldwide, while dog parenting practices are gaining popularity. What does this growing “furry children” trend reveal about our societies? Researchers from Eötvös Loránd University suggest that, while dogs do not actually replace children, they may, in some cases, offer an opportunity to fulfil a nurturing drive similar to parenting, but with fewer demands than raising biological offspring. Their review, published in European Psychologist, also examines how the shifting roles of dogs within modern family structures are influenced by individual circumstances, but also by cultural norms. Many wealthy and developed countries—including ...

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Science22 May 2025

New insights into migraine-related light sensitivity

Knowing the molecule behind light sensitivity in migraines could open the door to better treatments Scientists in the UK, Australia and China have identified a brain molecule called NEAT1 that appears to play a central role in triggering light sensitivity (photophobia), a common and debilitating symptom of migraines. Their findings, published in The Journal of Headache and Pain, highlight how this molecule affects the brain's pain response, contributing to the uncomfortable reaction to light that's common during migraines. NEAT1 belongs to a group of molecules known as long noncoding RNAs. Unlike most RNA, which carries instructions for making ...

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Science22 May 2025

Positive mindset about ageing in over-60s linked to better recovery after a fall

There is a strong association between an older person’s view of how they are ageing and how well they will physically recover after a fall. That is the finding of a new research study from Imperial College London and Coventry University, which is the first to suggest how important psychological factors may be in post-fall physical recovery. The study is published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Falls in older adults are a major health concern because they can lead to high levels of physical disability and hospitalisation, as well as affecting people’s ability to live independently. The consequences of falls in older ...

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Science21 May 2025

Lotions, perfumes curb potentially harmful effects of human oxidation field, study finds

Irvine, Calif., May 21, 2025 — In a paper published today in Science Advances, researchers at the University of California, Irvine, Germany’s Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University and other international institutions report that the application of personal care products such as fragrances and body lotions suppresses a potentially unhealthy “human oxidation field” that exists around our bodies. This zone, which was the subject of a paper by the same team published in Science in 2022, is created when oils and fats on skin react with ozone, an important oxidant in the indoor environment. ...

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Science21 May 2025

Scientists discover class of crystals with properties that may prove revolutionary

Rutgers University-New Brunswick researchers have discovered a new class of materials – called intercrystals – with unique electronic properties that could power future technologies. Intercrystals exhibit newly discovered forms of electronic properties that could pave the way for advancements in more efficient electronic components, quantum computing and environmentally friendly materials, the scientists said. As described in a report in the science journal Nature Materials, the scientists stacked two ultrathin layers of graphene, each a one-atom-thick sheet of carbon atoms arranged ...

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Science21 May 2025

Vitamin D supplements show signs of protection against biological aging

Results from the VITAL randomized controlled trial reveal that vitamin D supplementation helps maintain telomeres, protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that shorten during aging and are linked to the development of certain diseases. The new report, which is published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, is based on data from a VITAL sub-study co-led by researchers at Mass General Brigham and the Medical College of Georgia, and supports a promising role in slowing a pathway for biological aging. “VITAL is the first large-scale and long-term randomized trial to show that vitamin D supplements protect telomeres and preserve ...

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Science21 May 2025

SwRI fabricates bed-netting prototypes to target malaria-causing parasites

SAN ANTONIO — May 21, 2025 — Southwest Research Institute tapped into its drug formulation and manufacturing expertise to fabricate two bed netting prototypes targeting malaria-causing blood parasites. In a collaboration with researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU)/Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center (PVAMC), SwRI designed netting systems to deliver antimalarial drugs called Endochin-like Quinolones (ELQs) that destroy Plasmodium parasites ...

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