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Science16 May 2025

Can mindfulness combat anxiety?

By Chris Woolston If you’re anxious about work, finances, the state of the world, or anything else, you might try a moment of mindfulness. Paying close attention to the present moment without judgment — the basic idea behind all mindfulness techniques — can help calm anxiety and improve focus, said Resh Gupta, a postdoctoral research associate with the Mindfulness Science and Practice research cluster. “A lot of research has shown that mindfulness can reduce anxiety symptoms,” she said. The calming power of mindfulness is well-known to people ...

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Science16 May 2025

Researchers find elevated levels of mercury in Colorado mountain wetlands

Climate change is melting glaciers and permafrost in the mountains outside of Boulder, Colorado, exposing rocks and freeing up minerals containing sulfate, a form of sulfur, to flow downstream into local watersheds. CIRES researchers studied the impacts of sulfate in mountain wetlands and confirmed that elevated levels can increase methylmercury, a potent neurotoxin that accumulates up the food chain and can lead to a wide range of health concerns. “Very little research has looked at methylmercury production in high-elevation wetlands,” said ...

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Science16 May 2025

New discovery about how acetaminophen works could improve understanding about pain relievers

A new study from Indiana University scientists may aid the pharmaceutical industry in better understanding a popular over-the-counter pain reliever: Tylenol. Michaela Dvorakova, a postdoctoral researcher at IU’s Gill Institute for Neuroscience and the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, and Gill Institute research scientist Alex Straiker published the study in Cell Reports Medicine. Their discovery, which details a previously unknown way the drug targets pain, could change how pharmacologists think about treating pain, and aid in designing safer and more effective pain medications. The researchers found ...

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Science16 May 2025

What genetic changes made us uniquely human? -- The human intelligence evolved from proximal cis-regulatory saltations

On its 125th anniversary, Science magazine posed 125 unsolved scientific questions, among which “What genetic changes made us uniquely human?” was listed as one of the 25 core problems. Yet the divergence rate between the alignable genomes of humans and chimpanzees is as little as 1.23%. Scientists hypothesized that gene regulation might account for their dramatic phenotypic differences. Recently, Quantitative Biology published a research article entitled “The human intelligence evolved from proximal cis-regulatory saltations” in which the focus shifted from protein sequences to their regulatory regions. ...

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Science16 May 2025

How do bio-based amendments address low nutrient use efficiency and crop yield challenges?

Under the dual challenges of the rapid increase in the global population and the intensification of climate change, the traditional agricultural model is facing severe tests. The production mode that overly relies on chemical fertilizers and pesticides not only exacerbates environmental pollution but also leads to the imbalance of soil microbial communities, further reducing the nutrient utilization efficiency. As an emerging green technology, bio-based material amendments offer new ideas for enhancing soil health and crop productivity. So, how do bio-based material amendments improve nutrient ...

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Science16 May 2025

Heteroplasmic de novo MT-ND5 truncating mutations: Implications for mitochondrial function in oncogenesis

Mitochondria are semi-autonomous organelles containing their own DNA (mtDNA), which exhibits a higher mutation rate compared to nuclear DNA. Accumulation of mtDNA mutations is associated with aging and has been observed in various cancers. However, the causal role of these mutations in oncogenesis remains unclear. A recent study led by Dr. Zhenglong Gu, Director of the Center for Mitochondrial Genetics and Health at Fudan University and Courtesy Professor at Cornell University, reports new insights ...

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Science15 May 2025

Study suggests loss of lung capacity begins between the ages of 20 and 25

A study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a centre supported by ”la Caixa” Foundation, in collaboration with the Clínic-IDIBAPS, has shown for the first time, how lung capacity evolves from childhood to old age. The findings, published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, provide a new basic framework for assessing lung health. Until now, it was thought that lung function increased until it peaked at around 20–25 years of age, after which it stabilised. It was also thought that in later adulthood, lung function begins to decline as the ...

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Science15 May 2025

Ewell joins Gerontological Society of America’s Board of Directors

The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) — the nation’s oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization focused on aging — has named Stephen Ewell, MBA, MS, of the Consumer Technology Association Foundation as an at-large member of its Board of Directors. GSA’s Board of Directors provides governance oversight, establishes Society policy, sets the organization’s strategic plan, and oversees implementation thereof. It comprises 12 members representing the broad diversity of the Society’s membership. Ewell’s three-year term became effective January 1. Ewell is ...

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Science15 May 2025

Large study traces prehistoric human expansion into South America, where genomic studies have been lacking

A large-scale genomic study of over 1,500 individuals from 139 underrepresented Indigenous groups across northern Eurasia and the Americas sheds new light on the ancient migrations that shaped the genetic landscape of North and South America. The results reveal distinct ancestry patterns and early diversification of Indigenous South American populations. The late Pleistocene saw the migration of humans from North Asia into North and South America beginning by at least 23,000 years ago, according to archaeological evidence. This expansion was rapid – genetic evidence suggests northern and southern Native American ...

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Science15 May 2025

Millions of previously undocumented genetic variants discovered in Brazil’s highly admixed population

A large-scale genomic analysis reveals Brazil as one of the most genetically diverse countries on Earth – shaped by centuries of colonization, forced migration, and Indigenous heritage, researchers report. The study, which leveraged newly generated whole-genome sequences of over 2,700 individuals, uncovered more than 8.7 million previously undocumented genetic variants, including those potentially affecting population health. The colonization of Brazil by Europeans from the 15th to 20th centuries resulted in one of the most profound population displacements in history; around five million European settlers and at least five million enslaved Africans were forcibly brought ...

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Science15 May 2025

Proof of concept for Amsterdam UMC-led HIV vaccination

Worldwide, an estimated 40 million people live with HIV. Two-thirds of this group on the African continent. In 2023, more than 600,000 people died from HIV-related causes and 1.32 million were infected. There is no vaccine against the world's second most deadly infection, after TB. However, researchers from Amsterdam UMC have set an important first step in reaching that goal. The results of their phase one trial are published today in Science. "In short, for a preventative HIV-vaccine to work it should induce broadly neutralising antibodies against all the diverse strains of the virus. We've seen that ...

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Science15 May 2025

GSA and GSA Foundation announce record support for the geosciences

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 14 May 2025 The Geological Society of America Release No. 25-07 Contact: Katie Busser +1-303-357-1044 kbusser@geosociety.org GSA and GSA Foundation Announce Record Support for the Geosciences Joint Action Addresses Funding Shortfalls by Federal Scientific Agencies Boulder, Colo., USA: In an extraordinary demonstration of unity and resolve, The Geological Society of America (GSA) Council and the GSA Foundation (GSAF) Board of Trustees announce the approval today of the record level of support they will provide for the geoscience community. The unprecedented support comes amid a rapidly evolving landscape in science funding, with ...

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Science15 May 2025

NIH to award $8 million for new USC Superfund center to research and address ‘forever chemicals’

A team of scientists from Keck School of Medicine of USC and USC Viterbi School of Engineering has been awarded an $8 million, five-year grant from one of the National Institutes of Health to launch a Superfund Research Program Center where they will study environmental contamination from “forever chemicals,” or PFAS, which are used to make multiple household items from cookware to furniture. With the grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the USC scientists are establishing the Southern California ...

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Science15 May 2025

MS heroes unite in Phoenix for CMSC 2025!

Join the world’s leading MS experts, clinicians, researchers, and patient advocates as they assemble for the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) Annual Meeting, May 28-31 in Phoenix. AZ—North America’s ultimate destination for those dedicated to transforming MS care. This year’s theme, “MS Heroes Unite,” honors the remarkable individuals driving progress across all fronts of MS—from cutting-edge science to compassionate, comprehensive care. Featured Hero Lectures include: June Halper Memorial Lecture; The Evolution ...

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Science15 May 2025

Scientists find the ‘meow-tation’ that gives cats their orange fur

Fukuoka, Japan—From Tama, Japan’s most famous stationmaster calico cat, to the lasagna-loving, ginger Garfield, cats with orange fur are both cultural icons and beloved pets. But their distinctive color comes with a genetic twist—most orange tabbies are male, while calicos and tortoiseshells are nearly always female. This pattern points to an unknown “orange gene” on the X chromosome, but identifying this gene has eluded scientists for decades. Now, researchers from Kyushu University, Japan, have found the X-linked mutation behind orange fur in house cats. This deletion mutation, a type of mutation where ...

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Science15 May 2025

Researchers elucidate mechanism of auxin influx in plants

Auxin is the first plant hormone—or "phytohormone"—ever identified, with its discovery dating to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. With its discovery, scientists began to understand how small, self-produced organic molecules could influence physiological processes in plants such as growth, cell division, flowering, fruit ripening, and stress responses. The auxin family of phytohormones promotes cell elongation and root development and is involved in directional growth, such as growing toward light. It works by moving directionally within plant tissues to establish concentration ...

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Science15 May 2025

Scientists track down mutation that makes orange cats orange

Many an orange cat-affiliated human will vouch for their cat’s, let’s say, specialness. But now scientists have confirmed that there is, in fact, something unique about ginger-hued domestic felines. In a new study, Stanford Medicine researchers have discovered the long-posited but elusive genetic mutation that makes orange cats orange — and it appears to occur in no other mammal. The finding adds to our understanding of how subtle genetic changes give rise to new traits, the researchers said. Lots of mammals come in shades of orange — think tigers, ...

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Science15 May 2025

Why rose petals curl: Hidden geometry of nature’s beauty uncovered

At its heart, this research uncovers the hidden geometric principles behind the unique shape of rose petals. While scientists extensively studied shape morphing in natural sheets such as leaves and petals, the team at Hebrew University discovered a new player: MCP incompatibility—a geometric principle that causes the petal’s signature cusps. It turns out that as the petal grows, stress builds at the edges, shaping the curves we recognize and love. The discovery not only uncovered the geometric origin of the shape of rose petals, but also introduces a new paradigm for ...

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Science15 May 2025

The “transformation” of PbSc0.5Ta0.5O3 ceramics: Tuning ordering degree for enhanced electrocaloric effect

There is always a need for a refrigerant with a large ΔH at operating temperature. On the other hand, refrigeration equipment generally available typically functions near/below RT. Thus, for ferroelectric refrigeration to be practical, a large ΔH at a transition near/below RT is essential. Representative PST ceramics demonstrate substantial promise for EC refrigeration near RT, attracting considerable interest. The highly ordered PST ceramic always has excellent EC properties, while it is difficult to achieve. Previous researchers often employed a heat treatment process combining high-temperature quenching and long-term annealing to obtain highly ...

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Science15 May 2025

Human activity reduces plant diversity hundreds of kilometres away

The study, in which the Biodiversity and Evolution Research Group of the UPV/EHU’s Faculty of Science and Technology participated, was carried out within the framework of the international DarkDivNet network and focused on nearly 5,500 locations in 119 regions across the world. In each location studied, the research teams analysed all the plant species present in different habitats to identify dark diversity. This innovative methodology for studying biodiversity made it possible to estimate the potential plant diversity in each study site and compare it with the plants actually present. The results reveal a hitherto unknown effect of human activities on biodiversity. ...

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Science15 May 2025

Research reveals why next-generation engine noise grinds our gears

A breakthrough study has revealed why emerging electric aircraft engine technology sounds so annoying — and how to fix it. Scientists at the University of Bristol in collaboration with the University of Salford have uncovered the root cause behind the particularly irritating noise produced by boundary layer ingesting (BLI) engines — a key technology in future electric and hybrid aircraft. Building on earlier work that identified general noise sources in BLI systems, this latest research, published today in Nature npj Acoustics, dives deeper into the ...

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Science15 May 2025

Recessive genes are subject to Darwinian selection

As a group, carriers of recessive disorders are slightly less healthy and have a reduced chance of having offspring. This disadvantage is greatest for carriers of a recessive gene for intellectual disability, and reflected in a shorter school career and increased childlessness, according to research from Radboudumc published in Nature human behavior. Time to rewrite the textbooks? Dominant mutation Researchers from Radboudumc, Department of Human Genetics, demonstrated something remarkable in a 2014 publication in Nature. Contrary to expectations, inherited ...

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Science15 May 2025

New special issue in "Proceedings of the Royal Society B" reframes the origins of domestication

A new special issue of Proceedings of the Royal Society B takes a bold step toward redefining one of the most debated concepts in biology and the social sciences: domestication. Titled Shifting Paradigms Towards Integrated Perspectives in Domestication Studies, the issue gathers leading voices in archaeology, evolutionary biology, and plant science to question conventional narratives and introduce new case studies that push the field forward. The volume was co-edited by Dr. Robert Spengler, leader of the Domestication and Anthropogenic ...

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Science15 May 2025

Seeing well-designed gardens could relax us almost immediately because we look at them differently

When was the last time you sat in a garden and simply let your gaze wander? Observation gardens are built especially for this purpose, but can also fulfil other functions, such as providing aid for meditation. Now, an international team of researchers has investigated what it is about these gardens that makes us feel more relaxed when we sit down to observe them. To do so, they assessed the impact of Kyoto’s famous Murin-an garden and compared it to a less vigorously maintained garden. The results were published in Frontiers in Neuroscience. “Well-designed Japanese gardens have evocative and abstract sceneries designed in great detail. These sceneries encourage the viewer ...

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Science14 May 2025

Mindfulness course effective in people with difficult-to-treat depression

Mindfulness-based therapy can offer significant relief for individuals who are still depressed after receiving treatment, according to a new clinical trial. Researchers hope their findings, published in Lancet Psychiatry, could provide a new treatment pathway for people with depression who have not benefitted from previous treatment. The study was led by a researcher from the University of Surrey, sponsored by the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) differs from other psychological therapies by using intensive training in mindfulness meditation to help people develop ...

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