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Science15 Apr 2025

Researchers have mapped the hidden control system of vision

Vision is one of the most complex functions of our brain and requires a seamless interaction between many different brain structures to decode shapes, colours, depths, and movements and turn them into a meaningful whole. Just like other brain functions, vision also depends on a balanced and controlled interaction between the chemical signals that "activate" and "brake" activity in the eye's cells – much like the accelerator and brake of a car. In research, the "brake" is known as GABA, which stands for gamma-aminobutyric ...

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Science15 Apr 2025

Amount of sunlight reaching Earth’s surface varies over decades, researchers report

The sun may rise every morning, but the amount of sunlight reaching the Earth’s surface can substantially vary over decades, according to a perspectives article led by an international research team. The article, published on March 15 in Advances in Atmospheric Science, suggests that stages of “dimming” and “brightening” correspond with increased air pollution and implementation of clean energy solutions, respectively. “The amount of sunlight — which is solar ...

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Science15 Apr 2025

New UNCG research shows southern shrews shrink in winter

Newly published research from UNC Greensboro biology professor Dr. Bryan McLean and colleagues shows that the masked shrew, a small, mole-like mammal found in the Appalachian Mountains, shrinks its body and braincase to conserve energy during winter months. The study, published in the May 2025 issue of The American Naturalist, found that the masked shrew (Sorex cinereus) reduces its body mass by 13 percent in the colder months; the creature then grows larger in spring when conditions improve. In addition to a shrinking body, the team also found seasonal changes in the height of the creature’s ...

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Science14 Apr 2025

Experts stress importance of vaccination amidst measles outbreaks

Pediatric infectious diseases experts stress the importance of vaccination against measles, one of the most contagious viruses, which is once more spreading in the United States. In the article published in Pediatrics, they update pediatricians on this vaccine-preventable disease, which was previously declared non-endemic in the U.S. “The most effective way to prevent measles is vaccination,” said lead author Caitlin Naureckas Li, MD MHQS, infectious diseases specialist at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern University ...

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Science14 Apr 2025

One firearm injury was treated every 30 minutes in emergency departments in a study of 10 jurisdictions

Embargoed for release until 5:00 p.m. ET on Monday 14 April 2025 Follow @Annalsofim on X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and LinkedIn Below please find summaries of new articles that will be published in the next issue of Annals of Internal Medicine. The summaries are not intended to substitute for the full articles as a source of information. This information is under strict embargo and by taking it into possession, media representatives are committing to the terms of the embargo not only on their own behalf, but also on behalf of the organization they represent. ---------------------------- 1. ...

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Science14 Apr 2025

Peptide imitation is the sincerest form of plant flattery

LA JOLLA (April 18, 2025)—Industrial farming practices often deplete the soil of important nutrients and minerals, leaving farmers to rely on artificial fertilizers to support plant growth. In fact, fertilizer use has more than quadrupled since the 1960s, but this comes with serious consequences. Fertilizer production consumes massive amounts of energy, and its use pollutes the water, air, and land. Plant biologists at the Salk Institute are proposing a new solution to help kick this unsustainable fertilizer habit. In a new study, the researchers identified ...

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Science14 Apr 2025

Researchers develop an LSD analogue with potential for treating schizophrenia

University of California, Davis researchers have developed a new, neuroplasticity-promoting drug closely related to LSD that harnesses the psychedelic’s therapeutic power with reduced hallucinogenic potential. The research, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, highlights the new drug’s potential as a treatment option for conditions like schizophrenia, where psychedelics are not prescribed for safety reasons. The compound also may be useful for treating other neuropsychiatric ...

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Science14 Apr 2025

UH researcher unveils new model to evaluate impact of extreme events and natural hazards

When you’re on a sandy beach or the banks of a river, transformed by rolling waves or slightly still waters, it’s likely you’re not thinking about what happens just beneath the surface, where dirt and pollution are swirling and traveling through to new destinations. But Hanadi Rifai does. The Moores Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and director of the Hurricane Resilience Research Institute, has spent two decades examining Galveston Bay – its tides, currents ...

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Science14 Apr 2025

Incidence of pancreas and colorectal adenocarcinoma in the US

About The Study: The findings of this cohort study suggest that the incidence of pancreatic adenocarcinoma has increased among all age groups, whereas that of colorectal adenocarcinoma has increased among younger age groups. Clinicians should be aware of this trend when evaluating younger patients with relevant symptoms. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Arvind J. Trindade, MD, email arvind.trindade@gmail.com. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.4682) Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional ...

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Science14 Apr 2025

UC Berkeley analysis finds steep increase of self-harm among California girls, multiracial youth

The number of California teens who have been treated for self-harm has ballooned in recent years, with an especially concerning increase among multiracial girls, according to new research from the University of California, Berkeley, published today (Monday, April 14) in JAMA Pediatrics. Using data from California emergency departments and inpatient care facilities from 2005 to 2021 — 231,232 reports in total — researchers examined both how the rate of annual nonfatal self-harm incidents has changed, as well as rate differences based on age, sex, and race and ethnicity. The study ...

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Science14 Apr 2025

Deep-sea mining risks leads study to urge shift to circular solutions

Deep-sea mining (DSM) not only poses significant environmental, social, and economic risks that may have far-reaching implications for coastal communities and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), it is also likely to negatively affect the business community, including insurers and investors, says a new study by researchers from the University of British Columbia and the Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy. DSM operations are expected to increase the negative impact on environmental indicators by up to 13 per cent, a change categorized as having “great” significance, relative to the “without” DSM scenario, ...

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Science14 Apr 2025

Stress, depression factor into link between insomnia, heavy drinking

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Insomnia and hazardous drinking are so closely intertwined that estimates suggest at least one-third, and as many as 91%, of people who have a hard time with sleep also misuse alcohol. A new study suggests that perceived stress and depression factor into the relationship between the two conditions – perhaps not a surprise. But because the relationship between insomnia and heavy drinking goes in both directions, the influence of stress or depression depends on which condition came first, the analysis found. “We were most interested in how insomnia leads to drinking, and we found that seems to occur primarily through ...

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Science14 Apr 2025

Rise and shine: Natural light lessens morning fatigue

Sleep is a necessary part of people’s daily routine, but modern lifestyles and technology have ushered in an era of decreased rest time and subsequent fatigue. Further, the bedroom environment, such as light, sound, and temperature, is important for a good night's sleep, though this is often neglected in residential architecture. In search of a conclusive remedy, common sleep studies use artificial light that is easy to control. Osaka Metropolitan University researchers, however, believe natural light could be more effective for re-creating actual living environments. To test this, Graduate School of Human Life and Ecology student Xiaorui Wang and Professor ...

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Science14 Apr 2025

Nature’s plan for delaying pest resistance deciphered

Farmers in dozens of countries have embraced crops genetically engineered to produce proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) bacteria that kill some key pests yet are safe for people and wildlife. Although this biotech approach reduces reliance on insecticide sprays thereby providing economic and environmental benefits, resistance to Bt crops has evolved in at least 11 species of pests. Thus, effective ways to combat such pest resistance are urgently needed. A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences identifies a natural strategy for thwarting pest resistance to Bt proteins. The researchers at the University of Arizona and ...

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Science14 Apr 2025

Weak evidence behind how we measure pain in babies

A newly-published Cochrane review reveals significant gaps in the clinical rating scales used to assess pain in newborn babies, highlighting the urgent need for improved tools and global collaboration. Despite the critical importance of accurately measuring pain in newborns, the review found that none of the available scales are backed by the high-quality evidence and methodological safeguards required to confirm their validity and reliability in clinical practice. Neonatal pain assessment and management presents a challenge for clinical staff worldwide. Over 40 rating scales have been developed and adapted worldwide assessing ...

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Science11 Apr 2025

Breakthrough study identifies promising biomarker for early sepsis detection in neonates, children, and pregnant women

Breakthrough study identifies promising biomarker for early sepsis detection in neonates, children, and pregnant women A pioneering study presented today at ESCMID Global 2025 has uncovered the potential of interleukin-6 (IL-6) as a powerful diagnostic biomarker for the early detection of sepsis in high-risk patient groups, including neonates, children and pregnant women. This study is the first to evaluate IL-6’s diagnostic performance in a real-world cohort across all three populations.1 Sepsis, a life-threatening condition resulting from the immune system’s overreaction to infection, remains a leading global cause of mortality, accounting ...

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Science11 Apr 2025

Common respiratory condition nearly triples the risk of death in adults, new study finds

Common respiratory condition nearly triples the risk of death in adults, new study finds A major study presented today at ESCMID Global 2025 has revealed that adults with respiratory syncytial virus-associated acute respiratory infection (RSV-ARI) face a 2.7-fold higher risk of death within one year compared to the general population.1 The findings underscore the significant, yet often under-recognised, long-term health and economic burden of RSV-ARI in adults, particularly among those with underlying conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. RSV-ARI refers ...

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Science11 Apr 2025

New research shows evidence of children’s gender biases reflected in their facial emotional expressions

New research recently published in Archives of Sexual Behavior suggests children’s gender biases can be reflected in their facial emotional expressions. Psychology professor Doug VanderLaan and his colleagues at the University of Toronto Mississauga, studied 296 children (148 boys and 148 girls) in Canada between the ages of four and nine years old while Wang Ivy Wong, Karen Kwan and their colleagues at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University studied 309 children (155 boys and 154 girls) in Hong Kong. All children watched four short stories that included five illustrations with pre-recorded audio narratives. ...

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Science11 Apr 2025

Light that spirals like a nautilus shell

Beams of light that can be guided into corkscrew-like shapes called optical vortices are used today in a range of applications. Pushing the limits of structured light, Harvard applied physicists in the John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) report a new type of optical vortex beam that not only twists as it travels but also changes in different parts at different rates to create unique patterns. The way the light behaves resembles spiral shapes common in nature. The ...

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Science11 Apr 2025

Transforming doors into gateways to the virtual world: the future of mixed reality!

Ikoma, Japan—People seeking to feel fully immersed in virtual environments will soon be able to experience a revolutionary approach to spatial computing that bridges the gap between real and digital worlds. A collaborative research team from NTT DOCOMO, Inc. and Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST), Japan, has developed a novel mixed reality (MR) technology that transforms how users interact with virtual spaces by using everyday real-world doors as natural transition points. Virtual reality (VR) and MR technologies have ...

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Science11 Apr 2025

Abortion rates remain relatively stable in Canada, while rates spike in UK, Europe, and US

Vancouver, BC, April 11, 2025 – A new study finds that, unlike countries across the UK and Europe, abortion rates did not spike in Ontario, Canada from 2020-2022. Following decades-long declines in nearly all high-income settings, abortion rate trends reversed between 2020 and 2022 in many countries. For example, 2022 and 2023 saw the highest abortion rates on record in Scotland, England, and Wales. Researchers from the University of British Columbia and ICES found that, after accounting for changes in the abortion rate when the ...

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Science11 Apr 2025

Hundred-year storm tides will occur every few decades in Bangladesh, scientists report

Tropical cyclones are hurricanes that brew over the tropical ocean and can travel over land, inundating coastal regions. The most extreme cyclones can generate devastating storm tides — seawater that is heightened by the tides and swells onto land, causing catastrophic flood events in coastal regions. A new study by MIT scientists finds that, as the planet warms, the recurrence of destructive storm tides will increase tenfold for one of the hardest-hit regions of the world. In a study that will appear in One Earth, the scientists ...

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Science11 Apr 2025

Watch a live catalytic event in real time

A Northwestern University-led international team of scientists has, for the first time, directly observed catalysis in-action at the atomic level. In mesmerizing new videos, single atoms move and shake during a chemical reaction that removes hydrogen atoms from an alcohol molecule. By viewing the process in real time, the researchers discovered several short-lived intermediate molecules involved in the reaction as well as a previously hidden reaction pathway. The observations were made possible by single-molecule atomic-resolution time-resolved electron microscopy (SMART-EM), a powerful instrument that enables researchers to watch individual ...

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Science11 Apr 2025

Breaking the cycle: unveiling how childhood trauma fuels parenting and abuse

Childhood maltreatment (CM) is a complex issue that is often passed on through generations. Studies have shown that parents who were abused as children may perpetuate a similar pattern of mistreating their children, creating a vicious cycle of abuse. A key factor in perpetuating this cycle is impaired empathy in parents who grew up in abusive environments. Simply put, parental empathy, the ability to understand and respond to children’s emotions, plays a critical role in effective parenting. In fact, children who experience abuse tend to have reduced empathy by the age ...

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Science11 Apr 2025

Illuminating the twist: light-driven inversion of supramolecular chirality

Self-assembly or self-organization in molecular science refers to the phenomena where molecules spontaneously gather and form ordered structures, a unique property of materials used to develop optical and electronic materials. In a step towards fine-tuning this property, researchers from Japan successfully elucidated a technique where a small amount of residual aggregates drastically altered the self-assembly process of photo-responsive molecules. The research team was led by Professor Shiki Yagai from the Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba University, including Assistant Professor ...

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