Science
press releases.

Science4 Apr 2025

Researchers improve chemical reaction that underpins products from foods to fuels

CORVALLIS, Ore. – A chemical reaction that’s vital to a range of commercial and industrial goods may soon be initiated more effectively and less expensively thanks to a collaboration that included Oregon State University College of Engineering researchers. The study, published in Nature, involves hydrogenation – adding the diatomic hydrogen molecule, H2, to other compounds. “Hydrogenation is a critical and diverse reaction used to create food products, fuels, commodity chemicals and pharmaceuticals,” ...

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Science4 Apr 2025

Hot Schrödinger cat states created

Quantum states can only be prepared and observed under highly controlled conditions. A research team from Innsbruck, Austria, has now succeeded in creating so-called hot Schrödinger cat states in a superconducting microwave resonator. The study, recently published in Science Advances, shows that quantum phenomena can also be observed and used in less perfect, warmer conditions. Schrödinger cat states are a fascinating phenomenon in quantum physics in which a quantum object exists simultaneously in two different states. In Erwin Schrödinger's thought experiment, it is a cat that is alive ...

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Science4 Apr 2025

Oxygen is running low in inland waters—and humans are to blame

Rivers, streams, lakes, and reservoirs aren’t just scenic parts of our landscape—they’re also vital engines for life on Earth. These inland waters ‘breathe’ oxygen, just like we do. But a new study led by Utrecht University researchers shows that we’ve been suffocating them during the last century, an era also known as the Anthropocene. The research, published today in Science Advances, reveals that the way oxygen is produced and used in inland waters has dramatically changed since 1900. ...

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Science4 Apr 2025

Beyond photorespiration: A systematic approach to unlocking enhanced plant productivity

A groundbreaking study published in Science Advances has revealed promising strategies to significantly improve crop yields by addressing photorespiration, a metabolic process that can reduce productivity by up to 36% in some crops. Researchers from the University of Groningen and Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, working as part of the GAIN4CROPS project (gain4crops.eu), have evaluated several alternative pathways that could help overcome this major agricultural bottleneck. Photorespiration occurs when the enzyme RuBisCO, essential for photosynthesis, reacts with oxygen instead of carbon dioxide, resulting ...

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Science4 Apr 2025

Many older adults send their doctors portal messages, but who pays?

When today’s older adults were growing up, the only way to get information to your doctor or their clinic was a phone call. And getting more than a simple answer probably meant going in for an appointment. But a new study suggests that people in their 50s and older have embraced the ability to send and receive secure medical messages with their doctors and other providers, through the digital patient portals that most health systems and medical offices now offer. The study also suggests that some older adults – including those with very low incomes – find themselves getting billed for ...

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Science4 Apr 2025

Signs identified that precede sudden arrhythmic death syndrome in young people

Milan, Italy – 4 April 2025. Recognising and detecting the signs that commonly precede sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS) may help to prevent premature deaths, according to research presented today at ESC Preventive Cardiology 2025,1 a scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). “SADS has not been well evaluated despite being one of the most common underlying causes of sudden cardiac death in young people, including young athletes,” said study author Dr. Matilda Frisk Torell of Sahlgrenska Academy - University of Gothenburg, Sweden. “We conducted an analysis of a large cohort of cases of sudden cardiac death in Sweden to ...

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Science4 Apr 2025

Molecular stool test could improve detection of tuberculosis in adults with HIV

The Xpert MTB/Ultra molecular diagnostic test for stool samples, until now recommended only for children, could be established as an additional test for diagnosing tuberculosis in adults living with HIV. This is the main conclusion of the Stool4TB Alliance study, led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), an institution supported by the ”la Caixa” Foundation, in collaboration with the Manhiça Health Research Centre (CISM), the Research Center Borstel, the Makerere University, the Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation – Eswatini, ...

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Science4 Apr 2025

Suspected fibrocartilaginous embolus in Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus)

An 11-year-old neutered male Asian small-clawed otter fell down the stairs while sleeping, after which it developed left-sided paralysis. Initial treatment involved once daily administration of prednisolone at 0.5 mg/kg. Despite slight clinical sign improvements by day 10, paralysis persisted. MRI (T2WI) identified a well-defined, hyper-intense lesion on the left side within the spinal cord at the C2-3 intervertebral level. Based on CT and MRI findings, fibrocartilaginous embolus (FCE) was suspected. Prednisolone was then tapered and by day 23 of illness, the otter was able to walk ...

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Science4 Apr 2025

Enhancing heat transfer using the turbulent flow of viscoelastic fluids

Fluids play a crucial role in industrial processes like cooling, heating, and mixing. Traditionally, most industries would utilize Newtonian fluids—which have a constant viscosity—for such processes. However, many are now adopting viscoelastic fluids, which can behave as both liquids and elastic materials. These fluids can suppress turbulence in simple flows like straight pipes or channels, leading to reduced wall friction. This “drag reduction effect” has attracted significant interest due to its potential to enhance energy efficiency. To advance the industrial applications ...

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Science3 Apr 2025

UMass Amherst Nursing Professor Emerita honored as ‘Living Legend’

Many years ago, Cynthia Jacelon got an entry-level job in a challenging healthcare niche. It became the inspiration for a long, joyful and groundbreaking career in every dimension of nursing – for which she is now being honored. “I am one of the few people who actually went to nursing school to work with older adults,” explains Jacelon, professor emerita at the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing and senior advisor at the Elaine Marieb Center for Nursing ...

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Science3 Apr 2025

Researchers’ 3D-printing formula may transform future of foam

From seat cushions to mattresses to insulation, foam is everywhere — even if we don’t always see it. Now, researchers at The University of Texas at Dallas have fused chemistry with technology to create a 3D-printed foam that is more durable and more recyclable than the polymer foam found in many everyday products. The research, which appears in the March 1 print edition of RSC Applied Polymers, a journal of the Royal Society of Chemistry, focused on creating a sturdy but lightweight foam that could be 3D-printed, a method that is still largely unexplored in commercial manufacturing, said the study’s co-lead author, UT Dallas doctoral student Rebecca Johnson ...

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Science3 Apr 2025

New study finds that over 95% of sponsored influencer posts on Twitter were not disclosed

New INFORMS journal Marketing Science Article Key Takeaways: Over 95% of sponsored influencer posts on Twitter were not disclosed. Influencer sponsorship arrangements with younger brands are less likely to be disclosed. A large number of consumers can’t detect the sponsorship arrangement without disclosure. The consumer-protection regulatory environment around undisclosed sponsorships has lagged behind. BALTIMORE, MD, April 3, 2025 – New research in the peer-reviewed journal Marketing Science has found that 95% of influencer posts on Twitter (now X), which are sponsored, are not disclosed. The ...

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Science3 Apr 2025

How GPS helps older drivers stay on the roads

How GPS helps older drivers stay on the roads Peer reviewed – observational study - humans Sat Nav systems help keep older drivers on the roads for longer, according to new research from the University of East Anglia. A new study published today reveals that over 65s with a poorer sense of direction rely more on help from GPS navigation systems such as Sat Nav or smartphone maps. Those using GPS tended to drive more frequently - suggesting that the technology helps older people maintain driving independence. Senior author Prof Michael Hornberger, from UEA’s Norwich Medical School, said: “Driving is usually the preferred mode of transport among ...

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Science3 Apr 2025

Estrogen and progesterone stimulate the body to make opioids

Scientists have discovered a new mechanism that acts via an immune cell and points toward a different way of treating chronic pain. Female hormones can suppress pain by making immune cells near the spinal cord produce opioids, a new study from researchers at UC San Francisco has found. This stops pain signals before they get to the brain. The discovery could help with developing new treatments for chronic pain. It may also explain why some painkillers work better for women than men and why postmenopausal ...

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Science3 Apr 2025

Finding their way: GPS ignites independence in older adult drivers

GPS tech may empower older adults to be more adventurous on the road, according to a study published April 3, 2025 in the open-access journal PLOS Digital Health by Sol Morrissey from the University of East Anglia and colleagues. Driving is older adults’ preferred transportation method, but age-related cognitive decline can limit time spent behind the wheel. Empowering older adults to be more mobile drivers (that is, driving more frequently and for longer distances) is critical to boosting physical, social and cognitive wellness. Electronic navigation systems ...

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Science3 Apr 2025

‘Some insects are declining but what’s happening to the other 99%?’

Insects are the dominant form of animal life on our planet, providing humans and wildlife with pollination, food, and recycling services but, despite concerns about population declines, little is known about how 99% of species globally are faring. A new approach is needed to better monitor species and protect them from the impacts of climate and land use change, pollution and invasive non-native species as soon as possible, according to a study led by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) and ZSL (Zoological Society of London). The researchers, whose work has been ...

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Science3 Apr 2025

Common phrases, not fancy words, make you sound more fluent in a foreign language

Language learners often assume that using rare, complex vocabulary will make their speech sound more fluent. Research suggests that there is a close relationship between formulaic expression usage in speech and acoustic features of oral fluency. This implies that using formulaic expressions leads to faster articulation speed and fewer disruptions during speech. However, in terms of how listeners perceive speakers’ fluency, the role of formulaic expressions has been unclear. To investigate this, Ph.D. student, Kotaro Takizawa and Research Assistant Professor Shungo Suzuki from Waseda University, Japan, analyzed speech from 102 Japanese speakers ...

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Science3 Apr 2025

Printed skin to replace animal testing

Directive 2010/63/EU laid down restrictions on animal testing for the testing of cosmetics and their ingredients throughout the EU. Therefore, there is an intense search for alternatives to test the absorption and toxicity of nanoparticles from cosmetics such as sun creams. A team of researchers from Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) and the Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) in India is working on the development of skin imitations that mimic the native three-layer tissue structure and biomechanics of human skin. Such imitations can be produced ...

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Science3 Apr 2025

PEPITEM sequence shows effects in psoriasis, comparable to steroid cream

Birmingham scientists have shown that a sequence of just three amino acids may reduce the severity of psoriasis, when applied topically in an emollient cream. The researchers, whose study is published in Pharmacological Research, identified the smallest part of a peptide (small protein) called PEPITEM, which occurs naturally in the body and regulates inflammation. The study also showed that both PEPITEM and the three amino acid (tripeptide) sequence delivered a significant reduction in the severity of psoriasis, that is comparable to a steroid cream. Psoriasis ...

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Science3 Apr 2025

Corpse flowers are threatened by spotty recordkeeping

Commonly called the “corpse flower,” Amorphophallus titanum is endangered for many reasons, including habitat destruction, climate change and encroachment from invasive species. Now, plant biologists from Northwestern University and the Chicago Botanic Garden have added a new threat to the list: incomplete historical records. In a new study, scientists constructed the ancestry of corpse flowers living in collections at institutions and gardens around the world. They found a severe lack of consistent, standardized data. Without complete historical records, conservationists were unable to make informed decisions ...

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Science3 Apr 2025

Are lifetimes of big appliances really shrinking?

Big appliances, like washing machines, ovens and refrigerators, are a major investment for many households. Consumers hope that these appliances will last for decades. More and more, however, people have the perception that these big-ticket items might not be lasting as long as they once did. But when Kamila Krych looked at actual trends in product lifetimes as a part of her PhD research at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology's (NTNU) Industrial Ecology Programme, she found that wasn’t quite true. “Despite what people think, there is no evidence that product lifetimes are decreasing,” she said. “Many people think that products have been becoming ...

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Science3 Apr 2025

Pink skies

Organoids have revolutionized science and medicine, providing platforms for disease modeling, drug testing, and understanding developmental processes. While not exact replicas of human organs, they offer significant insights. The Siegert group at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) presents a new organoid model that reveals details of the developing nervous system’s response to viral infections, such as Rubella. This model could influence pharmaceutical testing, particularly benefiting drug safety for pregnant ...

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Science2 Apr 2025

Monkeys are world’s best yodellers - new research

A new study has found that the world’s finest yodellers aren’t from Austria or Switzerland, but the rainforests of Latin America. Published in the journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B and led by experts from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and the University of Vienna, the research provides significant new insights into the diverse vocal sounds of non-human primates, and reveals for the first time how certain calls are produced. Apes and monkeys possess special anatomical structures in their throats called vocal membranes, which disappeared from humans through evolution to allow for more stable speech. However, ...

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Science2 Apr 2025

An app can change how you see yourself at work

By most accounts, confidence is a prerequisite for workplace success. What if it could be trained, even subtly rewired, using something as simple as a smartphone app? That’s the premise behind a first-of-its-kind study from the University of California, Riverside, where psychologists tested whether workers could reshape their self-image through a digital tool that reinforces positive beliefs. The findings, published in Computers in Human Behavior Reports, suggest they can—and that belief systems, often assumed to be deeply ...

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Science2 Apr 2025

New research shows that propaganda is on the rise in China

If someone picks up a newspaper in China, there’s a good chance it contains some government propaganda masquerading as news, according to a new study co-led by a University of Oregon expert. Hannah Waight, an assistant professor of sociology at the UO, and her collaborators found that the use of state-planted propaganda is on the rise in China. And it’s not just a tool for spreading ideological content. It’s also used to control and constrain other kinds of information beyond political ideals, including natural disaster and public health ...

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