Science
press releases.

Science18 Feb 2025

‘False’ springs, long summers mean uncertainty for NY grape growers

CORNELL UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE FOR RELEASE: Feb. 17, 2025 Kaitlyn Serrao 607-882-1140 kms465@cornell.edu ‘False’ springs, long summers mean uncertainty for NY grape growers ITHACA, N.Y. – Warmer autumns and more “false” springs are disrupting the signals grapevines rely on to gain cold hardiness for the winter and blossom effectively in the spring, according to new research from Cornell University. “In New York, we are right at the coldest ...

Read the release

Science18 Feb 2025

Fabio Boschini, first INRS researcher to receive an Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship

MONTRÉAL and VARENNES, QC, Feb. 18, 2025 /CNW/ - Professor Fabio Boschini is among the 126 recipients announced today by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation in seven fields. Sloan Fellowships support outstanding early-career scientists who demonstrate creativity, ambition, and dedication to advance discovery. These rising stars of research come from American and Canadian schools and are definitely names to watch. Many Sloan Fellows have gone on to become Nobel prize winners. INRS Professor Fabio Boschini has just received a prestigious ...

Read the release

Science18 Feb 2025

Abortion changes among residents of an abortion rights protective state

About The Study: This cross-sectional study found a statistically significant increase in abortions for Colorado residents in association with the implementation of Texas SB8. This aligns with reports from area clinicians who experienced dramatic increases in patient demand after SB8, also reported by the media, resulting in delayed appointments for everyone. Corresponding author: To contact the corresponding author, Kelly A. DeBie, J.D., email kelly.debie@colostate.edu. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For ...

Read the release

Science18 Feb 2025

Tobacco and e-product use by US adults with disabilities

About The Study: In this survey study, disparities in tobacco use existed across cumulative disabilities. Despite declines in tobacco use over time, differences in use across cumulative disabilities persisted or worsened, especially among those with 3 or more disabilities. Targeted prevention, screening, and cessation efforts inclusive of multiple products are needed. Corresponding author: To contact the corresponding author, Michael J. Parks, Ph.D., email Michael.parks@nih.gov. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.60471) Editor’s ...

Read the release

Science18 Feb 2025

Racial disparities seen in care after abnormal mammograms

Despite similar availability of diagnostic technologies to women of different racial and ethnic groups, significant disparities were seen in who actually received same-day diagnostic services and biopsies after abnormal mammogram findings, new research shows. Even when breast-care facilities had the necessary technology and capabilities, minority groups were less likely than white women to receive diagnostic imaging on the same day as an abnormal screening result. Black women in particular were less likely to receive same-day biopsies, compared with white women. The findings of a retrospective study are to be published ...

Read the release

Science18 Feb 2025

Using CRISPR to remove extra chromosomes in Down syndrome

Gene editing techniques may eventually allow trisomy to be treated at the cellular level, according to an in vitro proof-of-concept study. Down syndrome is caused by the presence of a third copy of the 21st chromosome. The condition occurs in approximately 1 in 700 live births and is relatively easy to diagnose at early stages of development. However, there are no treatments. Ryotaro Hashizume and colleagues use the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing system to cleave the third chromosome in previously generated trisomy 21 cell lines derived from both pluripotent cells and skin fibroblasts. The technique is able to identify which chromosome has been duplicated, ...

Read the release

Science18 Feb 2025

What makes us remember our dreams?

Some people wake up vividly recalling their dreams from the night, and can tell precise stories experienced during the night, while others struggle to remember even a single detail. Why does this happen? A new study, conducted by researchers at the IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca, and published on Communications Psychology explores the factors that influence so called "dream recall"— the ability to remember dreams upon awakening—and uncovers which individual traits and sleep patterns shape this phenomenon. The reason why there is such a difference in recalling dreams remains a mystery. Some studies found that women, young persons, ...

Read the release

Science18 Feb 2025

Study sheds light on the genetics of stopping smoking

The effectiveness of a common drug to quit smoking could be down to people’s genes, according to a study from the University of Leicester (United Kingdom). Varenicline is widely recognised as the most effective medication for helping people stop smoking, but unfortunately it does not work for everyone. Researchers from Leicester have uncovered important insights into how people’s DNA affects their response to the drug, which will soon be available to smokers through the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). Varenicline ...

Read the release

Science17 Feb 2025

Study findings raise questions about the inclusion of sepsis bundle in the CMS value program

Embargoed for release until 5:00 p.m. ET on Monday 17 February 2025 @Annalsofim 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. ...

Read the release

Science17 Feb 2025

Biological clock plays critical role in driving teens’ late eating habits

Researchers found that teens with obesity ate more later in the day than their peers of healthy weight, and that their eating behaviors were strongly influenced by their internal body clock By 2030, roughly half of Americans are expected to have obesity, a condition that contributes to the onset of chronic diseases, including diabetes and cancer. While previous research has highlighted connections between sleep, eating patterns, and weight gain, scientists remain uncertain of the role of the circadian system—our internal biological clock—in shaping eating patterns. A new study by investigators from Mass General Brigham and the Warren Alpert Medical School ...

Read the release

Science17 Feb 2025

Animals as architects of the earth: first global study reveals their surprising impact

EMBARGOED PRESS RELEASE: MONDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2025 3:00PM U.S. EASTERN TIME (8:00PM GMT) Animals are not just inhabitants of the natural world—they are its architects. A new study led by Professor Gemma Harvey from Queen Mary University of London has revealed how hundreds of species shape the landscapes we depend on, from vast termite mounds visible from space to hippos carving drainage systems and beavers creating entire wetlands. Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), this first-of-its-kind global synthesis identifies 603 species, genera, or families that influence ...

Read the release

Science17 Feb 2025

Biological clock plays critical role in driving teens’ late-day eating habits

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — The causes of obesity are complex and influenced by many factors. While research has highlighted connections between sleep, eating patterns and weight gain, scientists remain uncertain of the role of the circadian system — the biological clock — in shaping eating patterns. But a new study from researchers at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Mass General Brigham reveals a distinct relationship between circadian rhythms, weight and eating habits in adolescents, a vulnerable age group whose eating patterns influence their lifelong ...

Read the release

Science17 Feb 2025

Study reveals surge in gambling addiction following legalization of sports betting

A new study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine and led by researchers from the University of California San Diego Qualcomm Institute and School of Medicine, reveals a dramatic increase in sports betting and gambling addiction help-seeking since the landmark Murphy v. NCAA Supreme Court decision in 2018 paved the way for states to legalize sports betting. “When the Supreme Court legalized sportsbooks — a venue where people can wager on various sports competitions — in Murphy v. NCAA, public health experts paid little attention,” said the study’s senior author John W. Ayers, Ph.D., who is vice chief of innovation in the ...

Read the release

Science17 Feb 2025

Genetic study links defects in sugar digestion to irritable bowel syndrome

Sucrase-isomaltase (SI) is an intestinal enzyme critical for the digestion of dietary carbohydrates, particularly sucrose and starch. Previous studies from the Gastrointestinal Genetics team at CIC bioGUNE - BRTA and LUM University suggested a genetic link between SI defects and IBS, whereby certain DNA changes cause reduced enzymatic activity and inefficient digestion of carbohydrates, thus inducing symptoms like bloating, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain. As the name gives away, however, SI is a special case in that it encompasses two enzymes with different carbohydrate-digesting ...

Read the release

Science17 Feb 2025

1 in 6 parents support teens getting non-surgical cosmetic procedures with parental consent

For teens who may be self-conscious about issues such as acne scarring or discolored teeth, non-surgical cosmetic procedures are an increasingly popular way to address their concerns. And some parents are supportive of this decision, a national poll suggests, with a sixth saying teenagers should be allowed to receive these types of aesthetic treatments for any reason as long as they have parental approval. But half of parents only support teens getting non-surgical cosmetic procedures if there’s a valid reason – and their beliefs about which reasons count as valid differ – according to ...

Read the release

Science17 Feb 2025

Are we still primitive? How ancient survival instincts shape modern power struggles

The evolutionary roots of human dominance and aggression remain central to social and political behaviour, and without conscious intervention these primal survival drives will continue to fuel inequality and division. These are the arguments of a medical professor who, as global conflicts rise and democracies face growing challenges, says understanding how dominance and tribal instincts fuel division is more critical than ever. In A New Approach to Human Social Evolution, Professor Jorge A. Colombo MD, PhD explores neuroscience, anthropology, and behavioural science to provide a new perspective on human social evolution. He argues that fundamental behavioural drives ...

Read the release

Science17 Feb 2025

Near-complete skull discovery reveals ‘top apex’, leopard-sized “fearsome” carnivore

A rare discovery of a nearly complete skull in the Egyptian desert has led scientists to the “dream” revelation of a new 30-million-year-old species of the ancient apex predatory carnivore, Hyaenodonta. Bearing sharp teeth and powerful jaw muscles, suggesting a strong bite, the newly-identified ‘Bastetodon’ was a leopard-sized “fearsome” mammal. It would have been at the top of all carnivores and the food chain when our own monkey-like ancestors were evolving. Findings, published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, detail ...

Read the release

Science15 Feb 2025

Cone snail toxin inspires new method for studying molecular interactions

ROCKVILLE, MD – When scientists develop new molecules—whether for the purposes of agriculture, species control, or life-savings drugs—it’s important to know exactly what its targets are. Thoroughly understanding a molecule's interactions, both intended and unintended, is crucial for ensuring its safety and efficacy. A cone snail toxin known to affect both insects and fish inspired Weizmann Institute scientists to develop a new way of finding molecular targets. By combining artificial intelligence with traditional ...

Read the release

Science15 Feb 2025

Innovative design techniques for better performance of wireless transmitters

Three innovative design techniques substantially enhance wireless transmitter performance and can boost power efficiency and elevate data rates concurrently, as reported by the researchers from Science Tokyo, Japan. This effectively aligns with the growing demand for speed and efficiency, accelerating the widespread deployment of wireless devices. This enables synergistic operation of wireless electronic devices and better quality of modern life. Background: Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into everyday life requires the interconnectedness of all electronic devices via a technology called the Internet of Things (IoT). The rapid expansion of the IoT market has ...

Read the release

Science14 Feb 2025

Terabytes of data in a millimeter crystal

From punch card-operated looms in the 1800s to modern cellphones, if an object has an “on” and an “off” state, it can be used to store information. In a computer laptop, the binary ones and zeroes are transistors either running at low or high voltage. On a compact disc, the one is a spot where a tiny indented “pit” turns to a flat “land” or vice versa, while a zero is when there’s no change. Historically, the size of the object making the “ones” and “zeroes” has put a limit on the size of the storage device. But now, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular ...

Read the release

Science14 Feb 2025

Research reveals how Earth got its ice caps

University of Leeds news Embargoed until 14 February 2025 (19:00 GMT) --- The cool conditions which have allowed ice caps to form on Earth are rare events in the planet’s history and require many complex processes working at once, according to new research. A team of scientists led by the University of Leeds investigated why Earth has existed in what is known as a 'greenhouse' state without ice caps for much of its history, and why the conditions we are living in now are so rare. They found ...

Read the release

Science14 Feb 2025

Clearing the way for faster and more cost-effective separations

CLEVELAND—The process of separating useful molecules from mixtures of other substances accounts for 15% of the nation’s energy, emits 100 million tons of carbon dioxide and costs $4 billion annually. Commercial manufacturers produce columns of porous materials to separate potential new drugs developed by the pharmaceutical industry, for example, and also for energy and chemical production, environmental science and making foods and beverages. But in a new study, researchers at Case Western Reserve University have found these ...

Read the release

Science14 Feb 2025

Report documents the devastation of the ancient city of Palmyra, a World Heritage Site, after the fall of the Assad regime

Palmyra is one of the most famous sites in Syria for its extraordinary heritage and archaeological remains. Inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1980, the city saw much of its heritage destroyed during the war. Following the liberation of Syria from the Assad regime on 8 December, a multidisciplinary team has carried out a field study in Palmyra to assess the current state of the archaeological monuments and the surrounding residential areas, comparing them with their condition before the start of the Syrian uprising in 2011. The report is an initiative of Palmyrene Voices of the NGO Heritage for Peace in collaboration with the CSIC's Milà i Fontanals Institution. ‘We ...

Read the release

Science14 Feb 2025

Major trial to determine if ketamine can stop deadly epilepsy seizures

University of Virginia Brain Institute and School of Medicine researchers have received an initial $9.3 million award from the National Institutes of Health for a $30 million clinical trial to determine if the powerful anesthetic ketamine can save patients from prolonged, life-threatening grand mal seizures that won’t respond to other treatments. “Status epilepticus,” as the seizures are known, are seizures that last more than five minutes or that strike repeatedly without the ...

Read the release

Science14 Feb 2025

Graphite production gets a makeover

Collaboration efforts between the Texas A&M University Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering and the U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) have led to innovative research on how petroleum coke is processed. This almost $3 million three-year research project will convert petroleum coke to graphite for energy storage. The newer process uses a lower temperature and shorter time to produce graphite from petroleum coke. This new catalytic graphitization technology will ...

Read the release