Science
press releases.

Science11 Feb 2025

MSU expert: Using light to hear biology

Images Elad Harel is used to shining a light on the mysteries of the natural world. Working at the cutting-edge of ultrafast spectroscopy — the application of short laser pulses to analyze the dynamics of molecules — the Michigan State University associate professor’s research aims to reveal how microscopic phenomena impact large complex systems. One promising frontier Harel has been working on is the development of new methods of microscopy that will allow researchers to observe molecular and atomic landscapes in motion rather than through static imagery. Such work has earned Harel MSU’s 2023 ...

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Science11 Feb 2025

“I can’t hear you, I’m too stressed”: Repeated stress in mice reduces sound perception

After a week of stress, mice show changes in how their brains process sound, reducing how well they perceive loud noises, according to a study published February 11th in the open-access journal PLOS Biology led by Ghattas Bisharat, from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel, and colleagues. Repeated stress has negative impacts on mental health that can go beyond psychiatric disorders. They can also cause changes in how we perceive the world, making us jump at loud noises, or become easily irritated by scratchy sweaters or offensive odors. To understand how repeated stress can impact how the brain processes sensory information, the authors ...

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Science11 Feb 2025

Sandra Diaz and Eduardo Brondízio, scholars of human-nature interconnection, win the 2025 Tyler Prize with call for policies, business models and individuals to recognize humanity’s 'entanglement' wit

FEBRUARY 11, 2025 – Argentine ecologist Sandra Díaz and Brazilian-American anthropologist Eduardo Brondízio are being awarded the 2025 Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement for their extraordinary work linking biodiversity to humankind, the Tyler Prize Executive Committee announced today. Díaz and Brondízio are using the win to draw attention to humanity’s “entanglement” with nature in a joint call for policies, business models, and individuals to acknowledge their dependence and shared responsibility in the “fabric of life.” “The ...

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Science11 Feb 2025

PhRMA Foundation welcomes two board members

The PhRMA Foundation announced the appointment to its Board of Directors of Dr. John C. Reed, MD, PhD, Executive Vice President of Innovative Medicine R&D at Johnson & Johnson (J&J), and Dr. Donatello Crocetta, MD, MBA, Chief Medical Officer and Head of Medical Communities at UCB. The PhRMA Foundation is a 60-year-old nonprofit that fosters biopharmaceutical innovation and value-driven health care by investing in the frontiers of research. The Foundation catalyzes the careers of promising researchers through competitive, ...

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Science11 Feb 2025

Study takes a ‘bite’ out of shark depredation using citizen science

Shark depredation is a hot-button issue in recreational fishing, as anglers face off against these stealthy ocean bandits. These underwater thieves snatch fish straight off the line, often leaving nothing but scraps – or a broken leader – as evidence of their heist. The Southeast, a major hub for saltwater fishing, is a depredation “hot spot” due to high fishing activity. While fisheries managers in the United States monitor shark depredation in commercial fisheries, efforts to evaluate these interactions in recreational fishing have been limited. With Florida’s recreational ...

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Science11 Feb 2025

Human-caused fires growing faster than lightning fires in the Western US

A study shows that there are almost twice as many risky days for large human-caused fires in the American West as there are for lightning-caused fires, due to differences in the level of heat and aridity under which each type of fire is likely to occur. The discrepancy is not accounted for in most fire early warning systems. In addition, risky days for human-caused fires are growing faster than risky days for lighting-caused fires as the climate warms. Fa Li and colleagues focused on Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD), which captures both dryness ...

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Science11 Feb 2025

Barbeque and grandma’s cookies: New study looks at nostalgia, comfort in food preparation for older adults

PULLMAN, Wash. — Foods that evoke a sense of nostalgia and comfort and have good texture variety are important considerations in prepared meals aimed at older adults, according to new Washington State University research. “We want to help the prepared food industry produce appetizing, healthy meals for older adults,” said Carolyn Ross, professor in WSU’s School of Food Science. “Malnutrition is quite prevalent in people over 60 because food may be available, but they won’t eat it if they don’t like it. We want to walk a line where food is tasty, convenient, and full of nutrients.” In a paper recently published ...

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Science11 Feb 2025

Branch patterns in trees and art

The math that describes the branching pattern of trees in nature also holds for trees depicted in art—and may even underlie our ability to recognize artworks as depictions of trees. Trees are loosely fractal, branching forms that repeat the same patterns at smaller and smaller scales from trunk to branch tip. Jingyi Gao and Mitchell Newberry examine scaling of branch thickness in depictions of trees and derive mathematical rules for proportions among branch diameters and for the approximate number of branches of different diameters. The authors begin with ...

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Science11 Feb 2025

SynGAP Research Fund dba cure SYNGAP1 (SRF) announces the release of their SYNGAP1 impact report for 2024

Mill Valley, CA – February 11, 2025 – The SynGAP Research Fund 501(c)(3) dba Cure SYNGAP1 proudly announces the release of its inaugural Impact Report, a transparent and celebratory reporting of tangible goals achieved and purposeful progress made in 2024 by this growing and dynamic organization led entirely by families and driven by volunteers. With a mission rooted in improving the lives of SYNGAP1 patients, and built upon the promises of Collaboration, Transparency and Urgency, SRF’s 2024 Impact Report provides stakeholders – including families, scientists, and donors ...

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Science11 Feb 2025

Poll: Most U.S. workers with chronic conditions manage them at work, haven’t told employer

Embargoed for release: Tuesday, February 11, 2025, 6:00 AM ET Key points: More than half of employees in the U.S. (58%) report having physical chronic health conditions, such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and asthma, according to a new nationally representative survey. Three-fourths of U.S. employees with chronic conditions (76%) need to manage their conditions during work hours, yet a majority (60%) have not formally disclosed their conditions to their employer. More than one-third of U.S. employees with chronic conditions (36%) say they have skipped medical appointments or delayed getting care to avoid ...

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Science11 Feb 2025

The prevalence of older Americans without disabilities increases substantially between 2008 and 2017

Toronto, ON – A sizeable improvement was found in the prevalence of American adults aged 65 and older without disabilities -- including memory, hearing, visual, and functional disabilities or limitations in activities of daily living -- according to a new nationally representative study published online in the Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics Plus found. In total, 61% of older Americans reported being free from disability in 2008. The prevalence increased to 65% in 2017. While this may seem like a small increase, had the prevalence of individuals without disabilities remained ...

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Science11 Feb 2025

Position menstrual cups carefully to avoid possible kidney problems, doctors urge

A poorly positioned menstrual cup to capture monthly blood flow may lead to more serious complications than leakage alone, warn doctors in the journal BMJ Case Reports, after treating a young woman with uterohydronephrosis—a swollen kidney caused by blocked urine flow into the bladder. The use of menstrual cups as a sustainable alternative to other methods of controlling period blood flow is rising, note the report authors. While reported complications are rare, the evidence suggests that pain, vaginal wounds, allergic reactions, ...

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Science10 Feb 2025

Bleeding risk with apixaban and dabigatran similar to aspirin

Embargoed for release until 5:00 p.m. ET on Monday 10 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. ...

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Science10 Feb 2025

MD Anderson Research Highlights for February 10, 2025

HOUSTON ― The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Research Highlights showcases the latest breakthroughs in cancer care, research and prevention. These advances are made possible through seamless collaboration between MD Anderson’s world-leading clinicians and scientists, bringing discoveries from the lab to the clinic and back. This issue includes studies to be presented this week at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Genitourinary Cancers Symposium. Metastasis-directed therapy shows favorable ...

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Science10 Feb 2025

Ready (or not) for love? Your friends likely agree

MSU has a satellite uplink/LTN TV studio and Comrex line for radio interviews upon request. EAST LANSING, Mich. – Feeling ready for a committed relationship is a key step in dating. But do your friends agree that you’re ready for a long-term relationship? As this week is Valentine’s Day, newer couples may be considering just how serious their relationship is together. A new study from Michigan State University found that friends significantly agreed on who was ready for committed relationships — and who wasn’t. The ...

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Science10 Feb 2025

Rice-BCM research enables detection of hazardous chemicals in human placenta with unprecedented speed and precision

HOUSTON – (Feb. 10, 2025) – Rice University scientists and collaborators at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) have demonstrated a new method for detecting the presence of dangerous chemicals from tobacco smoke in human placenta with unprecedented speed and precision. The research team used a combination of light-based imaging techniques and machine learning (ML) algorithms to identify and label polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their derivatives (PACs) ⎯ toxic compounds generated through the incomplete combustion ...

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Science10 Feb 2025

Potential new strategy for relieving anxiety

Understanding the neural circuits that drive anxiety may help researchers discover circuit-specific targets and therefore increase the precision of treatment strategies. Previous studies have separately suggested that increased serotonin levels and the cerebellum may play roles in anxiety. To explore the relationship between these ideas, Pei Chin, from the University of Pennsylvania, and George Augustine, from Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, probed whether serotonin in the cerebellum causes anxiety behavior in mice. Contrary to previous ...

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Science10 Feb 2025

Scientists develop corrosion-induced electrodes for biomass upgrading

A research team led by Prof. ZHANG Jian from the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has utilized metal corrosion to prepare high-performance electrodes, enabling efficient and cost-effective upgrading of bio-based 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). This study was published in Chem Catalysis. Corrosion is a common phenomenon that can lead to material failure and economic losses. However, researchers are exploring its potential for beneficial applications, particularly in biomass upgrading. Biomass is among the most abundant renewable resources on earth. Through catalytic conversion, ...

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Science10 Feb 2025

Contemporary hormonal contraception and risk of venous thromboembolism

About The Study: This study showed venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk variation across hormonal contraceptives with highest rates for combined pills, especially those containing third-generation progestins, and no significant difference in risk for intrauterine devices (IUDs) relative to no use. For patches and implants, the increased VTE risk was uncertain due to limited data. Variation in VTE risk across products underscores the importance of personalized contraceptive counseling. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Harman Gailan Hassan Yonis, MD, email harman@live.dk. To ...

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Science10 Feb 2025

Victim-shooter relationships in mass shootings involving child victims

About The Study: The findings of this study indicate that from 2009 through 2020, a child was most likely to be killed in a mass shooting by a parent or family member, rather than a stranger or a peer. While school shootings dominate media coverage, this study suggests that domestic violence plays a larger role in child mass shootings. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Stephanie Chao, MD, email sdchao1@stanford.edu. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.6609) Editor’s ...

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Science10 Feb 2025

Low to moderate prenatal alcohol exposure and facial shape of children at ages 6 to 8

About The Study: Low to moderate prenatal alcohol exposure was associated with characteristic changes in the faces of children, which persisted until at least 6 to 8 years of age. A linear association between alcohol exposure levels and facial shape was not supported. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Evelyne Muggli, MPH, email evi.muggli@mcri.edu.au. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.6151) Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, ...

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Science10 Feb 2025

Earth’s inner core is less solid than previously thought

The surface of the Earth’s inner core may be changing, as shown by a new study from USC scientists that detected structural changes near the planet’s center, published today in Nature Geoscience. The changes of the inner core has long been a topic of debate for scientists. However, most research has been focused on assessing rotation. John Vidale, Dean’s Professor of Earth Sciences at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and principal investigator of the study, said the researchers “didn’t set out to define the physical nature of the inner core.” “What we ended up discovering is evidence that the near surface of Earth’s ...

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Science10 Feb 2025

Eating gradually increasing doses of store-bought peanut butter enables children with high-threshold allergy to safely consume peanuts

Children with high-threshold peanut allergy who ate gradually larger doses of store-bought peanut butter achieved significantly higher and long-lasting rates of desensitization compared to those who avoided peanuts, according to a new study led by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Results of the trial, sponsored and funded by the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, appear in the Monday, February 10 issue of NEJM Evidence [https://doi.org/10.1056/EVIDoa2400306]. “Our study results suggest a safe, inexpensive and effective pathway ...

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Science10 Feb 2025

Impact of intermediate-term oral contraceptive use on oxidative stress, lipid profile, and liver function in Iraqi women

Background and objectives Oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) are commonly used for contraception, but their long-term effects on oxidative stress, lipid profiles, and liver function remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of intermediate-term OCP use (Yasmin) on oxidative stress, lipid profile, and liver function, with particular emphasis on antioxidant markers, lipid metabolism, and hepatic enzyme activity, to better understand the potential metabolic and hepatic effects. Methods A case-control study was conducted in Maysan Governorate, Iraq, involving 150 women (100 OCP users and 50 ...

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Science10 Feb 2025

Nurses worldwide experience stress, loss, and violence

A first-of-its-kind study provides a snapshot of the substantial mental health burden on nurses around the world. Published in the journal International Nursing Review, the research documents the impact of three years of intense working conditions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our study describes how nurses are affected by stressors in their workplace and shows how the stress carries over into their home life. The personal losses from the pandemic complicate this picture as there could easily be lingering grief in a third of the workforce,” said Allison Squires, ...

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