Science
press releases.

Science6 Feb 2025

Cracking the Burmese python code: New data zeroes in on game-changing strategies

In a groundbreaking study, University of Florida scientists statistically analyzed large amounts of data collected by Burmese python contractors, revealing critical insights about how to most efficiently remove the reptiles. Researchers correlated survey outcomes, including python removals, with survey conditions, using statistical modeling. For example, the researchers examined if factors like time or temperature impacted the chance of removing a python. They also analyzed whether the most surveyed areas aligned with the highest python removals. This allowed the researchers to ...

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Science6 Feb 2025

Risk it or kick it? Study analyzes NFL coaches’ risk tolerance on fourth down

During the Super Bowl, every decision matters. With millions of fans watching, the game often comes down to a single play call. And no call is more scrutinized than what a coach decides to do on fourth down. Punt? Attempt a field goal? Or go for it? A new BYU study explains why NFL coaches, including Super Bowl contenders Andy Reid (Kansas City Chiefs) and Nick Sirianni (Philadelphia Eagles), may behave too conservatively on fourth down. Despite growing acceptance of analytics-driven decision-making, most coaches, ...

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Science6 Feb 2025

A new way to detect inflammation

CLEVELAND—Nearly every disease has an inflammatory component, but blood tests can’t pinpoint inflammation in specific organs or tissues in the human body. Now researchers at Case Western Reserve University have developed a method to detect inflammation using antibodies, potentially leading to blood tests for disease-specific biomarkers such as for heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease and various cancers. Their breakthrough also holds promise for drug discovery. “This research opens up an amazing number of pathways ...

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Science6 Feb 2025

Crohn's & Colitis Congress® spotlights key IBD research findings

San Francisco, CA (Feb. 5, 2025) – The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation and the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) are excited to host the annual Crohn’s & Colitis Congress®, taking place Feb. 6-8, in San Francisco, CA. This premier event will showcase cutting-edge research, innovative technologies, and advanced patient care strategies set to transform the lives of one in 100 Americans living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Below ...

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Science6 Feb 2025

Announcing the winners of the 5th annual Rising Black Scientists Awards

Four early-career scientists share how they’ve harnessed features of their lives—from music to AI technology—to inspire their career and uplift communities. Each winner receives $10,000 for their science with essays published in the journal Cell Cell Press, Cell Signaling Technology (CST), and the Elsevier Foundation are proud to announce the winners of the 5th annual Rising Black Scientists Awards: Jheannelle Johnson of Stanford University; Victor Ekuta, MD, of the Morehouse School of Medicine; Kenna Gloria Agbugba of Philander Smith ...

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Science6 Feb 2025

Food: Cracking the method for the ‘perfect’ boiled egg

A new method pioneered to optimally cook both the yolk and white (or albumen) of a boiled chicken egg has been published in Communications Engineering. The approach, which the authors call periodic cooking, yields an evenly-cooked egg with a higher nutritional content than shell-on eggs cooked by conventional boiling or sous vide methods. The yolk and white in chicken eggs cook at two different temperatures: the albumen cooks at 85 degrees Celsius, while the yolk cooks at 65 degrees Celsius. Conventional methods for cooking ...

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Science6 Feb 2025

Corn’s ancient ancestors are calling

The domestication of maize is one of the greatest examples of humankind’s impact on evolution. Early farmers’ pre-industrial plant breeding choices turned corn from a nearly inedible crop into the major global food source it is today. Now, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Professors Rob Martienssen and Thomas Gingeras are uncovering the genetics behind choices farmers made 9,000 years ago. They aim to better understand how evolution works and to help today’s farmers update corn so it can grow in harsh conditions. To ...

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Science6 Feb 2025

Mercury content in tuna can be reduced with new packaging solution

Fish is a high-quality source of protein, containing omega-3 fatty acids and many other beneficial nutrients. However, the accumulation of toxic mercury also makes fish consumption a concern, of which tuna is particularly susceptible. Researchers from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have come up with a novel approach to packaging canned tuna infused in the water-based solution of amino acid cysteine. It was shown to remove up to 35 percent of the accumulated mercury in canned tuna, significantly reducing human exposure to mercury via food. Fish and other seafood, provide people with a broad variety of essential nutrients in their diet However, the consumption ...

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Science6 Feb 2025

Warning signs may not be effective to deter cannabis use in pregnancy: Study

PISCATAWAY, NJ – Warning signs at dispensaries about the potential health effects of cannabis use in pregnancy may not be effective, according to a new report in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, based at Rutgers University. In fact, those who are pregnant and using cannabis may actually distrust the content of warning signs altogether. “Mandatory warning signs aren’t working,” says lead researcher Sarah C. M. Roberts, DrPH, of the University of California, San Francisco. In fact, some of the respondents “saw the signs as having stigmatizing or negative effects on pregnant people who use ...

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Science6 Feb 2025

Efforts to find alien life could be boosted by simple test that gets microbes moving

Finding life in outer space is one of the great endeavors of humankind. One approach is to find motile microorganisms that can move independently, an ability that is a solid hint for life. If movement is induced by a chemical and an organism moves in response, it is known as chemotaxis. Now, researchers in Germany have developed a new and simplified method for inducing chemotactic motility in some of Earth’s smallest life forms. They published their results in Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences. “We tested three types of microbes – two bacteria and one type of archaea – and found that they all moved toward a chemical called L-serine,” ...

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Science6 Feb 2025

Relief could be on the way for UTI sufferers dealing with debilitating pain

Relief could be on the way for UTI sufferers dealing with debilitating pain New insights into what causes the painful and disruptive symptoms of urinary tract infections (UTIs) could offer hope for improved treatment. UTIs are one of the most prevalent bacterial infections globally, with more than 400 million cases reported every year. Nearly one in three women will experience UTIs before the age of 24, and many elderly people and those with bladder issues from spinal cord injuries can experience multiple UTI’s in a single year. Findings from a new study led by Flinders University’s ...

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Science6 Feb 2025

Is CBD use during pregnancy as safe as people think? New study uncovers potential risks to babies

Cannabidiol (CBD), the component in cannabis often used for therapeutic treatments, is increasingly being used during pregnancy as a means of managing symptoms such as nausea, anxiety and sleep. Though the public perception is that CBD – particularly when consumed orally – is safer and helpful for symptom management, little is known about the impact of CBD on pregnancy. A new study from McMaster University researchers fills that gap in knowledge and has uncovered potential risks, including impaired fetal growth, associated with the use of both tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the ...

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Science5 Feb 2025

Hybrid job training improves participation for women in Nepal, study finds

URBANA, Ill. – Globally, women’s workforce participation is about 25% lower than men’s, often due to barriers such as domestic responsibilities and cultural norms. Vocational training can increase employment opportunities, but women may not be able to attend training programs that require them to be away from home. A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, in collaboration with an international research team, explored whether hybrid distance learning can improve accessibility to ...

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Science5 Feb 2025

Understanding aging requires more than counting birthdays

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — People’s bodies can be old or young for their chronological age, depending, in part, on the amount and types of stressors they have experienced. Scientists can estimate people’s biological age, but whether they use oral tissue or blood to make the measurement matters, according to a new study led by researchers in the Penn State Department of Biobehavioral Health. Biological age — a measure of how well one’s body is functioning — differs from chronological age — the amount of time since someone was born. While chronological age can be correlated to disease risk, researchers and medical ...

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Science5 Feb 2025

Childhood trauma may increase the risk of endometriosis

The study is an international collaboration based on previous research that has suggested a possible connection between trauma and endometriosis. Endometriosis is tissue resembling the uterine lining that grows outside the uterus. The condition is very common among women and can cause significant pain and fertility problems for many. – The motivation for the study was to better understand this potential link between traumatic experiences and the development of endometriosis. Specifically, we wanted to explore whether certain types of trauma were more strongly associated with endometriosis than others, and whether this potential interaction is independent ...

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Science5 Feb 2025

Zoom fatigue is linked to dissatisfaction with one’s facial appearance

Facial appearance dissatisfaction is associated with virtual meeting (VM) fatigue, which prompts the use of impression management behaviors and results in lower intention to adopt VM technologies, according to a study published February 5, 2025, in the open-access journal PLOS One by Chaeyun Lim from Michigan State University, U.S., and colleagues. The increasing reliance on VMs has led to a pervasive experience of VM fatigue, commonly referred to as Zoom fatigue. This phenomenon has significant implications for workplace productivity and individual well-being. Despite VM fatigue’s critical role in shaping workplace interactions and digital inclusion in emerging ...

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Science5 Feb 2025

The early roots of carnival? Research reveals evidence of seasonal celebrations in pre-colonial Brazil

Pre-colonial people in Brazil may have gathered in summer months to feast on migratory fish and share alcoholic drinks, a new study suggests. An international team – involving scientists from the University of York, UK; the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain, and the Universidade Federal de Pelotas in Brazil – analysed pottery fragments dating back to between 2300 and 1200 years ago which were discovered around the Patos Lagoon in Brazil. The shores of the Lagoon are characterised by settled earthen mounds, known as “Cerritos” which were built by pre-colonial ancestors of Pampean Indigenous ...

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Science5 Feb 2025

Meteorite discovery challenges long-held theories on Earth’s missing elements

Understanding where Earth’s essential elements came from—and why some are missing—has long puzzled scientists. Now, a new study reveals a surprising twist in the story of our planet’s formation. A new study led by Arizona State University’s Assistant Professor Damanveer Grewal from the School of Molecular Sciences and School of Earth and Space Exploration, in collaboration with researchers from Caltech, Rice University, and MIT, challenges traditional theories about why Earth and Mars are depleted in moderately volatile elements (MVEs). MVEs like copper and zinc play a crucial role in planetary chemistry, often accompanying life-essential ...

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Science5 Feb 2025

Salt substitution and recurrent stroke and death

About The Study: The results of this cluster trial demonstrate that salt substitution was safe, along with reduced risks of stroke recurrence and death, which underscores large health gains from scaling up this low-cost intervention among patients with stroke. Corresponding Authors: To contact the corresponding authors, email Lijing L. Yan, MPH, PhD, (lijing.yan@duke.edu) and Maoyi Tian, PhD, (maoyi.tian@hrbmu.edu.cn) To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2024.5417) Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, ...

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Science5 Feb 2025

Firearm type and number of people killed in publicly targeted fatal mass shooting events

About The Study: This study found that most publicly targeted fatal mass shootings involved multiple types of firearms and handguns were the most common type of firearm present. Assault weapons being present during a publicly targeted mass shooting was associated with a slight increase in the number of injuries and deaths occurring during that incident. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Leslie M. Barnard, MPH, DrPH, email leslie.barnard@ucdenver.edu. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.58085) Editor’s ...

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Science5 Feb 2025

Missing link in Indo-European languages' history found

Where lies the origin of the Indo-European language family? Ron Pinhasi and his team in the Department of Evolutionary Anthropology at the University of Vienna contribute a new piece to this puzzle in collaboration with David Reich's ancient DNA laboratory at Harvard University. They analyzed ancient DNA from 435 individuals from archaeological sites across Eurasia between 6.400–2.000 BCE. They found out that a newly recognized Caucasus-Lower Volga population can be connected to all Indo-European-speaking populations. The new ...

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Science5 Feb 2025

Ancient engravings shed light on early human symbolic thought and complexity in the levantine middle palaeolithic

New study demonstrates that certain incised stone artefacts from the Levantine Middle Palaeolithic, specifically from Manot, Qafzeh, and Quneitra caves, were deliberately engraved with geometric patterns, indicating advanced cognitive and symbolic behaviour among early humans. In contrast, artefacts from Amud Cave, with shallow and unpatterned incisions, are consistent with functional use. This research highlights the intentionality behind the engravings, providing key insights into the development of abstract thinking and the cultural complexity of Middle Palaeolithic societies. Link ...

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Science5 Feb 2025

The sexes have different strengths for achieving their goals

Many factors are needed to achieve our goals. Now researchers have looked at passion, drive and people’s ability to find flow. “This is the first study to look at these factors together,"says Professor Hermundur Sigmundsson at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU’s) Department of Psychology. The researchers have found differences between the sexes. The results indicate that the sexes each have their own strengths when it comes to success. Men are more passionate than women when it comes to achieving their goals. They also often have an easier time finding flow. Women, ...

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Science5 Feb 2025

Using sugars from peas speeds up sour beer brewing

Sour beers have become a fixture on microbrewery menus and store shelves. They’re enjoyed for their tart, complex flavors, but some can require long and complicated brewing processes. Researchers reporting in ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry brewed new sours in less time using a seemingly strange ingredient: field peas. The experimental beers had fruity — not “beany” — flavors and other attributes comparable to a commercial Belgian-style sour, but with shorter, simpler brewing steps. “Sour beer is the beer enthusiast’s alternative to Champagne. By using sugars derived from peas that yeast ...

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Science5 Feb 2025

How parents can protect children from mature and adult content

Toronto, ON – As children's screen time continues to rise, so does their exposure to age-inappropriate content, including R-rated movies and violent video games. A new study published in BMC Pediatrics underscores the critical role parents play in shaping their children’s media consumption. As child media consumption increases along with their exposure to mature media content, a new study finds that parent media practices play a key role in shaping preteens’ consumption of mature video games and R-rated movies. Researchers found that parents’ own screen habits—such as using screens in front of their children and allowing screens during meals ...

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