Science
press releases.

Science14 Oct 2024

Research explains why some cyclists don’t wear helmets and what might convince them to wear one

Copenhagen, Denmark: Wearing a helmet can prevent brain injury and deaths in cyclists, yet many do not wear a helmet. New research presented at the European Emergency Medicine Congress today (Tuesday) suggests that this is largely due to issues of convenience and comfort. [1] The study also suggests that more adult cyclists would wear helmets if they were encouraged and incentivised to do so, for example if they were provided with a free helmet, education, and periodic reminders. The research was presented by Dr Steven Friedman, an emergency doctor at Toronto General Hospital and associate professor at the University ...

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Science14 Oct 2024

Trends in oral and injectable HIV preexposure prophylaxis prescriptions in the US

About The Study: Preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use increased between 2013 and 2023, with generic tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) being the most frequently prescribed medication since 2021. Injectable PrEP use was low likely because of barriers such as the high cost of stocking this expensive medication in clinics. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Laura M. Mann, PhD, MPH, email lmann@cdc.gov. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jama.2024.21493) Editor’s ...

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Science14 Oct 2024

Study finds use of naloxone by Good Samaritans is up, but not nearly enough

Study finds use of naloxone by Good Samaritans is up, but not nearly enough Ohio State and National Registry of EMTs research highlights importance of public’s help in opioid overdose response COLUMBUS, Ohio – Use of a lifesaving drug to reverse opioid drug overdoses is growing, but not fast enough. That’s according to new research in JAMA Network Open from The Ohio State University College of Medicine, College of Public Health and the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. In the first study of its kind, the research team looked at national use of naloxone by people without medical training to treat an opioid drug overdose. “Naloxone ...

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Science14 Oct 2024

Human temporal resolution of odor is shorter than thought: Study

​When we inhale, airborne chemicals enter our nose, creating the "odor" we detect. These chemicals are then expelled when we exhale. Each breath lasts 3–5 seconds, which seems to limit how quickly we can perceive odors. Chemical changes that occur within a single breath appear to be combined into one odor. Because of this, our sense of smell, or olfaction, is often considered a slow sense. Now, however, researchers led by Dr. ZHOU Wen from the Institute of Psychology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have challenged this view. Their new study, ...

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Science14 Oct 2024

World of crayfish™: A web platform for global mapping of freshwater crayfish and pathogens

Freshwater crayfish, keystone species of aquatic ecosystems, are now at the center of a new tool that promises to revolutionize conservation efforts. World of Crayfish™ (WoC), a newly launched web platform, aims to provide real-time global mapping of freshwater crayfish and their pathogens, offering an invaluable resource for researchers, conservationists, and environmental stakeholders. Published in PeerJ Life and Environment, the article, World of Crayfish™: A web platform towards real-time global mapping of freshwater crayfish and their pathogens, highlights the urgent need for accurate, up-to-date data on ...

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Science14 Oct 2024

Scientists have successfully bred corals to improve their heat tolerance

Scientists have successfully bred corals to improve their heat tolerance A new study has shown that selective breeding can lead to a modest rise in coral heat tolerance. Led by experts at Newcastle University’s Coralassist Lab, the study documents the world’s first effort to selectively breed adult corals for enhanced heat tolerance, i.e. the ability of adult corals to survive intense marine heatwaves. The breeding effort was a success, showing that it is possible to improve the heat tolerance of adult coral offspring, even in a single generation. However, the improvement was modest in comparison ...

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Science11 Oct 2024

Researchers identify signs tied to more severe cases of RSV

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of hospitalization in young children due to respiratory complications such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Yet little is understood about why some children develop only mild symptoms while others develop severe disease. To better understand what happens in these cases, clinician-scientists from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, and Boston Children’s Hospital analyzed samples from patients’ airways and ...

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Science11 Oct 2024

Genomic study identifies human, animal hair in ‘man-eater’ lions’ teeth

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — In 1898, two male lions terrorized an encampment of bridge builders on the Tsavo River in Kenya. The lions, which were massive and maneless, crept into the camp at night, raided the tents and dragged off their victims. The infamous Tsavo “man-eaters” killed at least 28 people before Lt. Col. John Henry Patterson, the civil engineer on the project, shot them dead. Patterson sold the lions’ remains to the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago in 1925. In a new study, Field Museum researchers collaborated with scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign on an in-depth analysis of hairs carefully extracted ...

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Science11 Oct 2024

A new method makes high-resolution imaging more accessible

A classical way to image nanoscale structures in cells is with high-powered, expensive super-resolution microscopes. As an alternative, MIT researchers have developed a way to expand tissue before imaging it — a technique that allows them to achieve nanoscale resolution with a conventional light microscope. In the newest version of this technique, the researchers have made it possible to expand tissue 20-fold in a single step. This simple, inexpensive method could pave the way for nearly any biology lab to perform nanoscale imaging. “This democratizes imaging,” says Laura Kiessling, the Novartis Professor ...

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Science11 Oct 2024

Different types of teenage friendships critical to wellbeing as we age, scientists find

Being a teenager is hard, confusing — and crucially important. Scientists studying teenage socializing have found that teenaged friendships could lay essential foundations for wellbeing in later life, and that not just the kinds of friendships teenagers experience but the timing of those friendships is critical. “A teen’s perception of how broadly socially accepted they are by their peers in early adolescence is particularly influential in predicting adult wellbeing,” said Emily Shah of the University of Arkansas, first author of the article in Frontiers in Developmental Psychology. “Conversely, in late adolescence, the quality of their more ...

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Science11 Oct 2024

Hawaii distillery project wins funding from Scottish brewing and distilling award

Hawaii could soon be welcoming a new distillery after a postgraduate student at Scotland’s Heriot-Watt University won a prestigious entrepreneurial award. Canadian student Ethan Wang, 42, wants to open a new distillery on Hawaii’s scenic volcanic island of Maui and said he was in “total shock” after winning cash and support from an industry membership organisation to help make his idea happen. The award, called the Worshipful Company of Distillers’ Entrepreneurship Award, is designed to help students apply their science in the real world and is run jointly by Heriot-Watt’s respected International Centre for Brewing and Distilling and The Worshipful Company ...

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Science10 Oct 2024

Breakdancers may risk ‘headspin hole’ caused by repetitive headspins, doctors warn

Breakdancers may be at risk of developing a condition caused by repeatedly doing a cardinal move of their practice and performance—the headspin—warn doctors in the journal BMJ Case Reports. Dubbed the ‘headspin hole,’ or ‘breakdance bulge,’ the condition is unique to breakdancers, and appears as a protruding lump on the scalp, often accompanied by hair loss and tenderness. Breakdancers are particularly prone to injuries because of the complexities and physical demands of the moves, note the authors. Sprains, strains, and tendinitis are particularly common. Head and brain injuries, including subdural haematomas (pooling ...

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Science10 Oct 2024

Nearly $10M investment will expand and enhance stroke care in Minnesota, South Dakota

DALLAS, October 10, 2024 — Across the United States, more than 90% of stroke patients have some form of disability as a result and more than 11% experience a second stroke within a year. This risk weighs particularly heavily on people living in rural areas, who may face challenges accessing health care. The American Heart Association, with support from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, has committed $4.7 million in Minnesota and $5.05 million in South Dakota to strengthen the full spectrum of stroke care across ...

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Science10 Oct 2024

A new study finds that even positive third-party ratings can have negative effects

There’s history, glitz, and glamor surrounding the awarding of Michelin stars to restaurants, but new research shows there can be a downside to achieving even the highest industry rankings. In a study published in Strategic Management Journal, Daniel B. Sands of University College London found that restaurants that received a Michelin star were more likely to close in subsequent years. The study helps to explain how third-party evaluators' reviews, ratings, and rankings can help or hurt the creation and capture of value, and underscores the importance of solidifying key ...

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Science10 Oct 2024

New Lancet Commission calls for urgent action on self-harm across the world

Self-harm remains neglected worldwide, with at least 14 million episodes yearly. A new Lancet Commission, led by University of Bristol researchers, urges policy action on societal drivers and health services’ response to this pressing issue. The report, involving an international team of experts, is published today [9 October]. Self-harm is not a psychiatric diagnosis; it is a behaviour shaped by society, culture, and individual factors. The social determinants of health, particularly poverty, heavily influence the distribution of self-harm within communities. This new report highlights that at ...

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Science10 Oct 2024

American Meteorological Society launches free content for weather enthusiasts with “Weather Band”

The American Meteorological Society (AMS) launched its AMS Weather Band as a closed community for weather enthusiasts in 2020. To further its mission of public outreach and nurturing scientific engagement, the Society this month announced that it is re-launching Weather Band as a free resource, available to all. Since the Weather Band began in 2020, it has been a source of engaging, informative content related to weather, water, and climate science, aimed at the general public and weather enthusiasts. This move makes a vast collection of resources and learning material available at no cost, aligning with AMS’s goal to further science education by connecting its ...

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Science10 Oct 2024

How your skin tone could affect your meds

RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- Skin pigmentation may act as a “sponge” for some medications, potentially influencing the speed with which active drugs reach their intended targets, a pair of scientists report in a perspective article published in the journal Human Genomics. The researchers argue that a sizable proportion of drugs and other compounds can bind to melanin pigments in the skin, leading to differences in how bioavailable and efficacious these drugs and other compounds are in people with varying skin tones. “Our review paper concludes that melanin, the pigment responsible for skin color, shows a surprising affinity for certain drug compounds,” ...

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Science10 Oct 2024

NEC Society, Cincinnati Children's, and UNC Children’s announce NEC Symposium in Chicago

The NEC Society, Cincinnati Children's, and UNC Children’s are proud to announce the NEC Symposium in Chicago, September 7 - 10, 2025. As the world’s largest conference focused on necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), the NEC Symposium will bring together key stakeholders to unite the global community for a world without NEC. The NEC Society has organized the NEC Symposium biennially since 2017, with the most recent 2023 NEC Symposium engaging over 200 participants from nine countries and 35 U.S. states. The 2025 NEC Symposium in Chicago will bring together 300 clinicians, scientists, patient-family advocates, ...

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Science10 Oct 2024

Extreme heat may substantially raise mortality risk for people experiencing homelessness

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, October 10, 2024 Contact: Jillian McKoy, jpmckoy@bu.edu Michael Saunders, msaunder@bu.edu ## By nature of their living situation, people experiencing homelessness (PEH) are considered one of the most vulnerable populations to the health impacts of extreme weather. PEH are particularly vulnerable to heat, and the impact of heat on mortality in this group is substantially greater than for the general population, according to a new study by Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH). Published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, the study examined mortality rates in two hot-climate US counties—Clark ...

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Science10 Oct 2024

A holy grail found for catalytic alkane activation

An organic catalyst offers chemists precise control over a vital step in activating hydrocarbons. Researchers at Hokkaido University in Japan have made a significant breakthrough in organic chemistry by developing a novel method to activate alkanes, which are compounds that play a crucial role in the chemical industry. The new technique, published in Science, makes it easier to convert these building blocks into valuable compounds, offering advances in the production of medicines and cutting-edge materials. Alkanes are a primary component of fossil fuels and are also vital building blocks in the production ...

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Science10 Oct 2024

Nitrogen deposition has shifted European forest plant ranges westward over decades

Researchers have documented a shift in plant species ranges toward the poles or higher latitudes in the face of climate warming, but Pieter Sanczuk and colleagues now reveal another unexpected pattern of range shift. For decades, understory plants in European temperate forests have been on the move westward, spurred by differences in nitrogen deposition rates. Westward species distribution shifts were 2.6 times more likely than northward ones, according to the researchers, who also noted that forest canopy changes played a role in this shift as well. The findings suggest that factors beyond climate change, such as atmospheric pollution, are also an important part of redistributing biodiversity. ...

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Science10 Oct 2024

From chaos to structure

Pipetting liquids into tiny test tubes, analyzing huge datasets, poring over research publications—all these tasks are part of being a scientist. But breaking this routine is essential. Time away from the usual work environment can spark creative ideas. Lab retreats, for instance, offer a great setting where researchers can engage with other peers, often leading to new collaborations. The latter was true for Bernat Corominas-Murtra and Edouard Hannezo from the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA). Fascinated by a dataset showcased during a poster session at a collaborative ...

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Science10 Oct 2024

Macronutrient and micronutrient intake among US women ages 20 to 44

About The Study: This cross-sectional study of pregnant and nonpregnant women of reproductive age found that vitamin A, vitamin C, and iron intake decreased over the past 2 decades, which may have substantial maternal and fetal health implications. By identifying these nutrient gaps and trends in inadequate intake in this at-risk population, scientific, health care, and regulatory communities may be better poised to adopt recommendations to improve nutrient intake. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Derek Miketinas, PhD, RD, email dmiketinas@twu.edu. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website ...

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Science10 Oct 2024

Checking out the boundaries: Milestone in lipidomics achieved

Results of the first phase of a Ceramide Ring Trial have just been published in the renowned journal Nature Communications, representing a significant landmark in the field of lipidomics. This achievement, involving researchers at the University of Vienna and scientific teams in Singapore, Julich and Espoo, represents a groundbreaking advance in the establishment of ceramide reference values, plasma lipids involved in such as cardiovascular diseases. The ring trial was performed under the umbrella of the International Lipidomics Society ...

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Science10 Oct 2024

HPTN 091 study shows encouraging uptake and adherence to oral PrEP among transgender women

DURHAM, N.C. – Researchers from the HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) presented results from HPTN 091 (“I Am Study”) at the HIVR4P 2024 conference in Lima, Peru. The study examined the acceptability and feasibility of an integrated multicomponent strategy to enhance daily oral HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake and adherence among transgender women in a randomized immediate versus deferred design. The integrated care strategy included the provision of gender-affirming hormone ...

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