Science
press releases.

Science16 Sep 2024

Albanese receives funding for scholarship grant program

Massimiliano Albanese, Associate Professor, Information Sciences and Technology; Associate Chair for Research, School of Computing; College of Engineering and Computing (CEC), received funding for: “DoD Cyber Scholarship Grant Program.” George Mason will continue administering its Cybersecurity Scholarship Program during the 2024-2025 academic year, under the Department of Defense (DoD) Cyber Service Academy (CSA) program, formerly known as the DoD Cybersecurity Scholarship Program (CySP). The objective ...

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Science16 Sep 2024

Real-time exposure to negative news media and suicidal ideation intensity among LGBTQ+ young adults

About The Study: This intensive longitudinal cohort study found that suicidal ideation intensity modestly increased in the hours immediately following exposure to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ+) negative news or media among LGBTQ+ young adults. These findings have timely implications for research and intervention, particularly within sociopolitical and geographic contexts where news or media coverage about LGBTQ+ topics is intensified. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Kirsty A. Clark, MPH, PhD, email kirsty.clark@vanderbilt.edu. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website ...

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Science16 Sep 2024

15-minute city: Why time shouldn’t be the only factor in future city planning

[Vienna, September 13 2024] – The 15-minute city, a concept where essential services are accessible within a 15-minute walk or bike ride, has become increasingly popular in urban planning in recent years. This is because it offers solutions to several pressing challenges in urban areas, such as traffic, pollution, social isolation, and quality of life. With more than half of the world's population now living in cities—and this figure steadily increasing—these issues are becoming ever more critical. In a recent study, published ...

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Science16 Sep 2024

New research solves Crystal Palace mystery

New research has answered the mystery of how the Crystal Palace in London, which at the time was the world’s largest building, was constructed in only 190 days. The study, led by Professor John Gardner of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in Cambridge, England, has discovered that the Crystal Palace was the first building known to have made use of a standard screw thread – something that’s now taken for granted in modern construction and engineering. Completed just in time for the start ...

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Science16 Sep 2024

Setting the stage for the “Frankfurt Alliance”

FRANKFURT. In January 2024, 16 Frankfurt-based research institutions joined forces to set up the “Frankfurt Alliance”, made up of Goethe University Frankfurt and several non-university research institutions. With the aim of visualizing at an event held in the heart of the Main metropolis both the strength and the diversity of research conducted in the science city of Frankfurt and the larger Rhine-Main region, including its importance for society, the alliance invites you to the first “Science Festival”, held on Saturday, September 28, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Roßmarkt in ...

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Science16 Sep 2024

‘Food theft’ among seabirds could be transmission point for deadly avian flu

The deadly H5N1 avian influenza virus, which has killed millions of birds worldwide since 2021 – and in rare cases can be transmitted to humans – may be spread through the food-stealing behaviour of some seabirds. A study published today in the journal Conservation Letters highlights food theft – also known as ‘kleptoparasitism’, where some seabird species like frigatebirds and skuas force other birds to regurgitate their prey – as a possible transmission path for the spread of avian flu. Led by scientists from UNSW Sydney’s ...

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Science16 Sep 2024

New research reveals major gaps and new solutions in menopause care

The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University, in partnership with leading sexual wellbeing company the Lovehoney Group and its Womanizer brand, has released early data from new nationally representative surveys exploring menopause knowledge, symptom management, medical care engagement, and health disparities among Americans. Phase 1 surveyed of 1,500 American adults aged 18-88, to assess overall public knowledge and understanding of menopause. Phase 2 surveyed 1,500 women aged 40-65, to better understand women’s experiences with menopause. ...

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Science14 Sep 2024

Genomics reveals sled dogs’ Siberian lineage

ITHACA, N.Y. – New research co-led by Cornell University examines thousands of years of Arctic sled dog ancestry and reveals when and how Siberian and Alaskan sled dogs’ DNA mixed. “There was a real concern from Siberian breeders – who were mostly racing their dogs – that they were sending out their dogs’ DNA samples for analysis, more for the context of health traits, and they were getting breed ancestry information back that said their dog was not 100% Siberian husky,” said Heather Huson, a former ...

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Science14 Sep 2024

Mitochondria at the crossroads of cholestatic liver injury: Targeting novel therapeutic avenues

Bile acids are essential signaling molecules derived from cholesterol metabolism in the liver and are crucial for the digestion and absorption of fats. These molecules undergo further modification in the intestines by the gut microbiome. However, disruptions in bile flow, a condition known as cholestasis, can lead to the pathological accumulation of hydrophobic BAs in the liver and bloodstream. This accumulation not only exacerbates liver damage but also induces significant disturbances in cellular processes. The review focuses on recent developments in understanding how BAs contribute to liver injury by affecting mitochondrial function, endoplasmic reticulum ...

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Science14 Sep 2024

Paying attention to errors can improve fused remote monitoring of lakes, researchers say

Lakes can tip the scales from healthy to potential environmental hazard quickly when they become eutrophic. In this state, an abundance of nutrients accelerates algae growth, which then crowd the water’s surface and block light from reaching organisms below. Without light, they can’t make oxygen and life in the water begins to die off. Luckily, researchers can monitor inland lakes for eutrophication with remote sensing technologies; however, those technologies could be adjusted to make more accurate assessments, according to researchers based in China. The team published their evaluation of the technologies, as well as recommended paths ...

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Science13 Sep 2024

Flowers use adjustable ‘paint by numbers’ petal designs to attract pollinators

Flowers like hibiscus use an invisible blueprint established very early in petal formation that dictates the size of their bullseyes – a crucial pre-pattern that can significantly impact their ability to attract pollinating bees. The study, by researchers at the University of Cambridge’s Sainsbury Laboratory also found that bees prefer larger bullseyes over smaller ones and fly 25% faster between artificial flower discs with larger bullseyes – potentially boosting efficiency for both bees and blossoms. Patterns on the flowers of plants guide insects, like bees, to the centre of the flower, where nectar and pollen await, ...

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Science13 Sep 2024

Men behind the wheel: Three times more violations and accidents than women

Men are three times more likely than women to commit traffic violations while driving and to be involved in accidents. Moreover, they are more likely to create situations on the road that are highly dangerous to others. Men are also twice as likely to drive under the influence and nearly one-third more likely to receive a prison sentence for reckless driving. Perhaps it comes down to cultural norms and the different attitudes men and women have toward driving. These are the conclusions reached by Anton Kazun, Assistant Professor at the HSE Faculty of Economic Sciences, and Research Assistant Mikhail Belov. There is a stereotype that women are worse driver than men; female drivers are ...

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Science13 Sep 2024

Adolescents and young adults’ sources of contraceptive information

About The Study: This study’s results suggest discrepancies between preferred and actual sources of contraceptive information for assigned female at birth adolescents and young adults in the U.S. Findings underscore the role of clinicians in supporting informed contraceptive decision-making among adolescents and young adults. Clinicians were the most commonly preferred source, and receiving information from them was associated with having sufficient information to choose a contraceptive method; however, clinicians were the source with the largest discrepancy between preferred and actual use. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, ...

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Science13 Sep 2024

Neoself-antigens induce autoimmunity in lupus

Osaka, Japan – Autoimmune diseases are widespread and notoriously difficult to treat. In part, this is because why the immune system attacks its own tissues in patients with these conditions remains poorly understood. In a study recently published in Cell, researchers from Osaka University have revealed that the body’s own proteins with unusual structure trigger immune cells to unleash a wave of inflammation that leads to autoimmunity. Autoimmune diseases develop when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues instead of fighting off foreign invaders like bacteria or viruses. However, it has long been a mystery why this happens, as ...

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Science13 Sep 2024

Unveiling the math behind your calendar

In a world where organizing a simple meeting can feel like herding cats, new research from Case Western Reserve University reveals just how challenging finding a suitable meeting time becomes as the number of participants grows. The study, published in the European Physical Journal B, dives into the mathematical complexities of this common task, offering new insights into why scheduling often feels so impossible. “If you like to think the worst about people, then this study might be for you,” quipped researcher Harsh Mathur, ...

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Science13 Sep 2024

New research finds employees feel pressure to work while sick, which has been shown to cost companies billions

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL 9 A.M. ET ON SEPT. 13, 2024 TAMPA, Fla. (Sept. 10, 2024) – Employees often feel pressure to work while sick, leading to lost productivity, deviant behaviors such as theft and mistreatment of coworkers and intent to leave the organization, according to new research led by University of South Florida Assistant Professor of Psychology Claire Smith. The cost of such behavior, known as “presenteeism,” can be staggering – as much as $150 billion annually, according to Harvard Business Review. The findings will be ...

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Science13 Sep 2024

Harnessing egg yolk power: A new approach to paprika oleoresin stability

Paprika oleoresin (PO), extracted from chili peppers, is renowned for its vibrant color and beneficial health properties, such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. However, its lipophilic nature and sensitivity to factors like oxygen, heat, and light restrict its use in water-based foods. While previous approaches, including emulsions and liposomes, have aimed to improve PO’s stability, the results have been limited. These persistent challenges underscore the need for new stabilization methods for PO. The study (DOI: 10.26599/FSAP.2024.9240064), led by scientists from Chengdu University and Huazhong Agricultural ...

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Science13 Sep 2024

The Menopause Society launches Making Menopause Work™ Initiative

CHICAGO (Sept 13, 2024)—Menopause is a natural life transition occurring when many women are at the “top of their game.” Unsupported menopause symptoms drive up employer healthcare costs and cause roughly $1.8 billion in missed workdays. To help employers retain these valued workers and build cultures of well-being, The Menopause Society launched Making Menopause Work™ based on new science-based Consensus Recommendations. The Recommendations are published online in Menopause, the journal of The Menopause ...

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Science12 Sep 2024

Huge gamma-ray burst collection 'rivals 250-year-old Messier catalogue'

Huge gamma-ray burst collection 'rivals 250-year-old Messier catalogue' Royal Astronomical Society press release RAS PR 24/24 Embargoed until 00:01 BST on Friday 13 September 2024 Hundreds of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) have been recorded as part of an enormous global effort so extensive it "rivals the catalogue of deep-sky objects created by Messier 250 years ago", astronomers say. GRBs are the most violent explosions in the Universe, releasing more energy than the Sun would in 10 billion years. They occur when either a massive star dies or two neutron stars merge. The explosions are so ...

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Science12 Sep 2024

Crude oil decimates sea otter buoyancy

Sea otters are famed for their luscious pelts, but the fur almost led to their extinction. By 1938, only a tiny population of ~50 remained clinging to the central California coast. Since then, the mammals have battled back; however, the charismatic creatures are still at risk from crude oil spilled by offshore rigs. But no one knew how severely crude oil impacts the buoyancy of sea otter fur or how well it recovers after cleaning. And Kate Riordan from California Polytechnic State University San Luis ...

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Science12 Sep 2024

Vitis vinifera and muscadines: Grape breeders seek the best of both grapes

By John Lovett Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Muscadines may be the folksy American of the grape world, but they have many qualities like disease resistance and unique flavors that are desired in the more popular Vitis vinifera (bunch grapes) species. Likewise, Vitis vinifera — the species that most people eat as table grapes and drink in wine — has many characteristics desirable for muscadines, like thinner skin, a crispier texture and seedlessness. Successfully combining traits from these two species of grapes is a challenge due to differing numbers ...

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Science12 Sep 2024

A new tack for slack: motivate workers

Workplace communications platforms such as Slack and Microsoft Teams are sometimes accused of reducing productivity by distracting workers with constant messages and the need to respond to them. But new research by Wen Wen, associate professor of information, risk, and operations management (IROM) at Texas McCombs, shows that companies can use them to do the opposite: to motivate workers. How? By praising successful employees in all-staff channels that everyone can see — especially when they can’t see one another face-to-face. “One important challenge faced by many companies is how to motivate remote workers and keep them productive,” ...

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Science12 Sep 2024

JGU hosts annual meeting of the ATLAS Collaborative Research Center

The connections between particles and their mass, the composition of the universe out of matter and antimatter and the search for previously unknown particles such as the so-called “dark matter” are the focus of researchers at the research center CERN in Geneva, which is celebrating its 70th birthday this year with events all around the world. In four large-scale experiments, scientists at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) are getting to the bottom of the secrets of the universe. This particle accelerator offers researchers ...

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Science12 Sep 2024

Understanding what helps families with teens maintain household vaping bans

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — In the roughly 20 years since e-cigarettes were introduced in the United States, use among young people has grown substantially. By 2022, more than one in five high school seniors reported they had vaped nicotine in the past month. Household smoking bans — rules against anybody smoking inside a home — are an effective tool for delaying or preventing teen cigarette smoking, according to Jennifer Maggs, professor of human development and family studies at Penn State, and her collaborators, so they examined if the same might hold true for vaping. They assessed how many households with teenage children in the ...

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Science12 Sep 2024

‘Even the deepest of rabbit holes may have an exit’

Embargoed: Not for Release Until 2:00 pm U.S. Eastern Time Thursday, 12 September 2024 ‘Even the deepest of rabbit holes may have an exit’ Pathbreaking psychology study reveals conversations with AI models can reduce conspiracy theory beliefs (WASHINGTON, D.C.) Sept. 12, 2024 – ‘They’re so far down the rabbit hole of conspiracy theories that they’re lost for good’ is common thinking when it comes to conspiracy theorists. This generally accepted notion is now crumbling. In a pathbreaking research study, a team of researchers from American University, ...

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