Science
press releases.

Science10 Sep 2024

Girls may start puberty early due to chemical exposure

WASHINGTON—Girls exposed to certain endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may be more likely to start puberty early, according to new research published in Endocrinology, the flagship basic science journal of the Endocrine Society. EDCs mimic, block or interfere with hormones in the body's endocrine system. There has been an alarming trend toward early puberty in girls, suggesting the influence of chemicals in our environment. Early puberty is associated with an increased risk of psychosocial problems, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and breast cancer. “We conducted a comprehensive screen of 10,000 environmental compounds ...

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Science10 Sep 2024

PLOS and DTH-Lab partner to increase youth participation in science

San Francisco, California, United States - The Public Library of Science (PLOS) and the Digital Transformations for Health Lab (DTH-Lab) today announced a strategic partnership between the organizations to increase youth participation in science to include mentorship opportunities, amplifying youth voices in scientific publishing and building a body of research in digital health citizenship with a mini-collection. “This strategic partnership with DTH-Lab will ensure that youth is empowered ...

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Science10 Sep 2024

What’s really ‘fueling’ harmful algae in Florida’s lake Okeechobee?

Lake Okeechobee is the largest lake in Florida and the second largest in the Southeastern United States. Over the past two decades, blooms of blue-green algae (Microcystis) have emerged in the lake and have been flushed into nearby urban estuaries, causing serious environmental and public health issues. Excess nutrients from industries, agriculture and urban development – particularly nitrogen and phosphorus – are well-known causes of harmful algal blooms worldwide. Historically, Lake Okeechobee has only been considered to be impaired for phosphorus, ...

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Science10 Sep 2024

Exploring the possible link between PTSD and early menopause

CLEVELAND, Ohio (Sept 10, 2024) – Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can cause an array of adverse mental health effects, but physical side effects are also common. A new study conducted with Persian Gulf War female military personnel demonstrates that women with probable PTSD are twice as likely to experience early menopause and related health consequences. Results of the study will be presented at the 2024 Annual Meeting of The Menopause Society in Chicago September 10-14. Commonly reported symptoms of PTSD include anger outbursts, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating and sleeping. Physically, PTSD can also be responsible for serious ...

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Science10 Sep 2024

Mass production of metal nanowires possible by breakthrough technique

A group from Nagoya University in Japan has created a new technique for growing the tiny metal nanowires (NWs) that are expected to be used in next-generation electronics. Their results suggest a way to mass produce pure metal NWs, which has until now limited their use. The new technique promises to enhance the efficiency of electronics production, including circuitry, LEDs, and solar cells. The study was published in Science. Mass production of NWs has been challenging because of the difficulties of scaling production while maintaining quality and ...

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Science10 Sep 2024

Experimenting with different vapes could be crucial to help people quit smoking

New research from the University of East Anglia (UEA) found that more than a third of quitters who were given a vape in A&E experimented with different devices bought from shops or online People who smoke and had little experience with vapes were particularly receptive to an opportunistic approach in a medical setting The study found that some quitters reduced their vaping significantly within a few months, showing that not everyone who uses an e-cigarette becomes dependent on vaping long-term Peer-reviewed – Observational Study- People Experimenting with commercially ...

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Science10 Sep 2024

Report: Conscientiousness, not willpower, is a reliable predictor of success

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — According to two psychologists, the field of psychological science has a problem with the concept of self-control. It has named self-control both a “trait” — a key facet of personality involving attributes like conscientiousness, grit and the ability to tolerate delayed gratification — and a “state,” a fleeting condition that can best be described as willpower. These two concepts are at odds with one another and are often confused, the authors report. “Self-control is a cherished quality. People who have lots of it are celebrated and seen as morally righteous,” wrote University of Toronto psychology professor Michael Inzlicht ...

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Science10 Sep 2024

Advancing prison safety

The lead article in the current issue of The Criminologist, written by Nancy Rodriguez, University of California Irvine professor of criminology, law and society, shines a light on the lack of prison violence metrics that could help advance safety. “For the 800,000 persons currently confined and the 200,000 state and federal correctional officers who work within U.S. prisons, the threat of violence is a routine feature of daily life,” she writes. “Accounts from incarcerated persons and staff detail the ever-present threats ...

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Science10 Sep 2024

Towards a better understanding of epigenetics and dynamic gene silencing and reactivation

Ikoma, Japan – One of the most fascinating discoveries in biology is that cells have mechanisms for dynamically regulating genetic expression. This ability to promote or restrict the transcription of specific genes without altering the DNA sequences themselves is essential to all forms of life, from single-cell organisms to the most complex plants and animal species. While our understanding of these so-called epigenetic mechanisms is far from complete, remarkable progress has been made in this field with the understanding of the role of the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2). PRC2 is a protein that, in many plants, binds to specific DNA sequences called polycomb ...

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Science9 Sep 2024

Melanoma incidence and mortality trends in Sweden

About The Study: The findings of this cohort study showed a significant recent downward trend in both melanoma incidence and melanoma mortality in the age group 30 to 49 years in Sweden. The reasons for these declines are unclear but may include UV protection, public health campaigns, changing population demographics, and the introduction of effective melanoma treatment. None of these possibilities were evaluated; further study is needed. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Hildur Helgadottir, MD, PhD, email hildur.helgadottir@sll.se. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media ...

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Science9 Sep 2024

ChatGPT outperformed trainee doctors in assessing complex respiratory illness in children

The chatbot ChatGPT performed better than trainee doctors in assessing complex cases of respiratory disease in areas such as cystic fibrosis, asthma and chest infections in a study presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Vienna, Austria [1]. The study also showed that Google’s chatbot Bard performed better than trainees in some aspects and Microsoft’s Bing chatbot performed as well as trainees. The research suggests that these large language models (LLMs) could be used to support trainee doctors, nurses and general practitioners to triage patients more quickly and ease pressure on health services. The ...

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Science8 Sep 2024

PanCan nodule management protocol more effective than LungRADSv1.1 method

(San Diego, Calif.--September 8, 2024, 10:05 a.m. PCT) – New data presented today reveals that the PanCan nodule management protocol demonstrates superior performance in triaging lung cancer screening participants compared to the LungRADSv1.1 approach. Specifically, PanCan showed improved risk stratification and reduced the number of low-dose computed tomography(CT) scans required. The research was reported by Dr. Annette McWilliams, Fiona Stanley Hospital, Australia at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer 2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer. The ...

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Science8 Sep 2024

NeoCOAST-2 Data shows combination of Durvalumab with novel agents increases pathological responses in resectable NSCLC -- Data builds on AEGEAN study research

(San Diego, Calif. September 8, 2024 10:05 a.m. PCT) – Phase 2 results from the NeoCOAST-2 study demonstrated that the combination of durvalumab with Dato-DXd yielded the highest pathological complete response rates among the tested regimens. The data was presented at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) 2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer by Dr. Tina Cascone, from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. “The findings highlight the potential of combining durvalumab with novel anticancer agents to build on what we have learned in the perioperative immunotherapy arena for patients with ...

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Science8 Sep 2024

Young vapers perform worse in exercise testing

Young people who vape perform worse than non-vapers in tests designed to measure their capacity for exercise, according to a study presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Vienna, Austria [1]. The research also showed that the performance of young vapers was similar to that of young smokers. The study adds to growing evidence that long-term use of vaping is harmful and challenges the idea that vaping could be a healthier alternative to smoking. The research was presented by Dr Azmy Faisal, senior lecturer in cardiorespiratory physiology in the department of sport and exercise sciences at Manchester Metropolitan ...

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Science8 Sep 2024

New report finds the changing nature of work provides new opportunities for workplace gender equality

A new research report released today has identified an important shift in how employees choose to engage in the workforce, as they increasingly seek flexibility and opportunities to tailor work schedules and locations to their needs. The ninth report in the Gender Equity Insights Series from the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre (BCEC) and the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) provides an in-depth analysis of the evolving nature of part-time work and implications of this change for the future of work in Australia. Despite Australia having one of the highest shares of part-time employment across OECD countries, ...

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Science7 Sep 2024

Just how dangerous is Great Salt Lake dust? New research looks for clues

As Utah’s Great Salt Lake shrinks, exposing more of its playa, concerns grow about the dust the dry lakebed emits. But scientists lack the data to fully understand what pollutants are present in these airborne sediments. Researchers from the University of Utah are attempting to get a handle on this question and the latest findings are concerning. Sediments in the lake’s exposed playa are potentially more harmful than other major dust sources affecting the Wasatch Front’s air quality, according to a study published online recently in the journal Atmospheric Environment. These sediments, when ...

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Science6 Sep 2024

Postdoc takes multipronged approach to muon detection

NEWPORT NEWS, VA – When Debaditya Biswas was a high school student in India, his math teacher, Dr. Satyabrata Das, sparked his interest in physics. “Before I joined his class, I was really not sure what I was going to do in life,” said Biswas, a postdoctoral research associate at Virginia Tech. “He revealed the beauty of science to me.” Now, as the 2024 Jefferson Science Associates (JSA) Postdoctoral Prize winner, Biswas hopes to reveal a new method for the U.S. Department of Energy's Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility to detect muons. By themselves, muons aren’t actually that difficult for physicists to detect. They are a type ...

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Science6 Sep 2024

Low-impact yoga and exercise found to help older women manage urinary incontinence

Older women struggling with urinary incontinence can benefit from regular, low-impact exercise, with yoga as well as stretching and strengthening showing benefits in a new study published Aug. 27 in Annals of Internal Medicine. The research, led by scientists at Stanford Medicine and the University of California, San Francisco, is part of a larger effort to identify low-risk, low-cost ways to treat one of the most common health problems women face as they age. After 12 weeks of a low-impact yoga program, study participants had about 65% fewer episodes of incontinence. Women in a control group doing stretching and strengthening exercises ...

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Science6 Sep 2024

Expect the unexpected: nanoscale silver unveils intrinsic self-healing abilities

As an innovative concept in materials science and engineering, the inspiration of self-healing materials comes from living organisms that have the innate ability to self-heal. Along with this line, the search for self-healing materials has been generally focused on “soft” materials like polymers and hydrogels. For solid-state metals instead, one may intuitively imagine that any form of self-healing will be much more difficult to achieve. While a few past studies showcased the self-healing behavior in metals that more or less requires the assistance ...

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Science6 Sep 2024

nTIDE September 2024 Jobs Report: Gains in employment for people with disabilities appear to level off after reducing gaps with non-disabled workers

East Hanover, NJ – September 6, 2024 – Employment and labor force participation trends for people with disabilities appear to be stabilizing after several years of growth that reduced the gaps between individuals with and without disabilities, according to today’s National Trends in Disability Employment – semi-monthly update (nTIDE) issued by Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability (UNH-IOD). Over the past three months, both groups have seen declines in employment and labor force participation, reflecting a broader workforce ...

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Science6 Sep 2024

Wiley enhances NMR Spectral Library Collection with extensive new databases

Wiley, one of the world’s largest publishers and a global leader in research and learning, today announced the addition of ten computed CNMR databases totaling over 384,000 records to its KnowItAll NMR Spectral Library collection. With this addition, the KnowItAll NMR collection now provides access to over 1.3 million spectra, making it one of the most comprehensive collections of NMR spectral data available. “These new databases significantly enhance our ability to support researchers in their quest ...

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Science6 Sep 2024

One antibody to neutralize them all?

SAN ANTONIO -- A monoclonal antibody appears effective at neutralizing the numerous variants of SARS-CoV-2, as well as related viruses in animals that could pose a threat if they were to begin spreading in people. The antibody, called SC27, was recently described in Cell Reports Medicine. The finding opens the possibility of broader, more effective treatments to work against current and future COVID variants. Monoclonal antibody SC27 was identified, developed and provisionally patented by a team of researchers led ...

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Science6 Sep 2024

How context-specific factors control gene activity

Every cell in our body contains the same DNA, yet liver cells are different from brain cells, and skin cells differ from muscle cells. What determines these differences? It all comes down to gene regulation; essentially how and when genes are turned on and off to meet the cell’s demands. But gene regulation is quite complex, especially because it is itself regulated by other parts of DNA. Gene regulators: Enhancers, transcription factors There are two important components that control gene regulation: the first are enhancers, which are short bits of DNA that increase the likelihood that a ...

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Science6 Sep 2024

Quality assurance in histopathology laboratories

The medical field is inherently susceptible to errors, with laboratory tests being no exception. In histopathology laboratories, where tests are considered the gold standard for diagnosing various diseases, errors can significantly impact patient outcomes. Quality Control (QC) and Quality Assurance (QA) programs are essential in minimizing these errors and ensuring the generation of accurate and reliable reports. The complex, multistep nature of histopathology work, combined with the subjective nature of many diagnostic interpretations, ...

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Science6 Sep 2024

The heat generated by the tissues of some plants has played a crucial role in the evolutionary history of insect pollination

Thermogenesis is a process by which organisms generate internal heat. Although it is usually associated with animals, some plants have also developed this ability. This metabolic process allows certain parts of the plant, such as flowers and inflorescences, to raise their temperature above that of the surrounding environment. Today, these plants, which include cycads and some angiosperms (flowering plants), rely on insects for pollination. The heat they generate helps volatilize and disperse floral fragrances and other chemical compounds that attract insects such as beetles, flies, and ...

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