Science
press releases.

Science9 Jul 2024

Tomato triumph: genetic key to chill-proof crops unveiled

In a significant advancement for agricultural biotechnology, researchers have identified a genetic mechanism that enhances the cold tolerance of tomatoes. This breakthrough is pivotal for cultivating crops in cooler climates, ensuring stable yields and bolstering global food security. The study focuses on the SlGAD2 gene, which, when overexpressed, elevates the plant's γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels, boosts antioxidant activities, and stimulates anthocyanin production, collectively improving cold resilience. Tomatoes play a vital role in global agriculture but are susceptible ...

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Science9 Jul 2024

Anxiety and depression a more common consequence of cardiac arrest for women than for men

Cardiac arrests affect around 350,000 people in Europe each year with less than 20% surviving an out of hospital cardiac arrest. Research from Amsterdam UMC shows that women who survive consequently have greater rates of anxiety and depression. Furthermore, both men and women are affected by negative population-wide changes in socioeconomic status as they age. Suggesting more support is necessary for those who have suffered a cardiac arrest. These results are published today in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality & Outcomes. "We looked at many factors to determine the five-year consequences of a cardiac arrest, here we saw, most significantly, a 50% ...

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Science9 Jul 2024

Engine wear risk as planes swallow more dust waiting to land

Planes flying into one of the world's busiest airports are ingesting around 10kg of dust per 1,000 flights - with most of this dust ingested while they are waiting to land, new research has revealed. Scientists used 17 years of ECMWF atmospheric data and data from the CALIPSO satellite to calculate the quantity of sand and dust swallowed by jet engines at ten major international airports located in desert regions or subject to seasonal dust storms. The global study, published today (Tuesday, 9 July) in the journal Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, ...

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Science9 Jul 2024

New 3D imaging method offers promise of better IVF outcomes

Innovative research, presented today at the ESHRE 40th Annual Meeting in Amsterdam, has introduced a novel 3D imaging model designed to identify features of blastocysts – the early stage of development for an implanted embryo – associated with successful pregnancies. This new approach could transform current blastocyst selection methods, and open avenues for increased pregnancy rates [1]. The shape and structure of blastocysts can predict the success of a pregnancy, aiding blastocyst selection for in vitro fertilisation (IVF). However, selecting ...

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Science8 Jul 2024

Novel compound offers improved defense against fentanyl overdoses

Scientists at the University of Florida have identified a novel compound aimed at improving the treatment of opioid overdoses, which claimed the lives of more than 81,000 Americans last year. The discovery could combat the devastating epidemic of opioid-related deaths, driven predominantly by the proliferation of fentanyl. The highly potent synthetic opioid is a pain reliever and among the nation’s most abused substances. “Fentanyl is driving the need to find better treatments for opioid overdoses,” said Jay McLaughlin, Ph.D., a professor of pharmacodynamics in the UF College of Pharmacy. “Every opioid death is preventable, highlighting ...

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Science8 Jul 2024

RCMAR Annual Meeting promotes mentorship and research on aging

The latest Annual Meeting convened by the Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR) National Coordinating Center, held in Arlington, Virginia, from June 26 to 28, centered on the theme of transforming diverse aging research through inspiring and mentoring scientists. Current and former RCMAR scientists presented research findings from completed pilot studies and progress updates for ongoing research. The meeting included several professional development sessions for the scientists and members of RCMAR ...

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Science8 Jul 2024

Schrag studying history Of Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project

Zachary Schrag, Professor, History and Art History, College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS), received funding for the project: “Rail Against Sprawl: A History of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project.” Schrag said, “I am writing the history of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project, among the nation’s most ambitious efforts to reshape daily transportation choices. After decades of planning and construction, the project was completed in 2022, extending the Washington ...

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Science8 Jul 2024

Brigham study finds new program streamlined hospice transitions from the emergency department

KEY TAKEAWAYS After implementing a new hospice transition program, 210 out of 388 patients (54.1 percent) at Brigham and Women’s Hospital transitioned to hospice from the emergency department (ED) within 96 hours, compared to 61 of 270 patients (22.1 percent) in the control period. Across all groups, the presence of a Medical Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment plan (MOLST), was independently associated with hospice transition. These findings suggest that hospice transition programs can help improve use of hospice for patients presenting at the ED near the end ...

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Science8 Jul 2024

AJPH study shows that permit to purchase laws are a promising avenue to reduce suicides in young adults

In 2020, suicide ranked as the third leading cause of death for adults aged 18 to 20 years in the United States. Firearms were implicated in approximately half of these cases, and by 2017, they had surpassed motor vehicles as the leading cause of death in this age group. While ongoing debates on gun violence and mental health have increased public support for restricted firearm access, not much is known about the impact of gun control policies on young adults. To fill this knowledge gap, a recent study published in the August issue of the American Journal of Public Health on July 03, ...

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Science8 Jul 2024

Why some abusive bosses get a pass from their employees

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Why do employees sometimes accept working for an abusive boss? A new study suggests that when a leader is seen as a high performer, employees are more likely to label abuse as just “tough love.” Results showed that workers were less likely to show hostility to abusive bosses when the leader’s performance was high, and employees were even likely to think their career could be boosted by a successful – if abusive – boss. The findings suggest that employees may be reluctant to call a successful boss abusive – ...

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Science8 Jul 2024

Genomic data integration improves prediction accuracy of apple fruit traits!

Over the past few decades, the world has witnessed tremendous progress in the tools used for genomic analysis. While it’s usually more common to associate these tools with the fields of biology and medicine, they have proven to be very valuable in agriculture as well. Using numerous DNA markers obtained from next-generation sequencing technologies, breeders can make genomic predictions and select promising individuals based on based on their predicted trait values. Various systems and methodologies aimed at improving the ...

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Science8 Jul 2024

Visualizing short-lived intermediate compounds produced during chemical reactions

Immobilizing small synthetic molecules inside protein crystals proves to be a promising avenue for studying intermediate compounds formed during chemical reactions, report scientists from Tokyo Tech. By integrating this method with time-resolved serial femtosecond crystallography, they successfully visualized reaction dynamics and rapid structural changes occurring within reaction centers immobilized inside protein crystals. This innovative strategy holds significant potential for the intelligent design of drugs, catalysts, and functional materials. Most complex chemical reactions, whether synthetic or biological, do not involve ...

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Science8 Jul 2024

It’s time to rethink our attitude to fatness, academic argues

Prejudice against fat people is endemic in our society and public health initiatives aimed at reducing obesity have only worsened the problem, according to a U.S. academic. In her new book Why It’s OK To Be Fat, Rekha Nath, an Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Alabama, argues for a paradigm shift in how society approaches fatness. According to Nath, society must stop approaching fatness as a trait to rid the population of, and instead fatness should be approached through the lens of social equality, attending to the systematic ways that society penalizes fat people for their body size. Nath explains: “Being fat is seen as unattractive, as gross even. ...

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Science5 Jul 2024

Engage in strategic discussions at Targeting EVs 2024: Program released with stimulating questions

Malta, July 5, 2024 - The program for the highly anticipated world conference on Targeting Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) has been released. The event, organized by the World Mitochondria Society and the International Society of Microbiota, is scheduled to take place on October 17-18, 2024, at the Corinthia Palace in Malta. Exploring Strategic Questions at Targeting EVs 2024 The Targeting EVs 2024 conference promises to explore the multifaceted roles of EVs, with a special focus on their interactions with mitochondria and microbiota. The scientific ...

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Science5 Jul 2024

Current strategies ineffective in controlling Salmonella Dublin in Danish cattle

Limited impact of current movement restrictions highlights need for enhanced strategies, says study. In a recent study published in the Journal of Dairy Science, researchers from the Complexity Science Hub (CSH), the University of Copenhagen, and SEGES have shown that despite stringent movement restrictions among Danish cattle farms Salmonella Dublin continues to propagate, indicating that current strategies are insufficient to curb the spread of the disease. "We analyzed 11 years of data, including detailed information about ...

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Science5 Jul 2024

Gerhard Ertl Lecture Award 2024 goes to Graham Hutchings

His journey from a technical officer at ICI Petrochemicals to becoming the Regius Professor of Chemistry at Cardiff University is marked by numerous achievements and accolades, including being elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2009. The Ertl Lecture Award, a tribute to the legacy of Gerhard Ertl, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry in 2007, is an annual accolade that highlights the exceptional work of researchers in the field of catalysis. Sponsored by BASF and established in 2008 by the three Berlin universities (Humboldt University, Technical ...

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Science5 Jul 2024

Offshore windfarms – A threat for electro-sensitive sharks?

An ongoing research project into the impact of offshore windfarm electromagnetic fields on shark development reveals that the alternating electric currents produced by underwater windfarm cables seems not to disrupt the growth or survival of sharks. Offshore windfarms are one of the most common marine renewable energy (MRE) producers, and are seen as a pivotal technology in the global transition towards renewable energy and away from fossil fuels that contribute to climate change. However, their proliferation in marine environments raises new questions about their impacts on wildlife. Energy operators and ...

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Science5 Jul 2024

Desert-loving fungi and lichens pose deadly threat to 5,000-year-old rock art

The Negev desert of southern Israel is renowned for its unique rock art. Since at least the third millennium BCE, the hunters, shepherds, and merchants who roamed the Negev have left thousands of carvings (‘petroglyphs’) on the rocks. These figures are mostly cut into ‘desert varnish’: a thin black coating on limestone rock, which forms naturally. Many represent animals such as ibexes, goats, horses, donkeys, and domestic camels, but abstract forms also occur. Now, a study published in Frontiers in Fungal ...

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Science4 Jul 2024

Music: Song melodies have become simpler since 1950

The complexity of the melodies of the most popular songs each year in the USA — according to the Billboard year-end singles charts — has decreased since 1950, a study published in Scientific Reports suggests. Madeline Hamilton and Marcus Pearce analysed the most prominent melodies (usually the vocal melody) of songs that reached the top five positions of the US Billboard year-end singles music charts each year between 1950 and 2022. They found that the complexity of song rhythms and pitch arrangements decreased over this period as the average number of notes ...

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Science4 Jul 2024

Cool roofs are best at beating cities’ heat

Painting roofs white or covering them with a reflective coating would be more effective at cooling cities like London than vegetation-covered “green roofs,” street-level vegetation or solar panels, finds a new study led by UCL researchers. Conversely, extensive use of air conditioning would warm the outside environment by as much as 1 degree C in London’s dense city centre, the researchers found. The research, published in Geophysical Research Letters, used a three-dimensional urban climate model of Greater London to test the thermal effects of different passive and active urban heat management systems, including painted “cool roofs,” rooftop solar panels, ...

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Science4 Jul 2024

New organic molecule shatters phosphorescence efficiency records and paves way for rare metal-free applications

A research team led by Osaka University discovered that the new organic molecule thienyl diketone shows high-efficiency phosphorescence. It achieved phosphorescence that is more than ten times faster than traditional materials, allowing the team to elucidate this mechanism. Osaka, Japan – Phosphorescence is a valuable optical function used in applications such as organic EL displays (OLEDs) and cancer diagnostics. Until now, achieving high-efficiency phosphorescence without using rare metals such as iridium and platinum has been a significant challenge. Phosphorescence, which occurs when a molecule transitions ...

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Science4 Jul 2024

UNSW Sydney's Dr Vaishnavi Ananthanarayanan receives RMS Award for Life Sciences

This accolade highlights her pioneering research in the use of a diverse array of advanced microscopy techniques to uncover fundamental biophysical processes. Currently holding a prestigious EMBL (European Molecular Biology Laboratory) Australia Group Leader fellowship, Dr Ananthanarayanan leads one of the largest and most dynamic research group in the EMBL Australia Node in Single Molecule Science, based in the Department of Molecular Medicine in the School of Biomedical Sciences. Her research, which focuses on motor proteins and cytoskeleton dynamics, has set new standards ...

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Science4 Jul 2024

First study to measure toxic metals in tampons shows arsenic and lead, among other contaminants

Tampons from several brands that potentially millions of people use each month can contain toxic metals like lead, arsenic, and cadmium, a new study led by a UC Berkeley researcher has found. Tampons are of particular concern as a potential source of exposure to chemicals, including metals, because the skin of the vagina has a higher potential for chemical absorption than skin elsewhere on the body. In addition, the products are used by a large percentage of the population on a monthly basis—50-80% of those who menstruate use tampons—for several hours at a time. “Despite this large potential for public health concern, very little research ...

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Science3 Jul 2024

Rice researchers uncover key mechanisms in chromosome structure development

Researchers at Rice University are making strides in understanding how chromosome structures change throughout the cell’s life cycle. Their study on motorized processes that actively influence the organization of chromosomes was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. “This research provides a deeper understanding of how motorized processes shape chromosome structures and influence cellular functions,” said Peter Wolynes, study co-author and the D.R. Bullard-Welch Foundation Professor of Science. ...

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Science3 Jul 2024

Researchers capture never-before-seen view of gene transcription

Every living cell transcribes DNA into RNA. This process begins when an enzyme called RNA polymerase (RNAP) clamps onto DNA. Within a few hundred milliseconds, the DNA double helix unwinds to form a node known as the transcription bubble, so that one exposed DNA strand can be copied into a complementary RNA strand. How RNAP accomplishes this feat is largely unknown. A snapshot of RNAP in the act of opening that bubble would provide a wealth of information, but the process happens too quickly for current technology to easily capture visualizations ...

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