Science
press releases.

Science6 Jun 2024

The problem with prison abolition? Misunderstanding it

“Approximately one in seventy working people in the United States are employed by either the police or departments of corrections.” In recent years, and in particular, in the aftermath of the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, activists have focused renewed attention on the role of prisons in the United States. Thinkers like Angela Davis have articulated the ways in which the prison-industrial complex serves the interest of an oppressive state by reinforcing race and class hierarchies and extracting value from its incarcerated population. But despite this surge of interest ...

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Science5 Jun 2024

Democratizing plant research: A new cost-effective solution for advanced phenotyping

Phenotyping, which involves assessing observable plant characteristics, is crucial for understanding plant development and response to environmental stresses. Traditional methods are often cumbersome, costly, and destructive, limiting research scope and scale. A new system of affordable, mobile, and high-throughput phenotyping tools is making the technology accessible to a wider range of users. The "all-in-one" solution, developed by a team at the Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI), includes low-cost hardware designs, data processing pipelines, and a user-friendly data analysis ...

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Science5 Jun 2024

Researchers led by UMass Amherst solve 2,000-year-old mystery of the shipworm

June 5, 2024 Researchers Led by UMass Amherst Solve 2,000-Year-Old Mystery of the Shipworm Secret of the world’s most destructive and intriguing mollusk has implications for everything from climate change to human health AMHERST, Mass. – They bedeviled ancient Greek navies, helped shipwreck Christopher Columbus, aided in the sinking of the Spanish Armada and caused the wharves in San Francisco Bay to collapse into the sea, but until now, scientists have been unable to pinpoint exactly ...

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Science5 Jun 2024

Fellowships will advance reporters’ coverage of aging in America

The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) has received renewed grant support to welcome a 15th class of reporters for the Journalists in Aging Fellows Program. The 2024 funders to date include Silver Century Foundation, The John A. Hartford Foundation, and National Institute for Health Care Management Foundation (NIHCM). Since its founding in 2010, this program has been responsible for more than 800 news stories produced by 231 alumni. It has two goals: to educate journalists about issues in aging, better allowing them to spread a new awareness to general-audience, ethnic, and other minority populations; and to disseminate information about new scientific findings, ...

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Science5 Jun 2024

Allison Institute announces appointment of two immunobiology experts as associate members

HOUSTON ― The James P. Allison Institute at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center today announced the appointment of its newest members, Susan Bullman, Ph.D., and Xi Chen, Ph.D., to further the institute’s ongoing work of impactful immunobiology research. These accomplished researchers, joining as associate members, bring valuable expertise in studying how the intratumoral microbiome and the immune microenvironment influence patient responses to immunotherapy. As Allison Institute members, Bullman and Chen will lead impactful research programs aligned with the institute’s ...

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Science5 Jun 2024

Flapping frequency of birds, insects, bats and whales described by universal equation

A single universal equation can closely approximate the frequency of wingbeats and fin strokes made by birds, insects, bats and whales, despite their different body sizes and wing shapes, Jens Højgaard Jensen and colleagues from Roskilde University in Denmark report in a new study in the open-access journal PLOS ONE, publishing June 5. The ability to fly has evolved independently in many different animal groups. To minimize the energy required to fly, biologists expect that the frequency that animals flap their wings should be determined by the natural resonance frequency of the wing. However, finding a universal mathematical description of flapping flight has proved ...

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Science5 Jun 2024

US Islamist extremist co-offenders form close-knit groups driven by mutual contacts, homophily effects

The formation of relationships within violent US Islamist extremist groups is highly driven by mutual contacts and the tendency for people to bond with others similar to themselves, according to new research. Anina Schwarzenbach, formally of Harvard University and the University of Maryland (currently affiliated with the University of Bern) and Michael Jensen of the University of Maryland present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS ONE on June 5, 2024. Prior research on social structures within extremist networks have primarily ...

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Science5 Jun 2024

Simple headlines attract more online news readers

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Online news consumers tend to click on simpler headlines that use more common words and more readable writing, a new study finds. Researchers evaluated more than 30,000 real-world field experiments from the Washington Post and the online news site Upworthy to see how readers reacted to headlines of varying complexity. In addition, a follow-up experiment showed that average readers paid more attention to simpler headlines and processed them more deeply – unlike journalists, who paid just as much attention to complex headlines. The results show ...

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Science5 Jun 2024

Researchers unveil pioneering approach to combat age-related vision loss

June 5, 2024 (Cambridge, MA) - Cirrus Therapeutics, the University of Bristol, and London’s Global University Institute of Ophthalmology have discovered a revolutionary treatment for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of vision loss among older adults. Featured on the cover of the journal Science Translational Medicine, this breakthrough research reveals that boosting a specific protein, IRAK-M, in retinal cells could offer a new and highly effective therapy for AMD. AMD ...

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Science5 Jun 2024

MSU research: What makes a good headline?

EAST LANSING, Mich. – The competition for online attention in today’s news environment is fierce. High-quality news from credible sources must compete for attention with misinformation and a rapidly increasing amount of partisan content. How can a news organization stand out as a reputable and trustworthy outlet while driving readers to its site? The answer is simple: literally. According to research from Michigan State University, news readers engage more with simple writing, suggesting journalists ...

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Science5 Jun 2024

Fountain of youth for plants: E3 ligase's role in leaf longevity

A new study uncovers the intricate molecular mechanisms that regulate leaf senescence in apple plants, focusing on the crucial role of the E3 ligase enzyme, MdPUB23, and its interaction with the ABI5 protein. This research provides valuable insights into how plants manage stress responses and maintain growth, offering potential applications in improving crop yield and stress resistance. Leaf senescence is a vital phase in the life cycle of plants, impacting overall plant health and yield. Abscisic acid (ABA) ...

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Science5 Jun 2024

Unlocking salt resistance: sea lavender's genetic secret revealed

Recent research has uncovered the genetic mechanisms behind sea lavender's (Limonium bicolor) salt tolerance by studying basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) transcription factors. Identifying 187 bHLH genes, the study highlights their roles in salt gland development and stress responses. CRISPR-Cas9 validation demonstrated specific bHLH genes' critical role in enhancing salt tolerance, paving the way for future applications in crop improvement and saline soil management. Basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) transcription factors are essential for various plant processes, including ...

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Science5 Jun 2024

Six UTA faculty receive prestigious CAREER grants

Six faculty members from The University of Texas at Arlington received more than $3.23 million in awards as part of the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development Program. Called CAREER, these awards are considered the NSF’s most prestigious for early-career faculty and are given to those who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education. Between 2017 and 2022, UTA received nine CAREER awards; in 2023, it received six. Vice President of research and innovation Kate C. Miller called this “a true testament to the world-class research teams we’re assembling here in Arlington.” “CAREER ...

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Science5 Jun 2024

MD Anderson Research Highlights for June 5, 2024

HOUSTON ― The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Research Highlights showcases the latest breakthroughs in cancer care, research and prevention. These advances are made possible through seamless collaboration between MD Anderson’s world-leading clinicians and scientists, bringing discoveries from the lab to the clinic and back. Recent developments at MD Anderson offer insights into a lower-intensity therapy combination for older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a novel T cell therapy for patients with bone marrow failure syndromes, a proof-of-concept study using MRI to detect metabolic changes inside tumors, a molecular target to overcome treatment resistance ...

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Science5 Jun 2024

BU study: Black-specific incarceration rates are associated with Black firearm homicide rates

(Boston)—Firearm-related injury remains a significant burden in the U.S. with more than 45,000 people dying from these injuries in 2020. Suicides continue to account for the majority of all gun deaths. The number of homicides due to gun violence decreased between 1990 and 2010, but the last decade has seen an uptick. Homicides now make up 45% of all gun-related deaths, and Black and other minorities are overrepresented among firearm homicide victims. Moreover, there has been a stark increase in incarcerated populations in the U.S since the 1980s largely due to differential drug sentencing, ...

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Science5 Jun 2024

Why do 1 in 10 Americans get eczema? Is it too much salt?

Why Do 1 in 10 Americans Get Eczema? Is it Too Much Salt? UCSF Study finds that changes in daily salt intake may explain eczema flares. A high sodium diet may increase the risk of eczema, according to researchers at UC San Francisco (UCSF), who found that eating just one extra gram of sodium per day – the amount in a Big Mac – increases the likelihood of flares by 22%. Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a chronic disease that causes dry, itchy skin. It’s one of ...

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Science5 Jun 2024

Banning false information traffickers online improved public discourse

When Twitter banned more than 70,000 traffickers of false information from its platform in the wake of the violence at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, the impact went beyond the silencing of those users. A study co-authored by UC Riverside public policy and political science scholars published in the journal Nature on Wednesday, June 5, found that the crackdown by Twitter (now called X after it was acquired by billionaire Elon Musk in late 2022) also significantly reduced the number of misinformation posts by users who stayed on the platform but had been following those who were kicked off. Additionally, the study found that many of the misinformation ...

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Science5 Jun 2024

Great news, parents: You do have power over your tweens’ screen use

Restricting use in bedrooms and at mealtimes have the biggest impact, but modeling good behavior is also important. For many parents, it can feel like curbing kids’ screen use is a losing battle. But new research from UC San Francisco (UCSF) has found the parenting practices that work best to curb screen time and addictive screen behavior: restricting screens in bedrooms and at mealtimes and modeling healthy practices at home. Researchers asked 12- to 13-year-olds how often they used screens for everything but school, including gaming, texting, social media, video chatting, watching videos and browsing the internet; and whether their ...

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Science5 Jun 2024

Most older adults don’t know about resources that can help them navigate aging & caregiving

Older Americans may be missing out on a wide range of programs and services that could help them meet their needs or assist their aging loved ones, a new poll suggests. The new findings from the National Poll on Healthy Aging, based at the University of Michigan, show most older adults don’t know about important public resources for older adults and their caregivers, either by name or general description. The poll asked more than 4,000 adults over age 50 about their awareness and use of Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), State Health Insurance Assistance ...

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Science5 Jun 2024

Focusing ability enhancement in broadside direction of array: from UCA to UCCA

Benefits of emerging near-field communications: The progression of 5G mobile communication commercialization has spurred anticipation for 6G communication. To support emerging applications like digital twins, holographic video, and augmented reality (AR), extremely large-scale antenna array (ELAA) is regarded as key candidates for future 6G mobile communication due to its potential to enhance spectrum efficiency. “Compared with 5G massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems, 6G ELAA not only entails an increase in the number of antennas, but also signifies a fundamental shift in electromagnetic ...

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Science5 Jun 2024

Teens with later sleep schedules are less active, eat more carbohydrates

DARIEN, IL – A new study to be presented at the SLEEP 2024 annual meeting found that circadian misalignment, which is highly prevalent in adolescents, is linked with carbohydrate consumption and sedentary behavior in teens. Results show that a later sleep schedule was significantly associated with greater intake of carbohydrates, and this relationship was partially explained by irregular sleep timing. A later sleep schedule also was associated with greater sedentary behavior, even after adjusting for variables such as demographics, sleep disorders, and insufficient sleep. “Delaying sleep schedules is normal during puberty and adolescence; however, some ...

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Science5 Jun 2024

Study reveals that nearly half of foster caregivers have given melatonin to their child

DARIEN, IL – A new study to be presented at the SLEEP 2024 annual meeting found that it is common for foster caregivers to give melatonin to their child, and these children who have taken melatonin have worse sleep and more daytime behavioral problems. Results show that 48% of foster caregivers reported administering melatonin to their child. Children given melatonin had poorer overall sleep quality compared to children not given melatonin, yet even after adjustment for sleep quality and other potential confounders, melatonin use was associated with increased severity of daytime behavioral problems in foster ...

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Science5 Jun 2024

People underestimate the probability of including at least one minority member in a group

Niigata, Japan - Human society includes various minority groups. However, it is often difficult to know whether someone is a minority member simply by looking at the person, as minority traits may not be visually apparent (e.g., sexual orientation, color vision deficiency). In addition, minorities may hide their minority traits or identities. Consequently, we may have been unaware of the presence of minorities in daily life. Probabilistic thinking is critical in such uncertain situations. The people with whom we interact in our daily lives are typically a group of several dozen individuals (e.g., a school class). How do we judge the probability of including at least one minority ...

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Science5 Jun 2024

Dr. Erin Belval honored for exemplary fire science research

FORT COLLINS, Colo., June 4, 2024 — Dr. Erin Belval, a research forester at the USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station, was awarded the Early Career Scientist Award in Fire Science from the International Association of Wildland Fire (IAWF). She received the honor last month at the 2024 International Wildland Fire Conference in Boise, Idaho. The award recognizes promising early-career professionals who demonstrate outstanding ability in any field of wildland fire science. Belval was nominated by colleagues and peers for her outstanding contributions. “The award is particularly meaningful because ...

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Science5 Jun 2024

Commonly used alcohol-based mouthwash brand disrupts the balance of your oral microbiome, scientists say

SUMMARY Researchers have identified a significant change in composition and abundance of bacteria in study participants’ oral microbiomes after using a popular brand of alcohol-based mouthwash. The oral microbiome is the community of bacteria that live in the mouth, they help us digest our food and keep our mouth healthy. Researchers found that two species of opportunistic bacteria were significantly more abundant in the mouth after daily use of the alcohol-based mouthwash, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Streptococcus anginosus. ...

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