Science
press releases.

Science1 May 2024

New York State is vulnerable to increasing weather-driven power outages, with vulnerable people in the Bronx, Queens and other parts of New York City being disproportionately affected

New York State is vulnerable to increasing weather-driven power outages, with vulnerable people in the Bronx, Queens and other parts of New York City being disproportionately affected. #### Article URL: https://journals.plos.org/climate/article?id=10.1371/journal.pclm.0000364 Article Title: Powerless in the storm: Severe weather-driven power outages in New York State, 2017–2020 Author Countries: United States Funding: This work was supported by the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) P30 ES009089 ...

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Science1 May 2024

New strategy could lead to universal, long-lasting flu shot

DURHAM, N.C. -- Duke researchers have opened a new avenue in the attack against influenza viruses by creating a vaccine that encourages the immune system to target a portion of the virus surface that is less variable. Their approach worked well in experiments with mice and ferrets and may lead to more broadly-protective influenza vaccines and less reliance on an annual shot tailored to that year’s versions of the virus. Even with vaccines, influenza kills about a half-million people each year around the world. This new vaccine approach, described May 1 in the journal Science Translational ...

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Science1 May 2024

Race and ethnicity of reproductive-age females affected by state abortion bans

About The Study: The proportions of American Indian or Alaska Native, Black, and white females of reproductive age in states with effective abortion bans were higher than in states without such policies, while proportions for other racial and ethnic groups were lower. Although these restrictive laws were not based on race, they were concentrated in states with higher proportions of American Indian or Alaska Native and Black individuals, resulting in a differential effect of restrictive abortion laws in these groups. American Indian or Alaska Native and Black populations are disproportionately affected by disparities in pregnancy-related ...

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Science1 May 2024

Father’s gut microbes affect the next generation

The gut microbiota is the microbial community that occupies the gastrointestinal tract. It is responsible for producing enzymes, metabolites, and other molecules crucial for host metabolism and in response to the environment. Consequently, a balanced gut microbiota is important for mammalian health in many ways, such as helping to regulate the immune and endocrine systems. This in turn, impacts the physiology of tissues throughout the body. However, little was known about the impact of the gut microbiota on host reproduction, ...

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Science1 May 2024

UVM scientists decode exercise's molecular impact

BURLNGTON, Vt.—For the past eight years, researchers have been conducting a groundbreaking study supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Common Fund: The Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity Consortium (MoTrPAC). With nearly 2,600 volunteers, the study aims to examine the molecular effects of exercise on healthy adults and children, considering factors like age, race, and gender. The goal is to create comprehensive molecular maps of these changes and uncover why physical activity has significant health benefits. “This ...

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Science1 May 2024

Nationwide, 6 stroke advocates selected to receive 2024 Stroke Hero Awards

DALLAS, May 1, 2024 — Each year, approximately 800,000 people in the U.S. have a stroke.[1] Six local stroke heroes from across the country are being recognized by the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, for their resiliency and dedication in the fight against stroke. The American Stroke Association’s annual Stroke Hero Awards honors stroke survivors, health care professionals, advocates and caregivers. During May, American Stroke Month, the Association, ...

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Science1 May 2024

Life expectancy in two disadvantaged areas higher than expected

Better than expected life expectancy in two disadvantaged areas in England is probably due to population change according to local residents and professionals. In the UK, people from the most disadvantaged areas can expect to die nine years earlier compared with people from the least disadvantaged areas while people in the north of England have lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and worse health and wellbeing compared with national averages. The study, funded by the NIHR School for Public Health Research, was a collaboration between Lancaster University, ...

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Science1 May 2024

STEMM Opportunity Alliance releases national strategy at White House summit to diversify and expand STEMM workforce by 2050

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the STEMM Opportunity Alliance (SOA) announced STEMM Equity and Excellence 2050: A National Strategy for Progress and Prosperity at the 2024 White House Summit on STEMM Equity and Excellence, co-hosted by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). The overarching goal of the national strategy is to help 20 million people from historically excluded and marginalized communities enter, contribute to, and thrive in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medical (STEMM) fields. SOA ...

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Science1 May 2024

Novel genetic plant regeneration approach without the application of phytohormones

For ages now, plants have been the primary source of nutrition for animals and mankind. Additionally, plants are used for the extraction of various medicinal and therapeutic compounds. However, their indiscriminate use, along with the rising demand for food, underscores the need for novel plant breeding practices. Advances in plant biotechnology can address the problems associated with food scarcity in the future by enabling the production of genetically modified (GM) plants with higher productivity and resilience to the changing climate. Naturally, plants can regenerate an entire new plant from a single ‘totipotent’ cell (a cell that ...

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Science1 May 2024

Science advisors unite in a call for greater variety of evidence in developing policy

What? 5th International Conference on Governmental Science Advice, INGSA2024, marking the 10th Anniversary of the creation of the International Network for Governmental Science Advice (INGSA) & first meeting held in the global south. Where? Kigali Convention Center, Rwanda: https://www.ingsa2024.com/ When? 1 – 2 May, 2024. Context: One of the largest independent gatherings of thought- and practice-leaders in governmental science advice, research funding, multi-lateral institutions, academia, science communication and diplomacy is ...

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Science1 May 2024

Time zones and tiredness strongly influence NBA results, study of 25,000 matches shows

The body clock has a significant impact on the performance of NBA players, according to study published in the peer-reviewed journal Chronobiology International. The authors say their findings, from more than 25,000 matches, show elite basketball coaches and teams should consider the physical and mental effects of time zone travel when planning games and preparing for games. A first of its kind, the research is based on the achievements at home and away of NBA (National Basketball Association) league players across 21 consecutive seasons. Considered the most competitive in the world, NBA athletes frequently travel ...

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Science1 May 2024

Premature menopause linked to increased musculoskeletal pain and likelihood of sarcopenia

CLEVELAND, Ohio (May 1, 2024)—Musculoskeletal pain is a prevalent menopause symptom, which helps explain why women typically experience more pain than men, especially around the age of 50 years. Beyond pain, muscle function and mass are also affected by menopause. A new study suggests premature surgical menopause can lead to an increased risk of muscle disorders. Results of the survey are published online today in Menopause, the journal of The Menopause Society. The highly publicized Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation spotlighted a number of symptoms that are common during the menopause ...

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Science1 May 2024

Women are 40% more likely to experience depression during the perimenopause

Women are 40% more likely to experience depression in the perimenopause than those who aren’t experiencing any menopausal symptoms, finds a new study led by UCL researchers. The research, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, provided a meta-analysis of seven studies involving 9,141 women from across the world (including Australia, USA, China, Netherlands and Switzerland), to understand whether different stages of the menopause were associated with different risk of depression. The perimenopause usually occurs around three to five years before the onset of menopause. During this stage women’s oestrogen and progesterone levels begin to fluctuate, ...

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Science1 May 2024

Withdrawal of stop-smoking pill could lead to thousands of avoidable deaths

The disruption to the supply of a prescription medicine that helps people stop smoking may have led to thousands fewer people quitting each year in England, which will lead to avoidable deaths in future, suggests a new study led by UCL (University College London) researchers. Varenicline (also known as Champix) is one of the most effective treatments to help smokers quit. It works by reducing cravings for nicotine and easing withdrawal symptoms. But its distribution was paused in July 2021 in the UK and Europe as a precaution after higher than expected levels of a potentially ...

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Science1 May 2024

Breakthrough in complex pain management

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic and debilitating pain disorder, typically considered lifelong with limited treatment options. Now, groundbreaking research finds that early detection and effective treatment can lead to significant recovery within 18 months, offering hope to millions of people worldwide. Led by NeuRA’s Centre for Pain IMPACT and conducted in partnership with the University of South Australia, the findings could deliver life-changing outcomes for people with CRPS, with up to 80% of patients recovering ...

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Science30 Apr 2024

Is it time to retire the best-before date?

The inventors of a suite of tests that enable food packages to signal if their contents are contaminated are working to bring producers and regulators together to get their inventions into commercial products, with the goal of preventing illness and reducing food waste. Though the tests would cost just a few cents per package, food producers are reluctant to add costs that consumers will ultimately have to bear, say the McMaster researchers behind an article published today in the journal Nature Reviews Bioengineering. A system based on smart packaging, the researchers say, would save producers ...

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Science30 Apr 2024

An electrifying discovery may help doctors deliver more effective gene therapies

MADISON — In an effort to improve delivery of costly medical treatments, a team of researchers in electrical engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison has developed a stimulating method that could make the human body more receptive to certain gene therapies. The researchers exposed liver cells to short electric pulses — and those gentle zaps caused the liver cells to take in more than 40 times the amount of gene therapy material compared to cells that were not exposed to pulsed electric fields. The method could help reduce the dosage needed for these treatments, making them much safer and more affordable. The research appears April 30 in the ...

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Science30 Apr 2024

Two UT Arlington faculty honored for outstanding research

The University of Texas at Arlington is honoring two faculty for their outstanding contributions to research. Yuze (Alice) Sun, associate professor of electrical engineering, and Venu Varanasi, associate professor in the Bone Muscle Research Center, are the 2024 recipients of the University Award for Outstanding Research Achievement or Creative Accomplishment. This award recognizes faculty members for achieving significant research or creative accomplishments during the past three years. “Alice and Venu are truly bright stars on the faculty at UT Arlington,” ...

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Science30 Apr 2024

Study: racial bias is no 'false alarm' in policing

Black drivers are more frequently searched during traffic stops without finding contraband than white drivers, according to a University of Michigan study. Institute for Social Research scientists Maggie Meyer and Richard Gonzalez analyzed data from 98 million traffic stops, and showed that innocent Black drivers were likely to be searched about 3.4 to 4.5 percent of the time while innocent white drivers were likely to be searched about 1.9 to 2.7 percent of the time. Their results are published in the Journal of Quantitative Criminology. "We show that there's ...

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Science30 Apr 2024

Mass General Brigham researchers identify potential drivers of chronic allergic inflammation

Currently, most therapies for allergic diseases require lifelong treatment. Allergic reactions, characterized by ongoing (type 2) inflammation in response to chronic antigen exposure, underlie many chronic diseases in humans, including asthma, atopic dermatitis, ulcerative colitis and more. T helper 2 (Th2) cells play an important role in the body's immune response, particularly in allergic reactions. Despite their central role, the sustained activity of Th2 cells during allergic reactions, even in the face of constant antigen exposure, has long puzzled researchers. A research team that included authors from Mass General Brigham, including ...

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Science30 Apr 2024

An omega-6 fatty acid may reduce the risk for bipolar disorder

Philadelphia, April 30, 2024 – A genetic propensity to higher circulating levels of lipids containing arachidonic acid, an omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid found in eggs, poultry, and seafood, has been found to be linked with a lower risk for bipolar disorder, according to a new study in Biological Psychiatry, published by Elsevier. This new evidence paves the way for potential lifestyle or dietary interventions. Bipolar disorder is a debilitating mood disorder characterized by recurring episodes of mania and depression. Although its etiology is still unclear, previous studies have shown that ...

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Science30 Apr 2024

AGS honors expert and emerging geriatrics leaders at 2024 virtual annual scientific meeting (#AGS24)

New York (April 30, 2024) – The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) annually honors researchers, clinicians, educators, and emerging health professionals who have made outstanding contributions to high-quality, person-centered care for older adults. This year’s award recipients include 19 leaders representing the breadth of medical disciplines championing care for us all as we age. Choosing Wisely Champion Award Paras Goel, PT, DPT, Med, MBA, GCS Clinical Student Research Award Elizabeth Margaret Ann Kelly Clinician of the Year Award Joyce Fogel, MD David ...

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Science30 Apr 2024

Loneliness grows as we age

Adults are lonelier in early and older adulthood, less lonely in middle adulthood Consistent loneliness pattern found across nine longitudinal studies, all collected prior to COVID-19 pandemic CHICAGO --- Loneliness in adulthood follows a U-shaped pattern: it’s higher in younger and older adulthood, and lowest during middle adulthood, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study that examined nine longitudinal studies from around the world. The study also identified several risk factors for heightened loneliness across the whole lifespan, including ...

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Science30 Apr 2024

Quitting smoking during pregnancy may have a positive effect on placental weight

The researchers in Bergen and Exeter used data from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) and a similar study in the UK, the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), to investigate the relationship between smoking and placental weight. The aim was to determine to what extent expectant mothers who quit smoking could impact the weight of the placenta at the time of birth. The study was recently published in the journal BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. Previous research has demonstrated ...

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Science30 Apr 2024

GPT-4, Google Gemini fall short in breast imaging classification

OAK BROOK, Ill. – Use of publicly available large language models (LLMs) resulted in changes in breast imaging reports classification that could have a negative effect on patient management, according to a new international study published today in the journal Radiology, a journal of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). The study findings underscore the need to regulate these LLMs in scenarios that require high-level medical reasoning, researchers said. LLMs are a type of artificial intelligence (AI) widely used today for a variety of purposes. In radiology, LLMs have already been tested in ...

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