Science
press releases.

Science26 Apr 2024

Scientists capture X-rays from upward positive lightning

Globally, lightning is responsible for over 4,000 fatalities and billions of dollars in damage every year; Switzerland itself weathers up to 150,000 strikes annually. Understanding exactly how lightning forms is key for reducing risk, but because lightning phenomena occur on sub-millisecond timescales, direct measurements are extremely difficult to obtain. Now, researchers from the Electromagnetic Compatibility Lab, led by Farhad Rachidi, in EPFL’s School of Engineering have for the first time directly measured an elusive phenomenon that explains a lot about the birth of a lightning bolt: X-ray radiation. In a collaborative study with the University of Applied Sciences of Western ...

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Science26 Apr 2024

More efficient molecular motor widens potential applications

Light-driven molecular motors were first developed nearly 25 years ago at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands. This resulted in a shared Nobel Prize for Chemistry for Professor Ben Feringa in 2016. However, making these motors do actual work proved to be a challenge. A new paper from the Feringa lab, published in Nature Chemistry on 26 April, describes a combination of improvements that brings real-life applications closer. First author Jinyu Sheng, now a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), adapted a ‘first generation’ light-driven molecular ...

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Science26 Apr 2024

Findings of large-scale study on 572 Asian families supports gene-directed management of BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene carriers in Singapore

Singapore, 26 April 2024 – A team of clinician-scientists and scientists from the University of Nottingham (Malaysia campus), National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS), Cancer Research Malaysia, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), University of Malaya, University of Cambridge, A*STAR’s Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) and other institutions, have conducted the largest study done to date of BRCA1 and BRCA2 (BReast CAncer Gene 1 and 2) carriers in an Asian population and refined breast and ovarian cancer risk estimates for this population. The findings, ...

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Science26 Apr 2024

Mutualism, from biology to organic chemistry?

Heteroatom tin compounds (SSn, OSn, NSn, PSn) composed of heteroatoms S, O, N, P and tin atoms have attracted intense attention due to their wide applications in organic synthesis and pharmaceutical fields. The current methods for synthesis of such compounds, such as metathesis reactions, addition reactions, and free radical reactions, exhibit drawbacks including narrow substrate scope and harsh conditions. Therefore, it is important to develop efficient synthetic systems to construct heteroatom-tin bond. Tetrahydroquinoline, as an important ...

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Science26 Apr 2024

Living at higher altitudes in India linked to increased risk of childhood stunting

Living at higher altitudes in India is linked to an increased risk of stunted growth, with children living in homes 2000 metres or more above sea level 40% more at risk than those living 1000 metres below, finds research published in the open access journal BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health. Children living in rural areas seem to be the most vulnerable, prompting the researchers to advocate prioritising nutritional programmes in hilly and mountainous regions of the country. Despite ...

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Science25 Apr 2024

Hebrew SeniorLife selected for nationwide collaborative to accelerate system-wide spread of age-friendly care for older adults

Hebrew SeniorLife is among the 30 US health systems nationally, and the only one in Massachusetts selected to participate in the Age-Friendly System-Wide Spread Collaborative. This first-of-its-kind Collaborative, led by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), will accelerate and spread the adoption of evidence-based, high-quality care for older adults across all of their sites and care settings. The Collaborative is the latest endeavor of the Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative, which promotes four evidence-based elements of high-quality care known as ...

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Science25 Apr 2024

New tool helps identify babies at high-risk for RSV

A new tool to identify infants most at risk for severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) illness could aid pediatricians in prioritizing children under 1 to receive a preventive medication before RSV season (October-April), according to Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) research published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases and to be presented at the American Thoracic Society 2024 International Conference. Study authors considered factors including birth month, birth weight and whether an infant has siblings to determine who is most at risk of severe RSV illness ...

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Science25 Apr 2024

Unprecedented research probes the relationship between sleep and memory in napping babies and young children

A University of Massachusetts Amherst sleep scientist, funded with $6.7 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has launched two unprecedented studies that will track over time the brain development of infants and preschoolers to confirm the role of napping in early life and to identify the bioregulatory mechanisms involved. Rebecca Spencer, a professor of psychological and brain sciences who is well-known for her groundbreaking research into napping, is testing her theories ...

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Science25 Apr 2024

Food in sight? The liver is ready!

What happens in the body when we are hungry and see and smell food? A team of researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research has now been able to show in mice that adaptations in the liver mitochondria take place after only a few minutes. Stimulated by the activation of a group of nerve cells in the brain, the mitochondria of the liver cells change and prepare the liver for the adaptation of the sugar metabolism. The findings, published in the journal Science, could open up new avenues for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The researchers ...

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Science25 Apr 2024

New MSU research finds paid family leave helps prevent child abuse

MSU has a satellite uplink/LTN TV studio and Comrex line for radio interviews upon request. EAST LANSING, Mich. – Child maltreatment is a serious public health issue in the United States, particularly affecting young children who are most vulnerable due to their dependence on caregivers. Infants under two years old account for over one-quarter, or 28.1%, of all maltreatment cases in the U.S., and infants under one year of age experience the highest rate of victimization, according to the U.S. Department of Health and ...

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Science25 Apr 2024

Endocrine Society names Andrews as new Editor-in-Chief of Endocrinology

WASHINGTON—The Endocrine Society has appointed Zane B. Andrews, Ph.D., of Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, as Editor-in-Chief of its flagship basic science journal, Endocrinology. Andrews has been Deputy Editor of the journal since 2020 and will be taking on this role as previous Editor-in-Chief Carol Lange, Ph.D., of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minn., transitions into her new position as the Society’s President-Elect. “I am thrilled that Dr. Andrews is taking on this opportunity to lead Endocrinology. He has already provided immense value as the Deputy Editor. I very recently met with ...

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Science25 Apr 2024

National Center to Reframe Aging teams up with Longevity Ready Maryland Initiative

The National Center to Reframe Aging — the leading organization for proven communication strategies and tools to effectively frame aging issues — is partnering with the Maryland Department of Aging in development of its multisector plan on aging, the Longevity Ready Maryland Initiative. The National Center will be a strategic partner providing guidance in Maryland’s statewide campaign to advance an equitable and complete story about aging and promote proven communication strategies to frame aging issues. Key leaders and staff of the Maryland Department of Aging will participate in educational opportunities and receive resources to consistently apply ...

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Science25 Apr 2024

The longer spilled oil lingers in freshwater, the more persistent compounds it produces

Oil is an important natural resource for many industries, but it can lead to serious environmental damage when accidentally spilled. While large oil spills are highly publicized, every year there are many smaller-scale spills into lakes, rivers and oceans. And, according to research published in ACS’ Energy & Fuels, the longer that oil remains in freshwater, the more chemical changes it undergoes, creating products that can persist in the environment. Approximately 600,000 gallons of oil were accidentally spilled into the environment ...

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Science25 Apr 2024

Unveiling the lionfish invasion in the Mediterranean Sea

Researchers from Wageningen University and Research, the Netherlands, have published a comprehensive study on the invasion of lionfish in the Mediterranean Sea, highlighting a rapid spread and the potential ecological impacts. Published in the open-access journal NeoBiota, the research shows the lionfish species Pterois miles has significantly expanded its territory in the Mediterranean since the invasion began around ten years ago. The invasive species has established presence in the eastern Mediterranean, with observations now extending to colder waters previously ...

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Science25 Apr 2024

Publicly funded fertility program linked to a decrease in rate of multifetal pregnancy

Kingston, ON, March 27, 2024 – In the era after the introduction of publicly funded in vitro fertilization (IVF) mandating elective single embryo transfer, the multifetal pregnancy rate decreased significantly for IVF, but the contribution of ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination (OI/IUI) to multifetal pregnancy still needs attention, according to a new study from ICES and Queen’s University. Twins, triplets, and higher multifetal pregnancies are associated with some adverse outcomes ...

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Science25 Apr 2024

Disparities in mortality by sexual orientation in a large, prospective cohort of female nurses

About The Study: In an otherwise largely homogeneous sample of female nurses, participants identifying as lesbian or bisexual had markedly earlier mortality during the study period compared with heterosexual women. These differences in mortality timing highlight the urgency of addressing modifiable risks and upstream social forces that propagate and perpetuate disparities. Authors: Sarah McKetta, M.D., Ph.D., of Harvard University in Boston, is the corresponding author. To access the embargoed ...

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Science25 Apr 2024

Premature mortality higher among sexual minority women, study finds

Key takeaways: A new study led by the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute examined differences in premature mortality by sexual orientation among a large group of women followed for three decades. Findings show that sexual minority women died much sooner than heterosexual women, with bisexual women having the most pronounced differences. This work highlights the urgent need to address sexual orientation-related inequities in preventable illness, including a focus on the systems and laws that ...

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Science25 Apr 2024

Philippines' counter-terrorism strategy still stalled after 7 years since the ‘ISIS siege’ on Marawi

Following the 2017 siege of Marawi, the Philippines' counter-terrorism efforts have faced an increasingly complex and unpredictable landscape. While authorities have claimed victory, one which garnered global media attention during the peak of ISIS reign in Syria and Iraq, the aftermath of Marawi highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive reassessment of the country's counter-terrorism strategy. A new study, led by experts in security and terrorism studies at the University of Portsmouth, provides a thorough examination of the terrorist ...

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Science25 Apr 2024

BU doc honored by the American College of Surgeons

(Boston)—Dane Scantling, DO, MPH, FACS, assistant professor of surgery at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, has been awarded the C. James Carrico, MD, FACS, Faculty Research Fellowship for the Study of Trauma and Critical Care from the American College of Surgeons. The two-year, $80,000 award will support his project, "Improving Equity and Access to Trauma Care for Victims of Firearm Violence." Firearm violence (FV) rates have risen to levels not seen ...

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Science25 Apr 2024

Spring snow, sparkling in the sun, can reveal more than just good skiing conditions

One might think that snow, of all things, is easy to describe: it is cold, white and covers the landscape like a blanket. What else is there to say about it? A lot, according to Mathieu Nguyen. He has just defended his doctoral thesis on the optical properties of snow at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Gjøvik. “Snow reflects all wavelengths of light and can have very different colours depending on the conditions and the angle at which light hits it. The age and density ...

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Science25 Apr 2024

Study reveals emotional turmoil experienced after dog-theft is like that of a caregiver losing a child

A new study published in the journal Animal-Human Interactions reveals that emotional turmoil experienced by dog owners after their pet has been stolen is like that of losing a loved one such as a caregiver losing their child. The findings empirically support the notions that the ‘owner’ or guardian roles and relationships equate to familial relationships and, when faced with the theft of their pet, owners feel a similar sense of disenfranchised grief and ambiguous loss. In the study, some participants felt the loss was more intense ...

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Science25 Apr 2024

How do birds flock? Researchers do the math to reveal previously unknown aerodynamic phenomenon

In looking up at the sky during these early weeks of spring, you may very well see a flock of birds moving in unison as they migrate north. But how do these creatures fly in such a coordinated and seemingly effortless fashion? Part of the answer lies in precise, and previously unknown, aerodynamic interactions, reports a team of mathematicians in a newly published study. Its breakthrough broadens our understanding of wildlife, including fish, who move in schools, and could have applications in transportation and energy. “This area of research is important since animals are known to take advantage of the flows, such as of air or water, left by other members of ...

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Science25 Apr 2024

Deer are expanding north, and that’s not good for caribou

As the climate changes, animals are doing what they can to adapt. Researchers from UBC Okanagan—which includes partners from Biodiversity Pathways’ Wildlife Science Centre, the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute, the University of Alberta, and Environment and Climate Change Canada—wanted to evaluate why deer densities in the boreal forest are rapidly increasing. Over the past century, white-tailed deer have greatly expanded their range in North America, explains Melanie Dickie, a doctoral student with UBC Okanagan’s Wildlife Restoration Ecology Lab. In the boreal forest of Western Canada, ...

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Science25 Apr 2024

Synthetic droplets cause a stir in the primordial soup

Our bodies are made up of trillions of different cells, each fulfilling their own unique function to keep us alive. How do cells move around inside these extremely complicated systems? How do they know where to go? And how did they get so complicated to begin with? Simple yet profound questions like these are at the heart of curiosity-driven basic research, which focuses on the fundamental principles of natural phenomena. An important example is the process by which cells or organisms move in response to chemical signals in their environment, also known as chemotaxis. A constellation of researchers from three different research units at the Okinawa Institute of Science ...

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Science25 Apr 2024

From Uber ratings to credit scores: What’s lost in a society that counts and sorts everything?

Have you ever hailed a ride from an unrated Uber driver? Dined at a zero-star restaurant? Made a pricey online order from the lowest-rated Amazon vendor? Likely not. That's because rating systems have overhauled the way we travel, eat and shop. Born from the early days of e-commerce on sites like eBay, ratings help weed out scammers and lend some semblance of order to a fast-changing online marketplace. But there's a darker side to this reliance on ratings and rankings, says Marion Fourcade, a UC Berkeley sociology professor and director of Social Science Matrix. Supercharged ...

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