Science
press releases.

Science26 Jan 2024

Flame-retardant chemicals may increase risk of preterm birth, higher birth weight

Pregnant women exposed to specific classes of flame-retardant chemicals may face an increased risk of preterm birth, especially for baby girls, or higher birth weights, according to a Rutgers Health researcher. Emily Barrett, professor and vice chair of the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology at the Rutgers School of Public Health and a member of the Rutgers Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, took part in a study that was published in Environmental Health Perspectives and funded by the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program at the National Institutes of Health. Manufacturers commonly use organophosphate esters (OPEs) ...

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Science26 Jan 2024

A long-lasting neural probe

Recording the activity of large populations of single neurons in the brain over long periods of time is crucial to further our understanding of neural circuits, to enable novel medical device-based therapies and, in the future, for brain–computer interfaces requiring high-resolution electrophysiological information. But today there is a tradeoff between how much high-resolution information an implanted device can measure and how long it can maintain recording or stimulation performances. Rigid, silicon ...

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Science26 Jan 2024

How waves and mixing drive coastal upwelling systems

They are among the most productive and biodiverse areas of the world's oceans: coastal upwelling regions along the eastern boundaries of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. There, equatorward winds cause near-surface water to move away from the coast. This brings cold, nutrient-rich water from the depths to the surface, inducing the growth of phytoplankton and providing the basis for a rich marine ecosystem in these regions. In some tropical regions, however, productivity is high even when the upwelling favourable winds are ...

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Science26 Jan 2024

Using fMRI, new vision study finds promising model for restoring cone function

In the retinas of human eyes, the cones are photoreceptor cells responsible for color vision, daylight vision, and the perception of small details. As vision scientists from the Division of Experimental Retinal Therapies at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Gustavo D. Aguirre and William A. Beltran have been working for decades to identify the basis of inherited retinal diseases. They previously showed they could recover missing cone function by reintroducing a copy of the normal gene in photoreceptor cells. Both ...

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Science26 Jan 2024

Emergency contraception related ER visits dropped significantly over 14 year period

Following federal approval for over the counter emergency contraception in 2006, emergency departments across the U.S. saw dramatic decreases in related visits and medical charges, a new study suggests. Emergency room visits related to emergency contraception fell by 96 %, from 17,019 to 659, while total related hospital expenses decreased by $7.2 million – from $7.6 million to $385,946 – between 2006 and 2020. The most notable decrease was between 2006-2007 for people primarily seen for emergency contraception. The Michigan Medicine led findings appear in JAMA Network ...

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Science26 Jan 2024

Incidence of fit test failure during N95 respirator reuse and extended use

About The Study: In this study of 824 N95s used by 412 emergency department health care workers practicing N95 reuse, fit failure occurred in 38.7% of masks after one shift. Trifold N95s had higher incidence of fit failure compared with dome N95s. These results may inform pandemic preparedness, specifically policies related to N95 selection and reuse practices. Authors: Ralph C. Wang, M.D., M.A.S., of the University of California, San Francisco, is the corresponding author. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.53631) Editor’s ...

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Science26 Jan 2024

Bioinspired hydrogel pattern enhancing atmospheric water harvesting via directional droplet steering

This study, led by Prof. Jiuhui Qu, Dr. Qinghua Ji, and Dr. Wei Zhang from Tsinghua University, focuses on addressing water scarcity by exploring atmospheric water harvesting. The water in the air originates from both natural and forced evaporation, with condensation being the final and crucial step in water harvesting. Condensation involves nucleation, growth, and shedding of water droplets, which are then collected. However, uncontrollable growth of condensed droplets leading to surface flooding is a pressing challenge due to insufficient driving forces, posing a threat to sustainable condensation. To expedite this process and achieve orderly ...

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Science26 Jan 2024

Dragonfly wings used to study relationship between corrugated wing structure and vortex motions

Scientists from Hiroshima University undertook a study of dragonfly wings in order to better understand the relationship between a corrugated wing structure and vortex motions. They discovered that corrugated wings exhibit larger lift than flat wings. Their work was published in the journal Physical Review Fluids on December 7, 2023. The researchers set out to determine if the corrugation of a dragonfly's wing is a secret ingredient for boosting lift. While past research has largely zoomed in ...

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Science26 Jan 2024

The missing link: Recent study explores the connection between NOx control and SNA, O3 reduction

Sulfate-nitrate-ammonium (SNA) and other atmospheric aerosols play a significant role in influencing both atmospheric and environmental conditions. These aerosols impact climate directly through scattering and absorbing solar radiation, thus influencing the Earth's radiative balance. The presence of high concentrations of aerosols can lead to the formation of haze and reduce air quality, affecting human health and transportation. Furthermore, the fine particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) within aerosols poses health risks ...

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Science26 Jan 2024

'Old smokers' and 'squalling newborns' among hidden stars spotted for first time

'Hidden' stars including a new type of elderly giant nicknamed an 'old smoker' have been spotted for the first time by astronomers. The mystery objects exist at the heart of our Milky Way galaxy and can sit quietly for decades – fading almost to invisibility – before suddenly puffing out clouds of smoke, according to a new study published today in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. An international team of scientists led by Professor Philip Lucas, of the University of Hertfordshire, made their ground-breaking discovery after monitoring almost a billion stars in infrared light during a 10-year survey ...

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Science26 Jan 2024

Locked-in syndrome is predominant outcome when children survive drowning, larger study confirms

SAN ANTONIO, Jan. 25, 2024 — It is a far cry from the traditionally thought-of “vegetative state” in which the mind is absent while the body lives on. Indeed, it is the opposite. Children with “locked-in syndrome,” unable to move or speak, are awake and fully aware of their surroundings. Researchers from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) were the first to report in peer-reviewed medical literature that, after non-fatal drownings, children would be locked in. The team, directed by Peter T. Fox, MD, professor of radiology and neurology and director of UT ...

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Science25 Jan 2024

Illinois Tech professor Chun Liu honored as 2024 Fellow by American Mathematical Society

CHICAGO—January 25, 2024—Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) Professor Chun Liu has been elected a 2024 fellow of the American Mathematical Society (AMS)—one of just 40 mathematical scientists to be honored this year for his contribution to mathematics. “It’s nice to be recognized by my colleagues, but this also gives visibility for the whole department and Illinois Tech,” says Liu, chair of the Department of Applied Mathematics. “It’s great recognition for the mathematics research that’s going on here at Illinois Tech.” Liu’s research includes partial differential ...

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Science25 Jan 2024

Sweat-analyzing temporary tattoo research funded in NSF grant to UMass Amherst researcher

AMHERST – University of Massachusetts Amherst researchers have received an award to develop a new type of sweat monitor that can be applied to the skin just like a temporary tattoo and assess the molecules present, such as cortisol. The tattoos will ultimately give individuals better insight into their health and serve as a tool for researchers to discover new early indications of diseases. “There are a lot of vital biomolecules that are present in sweat that we need to measure to really understand overall human performance and correlation to different ...

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Science25 Jan 2024

White House rule dramatically deregulated wetlands, streams and drinking water

The 1972 Clean Water Act protects the "waters of the United States" but does not precisely define which streams and wetlands this phrase covers, leaving it to presidential administrations, regulators, and courts to decide. As a result, the exact coverage of Clean Water Act rules is difficult to estimate. New research led by a team at the University of California, Berkeley, used machine learning to more accurately predict which waterways are protected by the Act. The analysis found that a 2020 Trump administration rule removed Clean Water Act ...

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Science25 Jan 2024

The underground network: Decoding the dynamics of plant-fungal symbiosis

The intricate dance of nature often unfolds in mysterious ways, hidden from the naked eye. At the heart of this enigmatic tango lies a vital partnership: the symbiosis between plants and a type of fungi known as arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. New groundbreaking research, recently published in the journal Science, delves into this partnership, revealing key insights that deepen our understanding of plant-AM fungi interactions and could lead to advances in sustainable agriculture. AM fungi live within plant root cells, forming a unique alliance with ...

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Science25 Jan 2024

Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz receives the Dickson Prize in Science

Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz, a senior group leader at HHMI's Janelia Research Campus and head of Janelia’s 4D Cellular Physiology research area, has been awarded the 2023 Dickson Prize in Science from Carnegie Mellon University for her pioneering work in live-cell imaging and organelle dynamics. The Dickson Prize in Science recognizes substantial achievements or sustained progress in the fields of the natural sciences, engineering, computer science, or mathematics. It has been awarded annually since 1970. Lippincott-Schwartz was recognized for her decades of work in cell biology, including the development of groundbreaking ...

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Science25 Jan 2024

Young people from poorer families make fewer friends

A new study has found that children growing up in low-income families have fewer opportunities to make friends and to socially integrate at school. Researchers from the University of Zurich and the University of Stockholm examined data from over 200 school classes in Sweden and reached this conclusion. Having friends at school is important for adolescents’ development and it shapes their social skills later in life. Teenagers who feel well integrated in their school class have better mental health and higher grades – which has a knock-on effect on their later careers. A study led by the University of Zurich set out to examine whether parental income influences ...

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Science25 Jan 2024

Virtual noise assessment for passenger jet of the future

Aircraft noise is often a nuisance for people living near airports and in flight paths – and, in the worst case, a health hazard: from sleep disorders to cardiovascular diseases. According to a report by the European Environment Agency, around four million people in Europe were exposed to excessive levels of aircraft noise in 2017. New types of aircraft with a blended wing body (BWB), whose fuselage merges seamlessly into the wings – with less air resistance and lower fuel consumption – are seen as a beacon of hope to alleviate this burden. And with lower noise emissions towards the ground if the engines are mounted on top of the fuselage. Auralization in the lab Although ...

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Science25 Jan 2024

MD Anderson research highlights for January 25, 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 include a combination treatment for KRAS G12C-mutant colorectal cancer; using liquid biopsies to classify small-cell lung cancer subtypes; an artificial intelligence model to improve non-small cell lung cancer classification; ...

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Science25 Jan 2024

GSA members call on senate to support higher standards for assisted living facilities

Speaking today at a hearing of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, Gerontological Society of America members Jennifer Craft Morgan, PhD, FGSA, and Richard J. Mollot, JD, called on lawmakers to enact policies that enable greater state and national oversight of assisted living facilities, and that bolster the workforce and engagement of residents and care partners. Senators convened the hearing, titled “Assisted Living Facilities: Understanding Long-Term Care Options for Older Adults,” to examine challenges faced by assisted living facility residents. Committee Chair Bob Casey recently sent letters to the CEOs of three ...

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Science25 Jan 2024

African smallholder farmers benefit from reduced crop losses and higher incomes from a novel pest alert service

A newly published review of the CABI-led Pest Risk Information Service (PRISE) project shows that smallholder farmers in four African countries who received pest alerts created using earth observation data benefitted from reduced crop losses and higher incomes compared to farmers who did not. Crop pests are the major cause of loss of smallholder productivity resulting in negative impacts on livelihoods – the estimated the economic impact of invasive alien pests alone on Africa’s agricultural sector is USD $65.58 billion a year (CABI, 2021, CABI Agriculture and Bioscience). This review is a keystone ...

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Science25 Jan 2024

Press registration opens for ACS Spring 2024

Journalists who register for the American Chemical Society’s (ACS’) upcoming hybrid meeting and exposition — ACS Spring 2024 — will have access to nearly 12,000 presentations on topics including agriculture and food, energy and fuels, health and medicine, sustainability, and more. ACS Spring 2024 is being held virtually and in person in New Orleans on March 17-21, with the theme “Many Flavors of Chemistry.” ACS considers requests for press credentials and complimentary meeting registration from reporters ...

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Science25 Jan 2024

Women exposed to toxic metals may experience earlier aging of their ovaries

WASHINGTON—Middle-aged women who are exposed to toxic metals may have fewer eggs in their ovaries as they approach menopause, according to new research published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Diminished ovarian reserve is when women have fewer eggs compared to others their age. The condition may be linked to health problems such as hot flashes, weak bones and a higher chance of heart disease. Menopause is a normal part of the aging process a woman goes through that causes her monthly periods to end. The menopausal transition includes the years leading up to that point, when women may experience symptoms such as changes in ...

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Science25 Jan 2024

Sika deer overpopulation endangers beech forests in Southern Kyushu, Japan

Fukuoka, Japan—Kyushu University researchers have found that Japanese beech (Fagus crenata) in the forests of southern Kyushu have seen reduced growth, due to soil erosion caused by the overpopulation of sika deer (Cervus nippon). Their findings, which were published in the journal Catena, could help in the development of new strategies for forest conservation. Conservation is more than just preserving forests; it's about protecting the diverse web of life. One area where conservation has become critical is a beech forest in Shiiba Village, in the remote mountains of Southern Kyushu. The Japanese beech is a prominent and iconic species in ...

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Science25 Jan 2024

Suicide and race: Uncovering patterns underlying increasing suicide rates in the USA

Are there specific communities that bear the brunt of suicide mortality? Certain studies have revealed that historically marginalized and economically deprived indigenous populations are linked with higher rates of cluster suicides—especially in Canada, the United States, and Australia. Public health officials need to consider that the risk of suicide contagion—social transmission due to insufficient interventions and resources—is real and must be countered. Now, a consortium of public health experts from Japan, Australia, and China have analyzed trends in suicide mortality in American Indian or Alaskan Native (AIAN) populations, while exploring ...

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