Science
press releases.

Science28 Sep 2023

The BMJ reveals ‘silent scandal’ of missing lung tests across England

Patients in some of the most deprived areas of England, where respiratory conditions including chronic lung disease (COPD) and asthma are most prevalent, have limited or no access to vital diagnostic tests to confirm their diagnosis, reveals a survey by The BMJ today. Despite NHS England’s promise of access via Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs), journalist Sally Howard speaks to GPs in some of the worst affected areas who say having no means of referring patients for lung function tests is “troubling” and “a silent scandal.” And last month, a report by the charity Asthma + Lung UK ...

Read the release

Science28 Sep 2023

Risk of premature birth from smoking while pregnant more than double previous estimates

Cambridge researchers have found that women who smoke during pregnancy are 2.6 times more likely to give birth prematurely compared to non-smokers – more than double the previous estimate. The study, published today in the International Journal of Epidemiology, also found that smoking meant that the baby was four times more likely to be small for its gestational age, putting it at risk of potentially serious complications including breathing difficulties and infections. But the team found no evidence that caffeine intake was linked to adverse outcomes. Women are currently recommended to stop smoking and limit their caffeine intake during pregnancy because of the risk of complications ...

Read the release

Science28 Sep 2023

Researchers dynamically tune friction in graphene

The friction on a graphene surface can be dynamically tuned using external electric fields, according to researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign led by Professor Rosa Espinosa-Marzal of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. The work is detailed in the paper, “Dynamically tuning friction at the graphene interface using the field effect,” published September 19, 2023, in the journal Nature Communications. Friction plays a key role in both natural and engineered systems, dictating the behavior of sliding contacts, affecting ...

Read the release

Science27 Sep 2023

UTEP awarded $7 million to support Hispanic-serving institutions across the country

EL PASO, Texas (Sept. 27, 2023) — The University of Texas at El Paso has been chosen to become a center of thought leadership for Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) across the country, thanks to a new $7 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The new grant, known as NODE (Network Opportunities for Developing Equitable and Effective Evaluation at HSIs), is a six-year investment that will position UTEP to provide the first full portrait of the effectiveness of all grants funded by the NSF HSI program. Anne-Marie Núñez, Ph.D., executive director of the Diana Natalicio Institute ...

Read the release

Science27 Sep 2023

Wild Asian elephants display unique puzzle solving skills

New York, September 27, 2023 – Individual innovation is considered one sign of intelligence within species, and elephants are among the animals that researchers have long taken an interest in because of their sophisticated approach to problem solving. A newly published study in the journal Animal Behaviour details findings from a six-month-long study documenting the abilities of individual wild Asian elephants to access food by solving puzzles that unlocked storage boxes. “This is the first research study to show that individual wild elephants have different willingness and abilities to problem solve in ...

Read the release

Science27 Sep 2023

MSU works to make drinking water safer by fighting contaminants

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Providing safe drinking water was a great public health achievement in the 20th century, yet problems persist. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 7.15 million waterborne illnesses occur in the United States annually resulting in 601,000 emergency room visits, 6,630 deaths and $3.33 billion in direct health care costs. Michigan State University, a world leader in water research, is working to make our drinking water safer. MSU has been awarded a $2.1 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection ...

Read the release

Science27 Sep 2023

Want to make better decisions? Ask for less information, not more

When people have to make a tough decision, their first instinct is usually to gather as much information as possible. Just one problem: according to research published this week in Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications, most people’s decision-making actually gets worse, not better, when you give them additional facts and details. “It’s counterintuitive, because we all like to think we use information wisely to make smart decisions,” said Farber Chair Associate Professor ...

Read the release

Science27 Sep 2023

Genetic variation with MASLD reveals subtypes and potential therapeutic avenues

An astounding 30% of Americans currently have metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, or MASLD, which is formerly known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, or NAFLD. And many are unaware that they have it. Over time, MASLD can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure and even liver cancer. The disease is also associated with and might be caused by factors that contribute to obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease. “Many people are not aware that MASLD can also be a sign of another condition, like diabetes or cardiovascular disease,” said Elizabeth Speliotes, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., gastroenterologist at Michigan Medicine ...

Read the release

Science27 Sep 2023

UNF receives substantial legislative funding to combat nursing shortage

The University of North Florida has been awarded matching State legislative funding of nearly $800K based upon the School of Nursing's (SON) successful healthcare partnerships with Mayo Clinic, HCA Healthcare South Atlantic Division and Baptist Health. The Florida legislative budget allowance and Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) Fund is contributing to nursing program enhancements including growing scholarships for UNF nursing students, opening the UNF MedNexus Deerwood Simulation Center, developing cohorts of undergraduate nursing students in the UNF accelerated prelicensure program and enhancing the UNF-HCA Simulation Center experience. This ...

Read the release

Science27 Sep 2023

NIH study identifies foods to help pregnant people optimize intake of key nutrients

Most pregnant people in the U.S. are at risk of not getting enough of six nutrients important to a healthy pregnancy—vitamin A, vitamin D, folate, calcium, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids—from foods alone. Yet finding a combination of foods and supplements that delivers the right amounts of these nutrients without exceeding calorie recommendations or safety limits can be challenging. In a new study published in The Journal of Nutrition, researchers from NIH’s Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program wanted to find low-calorie, nutrient-rich foods that could boost nutrient intake, much like dietary supplements do. They calculated ...

Read the release

Science27 Sep 2023

Your Zoom background might influence the first impression you make

In a new study, participants tended to judge faces appearing against backgrounds featuring houseplants or bookcases as more trustworthy and competent than faces with a living space or a novelty image behind them. Gender and facial expression also appeared to influence judgments. Research led by Paddy Ross, Abi Cook and Meg Thompson at Durham University, UK is publishing in the open-access journal PLOS ONE on September 27, 2023. Prior research has demonstrated that first impressions can make a real difference in people’s lives; for example, ...

Read the release

Science27 Sep 2023

Lack of financial planning linked to higher risk of death in US and UK

People who are less socioeconomically advantaged have lower life expectancies, with a number of possible underlying mechanisms, such as less ability to spend on healthcare or the psychological effects of economic inequality. Prior research also shows that many households struggle to financially prepare for old age. However, few researchers have explored whether forward-thinking financial decision making is itself associated with lower risk of death. To address this potential link, Gladstone and Hundtofte analyzed data spanning a 22-year period for 11,478 older people living in the US and ...

Read the release

Science27 Sep 2023

Male and female Olympic shooters perform equally well when targets are stationary, though men have the edge for moving targets, per analysis of 2021 Tokyo Olympics which trialed mixed-gender events

Male and female Olympic shooters perform equally well when targets are stationary, though men have the edge for moving targets, per analysis of 2021 Tokyo Olympics which trialed mixed-gender events. #### Article URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0291017 Article Title: Do women and men compete equally on a level playing field? An empirical investigation into the 2021 Olympic shooting competitions Author Countries: USA, Spain Funding: The authors received no specific ...

Read the release

Science27 Sep 2023

Combating distrust online: New GW study explains why current messaging efforts may not be effective

WASHINGTON (September 27, 2023) - New research led by the George Washington University finds that current mitigation efforts to combat distrust online may not be effective because organizations and governments tackling distrust are only targeting one topic and only one geographical scale. The study shows that online distrust has become a ‘glocal’ phenomenon, meaning that it is spreading with different topics lumped together and mixing both local and global interests. “The key takeaway here is that distrust ...

Read the release

Science27 Sep 2023

When needs compete, love trumps thirst

ITHACA, N.Y. – While many studies have investigated the neuroscience behind how an animal learns to achieve a goal, such as obtaining water when thirsty, none have understood how animals choose between several competing needs – until now. A Cornell University-led study, published Sept. 27 in the journal Nature, used advanced techniques developed by researchers to track the brain’s dopamine reward system and found – for the first time ­– this system flexibly retunes toward the most important goal when faced with multiple competing needs. In the study, when a lonely and thirsty male zebra finch encountered a female, his thirst waned and ...

Read the release

Science27 Sep 2023

New study finds children of color and from low-income families are exposed to more toxic chemicals and experience greater harm

Media contacts: Abby Manishor amanishor@burness.com Allison Eatough aeatough@umd.edu EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 12:01am ET New Study Finds Children of Color and from Low-Income Families Are Exposed to More Toxic Chemicals and Experience Greater Harm Landmark research review is the first to examine disparities in neurotoxic exposures and the harmful effects of those exposures on children by race, ethnicity, and economic status WASHINGTON, D.C., September 27, 2023—Children from families with low incomes and families of color are exposed to more neurotoxic ...

Read the release

Science27 Sep 2023

Cannabis use frequency and cannabis-related consequences in high-risk young adults across cannabis legalization

About The Study: In a study of 619 high-risk young adults in Ontario, Canada, individuals using cannabis frequently pre-legalization showed significant reductions in use and consequences over time, reflecting an aging out pattern. Small increases in use among participants with no pre-legalization use were observed over time, but without parallel changes in cannabis-related consequences. The results did not reveal substantive adverse near-term outcomes across the legalization period, although a within-participants design cannot rule out the possibility of alternative trajectories in the absence of legalization. Authors: Amanda Doggett, ...

Read the release

Science27 Sep 2023

Desalination system could produce freshwater that is cheaper than tap water

Engineers at MIT and in China are aiming to turn seawater into drinking water with a completely passive device that is inspired by the ocean, and powered by the sun. In a paper appearing today in the journal Joule, the team outlines the design for a new solar desalination system that takes in saltwater and heats it with natural sunlight. The configuration of the device allows water to circulate in swirling eddies, in a manner similar to the much larger “thermohaline” circulation of the ocean. This circulation, ...

Read the release

Science27 Sep 2023

Women’s mood worsens during ‘pill pause’ period of monthly contraceptive pill cycle

Type of work: peer-reviewed/observational study/people Barcelona: Most contraceptive pills are based on a cycle of taking the pill for 21 days, and then stopping the pill for 7 days. Now researchers have found that women’s mood worsens during the 7 pill-free days. This work will be presented at the ECNP congress in Barcelona on 8th October, after recent publication (see notes). Lead researcher, Professor Belinda Angela Pletzer (of Paris Lodron University, Salzburg, Austria) said “We investigated women’s mental health during the pill pause in long-term pill users: since they are long-term ...

Read the release

Science27 Sep 2023

Team examines importance of zeolite in catalysts for syngas conversion

The fuels used today depend heavily on petroleum. As the demand grows, scientists are looking for ways to produce fuels that do not require petroleum. A research team set out to examine the role of zeolites in the conversion of synthetic gas to fuels. Wanting to better understand how zeolites regulate the reaction pathways, they reviewed the most recent advancements in synthetic gas conversion with catalysts containing zeolites. Their review paper is published in the journal Carbon Future on July 28, 2023. As an alternative ...

Read the release

Science27 Sep 2023

Integration propels machine vision

A joint research team in China wrote a review on in-sensor visual computing, a three-in-one hardware solution that is more efficient, economical and secure than conventional machine vision systems, which collect, store, and interpret visual signals on separate hardware units. This review was published Sept. 26 in Intelligent Computing, a Science Partner Journal. In-sensor visual computing systems are inspired by how humans and other mammals collect, extract and process visual signals, an intricate biological mechanism showing low latency and low energy cost. By integrating sensing, storage and computation onto the ...

Read the release

Science27 Sep 2023

Revolutionary breakthrough: human stomach micro-physiological system unveiled

A groundbreaking development in biomedical engineering has led to the creation of a human stomach micro-physiological system (hsMPS), representing a significant leap forward in understanding and treating various gastrointestinal diseases, including stomach cancer. The research team, led by Professor Tae-Eun Park from the Department of Biomedical Engineering at UNIST and Professor Seong-Ho Kong from Seoul National University Hospital, has successfully developed a biomimetic chip that combines organoid and organ-on-a-chip technologies to simulate the complex defense mechanisms of the human gastric mucosa. Organoids, which mimic human organs using stem cells, have ...

Read the release

Science27 Sep 2023

Inventors of nanopore sequencing honored at Library of Congress

Two UC Santa Cruz researchers were honored on September 27 at the Library of Congress for the invention of nanopore sequencing, which became a new and revolutionary method to read DNA and RNA. David Deamer and Mark Akeson, both emeritus professors of biomolecular engineering at the Baskin School of Engineering, received the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s (AAAS) Golden Goose Award for the invention. Their colleague and friend Daniel Branton, a Havard biologist and co-inventor of the technology, was also honored. The Golden Goose award is given to scientists whose federally-funded research ...

Read the release

Science27 Sep 2023

Sperm swimming is caused by the same patterns that are believed to dictate zebra stripes

Patterns of chemical interactions are thought to create patterns in nature such as stripes and spots. This new study shows that the mathematical basis of these patterns also governs how sperm tail moves. The findings, published today in Nature Communications, reveal that flagella movement of, for example, sperm tails and cilia, follow the same template for pattern formation that was discovered by the famous mathematician Alan Turing. Flagellar undulations make stripe patterns in space-time, generating waves that travel along the tail to drive the sperm and microbes forward. Alan Turing is most well-known for helping ...

Read the release

Science27 Sep 2023

Byzantine Greek inscription of Psalms 86 found in Hyrcania: unearthing ancient faith

A Koine Greek inscription paraphrasing Psalms 86 was discovered by Hebrew University archaeologists at the site of Hyrcania Fortress in the Judean Desert. Adorned with a cross, the Byzantine-era inscription was likely made by a knowledgeable monk and holds significance as a well-known prayer in the Masoretic text and Christian liturgy. Analysis of the script's style suggests a dating no later than the first half of the 6th century CE, the height of the Byzantine era, with minor grammatical errors revealing the scribe’s ...

Read the release