Science
press releases.

Science2 Jun 2023

Alcohol dependency in adolescence, but not consumption, linked with later depression risk

Adolescents who show signs of alcohol dependence are more likely to develop depression by their mid-20s, according to a new study led by UCL (University College London) and University of Bristol researchers. Drinking large amounts of alcohol regularly, but with no signs of dependency, did not predict depression risk, according to the findings published in The Lancet Psychiatry. Co-lead author Dr Gemma Lewis (UCL Psychiatry) said: “By using a large, longitudinal dataset, we have found evidence that problematic drinking patterns in late adolescence may increase the risk of developing ...

Read the release

Science2 Jun 2023

Why we need to fall out of love with flaky white fish - study

The UK’s growing mismatch between the fish we catch and the fish we want to eat has clear implications for our future food security, according to new research. Led by the University of Essex and the Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), the study, published in the international peer-reviewed journal Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, for the first time offers a comprehensive, long-term analysis of how major policy changes in the past 120 years have influenced patterns in UK seafood production, trade and consumption. It shows that even if we changed our fish-eating habits away from choosing flaky white fish such as cod ...

Read the release

Science2 Jun 2023

UK’s poorest children likelier to have less understanding of personal finances, study finds

A new study of 3,745 families from across the UK demonstrates a “sizeable” gap in the financial knowledge of children depending on which socio-economic group they come from. The research highlights significant inequalities in young people’s financial capabilities, with the results pointing toward disadvantaged children not developing key financial skills. In findings published in the peer-reviewed British Journal of Educational Studies, an expert team from UCL are calling for a greater emphasis on developing financial skills amongst children starting at primary school, particularly aimed towards those from disadvantaged social backgrounds, with “a particular need ...

Read the release

Science1 Jun 2023

Eye drops slow nearsightedness progression in kids, study finds

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The results of a new clinical trial suggest that the first drug therapy to slow the progression of nearsightedness in kids could be on the horizon. The three-year study found that a daily drop in each eye of a low dose of atropine, a drug used to dilate pupils, was better than a placebo at limiting eyeglass prescription changes and inhibiting elongation of the eye in nearsighted children aged 6 to 10. That elongation leads to myopia, or nearsightedness, which starts in young kids and ...

Read the release

Science1 Jun 2023

New LUX search tool offers unprecedented access to Yale’s vast collections

New Haven, Conn. — Yale University’s museums, libraries, and archives contain vast troves of cultural and scientific heritage that fire curiosity and fuel research worldwide. Now there’s a simple new way to make astonishing connections among millions of objects. Starting today, anyone can explore the university’s unparalleled holdings online through LUX: Yale Collections Discovery — a groundbreaking discovery and research platform that provides single-point access to more than 17 million items, including defining specimens ...

Read the release

Science1 Jun 2023

Bremen researchers cultivate archaea that break down crude oil in novel ways

Microbial communities are especially active near hydrothermal seeps like those in the Guaymas Basin in the Gulf of California. The team of researchers has been working on understanding these communities for many years. Organic material deposited in the Guaymas Basin is cooked by heat sources from within the Earth, which breaks it down into crude oil and natural gas. Their components provide the primary source of energy for microorganisms in an otherwise hostile environment. In their latest study, the researchers have demonstrated that archaea use a previously unknown mechanism to degrade liquid petroleum ...

Read the release

Science1 Jun 2023

Adolescents are aware of and invested in the potential impacts of abortion restrictions, study says

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – On July 1, North Carolina’s new abortion limits go into effect. As restrictions on abortions are being tightened across the United States, adolescents may encounter mounting obstacles that could prevent them from accessing abortion care. Bianca A. Allison, MD MPH, an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics, sought to examine the awareness and knowledge that adolescents have about the legal landscape of abortion and how these changes might affect them and their communities. The study, published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, found that many adolescents – across a diversity of ...

Read the release

Science1 Jun 2023

Study identifies boat strikes as a growing cause of manatee deaths in Belize

The endangered Antillean manatee faces a growing threat from boat strikes in Belize, according to a new study that raises concerns about the survival of what had been considered a relatively healthy population. Belize hosts a population of around 1,000 manatees. With the growth of tourism in recent decades, however, Belize has seen a substantial increase in boat traffic, making boat strikes an increasingly important cause of manatee deaths and injuries. The new study, published June 1 in Endangered Species Research, used 25 years of data on manatee strandings (dead or injured ...

Read the release

Science1 Jun 2023

Biologists to create ‘toolbox’ for understanding complex genetic traits

Driven by a lifelong curiosity about the natural world and the diversity of life, Elizabeth King, associate professor in the Division of Biological Sciences at the University of Missouri, found inspiration to spend her formative years studying science — and along the way she discovered her passion for biology. That foundation has led her to pursue an ongoing career working to develop a better understanding of genetic traits from a biological perspective. Recently, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded King a five-year, $1.9 million grant to expand her lab’s research ...

Read the release

Science1 Jun 2023

Fellowship offers reporters valuable insight as America ages

The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) has received renewed grant support to welcome a new class of reporters for the Journalists in Aging Fellows Program. The 2023 funders to date include Silver Century Foundation, The John A. Hartford Foundation, Archstone Foundation, and NIHCM Foundation. Since its founding in 2010, this program has been responsible for more than 800 news stories produced by 217 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; ...

Read the release

Science1 Jun 2023

Critical decision-3A clears way toward standard model test

NEWPORT NEWS, VA – The U.S. Department of Energy has given the greenlight for the MOLLER experiment to begin procurement of key components with its granting of Critical Decision-3A (CD-3A): Approve Long Lead Procurements. The determination allows the MOLLER project at DOE’s Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility to begin spending $9.14 million for long-lead procurements of critical items for which designs are complete. After imagining what it would look like for 17 years, Krishna Kumar felt chills the first time he saw fully engineered drawings of the MOLLER experiment. “Seeing the designs on paper gave me pins and needles,” said Kumar, professor of ...

Read the release

Science1 Jun 2023

Sandia scientists achieve breakthrough in tackling PFAS contamination

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A team at Sandia National Laboratories is developing materials to tackle what has become one of the biggest problems in the world: human exposure to a group of chemicals known as PFAS through contaminated water and other products. Sandia is now investing more money to take their research to the next level. “It’s in the news constantly. It seems every day we hear of another product that is contaminated. We saw sparkling water with PFAS, toilet paper with PFAS, so it’s ...

Read the release

Science1 Jun 2023

X-rays visualize how one of nature’s strongest bonds breaks

Embargoed until 1-Jun-2023 14:00 ET (1-Jun-2023 18:00 GMT/UTC) The use of short flashes of X-ray light brings scientists one big step closer toward developing better catalysts to transform the greenhouse gas methane into a less harmful chemical. The result, published in the journal Science, reveals for the first time how carbon-hydrogen bonds of alkanes break and how the catalyst works in this reaction. Methane, one of the most potent greenhouse gases, is being released into the atmosphere at an increasing rate by livestock farming as well as the continuing unfreezing of permafrost. Transforming methane and longer-chain alkanes into less harmful and in fact useful chemicals ...

Read the release

Science1 Jun 2023

More evidence needed to confirm promise of remote or decentralized trials

There’s one question that Hollings Cancer Center researcher Jennifer Dahne, Ph.D., co-director of the remote and virtual trials program at the South Carolina Clinical & Translational Research Institute, hears more than any other as she consults with clinical researchers about how to set up remote trials, also known as decentralized trials. Will these trials overcome the barriers that make it difficult for minority and underserved populations to participate in clinical trials? It’s also a question she often discusses ...

Read the release

Science1 Jun 2023

Forest birds with short, round wings more sensitive to habitat fragmentation, OSU study shows

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Tropical forest birds, which tend to have wings that are short and round relative to their body length and shape, are more sensitive to habitat fragmentation than the long-, slender-winged species common in temperate forests, according to an international collaboration that included scientists from Oregon State University. OSU’s Matt Betts and Christopher Wolf teamed with 14 other authors to analyze the wings of more than 1,000 species worldwide in a study led by Thomas Weeks of Imperial College London and ...

Read the release

Science1 Jun 2023

Long-term risks of targeted therapies

Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) and biologics are the cornerstone of modern treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). But there have been concerns over long-term side effects. New data from a national healthcare database offer reassuring findings for overall cancers and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases have an increased risk of CVD compared to the general population.1 In acknowledgement of this, EULAR – the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology – has published recommendations for cardiovascular risk management ...

Read the release

Science1 Jun 2023

Managing anxiety and depression in arthritis

Anxiety and depression are the mental health issues most commonly associated with inflammatory arthritis, and it is well-established that there is a link between mental health issues and poor health outcomes.2 The EULAR recommendations emphasize the need to assess mental health regularly;1 however, little is known about the association between self-management and mental health in people with inflammatory arthritis. At the 2023 EULAR congress, Vestergaard and colleagues report on their cross-sectional study in Denmark. This included 42,407 adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), or spondylarthritis (axSpA). The aim was to find ...

Read the release

Science1 Jun 2023

The European Alliance of Associations For Rheumatology, EULAR, announces its strategy for 2024 – 2028

Over the period 2018 – 2023, EULAR, the leading organisation in RMDs, has grown substantially and has been professionalised in every aspect. For example, EULAR has increased its impact on RMDs through the development of new services provided by the EULAR Research Centre (ERC). Despite the disruption of routine procedures brought about by the pandemic, EULAR overcame the substantial associated challenges, providing continued access to education and networking for the RMD community. “We have made tremendous progress by setting up two virtual congresses and one fully hybrid congress, and we have ...

Read the release

Science1 Jun 2023

CHOP researchers use “deep sequencing” to identify several previously undescribed genetic variants in vascular anomalies

Philadelphia, June 1, 2023 – Researchers from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) recently discovered that extremely thorough “deep sequencing” of the genome in tissue samples and cell-free DNA of patients with potentially life-threatening vascular anomalies captured several genetic variants related to disease that were not captured with conventional genetic sequencing methods. More than 60% of patients saw an improvement in their condition after being placed on targeted therapies related to these newly found genetic variants. The findings were published today in the journal Nature Medicine. Vascular ...

Read the release

Science1 Jun 2023

Global, race-neutral reference equations and pulmonary function test interpretation

About The Study: The use of race-neutral reference equations to interpret pulmonary function tests resulted in a significant increase in the number of Black individuals with respiratory impairments along with a significant increase in the severity of the identified impairments. More work is needed to quantify the effect these reference equations would have on diagnosis, referral, and treatment patterns. Authors: Alexander T. Moffett, M.D., of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, is the corresponding author. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website ...

Read the release

Science1 Jun 2023

Ticks prove resilient to extreme temperatures

PULLMAN, Wash. — Tick season is here, along with the increased danger of Lyme disease, and it turns out the tiny arachnids are even tougher than scientists previously thought. A recent study in Ecological Monographs shows blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) are actually really good at surviving extreme cold and heat in nature. Previous lab research suggests that even short periods of especially warm or cold conditions should easily kill ticks, but the Washington State University-led analysis reveals this is only the case for larval ticks in the environment. Instead, ...

Read the release

Science1 Jun 2023

Finally solved! The great mystery of quantized vortex motion

Liquid helium-4, which is in a superfluid state at cryogenic temperatures close to absolute zero (-273°C), has a special vortex called a quantized vortex that originates from quantum mechanical effects. When the temperature is relatively high, the normal fluid exists simultaneously in the superfluid helium, and when the quantized vortex is in motion, mutual friction occurs between it and the normal-fluid. However, it is difficult to explain precisely how a quantized vortex interacts with a normal-fluid in motion. Although several theoretical models have been proposed, it has not been clear which model is correct. A research group led by Professor Makoto Tsubota and Specially ...

Read the release

Science1 Jun 2023

Makers of PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ covered up the dangers

The chemical industry took a page out of the tobacco playbook when they discovered and suppressed their knowledge of health harms caused by exposure to PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), according to an analysis of previously secret industry documents by UC San Francisco (UCSF) researchers. A new paper published May 31, 2023, in Annals of Global Health, examines documents from DuPont and 3M, the largest manufacturers of PFAS, and analyzes the tactics industry used to delay public awareness of PFAS toxicity and, in turn, delay regulations governing their use. PFAS are widely used chemicals in clothing, ...

Read the release

Science1 Jun 2023

Northsiders are more connected to nature than southsiders: study

New research into Melburnians’ connection to nature is helping the City of Melbourne understand how to engage its community members in conservation efforts. The study, led by RMIT University in collaboration with the City of Melbourne and Queensland University of Technology, surveyed over 1,500 City of Melbourne residents and visitors on their connection to nature and found nearly 75% of respondents had a high connection to nature. More than 75% of respondents said they were concerned about climate change and the destruction of nature. However, retirees and university students who have lived most of their lives in the Melbourne ...

Read the release

Science1 Jun 2023

Preventing truck crashes needs to take ‘dashcam’ approach to driver ‘microsleeps’

Researchers using dashcam footage of real-world collisions involving large trucks to analyze driver and vehicle behavior has found that anti-drowsiness alarms or similar technologies to prevent falling asleep at the wheel need to go beyond a focus on monitoring the drivers’ eyes, and consider other microsleep behaviors including a relaxation of back and neck muscles and abnormal activity of the vehicle itself. A study reporting the researchers’ findings was published April 13 in the ...

Read the release