Science
press releases.

Science30 Oct 2025

N6-methyladenosine methylation emerges as a key target for treating acute lung injury

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a critical clinical condition characterized by diffuse inflammation of the lung parenchyma and intractable hypoxemia, typically caused by factors, such as trauma, pneumonia, shock, and sepsis. Clinical symptoms of ALI include pulmonary edema, impaired gas exchange, and hypoxemia. m6A methylation regulates gene expression by influencing RNA translation, splicing, stability, and export. This process is dynamically controlled by m6A writers, such as methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) and methyltransferase-like 14 (METTL14), which install the m6A mark; m6A erasers such as fat mass and ...

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Science30 Oct 2025

Synthetic biology to supercharge photosynthesis in crops

Australian researchers have created tiny compartments to help supercharge photosynthesis, potentially boosting wheat and rice yields while slashing water and nitrogen use. Researchers from Associate Professor Yu Heng Lau’s group at the University of Sydney and Professor Spencer Whitney’s group at Australian National University have spent five years tackling a fundamental problem: how can we make plants fix carbon more efficiently? The team engineered nanoscale ‘offices' that can ...

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Science30 Oct 2025

Researchers uncover previously unexplored details of mosquito’s specialized detection mechanisms

It’s bound to happen at a summer picnic, a peaceful walk in the woods or simply sitting in your backyard… a mosquito targets your blood for its next meal. You’ve been bitten. But how do mosquitoes find you? Among several methods used to locate new hosts for blood sucking, mosquitoes feature a keen ability to detect carbon dioxide. As we breathe out, we emit CO2 into the air around us, which mosquitoes can sense. But how? Scientists have been aware of the mosquito’s ability to detect our carbon dioxide expirations but the intricate underlying physiological structures enabling these capabilities largely have remained ...

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Science30 Oct 2025

The NHS is reaching a crisis point in consultant recruitment, new report warns

The NHS is reaching a crisis point in consultant recruitment as 1 in 3 consultant posts lie vacant in some parts of the UK and recruiting managers regularly wait over 12 months to secure a candidate, leading to increased locum costs, finds a new report published by BMJ Careers today. Data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act reveal that these shortages are costing the health service upwards of £674m on locum consultants and are negatively affecting staff morale and patient care. Relying on expensive agency staff also risks derailing work to cut waiting lists. One resident doctor at a north London trust said: “It’s a complete nightmare ...

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Science29 Oct 2025

Plant biomass substance helps combat weeds

A study published in the journal ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering and featured on its cover showed that a fraction obtained from lignin, an organic polymer responsible for the rigidity of plant cell walls, was able to improve the performance of nanoparticles with herbicide. The study was conducted by researchers from three research institutions in the state of São Paulo, Brazil: São Paulo State University (UNESP), the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), and the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar). "Lignin has antioxidant properties and is one of the main components of plant biomass, but it's still underutilized and often ...

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Science29 Oct 2025

Spider web “decorations” may help pinpoint location of captured prey

The long-standing mystery around why spider webs sometimes feature “extra touches” known as stabilimenta has been revisited in a new study which suggests that their wave-propagation effects could help spiders locate captured prey. Gabriele Greco of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and colleagues present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS One on October 29, 2025. Many spider species build spiral wheel-shaped webs—orb webs—to capture flying prey, and many can incorporate stabilimenta into the web structure. These “decorations” may ...

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Science29 Oct 2025

Ancient tombs reveal the story of Chinese history

Tombs scattered across China, built between the 4,000-year old Xia Dynasty and the modern era, reflect the political and social patterns of Chinese history, according to a study published October 29, 2025 in the open-access journal PLOS One by Quanbao Ma from the Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, China, and colleagues. The research team mapped the location of ancient tombs in China to search for patterns in their distribution across the country and throughout history. They found that both socioeconomic factors and geography may have influenced ...

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Science29 Oct 2025

Discovery of a new principle: chiral molecules adhere to magnets

Chiral molecules, which have a helical structure, are known to interact with magnets in a phenomenon known as chirality-induced spin selectivity (CISS). For instance, when a chiral molecule is connected to a magnet and an electric current is applied, magnetoresistance effects can be observed. It has also been reported that magnets can be used to separate right-handed and left-handed chiral molecules. The prevailing explanation is that the flow of current through a chiral molecule induces magnetic ...

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Science29 Oct 2025

Survival of the blandest: Unusual sharks face highest extinction risk

If current extinction trends continue, global shark populations will lose much of their variety, thereby threatening ecosystems where specialized species serve vital roles, researchers have found. In prowling Earth’s oceans for more than 400 million years, sharks have evolved into a delightfully diverse group. As popularly conveyed through children’s books, the famous fish range in size from palm-sized dwarf lanternsharks to school-bus-length whale sharks. Great whites, hammerheads, and many others serve key ecological roles as apex predators at the top of the food chain. According to previous research, one-third ...

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Science29 Oct 2025

Major milestone achieved in capturing ribosome assembly

Ribosomes are the cell's protein factories, which read the genetic code and assemble the proteins that every organism needs to live. But as far as how ribosomes themselves were formed, tantalizingly little was known. Now, scientists have captured a key part of this process, in motion. The findings, published in Nature, combine artificial intelligence, cryo-electron microscopy, and genetics to reveal, in unprecedented detail, how cells coordinate, regulate, and safeguard the creation of the small ribosomal subunit—a machine central to forming every protein. "We finally have a molecular movie of ribosome formation—we've ...

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Science29 Oct 2025

National TRAP Program targets ghostly issue with second round of coastal clean up funding

Lurking in the waters along our shorelines, a haunting presence is luring marine life to their untimely demise and trapping their spirits in an underwater purgatory. This isn’t the plot of a new Halloween blockbuster, it’s the unfortunate impact of derelict fishing equipment commonly known as “ghost traps.” William & Mary’s Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences & VIMS has awarded $1.8 million to 13 organizations throughout the U.S. focused on the removal of derelict fishing gear, which poses a significant threat to the sustainability of coastal ...

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Science29 Oct 2025

Six scientists receive AFAR grants for junior faculty

NEW YORK, NY— The American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 Grants for Junior Faculty. The Grants for Junior Faculty program provides up to $150,000 to junior faculty (MDs and PhDs) for 1-2 years to conduct research that will serve as the basis for longer term research efforts on the biology of aging.The major goal of this program is to assist in the development of the careers of early career investigators committed to pursuing careers ...

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Science29 Oct 2025

American Pediatric Society announces Bruce D. Gelb, MD, as recipient of its prestigious 2026 APS John Howland Award

American Pediatric Society Announces Bruce D. Gelb, MD, as Recipient of Its Prestigious 2026 APS John Howland Award New York, NY (October 29, 2025) – The American Pediatric Society (APS) has selected Bruce D. Gelb, MD, Gogel Family Chair and Director of The Mindich Child Health and Development Institute and Dean for Child Health Research at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, as the recipient of the 2026 APS John Howland Award, the highest honor given in academic pediatrics. Established in 1952 ...

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Science29 Oct 2025

Faster and more reliable crystal structure prediction of organic molecules

Prediction of crystal structures of organic molecules is a critical task in many industries, especially in pharmaceuticals and design of functional materials. In pharmaceuticals, crystal structures directly influence a drug’s solubility and stability. In functional materials, like organic semiconductors, controlling crystal structures is crucial for achieving desired electronic properties. However, crystal structure prediction (CSP) is an inherently challenging task due to the weak and diverse intra- and inter-molecular interactions unique to organic crystals. Even minor variations can result in entirely different packing arrangements. CSP is typically ...

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Science29 Oct 2025

Switching memories on and off with epigenetics

Our experiences leave traces in the brain, stored in small groups of cells called “engrams”. Engrams are thought to hold the information of a memory and are reactivated when we remember, which makes them very interesting to research on memory and age- or trauma-related memory loss. At the same time, scientists know that the biology of learning is accompanied by epigenetic changes, which refers to the ways the cell regulates genes by adding chemical "post-it notes" on DNA. But the question of whether the epigenetic state of a single gene in turn can cause a memory ...

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Science29 Oct 2025

Heatwaves linked to rise in sleep apnoea cases in Europe

During heatwaves, there is an increase in the number of people suffering with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), according to a major study published today (Wednesday) in the European Respiratory Journal [1]. People with OSA often snore loudly, their breathing starts and stops during the night, and they may wake up several times. Not only does this cause excessive sleepiness, but it can also increase the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Researchers say their findings are particularly important as heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change. The ...

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Science29 Oct 2025

New insights reveal how coral gets a grip

QUT researchers have uncovered critical biological processes that allow corals attach to a reef in a finding that could significantly improve coral restoration efforts worldwide. The study published in Royal Society Open Science, led by Dr Brett Lewis from the QUT School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, investigated how coral fragments from three species, Montipora mollis, Pocillopora verrucosa and Acropora millepora, develop self-sustaining attachment to reef surfaces. “Coral reefs are declining globally, and their recovery often depends on broken fragments reattaching and growing but that process isn’t as simple as it sounds,” Dr Lewis ...

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Science28 Oct 2025

Straw-based biochar and smart irrigation help maize thrive with less water and fertilizer

A new study has revealed that the lasting effects of biochar depend strongly on the material it is made from, with straw-derived biochar offering clear advantages for maize productivity under limited-water conditions. The research, published in Biochar, shows that combining wheat-straw biochar with an alternate partial root-zone drying irrigation system can boost crop yield and resource efficiency for at least two growing seasons after a single biochar application. Biochar, a carbon-rich material produced by heating plant residues, has long been ...

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Science28 Oct 2025

How can (A)I help you?

As the saying goes, “The customer is always right.” With the proliferation of artificial intelligence in consumer-facing roles, however, that may not always be so. Some customers have figured out how to game AI chatbots, exaggerating their complaints to get bigger benefits, such as discounts. On the plus side, however, AI customer service can help companies respond better to consumer complaints, saving money and reducing emotional burdens on human employees. A new study by Yifan Yu, a Texas McCombs assistant professor of information, ...

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Science28 Oct 2025

Allison Institute’s third annual scientific symposium highlighted by panel discussion with five Nobel laureates

Sessions focused on the latest advances in cancer vaccines, immunotherapy and immunology research Symposium featured a panel discussion with five Nobel laureates, moderated by TIME Senior Health Correspondent Alice Park HOUSTON, OCTOBER 28, 2025 ― The James P. Allison Institute™ at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center hosted its third annual scientific symposium, “The Multiverse of Mechanistic Processes Impacting Immunity,” on Oct. 24 at the TMC3 Collaborative Building in the Texas Medical Center’s Helix Park. The symposium, with more than 1,500 attending in person and ...

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Science28 Oct 2025

SETI Institute accelerates the search for life beyond earth with NVIDIA IGX Thor

SETI Institute Accelerates the Search for Life Beyond Earth with NVIDIA IGX Thor The new enterprise-ready NVIDIA IGX Thor platform brings real-time AI processing to the Allen Telescope Array, helping scientists detect signals from space faster than ever. October 28, 2025, Mountain View, CA – The SETI Institute announced that it will incorporate the new NVIDIA IGX Thor platform to enhance its real-time search for signals from space at the Allen Telescope Array (ATA) in Northern California. The collaboration brings cutting-edge ...

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Science28 Oct 2025

When it comes to mating, female mosquitoes call the shots

A female mosquito only gets one shot to get reproduction right: She mates just a single time in her entire life. With the stakes so high, it would make sense for these insects to be quite choosey when it comes to selecting a mate. And yet a long-standing assumption in the field was that males controlled the process, and females were simply passive recipients of sperm. “There’s an inherent contradiction in this assumption,” says Rockefeller University and Howard Hughes Medical Institute mosquito expert Leslie Vosshall. “If females have no say, then multiple males ...

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Science28 Oct 2025

JMIR Publications and MCBIOS partner to boost open access bioinformatics research

(Toronto and Little Rock, October 16, 2025) JMIR Publications, a premier open access publisher of digital health research, and The MidSouth Computational Biology and Bioinformatics Society (MCBIOS), a leading professional organization for computational biology and bioinformatics, today announced a strategic, long-term partnership. This agreement formally designates JMIR Bioinformatics and Biotechnology as the official journal of MCBIOS. This landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) creates a stable, high-impact venue for MCBIOS members to publish their research, particularly the output from the Society's annual conference. Both organizations are ...

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Science28 Oct 2025

Houseplant inspires textured surfaces to mitigate copper IUD corrosion

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28, 2025 – Copper intrauterine devices are a common contraceptive due to their long-acting effects and affordability. However, the first few months of use are associated with several side effects. When a copper IUD is first implanted in the uterus, it undergoes a chemical reaction with uterine fluid. This reaction corrodes its surface, causing a burst of copper ions, which can lead to symptoms such as menstrual irregularity, increased menstrual cramps, and pelvic inflammatory disease. In Biointerphases, an AVS journal published ...

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Science28 Oct 2025

Dicer: Life's ancient repair tool

Could yeast and humans be any more different? Going by looks alone, probably not. But peering into our genomes reveals surprising similarities. That’s because we share a common ancestor called LECA (last eukaryotic common ancestor). Before this single-celled organism died off around 2 billion years ago, it passed down Dicer, a key protein humans and certain yeasts still rely on today. “Dicer is ancient,” explains Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Professor Rob Martienssen. “The mechanisms behind how it directly interacts with RNA are well understood. How it does this in the context of the whole genome, and how that affects genome stability, is still ...

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