Science
press releases.

Science19 Aug 2025

Extreme heat increases infant mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa currently has the highest infant mortality rate in the world, with 27 babies out of every 1,000 live births dying in their first month. As the climate warms, pregnant women in the region are increasingly exposed to extreme heat, which can cause reduced placental blood flow and dehydration, potentially affecting fetal development. In addition, extreme heat can lead to the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria in the environment, and can make it difficult for women to travel to prenatal care appointments. Jiafu An and colleagues sought to determine whether in-utero exposure to extreme ...

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Science19 Aug 2025

Scientists discover new phenomenon in chiral symmetry breaking

Osaka, Japan－Researchers at The University of Osaka have discovered a new type of chiral symmetry breaking (CSB) in an organic crystalline compound. This phenomenon, involving a solid-state structural transition from an achiral to a chiral crystal, represents a significant advance in our understanding of chirality and offers a simplified model to study the origin of homochirality. This transformation also activates circularly polarized luminescence, enabling new optical materials with tunable light properties. Chirality, or "handedness," is a fundamental property of objects, from galaxies to molecules, and plays a crucial role in biological ...

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Science19 Aug 2025

Liquid gold: Prototype harvests valuable resource from urine

A newly developed system transforms human waste into a powerful tool for profitable and sustainable energy and agriculture in resource-limited regions. The prototype, outlined in a Stanford-led study published Aug 19 in Nature Water, recovers a valuable fertilizer from urine, using solar energy that can also provide power for other uses. In the process, the system provides essential sanitation, making wastewater safer to discharge or reuse for irrigation. “This project is about turning a waste problem into a resource opportunity,” said study ...

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Science19 Aug 2025

Scientists debut a new foundational atlas of the plant life cycle

LA JOLLA (August 19, 2025)—Nearly everything you know about plants was first discovered in a plant you’ve likely never heard of. Arabidopsis thaliana, also known as thale cress, is a small, flowering weed that has shaped much of plant biology as we know it. Serving as the representative plant species in most plant research across the last half century, Arabidopsis has taught us how plants respond to light, which hormones control plant behavior, and why some plants grow long, deep roots ...

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Science19 Aug 2025

Smarter hydrogel surface achieves 5× faster oil–water separation

Oil spills and oily industrial wastewater are a nightmare for factories, the environment, and public health. Separating oil from water might sound simple, but in reality it's one of the toughest jobs in wastewater treatment—especially when the mixture contains oils of different densities, tiny droplets, or sticky contaminants. Traditional membrane filters often clog, slow down, and lose efficiency over time. In International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing, a research team has developed an organic ...

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Science19 Aug 2025

Novel unsymmetrical molecule produces perfect photocatalyst potential

Osaka, Japan – Life as we know it is based on organic molecules. In these molecules, carbon and hydrogen atoms are linked into a fascinating array of structures, such as chains or rings. One special class of organic molecules, hetero[8]circulenes, can behave in interesting ways because of their ring of eight atoms, and have many applications, including electronic devices responsible for controlling and detecting light. However, creating these molecules through planned chemical reactions, or the synthetic route, ...

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Science19 Aug 2025

Charting the evolution of life through the ancient chaetognath

One of the stranger forms of life on our planet is the tiny, torpedo-shaped chaetognath, which roams the seas on the hunt for small crustaceans. These predators are named after the chitinous grasping spines surrounding their mouth (Greek: “chaite”, bristle, and “gnathos”, jaw), and are also known as arrow worms. Despite their ubiquity in the world’s oceans, the evolutionary origin of this unique lifeform has long baffled biologists – Charles Darwin himself noted their “obscurity of affinities” in 1844. Notably, the worm has characteristics of both protostomes, which include ...

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Science18 Aug 2025

Mary Jo Pugh earns national Outstanding Research Accomplishment Award for uncovering long-term consequences of TBI

Nearly one in five U.S. veterans have experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI), mostly in the form of a concussion. Now, the full long-term health consequences of TBI are starting to be uncovered, thanks in large part to the work of Mary Jo Pugh, PhD, RN, professor of epidemiology at University of Utah Health and investigator with the Informatics, Decision-Enhancement and Analytical Sciences (IDEAS) Center of Innovation at the VA Salt Lake City Healthcare System. On August 4, Pugh won an Outstanding Research Accomplishment award at ...

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Science18 Aug 2025

North Pacific waters are acidifying more rapidly below the surface

Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere enters the ocean at the surface and has been increasing the acidity of Pacific waters since the beginning of the industrial revolution over 200 years ago. A new study, led by University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa oceanographers, revealed that the ocean is acidifying even more rapidly below the surface in the open waters of the North Pacific near Hawai‘i. Their discovery was published recently in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans. “Ocean ...

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Science18 Aug 2025

A shape-changing antenna for more versatile sensing and communication

CAMBRIDGE, MA – MIT researchers have developed a reconfigurable antenna that dynamically adjusts its frequency range by changing its physical shape, making it more versatile for communications and sensing than static antennas. A user can stretch, bend, or compress the antenna to make reversible changes to its radiation properties, enabling a device to operate in a wider frequency range without the need for complex, moving parts. With an adjustable frequency range, a reconfigurable antenna could adapt to changing environmental conditions and reduce the need for multiple antennas. The word “antenna” ...

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Science18 Aug 2025

Catching a 'eureka' before it strikes: New research spots the signs

MEDIA EMBARGO: 3 p.m. EASTERN TIME AUGUST 18, 2025 They feel like lightning — sudden, brilliant and seemingly impossible to predict. But according to new research, those mind-flashing “aha” moments of insight may leave detectable traces before they strike. Scientists have developed a way to identify subtle behavioral changes that happen minutes before a breakthrough, offering a new window into the elusive mechanics of human creativity. The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Shadab Tabatabaeian, who earned her Ph.D. in Cognitive and Information Sciences from the University of California, Merced, is lead author, ...

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Science18 Aug 2025

When rattlesnakes marry their cousins

Roads, buildings and farms are preventing Michigan’s only rattlesnake from finding mates outside of their population. A 15-year study shows that fragmentation into smaller, more isolated patches is likely reducing the threatened snake’s chances of survival. Michigan State University conservation biologists traced the family histories of more than 1,000 Eastern Massasauga rattlesnakes caught and released in a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-funded project. The new findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, surprised even the researchers – the most inbred snakes were ...

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Science18 Aug 2025

Mass spectrometry sequencing of circulating antibodies from a malaria-exposed child provides new insight into malaria immunity

Malaria, caused by Plasmodium falciparum, remains a major global health threat, claiming 600,000 lives annually, mostly young children in sub-Saharan Africa. Immunity to severe malaria develops after repeated infections and is mediated by antibodies blocking the parasite’s highly diversified PfEMP1 adhesion proteins from binding to the human endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) on blood vessel walls. In the collaborative study, researchers from the National Institute for Medical Research in Tanzania and the University of Copenhagen first identified donors with immune plasma able to ...

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Science18 Aug 2025

Over-the-counter oral contraceptive use and initiation of contraception

About The Study: In this cross-sectional study of U.S. individuals obtaining oral contraception, the oral contraceptive pill was accessed over-the-counter (OTC) by many who previously used no method or less-effective contraception. These findings suggest that OTC access may improve equitable access to contraception. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Maria I. Rodriguez, M.D., M.P.H., email rodrigma@ohsu.edu. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.27438) Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional ...

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Science18 Aug 2025

Over-the-counter pill boosts access to contraception, OHSU study finds

Two years ago, the Food and Drug Administration approved the sale of an over-the-counter birth control pill for the first time in the United States without a prescription. A nationwide study published today reveals the decision has dramatically improved access to contraception, especially among women who otherwise would have had no birth control at all, either because they lack insurance or routine access to health care. The study was conducted by researchers at Oregon Health & Science University. Published in the journal ...

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Science18 Aug 2025

New research ferments the perfect recipe for fine chocolate flavor

Researchers have identified key factors that influence the flavour of chocolate during the cocoa bean fermentation process, a discovery that could offer chocolate producers a powerful tool to craft consistently high-quality, flavour-rich chocolate. Scientists from the University of Nottingham’s School of Biosciences examined how cacao bean temperature, pH, and microbial communities interact during fermentation and how these factors shape chocolate flavour. The team identified key microbial species and metabolic traits associated with fine-flavour chocolate and found that both abiotic factors (such as temperature and ...

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Science18 Aug 2025

Seabirds only poop while flying

On Japan’s desert islands, researchers uncovered a peculiar bathroom ritual among seabirds. Reporting in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on August 18, the team found that streaked shearwaters (Calonectris leucomelas) poop while flying—not while floating on water—and they do so every 4 to 10 minutes. This habit may help the birds stay clean and fertilize the ocean below. But the team didn’t set out to document the seabirds’ bathroom habits. “I was studying how seabirds run on sea surface to take off,” says Leo Uesaka, the lead author from the University ...

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Science18 Aug 2025

Exploration and dispersal are key traits involved in a rapid range expansion

To the point Exploratory behavior: Grackles who were trained to be more flexible were more exploratory after the training than untrained grackles. This indicates that the more an individual investigates a novel object, the more it can learn and adapt its behavior accordingly. Range expansion: Grackles in an edge population disperse farther than those in a more central population. This suggests that the rapid geographic range expansion of great-tailed grackles is associated with individuals differentially expressing dispersal behaviors. Key traits: Flexibility, exploration, and dispersal are key ...

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Science18 Aug 2025

New study reveals the gene responsible for diverse color patterns in African violet flower

Flowers, specialized plant structures consisting of colorful petals and green sepals, play a key role in plant propagation. In addition to their ornamental value, flowers have gained emotional and cultural significance over the years. African violet, scientifically known as Streptocarpus sect. Saintpaulia ionanthus Wendl., is a remarkable ornamental plant with unique color patterns in its flowers owing to the accumulation of anthocyanins—a chemical substance that imparts different colors. Among the diverse varieties of Saintpaulia flowers, the white-striped petal variety has been exclusively bred for their aesthetic appeal and horticultural value. Until recently, scientists ...

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Science18 Aug 2025

Small molecule could alleviate acetaminophen-induced liver injury

WASHINGTON, Aug. 18, 2025 — Acetaminophen is one of the most common painkillers and is found in hundreds of different medications. While safe at recommended doses, acetaminophen overdose is the leading cause of acute liver injury in the U.S. Now, researchers propose that a new molecule has the potential to treat acetaminophen-induced liver injury (AILI) and other inflammatory conditions. They conducted a small-scale mouse trial and found that the new compound decreased AILI-caused liver inflammation and prevented liver damage. Jannatun Nayem Namme, a graduate ...

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Science18 Aug 2025

New study reveals preventing an hour of intense pain in chickens costs less than a hundredth of a cent

A new study published today in Nature Food evaluates the impacts of the European Chicken Commitment (ECC), an initiative calling on food companies to adopt slower-growing breeds and higher welfare standards. While concerns over increased costs and emissions have been barriers to adoption, the study puts those concerns in perspective. For example, using EU carbon externality costs (the cost for companies to emit one tonne of CO₂ under the EU Emissions Trading System), the study showed that it costs less than one-hundredth of a cent to prevent each hour of intense pain —equivalent to the emissions from ...

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Science18 Aug 2025

Researchers send a wireless curveball to deliver massive amounts of data

High frequency radio waves can wirelessly carry the vast amount of data demanded by emerging technology like virtual reality, but as engineers push into the upper reaches of the radio spectrum, they are hitting walls. Literally. Ultrahigh frequency bandwidths are easily blocked by objects, so users can lose transmissions walking between rooms or even passing a bookcase. Now, researchers at Princeton engineering have developed a machine-learning system that could allow ultrahigh frequency transmissions to dodge those obstacles. In an August 18 article in Nature Communications, the researchers unveiled a system ...

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Science18 Aug 2025

Reusable ‘jelly ice’ keeps things cold — without meltwater

WASHINGTON, Aug. 18, 2025 — No matter whether it’s crushed or cubed, ice eventually melts into a puddle — but an alternative called jelly ice doesn’t. Researchers Jiahan Zou and Gang Sun developed a one-step process to create the reusable, compostable material from gelatin, the same ingredient in jiggly desserts. Because frozen jelly ice doesn’t leak as it thaws, it’s ideal for food supply chains and medication transport. The team is also exploring protein-based structures for food-safe coatings and lab-grown meat scaffolds. Zou will present her results at the fall meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS). ACS Fall ...

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Science18 Aug 2025

What do you do if your dog ingests cocaine? How one researcher is trying to protect pets from future accidents

What inspired you to become a researcher? I was introduced to the One Health Initiative during my undergraduate studies, which opened my eyes to the power of collaborative science. This initiative promotes collaboration between veterinary medicine, human medicine, environmental disciplines, and other scientific fields to advance our collective well-being. What fascinated me was how interconnected our health challenges really are – diseases don't respect boundaries between species or environments. I realized that the discoveries we make in ...

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Science18 Aug 2025

KIST develops world's first 'high-conductivity amphiphilic MXene' that can be dispersed in a wide range of solvents

Dr. Seon Joon Kim and his team at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST)'s Convergence Research Center for SEIF have developed a "high-conductivity amphiphilic MXene" material that can be dispersed in water, polar and nonpolar organic solvents. This is an achievement that fundamentally overcomes the solvent compatibility limitation that has hindered the practical use of high-conductivity MXene, and is noted as a general-purpose technology that can be widely applied to high-tech industries in the future. MXene, a two-dimensional nanomaterial with high electrical conductivity, excellent solvent dispersibility, and excellent EMI shielding ...

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