With more than four billion people around the globe owning a smartphone, researchers are now looking at ways to reduce a growing public health concern—problematic smartphone use. Dr. Susan Holtzman teaches psychology in UBC Okanagan’s Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. She recently published a study in Mindfulness examining the overuse or dependence on smartphones and how it might be curbed with mindfulness techniques. She discusses the issue and provides a few tips for people who might be “addicted to their devices”. Can you explain problematic ...

Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) will host the world’s first academic symposium dedicated to addressing the impact of “brain rot” and “AI slop”. Taking place on Friday, 5 December, the event builds on research from ARU’s Centre for Media, Arts, and Creative Industries, and delegates from 23 countries will take part either online or in person at ARU in Cambridge, England. Brain rot, named Oxford’s Word of the Year in 2024, refers to the “deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result ...

BUFFALO, N.Y. — When University at Buffalo chemists analyzed samples of water, fish, and bird eggs, they weren’t surprised to find plenty of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). After all, these “forever chemicals” turn up nearly everywhere in the environment.  But they were intrigued that one of the most hazardous PFAS — perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), once used in nonstick pans and firefighting foam — appeared in slightly different structural forms, known ...

The Ecological Society of America (ESA) presents a roundup of six research articles recently published across its esteemed journals. Widely recognized for fostering innovation and advancing ecological knowledge, ESA’s journals consistently feature illuminating and impactful studies. This compilation of papers explores urban pollinator navigation, the relationship between aging tree roots and soil fungi, sea urchin “halos”, gaps in international agreements for migratory birds, the impacts of an introduced prawn and the power of environmental education.   From Ecological Applications: A long and winding road for ...

Researchers examined five AI models on multiple genomic tasks to see how well they performed Models performed well overall, with each having strengths and weaknesses based on the desired task Study provides a framework for researchers to choose optimal AI models for specific genomic tasks HOUSTON, DECEMBER 2, 2025 ― Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have performed a comprehensive evaluation of five artificial intelligence (AI) models trained on genomic sequences, known as DNA foundation language models. These comparisons provide valuable insights into their strengths and weaknesses and offer a framework for selecting appropriate models based ...

Irvine, Calif., Dec. 2, 2025 — A study led by health communications experts at the University of California, Irvine has yielded a new way to monitor heat equity in real time, facilitating the design of heat warning systems and targeted mitigation efforts in California’s most vulnerable communities. Researchers at UC Irvine’s Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health explored online posts by Californians about extreme heat to help inform the development of targeted public health interventions. The study was supported by the National Science ...

Researchers from North Carolina State University have confirmed that a species of Rickettsia first seen in dogs in 2018 is a new species of bacteria. The new species, dubbed Rickettsia finnyi, is associated with symptoms similar to those of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) in dogs, but has not yet been found in humans. Rickettsia pathogens are categorized into four groups; of those, spotted-fever group Rickettsia (which is transmitted by ticks) is the most commonly known ...

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — As health care costs continue to soar across the U.S., a growing number of states are setting limits on how much hospitals can charge. These policies, known as hospital payment caps, aim to curb spending by tying hospital prices to Medicare rates, which are typically far lower than what commercial insurers pay. In 2019, Oregon became the first state to implement such a cap, applying it to the health plan covering state employees. Under the policy, hospitals cannot charge ...

CORNELL UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE FOR RELEASE: Dec. 2, 2025   Kaitlyn Serrao 607-882-1140 kms465@cornell.edu   Could water, sunlight, and air be all that’s needed to make hydrogen peroxide?   ITHACA, N.Y. - Cornell University scientists have discovered a potentially transformative approach to manufacturing one of the world’s most widely used chemicals – hydrogen peroxide – using nothing more than sunlight, water and air. “Currently, hydrogen peroxide ...

HONOLULU, Dec. 2, 2025 — Dental anxiety, also known as odontophobia, prevents people from getting their regular cleanings and keeping up with necessary dental hygiene. One aspect of the anxiety comes from the sound of the dental drill, which makes a high-pitched whining sound. As a dentist, Tomomi Yamada has witnessed discomfort and fear in her patients firsthand. “Originally, I was doing research on dental materials, but I realized that almost no one — not even dentists — was tackling this sound problem scientifically,” Yamada said. Yamada, an assistant professor at the University of Osaka’s graduate ...

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A new study highlights how important uninterrupted sleep is to recovery after a traumatic brain injury, finding that fragmented sleep in injured mice is linked to a loss of rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep and increased fatigue. Specifically, the research shows that fragmented sleep worsens symptoms that a traumatic brain injury (TBI) alone produces – and that mice without a head injury can make up for some REM sleep loss brought on by interruptions to sleep, but injured mice do not. REM sleep has a major role in helping the brain consolidate and process new information and is associated with better concentration and ...

Researchers led by Tzyy-Nan Huang and Ming-Hui Lin from Academia Sinica in Taiwan report that a low-dose mixture of zinc, serine, and branch-chain amino acids can alleviate behavioral deficits in three different mouse models of autism. Published December 2nd in the open-access journal in PLOS Biology, the study shows that when combined together, these three dietary supplements promote communication between neurons in the brain and improve social behaviors. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is known to result from abnormal neural development that affects how neurons are connected. ...

People who have received emergency or hospital care in Canada due to hallucinogen use have a six-fold increased risk of receiving care for mania in the next three years, according to a study published December 2nd in the open-access journal PLOS Medicine by Daniel Myran from North York General Hospital in Canada and colleagues. Use of hallucinogens such as ketamine, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) or psilocybin has been increasing, both recreationally and in medical contexts for treatment of conditions such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. But there are safety concerns that these drugs might induce mania or trigger ...

Conservation programs are often too focused on a single charismatic species, Hai-Tao Shi at Hainan Normal University in China and colleagues warn in a perspective article publishing December 2nd in the open-access journal PLOS Biology. With many species worldwide experiencing population declines, there is an urgent need for conservation initiatives to support their recovery. However, this urgency, combined with insufficient scientific knowledge about endangered species, means that conservationists have often relied on oversimplified measures of success. For example, historical conservation efforts often ...

Addressing the staggering power and energy demands of artificial intelligence, engineers at the University of Houston have developed a revolutionary new thin-film material that promises to make AI devices significantly faster while dramatically cutting energy consumption.   The breakthrough, detailed in the journal ACS Nano, introduces a specialized two-dimensional (2D) thin film dielectric - or an electric insulator - designed to replace traditional, heat generating components in integrated circuit chips. This new thin film material, ...

To a human, microplastics are very small at less than 5 millimeters (mm) wide. But to an insect, microplastics might be the same size as the food they usually eat. Researchers reporting in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology have shown that crickets can and will consume polyethylene microplastics if their mouth is larger than the plastic particle. The study suggests that crickets — and likely many other insects — cannot distinguish plastic from food. Previous research has shown that consuming microplastics negatively affects small animals like insects, snails and earthworms. These plastic particles, ranging in size from 1 micrometer (around the width ...

Washington, D.C. — The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) have announced a new collaborative initiative, the Healthcare Infection Prevention Advisory Group (HIPAG), to address infection prevention priorities of national importance. The elimination of the CDC’s Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) has created gaps in coordinated, multidisciplinary alignment on infection prevention and control ...

NEW YORK, NY--Researchers at Columbia University have found that a lack of dietary iron early in life can prevent immune cells in the lung from making a key protein that helps fight viral infections, even after iron levels are restored.   The findings suggest that immunological memory formed when iron levels are low may not provide adequate protection against future exposures to the same viruses. “Iron deficiency, which disproportionally affects children, is one of the most common nutritional problems worldwide and has long been linked to ...

2 December 2025 Are primary students prepared to write in a digital world? A nation-wide study on computer-based writing instruction in Australian classrooms, led by researchers from Edith Cowan University (ECU) in collaboration with colleagues from the Writing for All research group, has shined a spotlight on how little time and attention primary schools are giving to teaching students how to write using a computer. Lead author Dr Anabela Malpique from the School of Education at ECU said the research surveyed 340 primary education teachers (Years ...

PHILADELPHIA (December 2, 2025) – In an editorial published in JAMA Health Forum, three prominent nursing researchers have strongly defended the necessity of the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) and its enduring impact on public health. Titled "The Enduring Impact of the National Institute of Nursing Research and Why We Still Need It," the viewpoint addresses the Institute's future as it approaches its 40th anniversary. The authors – Mary D. Naylor, PhD, RN, FAAN, the ...

Ant colonies operate as tightly coordinated “superorganisms” with individual ants working together, much like the cells of a body, to ensure their collective health. Researchers at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) have now discovered that terminally ill ant brood, like infected cells, release an odor signaling their impending death and the risk they pose. This sophisticated early warning system facilitates rapid detection and removal of pathogenic infections. The study was published in Nature Communications. In many social animals, group members try to conceal their sickness ...

A new national analysis shows that over the past two decades, inpatient care for children with complex chronic conditions (CCCs) has become far more intensive—and is now overwhelmingly concentrated in urban teaching children’s hospitals. The authors argue that these shifts necessitate changes in pediatric training, staffing, and Medicaid policy. Analyzing U.S. hospital discharge data from 2000 to 2022, the study found that children with at least one CCC now account for more than two-fifths of pediatric bed days and nearly three-fifths of hospital charges. Examples include children ...

About The Study: In this cohort study of insulin-treated older adults with Alzheimer disease and related dementias and diabetes, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) use was associated with improved long-term clinical outcomes. Pragmatic (i.e., evaluating the effectiveness of healthcare interventions in everyday settings) trials are needed to validate these findings and to assess the feasibility of CGM use in this population. Corresponding author: To contact the corresponding author, Jingchuan Guo, M.D., Ph.D., email guoj1@ufl.edu. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi: ...

About The Study: In this cohort study, maternal plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels throughout pregnancy were inversely associated with odds of offspring early childhood caries. These findings support the potential benefit of vitamin D supplementation before or during pregnancy in reducing the risk and severity of childhood dental caries. Corresponding author: To contact the corresponding author, Yunxian Yu, M.D., Ph.D., email yunxianyu@zju.edu.cn. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi: ...

An unusual public health policy in Wales may have produced the strongest evidence yet that a vaccine can reduce the risk of dementia. In a new study led by Stanford Medicine, researchers analyzing the health records of Welsh older adults discovered that those who received the shingles vaccine were 20% less likely to develop dementia over the next seven years than those who did not receive the vaccine. The remarkable findings, published April 2 in Nature, support an emerging theory that viruses that affect the nervous system can increase the risk of dementia. If further ...