Millions of times a year, Americans seek urgent treatment for painful, embarrassing urinary tract infections. But while they once had to go in person for testing and treatment, now they can type messages to their clinic into their phone, or see a doctor or nurse practitioner by video. They can also buy a rapid UTI test at the drug store, or fill out an online symptom questionnaire and get an antibiotic prescription from a telehealth service that has no connection to their regular health care provider. And while these recent ...

In 1997, the two Belgian researchers created an algorithm they called Rijndael, a portmanteau of their names, which not long after – in 2001 in the U.S. and 2005 elsewhere – would become the international standard used to safeguard the security and privacy of websites, laptops, mobile phones, Wi-Fi connections, digital messaging systems, bank cards, and cloud data storage, among numerous other applications. So much so, says the committee, that over the last quarter century, the cryptographic system they devised “has become an intrinsic part of everyday life.” Thanks ...

They don’t march in the streets or storm the polls, but a new breed of AI-controlled personas could be the next big threat to democracy. According to a new policy forum paper in Science, Swarms of AI personas mimic humans so well they can infiltrate online communities, shape conversations, and tilt elections—all at machine speed. Unlike old-school botnets, these agents coordinate in real time, adapt to feedback, and sustain coherent narratives across thousands of accounts.  How AI-controlled personas work Advances ...

Biological differences between women and men led to variations in the appearance and progression of many diseases, which influenced diagnosis and response to treatments. These differences also affected the relationship between diseases, as they generated different combinations, risks, and patterns of joint appearance depending on sex. However, the biological mechanisms that explained these associations remained largely unexplored from a sex-differentiated perspective until now. A new study led by the Barcelona Supercomputing Center – Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC), in collaboration with researchers from the University of ...

  Images of the researchers   Americans believe that the family as a whole—especially a spouse or partner—is responsible for caring for an older adult.    Biological and stepchildren have the next highest levels of obligation, according to a new University of Michigan study. Even though with lighter responsibilities, many believe that lifelong friends also should pitch in.    And when an older adult has dementia, the family unit's level of responsibility is seen as even higher, according to the research, published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: Behavior & Socioeconomics of Aging and funded by the National Institute ...

WASHINGTON — Researchers have created an optical device that can generate both electric and magnetic vortex-ring-like light patterns. These structured light vortices, known as skyrmions, are highly stable and resistant to disturbances, making them promising for reliably encoding information in wireless applications. “Our device not only generates more than one vortex pattern in free-space-propagating terahertz pulses but can also be used to switch, on demand, between two modes using the same integrated platform,” said corresponding author Xueqian Zhang from Tianjin University. “Such controllability is essential for real applications, where reliable ...

Fukuoka, Japan—Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), widely marketed as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, are now hooking younger generations. World Health Organization data from 2025 show that at least 15 million adolescents aged 13–15 now vape. As colorful, fruit-flavored devices become a new social norm on playgrounds and campuses, we must rethink whether they are truly harmless as advertised. A recent study from Kyushu University, with collaborators from Hong Kong and Taiwan, published in Science of The Total Environment, offers biological insights into the potential health risks of vaping. Using a zebrafish ...

AMHERST, Mass. — An international study co-led by researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Helmholtz Munich in Germany has uncovered hundreds of genes and proteins likely to play a causal role in Type 2 diabetes, many of which would have been missed by studies relying on blood samples alone. The study, published in Nature Metabolism, shows that the biological mechanisms underlying Type 2 diabetes are highly tissue-specific and that genetic diversity across populations is critical for identifying disease drivers. The research ...

As courts increasingly turn to virtual proceedings, jurors who deliberate online may be just as attentive, engaged and fair-minded as those who meet face-to-face, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.   The study, published in Law and Human Behavior, compared 54 mock juries. Twenty-four of them met in person and 30 deliberated virtually using the same civil trial materials. Across most measures, the two formats produced nearly identical results. “Despite concerns that virtual formats substantially ...

At the height of the “Great Resignation” in 2021, more than 50 million workers in the United States quit their jobs, driven by stress, burnout and rising expectations for sustainable work. Nearly half cited inadequate benefits as a main reason for leaving. The U.S. is the only country in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development – a group of 38 high-income nations – that does not guarantee paid time off (PTO), paid vacation or paid maternity leave. While some employers have expanded PTO, many workers still get none, and fewer than half have consolidated leave. With replacement costs ...

Background and Aims The rate of functional cure (HBsAg loss) remains unsatisfactory following pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) treatment in chronic hepatitis B. To optimize PEG-IFN administration, this study aimed to evaluate virological markers to predict functional cure and/or hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) loss. Methods Relevant studies assessing virologic markers for predicting functional cure and HBeAg loss after PEG-IFN therapy were systematically retrieved from PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science up to November 2023. Predictive effectiveness was evaluated via the summary receiver operating characteristic ...

For quantum computers to function, they must be kept at extremely low temperatures. However, today’s cooling systems also generate noise that interferes with the fragile quantum information they are meant to protect. Now, researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have developed an entirely new type of minimal quantum "refrigerator", which is partly driven by the noise itself. This refrigerator enables very precise control over heat and energy flows and could ...

Traditional Chinese medicine formulas (TCMFs) are widely used in clinical practice, but their molecular mechanisms can be difficult to pin down because formulas often contain many constituents that act on multiple targets and pathways. In a new review in the Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines, researchers describe how artificial intelligence (AI) methods are increasingly being used to tackle this complexity and accelerate mechanism-oriented research on TCMFs.   The review, authored by researchers ...

Ultrasonography is a non-invasive imaging technique used for real-time imaging. This versatile technique is used as a reliable diagnostic tool in various modalities. The conventional liquid gel used in ultrasonography is a critical component of this process that acts as an acoustic coupling medium, removing the air gap between the probe and skin surface. This allows improved image resolution and accurate diagnostic interpretations. However, the liquid gel has a quick drying time, which often compromises the image quality. Additionally, it may irritate patients and occasionally become contaminated. The clinician's performance is ...

Scientists at IOCB Prague are uncovering new details of gene transcription. They have identified a previously unknown molecular mechanism by which the transcription of genetic information from deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) into ribonucleic acid (RNA) can be initiated. The researchers focused on a specific class of molecules known as alarmones, which are found in cells across a wide range of organisms and whose levels often increase under conditions of cellular stress. The results were published in the prestigious ...

Research Highlights: Electromagnetic network-targeted field (ENTF) therapy, which targets specific connections in the brain, combined with physical therapy, significantly reduced disability in stroke survivors after 90 days. An analysis of two small clinical trials suggests that ENTF therapy is safe and works well in reducing overall disability after stroke. Note: The study featured in this news release is a research abstract. Abstracts presented at the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, and the findings are considered preliminary until published as a full ...

Research Highlights: Female stroke survivors were more than twice as likely as their stroke-free counterparts to have another stroke while pregnant and in the six weeks after childbirth, according to an analysis of a large national database of electronic health records. In addition, the risk of ischemic stroke during pregnancy and the early postpartum period was 82% more likely among pregnant women who had a previous heart attack and 25% more likely in women with obesity. Note: The study featured in this news release is a research abstract. Abstracts presented at the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s ...

Research Highlights: A study of over 200 adults followed for five years found that greater white matter damage in the brain was linked to decreased driving, fewer trips, repetitive routes and having more driving errors, especially in those who later developed dementia. In contrast, adults ages 65 and older who were taking blood pressure medicines, particularly ACE inhibitors, were less likely to show risky driving behaviors, even when brain damage was present (evidence of white matter damage caused by reduced ...

Research Highlights: Based on an analysis of a decade of hospital stroke registry data, people who had brain bleeds were more likely to die in the hospital if they were taking multiple antiplatelet medications, or medications stronger than aspirin, before the bleed. People who were taking only aspirin before the brain bleed had the same risk of death as those not taking any antiplatelet medications. The results open the door to research on how to improve care for people hospitalized with a brain bleed who have been taking antiplatelet medications. Note: The study featured in this news release is a research abstract. Abstracts presented at the American Heart Association/American ...

Research Highlights: Adults who had a dissecting aneurysm in the neck artery wall (a cervical artery dissection or CeAD) did not have a higher risk of stroke compared to those with cervical artery dissection without a dissecting aneurysm in the first six months after diagnosis, according to data analysis from a global registry. The findings should offer reassurance and much-needed information about how best to diagnose and treat people with dissecting aneurysm and CeAD, researchers said. Note: The study ...

Research Highlights: A new risk prediction tool was able to accurately identify stroke survivors with the highest risk for developing dementia within a decade of having a stroke, according to a large study in Canada. Factors linked with a higher risk of developing dementia after a stroke included being older, having any disability before the stroke, having a higher level of disability after the stroke, having an intracerebral hemorrhage (compared to an ischemic stroke), having diabetes, experiencing cognitive symptoms during hospitalization ...

Research Highlights: Stroke survivors who felt they could not talk about their feelings or fears about their health with close friends or family reported feeling lonelier and had worse physical and mental recovery when assessed one year after the stroke. Difficulty sharing their feelings with family/friends was as important as the severity of the stroke for identifying patients who would experience greater disability and poorer physical function one year after the stroke. Supporting caregivers, family and health care professionals ...

Research Highlights: A smartwatch used a machine learning algorithm to detect social interactions through sounds in the environment. This technology was able to measure how much social interaction occurred among stroke survivors in the hospital. Social interaction is known to support brain health and recovery after neurological injury; so, this technology could support strategies focused on strengthening social ties, which, in turn, may lead to improved physical recovery and quality of life, even among stroke survivors with language difficulties. Note: The study featured in this news release ...

Research Highlights: Cerebral amyloid angiopathy, a condition caused by the buildup of amyloid (proteins) in brain blood vessels, was associated with increased risk of developing dementia within 5 years, in a study of nearly 2 million adults in the U.S. with health insurance coverage through Medicare. There was a strong association between blood vessel protein buildup and increased dementia risk for all study participants with or without a history of stroke. Researchers say these findings highlight the need to proactively screen for cognitive changes after a diagnosis of cerebral ...

New results from a clinical trial co-led by UCLA investigators demonstrate how treating desmoplastic melanoma, a rare and aggressive skin cancer, with immunotherapy before surgery can dramatically shrink or even eliminate tumors, sparing patients from more aggressive surgeries and preserving their quality of life.  The findings, published in Nature Cancer, show that 71% of patients who received the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab, an anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor that stimulates the body’s immune system to fight ...