About The Study: In this cross-sectional analysis of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S., rates increased during 2018 to 2022, with large variations by state and race and ethnicity. The concerning rates in the U.S. should be an urgent public health priority. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Yingxi Chen, MD, PhD, email yingxi.chen@nih.gov. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.4325) Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions ...

About The Study: The findings of this study suggest that the New York opioid restriction law was associated with reductions in opioid quantities in the immediate total joint replacement postoperative period. Additional refinements may further reduce opioid prescribing in New York, and these findings may serve as a foundation for refining laws in other states that may not achieve their intended targets or have not implemented similar laws. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Caroline P. Thirukumaran, MBBS, MHA, PhD, email caroline.thirukumaran@northwestern.edu. To ...

Tim-3 is an immune checkpoint molecule involved in immunity and inflammation recently linked to late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but its role in the brain was unknown until now. In a paper published in Nature, researchers from Mass General Brigham used preclinical models to uncover Tim-3’s role in microglia, the brain's resident immune cells, and have identified it as a promising therapeutic target for Alzheimer’s disease. “Immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized cancer immunotherapy, and it is exciting that we might be able to repurpose them to treat Alzheimer’s disease,” said senior author Vijay Kuchroo, ...

Investigators from Mass General Brigham and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center have developed STITCHR, a new gene editing tool that can insert therapeutic genes into specific locations without causing unwanted mutations. The system can be formulated completely as RNA, dramatically simplifying delivery logistics compared to traditional systems that use both RNA and DNA. By inserting an entire gene, the tool offers a one-and-done approach that overcomes hurdles from CRISPR gene editing technology—which is programmed to correct individual mutations—offering a promising step forward for gene therapy. Results are published in Nature.   “CRISPR ...

Seafaring hunter-gatherers were accessing remote, small islands such as Malta thousands of years before the arrival of the first farmers, a new international study has found. Published in Nature, the research team – led by Professor Eleanor Scerri of the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology (MPI-GEA) and the University of Malta – found hunter-gatherers were crossing at least 100km of open water to reach the Mediterranean island of Malta 8,500 years ago, a thousand years before the arrival of agricultural practises. This ...

The DNA of human cells consists of a sequence of about 3.1 billion building blocks. Cells go to great lengths to maintain the integrity of this vast store of information. They constantly untangle knots in the DNA strand and create new chemical bonds when a strand of DNA breaks somewhere in the nucleus. “When people read about repairing genetic material, they often think of it being in response to exposure to toxins or radiation,” says Jacob Corn, Professor of Genome Biology at ETH Zurich. However, repair mechanisms not only defend against external threats; they also play a crucial role in helping cells survive the challenges they ...

Northwestern University researchers have developed the first wearable device for measuring gases emitted from and absorbed by the skin. By analyzing these gases, the device offers an entirely new way to assess skin health, including monitoring wounds, detecting skin infections, tracking hydration levels, quantifying exposure to harmful environmental chemicals and more.  The new technology comprises a collection of sensors that precisely measure changes in temperature, water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO2) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which each give valuable ...

PULLMAN, Wash. – Preparing catalysts by sending hot, steamy car exhaust over them could improve their efficiency and reduce the amount of rare and expensive metals required in vehicle catalytic converters and many other emission control and industrial processes. Reporting in the journal, Nature, an international team of researchers found that the hot car exhaust containing nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide caused a previously unknown reaction that, used proactively, can significantly improve catalytic activity. Catalysts are substances that increase the rate of chemical reactions. The researchers found that hot exhaust encouraged ceria particles, one of the components of the ...

Overcoming Delivery Challenges in Gene Editing Modern genome editing techniques, including CRISPR systems, hold great potential for treating genetic diseases. However, delivering these molecular tools reliably to their target cells remains a significant challenge. “Previous viral and non-viral delivery systems such as adeno-associated viruses (AAVs), lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), and other virus-like particles (VLPs), have been valuable but face limitations,” says Dr. Dong-Jiunn Jeffery Truong, last author ...

Comprehensive reference genomes have now been assembled for six ape species: siamang (a Southeast Asian gibbon), Sumatran orangutan, Bornean orangutan, gorilla, bonobo and chimpanzee. Areas of their genomes previously inaccessible because of structural complexity have now mostly been resolved.   The resource is already lending itself to comparative studies that offer new insights into human and ape evolution, and into what underlies the functional differences among these species.   A report on how the telomere-to-telomere ape genome references were developed, and what scientists are learning from it, appears in the April 9 edition ...

A new study reports the first direct observation of merging star clusters in the nuclear region of dwarf galaxies. This detection confirms the feasibility of this formation route for nuclei in dwarf galaxies, which has long been debated. The study was published in Nature science journal, and led by Postdoctoral Researcher Mélina Poulain from the University of Oulu, Finland. Dwarf galaxies are the most abundant type of galaxies that populate the Universe.  Composed of 100 times fewer stars than the ...

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (April 9, 2025) — Van Andel Institute scientists and collaborators have developed a new method for identifying and classifying pancreatic cancer cell subtypes based on sugars found on the outside of cancer cells. These sugars, called glycans, help cells recognize and communicate with each other. They also act as a cellular “signature,” with each subtype of pancreatic cancer cell possessing a different composition of glycans. The new method, multiplexed glycan immunofluorescence, combines ...

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) continues to be a tough nut to crack in critical care, taking lives despite years of research and better ventilator strategies. It is defined by acute hypoxemia, bilateral infiltrates on chest imaging, and non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema, and it remains a heterogeneous condition with mortality rates stubbornly close to 40%. Its complexity—spanning diverse etiologies, inflammatory profiles, and therapeutic responses—demands innovative solutions beyond traditional paradigms. In recent years, artificial intelligence ...

The scientific programme for the inaugural eLTER Science Conference has just been launched, marking a major milestone in the lead-up to the event. Held from 23 to 27 June 2025 in Tampere, Finland, the conference will explore integrated, policy-relevant approaches to ecosystem and socio-ecological research under the theme: “Toward a whole-system approach to ecosystem science.” Organised by the Integrated European Long-Term Ecosystem, critical zone and socio-ecological systems Research Infrastructure (eLTER RI), the event is expected to welcome over 300 participants from across Europe and beyond. The scientific programme features: 25 keynote speakers recognised for their leadership ...

“[…] when selecting non-PGT-A tested embryos for embryo transfer (ET) or frozen embryo transfer (FET), a small hatching blastocyst seems to be a better choice than a large expanded one, especially for advanced-age patients for whom the risk of aneuploidy is higher.” BUFFALO, NY — April 9, 2025 — A new research paper was published in Aging (Aging-US) Volume 17, Issue 3, on March 5, 2025, titled “Reproductive aging, preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy, and the diameter of blastocysts: does size matter?” In this study, a team led by first author Jakub Wyroba from the Malopolski Institute of Fertility Diagnostics ...

Applications for the 2025 EurekAlert! Travel Awards for International Science Reporters are now open to early-career science journalists from Brazil and countries in Eastern Europe. Two winners will be selected to receive travel funding from EurekAlert! to attend the 2026 AAAS Annual Meeting, taking place February 12-14, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Learn more about who is eligible and how to apply on our website. The application deadline is May 5 at 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time. Learn More and Apply! The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is the world’s largest multidisciplinary scientific society, and the AAAS Annual Meeting brings together ...

(WASHINGTON— April 9, 2025) — A marker linked to inflammation, C-reactive protein, may increase significantly during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle in female patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), according to emerging research published today in Blood Vessels, Thrombosis & Hemostasis.  This observation provides insight into the pattern of painful vaso-occlusive events (VOEs), which are driven by inflammation, in female patients with the disorder. “We know both from the literature and anecdotally from our patients that women with SCD have VOEs that cluster ...

With the global prevalence of obesity on the rise, it is crucial to explore the neural mechanisms linked to obesity and its influence on brain and cognitive health. However, the impact of obesity on the brain is complex and multilevel. To address this, Prof. Anqi QIU, Professor of the Department of Health Technology and Informatics at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Global STEM Scholar, has unveiled novel research to advance our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying the relationship between obesity and its implications for cognitive health in adults.  Obesity ...

LOS ANGELES — Keck Medicine of USC will open a four-story, 100,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art medical office building located at 590 S. Fair Oaks Ave. in Pasadena in fall 2025.   As the newest addition to the renowned academic health system, the location will significantly expand Keck Medicine clinical care for residents of Pasadena and neighboring communities in the San Gabriel Valley.   What sets the new Pasadena location apart   “This new location — our largest and most advanced outpatient setting — will ...

TAMPA, Fla. (April 9, 2025) – A new study led by the University of South Florida and the University of Cincinnati sheds light on the powerful impact of workplace cohorts on newcomer retention. The findings provide critical insights for organizations seeking to reduce employee turnover and improve stability among their teams. Cohorts, groups of new employees that join an organization at the same time and are usually trained together, are common in the military and in professional services such as law, accounting and consulting firms. ...

New Curtin University research into the overlooked environmental impact of pet dogs has found far-reaching negative effects on wildlife, ecosystems and climate.   While ecological damage caused by cats has been extensively studied, the new research found dogs, as the world’s most common large carnivores, present a significant and multifaceted environmental threat.   Lead researcher Associate Professor Bill Bateman, from Curtin’s School of Molecular and Life Sciences, said the research found that human-owned, pet dogs disturb and directly harm wildlife, particularly shorebirds, even when leashed.   “As well as predatory behaviour like chasing wildlife, ...

PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA [April 9, 2025] — New research in the April 2025 issue of JNCCN—Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network found significant disparities based on race, socioeconomic status, and other factors when it came to quality of care and outcomes for people with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (mPDAC)—which is associated with very high cancer mortality. The researchers used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database to study 14,147 patients who were diagnosed ...

For generations, sailors around the globe have reported a mysterious phenomenon: Vast areas of the ocean glow steadily at night, sometimes for months on end. The light is bright enough to read by and is oddly similar to the green and white aura cast by glow-in-the dark stars that have decorated children’s rooms. Stretching over ocean space as broad as 100,000 square kilometers, the light can, at times, even be seen from space.    This rare bioluminescent display was coined by sailors as “milky seas.” Despite being encountered for centuries, scientists still know very little about what causes this glowing effect because ...

A groundbreaking study presents a comprehensive approach to restructuring medium-level voltage (MLV) distribution systems that enhances reliability while reducing both energy losses and carbon emissions.   The study introduces an innovative "N+1 bus configuration" for radial distribution systems (RDS) - a simple yet powerful modification to conventional power networks that adds just one additional tie line to existing systems. This seemingly minor change delivers remarkable improvements in system performance when combined with distributed renewable energy resources (DER).   The research team conducted extensive testing on both real-time radial ...

For millions of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals around the world, communication barriers can make everyday interactions challenging. Traditional solutions, like sign language interpreters, are often scarce, expensive and dependent on human availability. In an increasingly digital world, the demand for smart, assistive technologies that offer real-time, accurate and accessible communication solutions is growing, aiming to bridge this critical gap. American Sign Language (ASL) is one of the most widely used sign languages, consisting of distinct hand gestures that represent letters, ...