As wildfires continue to ravage regions from Los Angeles to South Korea, a new study featured on the cover of the Issue 7, 2025 of Advances in Atmospheric Sciences sheds light on the large-scale climate patterns influencing these devastating global extreme events. The research, led by Professor Young-Min Yang from Jeonbuk National University, reveals how tropical climate phenomena like the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) can trigger dry, windy conditions that exacerbate wildfires in mid-latitude regions, including the western U.S. and East Asia. Wildfire prediction remains a major challenge due to rapidly changing weather conditions ...

Paris, France, 19 May 2025 - The RESIL-Card project, co-funded by the EU4Health Work Programme, has reached a significant milestone with the recent launch of the pilot testing of its resilience assessment tool in selected European countries. This phase is part of the three-year project - led by We CARE, in partnership with GISE, Amsterdam UMC, and CatSalut - which aims to improve the preparedness and continuity of cardiovascular care during crises. As the first half of the project draws to a close, the first work package (WP1), which focused on conceptualising the resilience assessment tool, ...

Leuven, 20 May 2025 - Researchers from the lab led by Prof. Joris De Wit (VIB-KU Leuven) have discovered an important clue to how connections between brain cells, known as synapses, mature. These new findings, published in Developmental Cell, demonstrated how two different proteins, GPR158 and PLCXD2, interact to form a specific component in developing synapses – the spine apparatus. Synapses – the communication points between neurons – are not only molecularly diverse but also contain specialized organelles, tiny internal cellular machines, that finetune their function. The spine apparatus is one such organelle, and it is essential for stabilizing mature ...

Philadelphia, May 20, 2025 – New research shows that in patients with psoriasis, even though their skin responds well to treatment with biologics, inflammation can linger, leading to broader health implications such as obesity and cardiovascular and fatty liver disease. The findings of the study in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology (JID), published by Elsevier, could lead to more targeted and effective treatments that address the systemic aspects of psoriasis, beyond just the skin. Systemic chronic inflammation has been implicated in several diseases that collectively represent the leading causes of ...

A new paper in Nicotine and Tobacco Research, published by Oxford University Press, finds that today’s pod-style electronic cigarette devices are more addictive than nicotine gum, indicating that such devices have a very high potential for abuse. Since entering the market in 2003, electronic cigarettes have become very popular in the United States, particularly among youth and young adults. A significant proportion of people who use electronic cigarettes devices never used other tobacco products regularly. Over 30% of adult users of vaping devices report no history of regular cigarette smoking, a rate ...

NEW YORK, New York, USA, 20 May 2025 – A groundbreaking collection of four papers published in the May issue of Brain Medicine synthesizes mounting evidence that microplastics from ultra-processed foods may be accumulating in human brains and potentially contributing to the rising global rates of depression, dementia, and other mental health disorders. The papers provide the most comprehensive analysis to date of how these tiny plastic particles might be affecting brain health through multiple interconnected ...

JERUSALEM, Israel, 20 May 2025 – In a comprehensive Genomic Press research article published today, scientists have uncovered a previously unknown mechanism explaining how neurons survive botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) exposure, despite the toxin's powerful ability to block neurotransmission. The research, led by Dr. Hermona Soreq at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, could have far-reaching implications for both medical treatments and cosmetic applications of this potent bacterial toxin. Understanding Botulinum's Dual Nature Botulinum neurotoxins are the most potent biological toxins known, with an estimated lethal dose of approximately 1 ng/kg. ...

HAIFA, Israel, 20 May 2025 – In a comprehensive Genomic Press Invited Expert Review, researchers from the University of Haifa have synthesized cutting-edge findings on Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), revealing how this complex neurodevelopmental disorder serves as a critical model for understanding the interplay between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and psychotic spectrum disorders (PSD). A Window into Neuropsychiatric Conditions PWS occurs equally in males and females across all ethnic groups, with prevalence estimates ranging from 1 in 16,062 to 1 in 76,574 births. What makes this condition particularly valuable to researchers is how its genetic subtypes ...

JINAN, Shandong, China, 20 May 2025 – In a comprehensive Genomic Press thought leaders invited review published today, researchers have mapped out the dynamic cellular mechanisms that allow the brain to form, consolidate, generalize, and update memories. This scientific synthesis offers valuable insights into how memories are encoded in the brain and how they can change over time, with substantial implications for conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Hunt for Memory Traces One ...

BEIJING, China, 20 May 2025 – In a comprehensive Genomic Press review article published today, neuroscientists have unveiled the complex neural mechanisms that enable cognitive generalization—the crucial ability to adapt learning from previous experiences to new scenarios—across different species. The research maps these neural pathways from hippocampus to cortex, providing insights that could potentially transform our understanding of conditions like Alzheimer's disease and autism ...

To better understand the circadian clock in modern-day cyanobacteria, a Japanese research team has studied ancient timekeeping systems. They examined the oscillation of the clock proteins KaiA, KaiB, and KaiC (Kai-proteins) in modern cyanobacteria, comparing it to the function of ancestral Kai proteins. Their research is published in the Nature Communications on May 15th, 2025. “Extant cyanobacteria utilize a circadian clock to predict the light-dark environmental cycle by Earth’s rotation in order to achieve efficient photosynthetic reactions. We wanted to know the evolutionary history of when ancient bacteria acquired the circadian clock ...

(New York, NY) Fatal drug overdoses among youth aged 15 to 24 in the United States involving synthetic opioids alone—not mixed with other substances—soared by 168 percent over the five-year time period of 2018 to 2022, a new study shows. Published online May 20 in the journal Pediatrics, the work also found that youth overdose rates and drug combinations varied significantly across age, sex and race/ethnicity. Led by NYU Grossman School of Medicine, the new study is the first, say investigators, to identify which specific combinations of drugs drove synthetic opioid-involved ...

How can we reduce wait times for much needed hip and knee replacement surgery in Canada? Coordinated referral and team-based care models show promise, according to research published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.241755. In Canada, there are long wait times for scheduled surgeries, such as hip and knee joint replacements, which can lead to worsening pain and mobility problems and affect overall health. Canada falls well behind in international comparisons of health systems based on wait times. To address this issue, some Canadian provinces have been experimenting with private for-profit delivery of some surgeries, ...

Clinical entrepreneurs — physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals — who understand Canada’s health care challenges first-hand could help improve the health system and grow the economy, argue 2 physicians in a commentary published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.250235. “Successful Canadian-controlled private corporations developed by these entrepreneurs could fuel economic growth and help protect the sovereignty of our health care system,” ...

A recent study identifies Neural EGFL-like 2 (NELL2), a secreted protein, as a key regulator of bone homeostasis, offering potential therapeutic applications for osteoporosis. NELL2 promotes osteoblast differentiation and inhibits adipocyte formation in bone marrow stromal cells, addressing the bone remodeling imbalance in osteoporosis. The study further uncovers the molecular mechanism of NELL2’s action, revealing its activation of the focal adhesion kinase (FAK)/AKT signaling pathway through interactions with Fibronectin 1 and integrins. NELL2's administration via adeno-associated virus (AAV) significantly improved bone density in osteoporotic ...

Warzones, microplastics and light pollution pose serious new risks to bees and other pollinators over the next decade, according to a landmark report on today’s World Bee Day. The report from Bee:wild, a new science-led global campaign to save pollinators, identifies the top 12 emerging threats that could accelerate pollinator losses within the next 5-15 years, according to ten of the world’s leading experts. It also outlines steps we can take to protect them and reverse the decline. Pollinators like bees, butterflies, some birds and bats are vital to nature and our food supply with almost 90% of flowering plants and over three-quarters of ...

EMBARGOED UNTIL: 2:15 p.m., Monday, May 19, 2025   DEEP LEARNING CAN PREDICT LUNG CANCER RISK FROM SINGLE LDCT SCAN The AI model could be especially useful in people who have never smoked.   Session:  B100—Revolutionizing Nodule Management and Lung Cancer Diagnosis
 Validation of Sybil Deep Learning Lung Cancer Risk Prediction Model in Asian High- and Low-Risk Individuals Date and Time: Monday, May 19, 2025, 2:15 p.m.
 Location:  Room 211-212 (South Building, Level 2) Moscone Center   ATS ...

LA JOLLA, CA—Historically, most human mpox infections have resulted from zoonotic transmission—meaning from animals to humans—and these spillovers have rarely led to human-to-human transmission. But during the 2022 global outbreak, mpox began spreading readily between people. A new study now shows the virus was circulating long before then.    Published in Nature on May 19, 2025, the study notes that mpox transmitted among humans in Nigeria for eight years before sparking the international outbreak in 2022. Using genomic tracing, the researchers estimate that the virus’ ancestor first emerged in southern Nigeria in August 2014 and spread to 11 states before ...

Ishani Ganguli, MD, MPH, and Nicholas E. Daley, AB, of the Department of Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital are co-authors of a paper published in JAMA Health Forum, “Gender Differences in Primary Care Physician Earnings and Outcomes Under Medicare Advantage Value-Based Payment.”   Q: How would you summarize your study for a lay audience? Despite often achieving better patient outcomes, women primary care physicians (PCPs) face a significant and ongoing wage gap compared to their male counterparts. This disparity is partly due to volume-based payment models, where doctors are compensated per visit or service. ...

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Food cravings are the downfall of many dieters, who feel locked in an eternal battle with their willpower to resist the tempting sweets, snacks and other foods they love. However, researchers in food science and human nutrition at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign say in a new study that eating dessert may be the optimal strategy for losing weight, keeping it off and keeping cravings at bay. Dieters in a clinical trial who incorporated craved foods into a balanced meal plan lost more weight during ...

Embargoed for release until 5:00 p.m. ET on Monday 19 May 2025    Follow @Annalsofim on X, Facebook, Instagram, threads, and Linkedin         Below please find summaries of new articles that will be published in the next issue of Annals of Internal Medicine. The summaries are not intended to substitute for the full articles as a source of information. This information is under strict embargo and by taking it into possession, media representatives are committing to the terms of the embargo ...

What if ultrafast pulses of light could operate computers at speeds a million times faster than today's best processors? A team of scientists, including researchers from the University of Arizona, are working to make that possible. In a groundbreaking international effort, researchers from the Department of Physics in the College of Science and the James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences demonstrated a way to manipulate electrons in graphene using pulses of light that last less than a trillionth of a second. By leveraging a quantum effect known as tunneling, they recorded electrons bypassing a physical barrier almost instantaneously, a feat that redefines the ...

  WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) hosted Innovation Day for Industry, May 7, at NRL-DC headquarters to inform industry and to assess interest in a focused set of six emerging technologies that are ready for collaboration with industry partners. The event showcased a range of NRL-developed technologies ready for further development, prototyping and commercialization through partnerships with industry. The nearly 30 industry attendees gained valuable insights into NRL’s research and development efforts, including presentations, facility tours, and networking opportunities with NRL scientists, ...

NEW ORLEANS, May 19, 2025 – Rocket launches are amazing spectacles, but close-up viewers know to bring a set of earplugs or earmuffs to protect their hearing. However, the boom of a launch isn’t reserved for those who sign up to watch it – it can also be heard and felt in surrounding communities. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 is a rocket used for both human and nonhuman space missions. Since 2010, the rocket has been launched over 400 times, and one of the launch sites for Falcon 9 is the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. “Although Ventura County is 60-100 miles from the Vandenberg ...

WASHINGTON — Researchers have developed an extremely thin, flexible imager that could be useful for noninvasively acquiring images from inside the body. The new technology could one day enable early and precise disease detection, providing critical insights to guide timely and effective treatment. “As opposed to existing prohibitively large endoscopes made of cameras and optical lenses or bulky fiber optic bundles, our microimager is very compact,” said research team leader Maysam Chamanzar from Carnegie Mellon University. “Much thinner than a typical eyelash, ...