Vertebrates have extremely different brain sizes: even with the same body size, brain size can vary a hundredfold. As a rule, mammals and birds have the largest brains in relation to their body size, followed by sharks and reptiles. Amphibians and most fish, on the other hand, have the smallest brains of all vertebrates. Why is this the case? In some animal groups, species that live in groups have larger brains than solitary species. They have to cope with rapidly changing social situations and therefore need ...

University of Texas at Dallas researchers have developed biosensor technology that when combined with artificial intelligence (AI) shows promise for detecting lung cancer through breath analysis. The electrochemical biosensor identifies eight volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are potential biomarkers for thoracic cancers, which include lung and esophageal cancers. AI then analyzes the biochemical characteristics of the compounds to determine whether they are a match to those linked to various thoracic cancers. “We built a screening tool that could allow physicians to catch the disease ...

Remote physiologic monitoring (RPM)—digital tools that track patients’ health data between visits—shows promise for improving chronic disease management and reshaping primary care delivery, according to a new study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. While prior studies have examined how RPM affects patients who use the technology, this is the first study to quantify the impact of RPM on practices, including its effects on practice revenue, care delivery, and ...

New research from Johns Hopkins Medicine shows that the enzyme biliverdin reductase A (BVRA) plays a direct protective role against oxidative stress in neurons, independent of its role producing the yellow pigment bilirubin. In this study of genetically engineered mice, the scientists say BVRA protected brain cells from oxidative stress, an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants that protect cells, by modulating another key protein, NRF2, which regulates the levels of protective proteins and antioxidants in cells. Oxidative stress is a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease.   A report describing the research, funded by the ...

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A fermentation byproduct might help to solve two major global challenges: world hunger and the environmental impact of fast fashion. The leftover yeast from brewing beer, wine or even to make some pharmaceuticals can be repurposed to produce high-performance fibers stronger than natural fibers with significantly less environmental impact, according to a new study led by researchers at Penn State and published today (Nov 3) in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.  The yeast biomass — ...

In an era when social media blurs the line between public and private speech, how do people decide whether to speak their minds or stay silent? A new study from researchers at Arizona State University and the University of Michigan, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, or PNAS, offers a groundbreaking look at the strategic trade-offs individuals make when facing the threat of punishment for dissent. The work, co-authored by Professor Stephanie Forrest and Assistant Professor Joshua J. Daymude in the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, part of the ...

An international team of scientists, led by the University of Oxford, has achieved a world-first by creating plasma "fireballs" using the Super Proton Synchrotron accelerator at CERN, Geneva, to study the stability of plasma jets emanating from blazars. The results, published today (3 November) in PNAS, could shed new light on a long-standing mystery about the Universe’s hidden magnetic fields and missing gamma rays. Blazars are active galaxies powered by supermassive black holes that launch narrow, near-light-speed ...

CAMBRIDGE, MA -- By stimulating cancer cells to produce a molecule that activates a signaling pathway in nearby immune cells, MIT researchers have found a way to force tumors to trigger their own destruction. Activating this signaling pathway, known as the cGAS-STING pathway, worked even better when combined with existing immunotherapy drugs known as checkpoint blockade inhibitors, in a study of mice. That dual treatment was successfully able to control tumor growth. The researchers turned on the cGAS-STING pathway in immune cells using messenger RNA delivered to cancer cells. This approach may avoid the side effects of delivering large doses of a STING activator, and takes ...

Rivers perform a vital role in environmental balance. Keeping them in good condition depends not only on water quality, but also on the life they host and the processes that take place within them: plant respiration, decomposition of organic matter, and transformation of nutrients, among others. “The good condition of a river means taking into account both the organisms that inhabit it and the way it functions,” explained Luz Boyero, an Ikerbasque Research Professor at the EHU. Human activity may alter this natural dynamic, so tools need to be available to enable its effects to be detected in a timely manner. With the aim of standardising methods for assessing river ...

Sleep patterns and eating habits can influence each other, but the link between these behaviors remains unclear. In a new JNeurosci paper, researchers led by William Ja, from the Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation and Technology, used fruit flies (Drosophila) to explore how different kinds of sleep deprivation influence subsequent sleeping and feeding behavior.  The researchers tested different sleep loss conditions and discovered that when fruit flies are sleep deprived to the point of energy loss, they compensate by feeding and sleeping more to restore their energy. When ...

Some people with psychiatric conditions, including addiction and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, struggle to control their urges or make decisions under uncertainty. In a collaboration between the University of Cambridge and the University of British Columbia, Tristan Hynes and colleagues used rats to explore the role of a specific reward-related neuron population in shaping impulsivity and risky decision-making during a gambling task.  As reported in their JNeurosci paper, the researchers manipulated the neuron population’s activity as rats chose between ...

Whether natural or synthetic, polymers — large molecules made up of repeating units called monomers — exhibit complex structures and properties that make them useful in a wide range of applications. In their soft, nearly liquid biogel form, polymers viewed through an optical microscope resemble a bowl of tangled soft noodles. In that state, they tend to coacervate, or combine, with other polymers — when those polymers carry opposite electrostatic charges.    UC Santa Barbara ...

JAMA EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: 11:05 AM (ET) MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2025 To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ Embed this link to provide your readers free access to the full-text article. This link will be live at the embargo time: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/10.1001/jama.2025.18076?guestAccessKey=aa261df0-fa34-4202-9144-5bce85b8661a&utm_source=for_the_media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_content=tfl&utm_term=110325  CHICAGO, IL — Since the start of the 21st century, ...

SAN DIEGO — The Society for Neuroscience (SfN) will honor seven early career researchers whose awards will be presented during Neuroscience 2025, SfN's annual meeting. “Innovative thinking often comes from those just beginning their scientific journeys,” said SfN President John H. Morrison. “These early career researchers are advancing neuroscience through breakthroughs in nanoscale imaging, new computational methods, neuroplasticity, and more.” Jennifer N. Bourne Prize in Neuronal and Synaptic Structure and Function: Gregg Wildenberg The Jennifer N. Bourne Prize in Neuronal and Synaptic Structure and ...

SAN DIEGO – The Society for Neuroscience (SfN) will present eight individuals and groups with this year’s Science Education and Outreach Awards, comprised of the Award for Education in Neuroscience, the Science Educator Award, the Next Generation Awards, and the Chapter of the Year Awards. The awards will be presented during SfN’s annual meeting. “The Society is honored to recognize these compassionate and creative neuroscientists who are helping to serve underrepresented communities and educate the public,” said SfN President John H. Morrison. “Their work expands access to neuroscience education for populations that historically lacked such opportunities, ...

SAN DIEGO – The Society for Neuroscience (SfN) will honor five leading researchers whose impactful work has transformed neuroscience — including the understanding of memory, synapse formation, social reinforcement in addiction, and how neurons make sense of input noise — with this year’s Outstanding Career and Research Achievement Awards. The awards will be presented during SfN’s annual meeting. “The Society is honored to recognize this year’s awardees, whose pioneering work has shaped the field and led to paradigm shifts in ...

SAN DIEGO — The Society for Neuroscience (SfN) will honor six researchers who have made significant contributions to the advancement of women in neuroscience. The awards will be presented during Neuroscience 2025, SfN's annual meeting. "Science thrives as a vibrant network of individuals committed to advancing it,” said SfN President John H. Morrison. “These awardees push the boundaries of neuroscience through their own work while uplifting and empowering others, who will in turn shape the future of the neuroscience community." Bernice Grafstein Award for Outstanding Accomplishments in Mentoring: David Poeppel The Bernice Grafstein Award ...

The Gabriella Miller Kids First Data Resource Center (Kids First DRC) has released its 37th pediatric research study, available in the Kids First Data Resource Portal. This latest study focuses on extracranial germ cell tumors, a rare group of childhood cancers that can develop outside of or within the brain. WHO: Kids First, a program from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) WHAT: Announcing the latest data release to the Kids First data ecosystem, the Kids First: Extracranial Germ Cell Tumors study (KF-ECGT). This new dataset comprises information from 393 children and young adults, along with a total of 493 biological ...

Vibrant orange-coloured lichens are helping scientists discover dinosaur fossils in Canada, according to a new study published today [3 November] in Current Biology. An international team of palaeontologists and remote sensing scientists have made an exciting discovery at UNESCO World Heritage Site Dinosaur Provincial Park, in Alberta. They have found that certain lichen species preferentially colonise exposed dinosaur bones, creating distinctive spectral signatures that can be detected from 30 metres above ground using drones. Dr Brian ...

Increasing your steps by even a little bit may help slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s disease among people at heightened risk, according to a new study. In a paper published in Nature Medicine, Mass General Brigham researchers found that physical activity was associated with slower rates of cognitive decline in older adults with elevated levels of amyloid-beta, a protein associated with Alzheimer’s. Cognitive decline was delayed by three years on average for people who walked just 3,000-5,000 steps per day, and by seven years in people who walked 5,000-7,500 steps per day. Sedentary individuals had a significantly faster buildup of ...

Scientists are exploring leading-edge technologies that could transform how cancer is studied, detected and treated by catching it earlier, when it’s more treatable and survival rates are highest. A new review by researchers at Oregon Health & Science University’s Knight Cancer Institute and other universities highlights how advances in New Approach Methodologies and tissue engineering are offering powerful new tools to study the earliest stages of cancer development. New Approach Methodologies use human-relevant technologies such as in vitro tests, organoids, organs-on-a-chip and computational modeling to replace, reduce or refine ...

About The Study: The findings of this study suggest that the U.S. youth nicotine vaping population recently became increasingly represented by daily use and unsuccessful quit attempts, a trend of which clinicians and policy makers should be aware.  Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Abbey R. Masonbrink, MD, MPH, email amasonbrink@chla.usc.edu. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.41061) Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, ...

About The Study: This study found that exposure to childhood adversity was associated with elevated all-cause mortality risk among adults with diabetes, hypertension, or mild-to-moderate emergency department visits.  Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Ping-I Lin, MD, PhD, email daniel.lin@health.slu.edu. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2025.4285) Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions ...

Since 2019, overall rates of nicotine vaping have declined among U.S. youth, but those who continue to vape are showing signs of worsening addiction, according to new USC research. Between 2020 and 2024, the share of current users who vaped every day increased from 15.4% to 28.8%. Over the same period, the share of daily users who tried to quit but were unable to rose from 28.2% to 53%. The study, funded in part by the National Institutes of Health, was just published in JAMA Network Open. Public health advocates raised the alarm when youth vaping rates surged between 2014 and 2019. Data collected during the COVID-19 ...

A glacier on Antarctica’s Eastern Peninsula experienced the fastest retreat recorded in modern history—in just two months, nearly 50 percent of the glacier disintegrated.  A new CU Boulder-led study, published today in Nature Geoscience, details how and why Antarctica’s Hektoria Glacier retreated at an unprecedented rate in 2023, losing a total of eight kilometers of ice in two months. The main driver was the glacier's underlying flat bedrock that enabled the glacier to go afloat after it substantially thinned, causing a rare calving process.  The new findings may help researchers identify other glaciers to monitor for rapid ...