A comprehensive new report published in the journal BioScience reveals that Earth's climate crisis is accelerating at an alarming rate, with 22 of 34 planetary vital signs now at record levels. The study, co-led by Dr. William J. Ripple of Oregon State University and Dr. Christopher Wolf of Terrestrial Ecosystems Research Associates, presents stark evidence that Earth is approaching climate chaos. The vital signs tracked in the report represent key indicators of human activities and their associated climate responses, including energy consumption, greenhouse ...

22 of the planet’s 34 vital signs are at record levels, with many of them continuing to trend sharply in the wrong direction. This is the message of the sixth issue of the annual “State of the climate” report. The report was prepared by an international coalition with contribution from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and led by Oregon State University scientists. Published today in BioScience, it cites global data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in proposing “high-impact” strategies. “The last few years have seen vital signs breaking their records by extraordinary margins, like surface ...

In a promising advance for cancer treatment, Northwestern University scientists have re-engineered the molecular structure of a common chemotherapy drug, making it dramatically more soluble and effective and less toxic.  In the new study, the team designed a new drug from the ground up as a spherical nucleic acid (SNA) — a nanostructure that weaves the drug directly into DNA strands coating tiny spheres. This design converts a poorly soluble, weakly performing drug into a powerful, targeted cancer killer that leaves healthy cells unharmed.  After developing the new therapy, the team tested it in a small animal model of acute myeloid leukemia ...

Lurking in the waters along our shorelines, a haunting presence is luring marine life to their untimely demise and trapping their spirits in an underwater purgatory. This isn’t the plot of a new Halloween blockbuster, it’s the unfortunate impact of derelict fishing equipment commonly known as “ghost traps.” William & Mary’s Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences & VIMS has awarded $1.8 million to 13 organizations throughout the U.S. focused on the removal of derelict fishing gear, which poses a significant threat to the sustainability of coastal ...

NEW YORK, NY— The American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 Grants for Junior Faculty. The Grants for Junior Faculty program provides up to $150,000 to junior faculty (MDs and PhDs) for 1-2 years to conduct research that will serve as the basis for longer term research efforts on the biology of aging.The major goal of this program is to assist in the development of the careers of early career investigators committed to pursuing careers ...

CORVALLIS, Ore. – 2024 was the hottest year on record and likely the hottest in at least 125,000 years, according to an annual report issued by an international coalition led by Oregon State University scientists. “Without effective strategies, we will rapidly encounter escalating risks that threaten to overwhelm systems of peace, governance, and public and ecosystem health,” said co-lead author William Ripple. “In short, we’ll be on the fast track to climate-driven chaos, a dangerous trajectory for humanity.” Despite the sixth annual ...

American Pediatric Society Announces Bruce D. Gelb, MD, as Recipient of Its Prestigious 2026 APS John Howland Award New York, NY (October 29, 2025) – The American Pediatric Society (APS) has selected Bruce D. Gelb, MD, Gogel Family Chair and Director of The Mindich Child Health and Development Institute and Dean for Child Health Research at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, as the recipient of the 2026 APS John Howland Award, the highest honor given in academic pediatrics. Established in 1952 ...

Daily interactions with friends, even through something as simple as a text message, may reduce momentary loneliness for caregivers tending to a family member with dementia.   Providing care for a loved one with dementia can be a difficult burden to bear, and caregivers can be especially vulnerable to loneliness. But social interactions, no matter how small, with friends and other family members can lower feelings of loneliness.   Crystal Ng, a research fellow at the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research, and colleagues studied 223 dementia caregivers, who reported their social interactions and loneliness every three hours over five days—showing ...

While Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be a powerful tool that physicians can use to help diagnose their patients and has great potential to improve accuracy, efficiency and patient safety, it has its drawbacks. It may distract doctors, give them too much confidence in the answers it provides, and even lead them to lose confidence in their own diagnostic judgement. To ensure that AI is properly integrated into healthcare practice, a research team has provided a framework comprising five guiding questions aimed at supporting doctors in their patient care while not undermining their expertise through an over-reliance on AI. The framework was recently published in the peer-reviewed ...

[EMBARGOED|00:01 31/10/2025] An international team is calling for a US $14 billion investment to protect and restore one of the planet’s most valuable and overlooked marine ecosystems, kelp forests.  Published by UNSW researchers and the Kelp Forest Alliance, the research establishes a clear financial benchmark for global kelp conservation.  The funding is needed to achieve the Kelp Forest Challenge, a global mission to protect three million hectares and restore one million hectares of kelp forests by 2040.  Kelp forests fringe nearly a third ...

The appearance of a hot sauce or pepper doesn’t reveal whether it’s mild or likely to scorch someone’s taste buds. So, researchers made an artificial tongue to quickly detect spiciness. Inspired by milk’s casein proteins, which bind to capsaicin and relieve the burn of spicy foods, the researchers incorporated milk powder into a gel sensor. The prototype, reported in ACS Sensors, detected capsaicin and pungent-flavored compounds (like those behind garlic’s zing) in various ...

INDIANAPOLIS — The U.S. economy is expected to see continued growth, although at a lower level than in recent years at 1.8%. But it could be buoyed by continued investments in artificial intelligence and the corresponding energy infrastructure supplying it, according to an economic forecast from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business. “Investment in AI will likely be the dominant economic story of 2026,” said Kyle Anderson, clinical assistant professor of business economics, faculty char of the Evening MBA Program and assistant dean for academic programs at Kelley Indianapolis. “While investment ...

Outdoor recreation voluntary associations (ORVAs) play a crucial role in creating, maintaining and managing trail systems across North America. New research conducted by researchers from the University of Eastern Finland (Finland) and Lakehead University (Canada) highlights how climate disruption and volunteer burnout threaten the long-term sustainability of winter trail-based recreation, particularly fat biking. Fat bikes are off-road bicycles with extra-wide tyres built for soft terrain like snow and sand. Fat biking lets riders enjoy trails year-round and is fast becoming a popular ...

Proteins play a key role not only in the body, but also in medicine: they either serve as active ingredients, such as enzymes or antibodies, or they are target structures for drugs. The first step in developing new therapies is therefore usually to decipher the three-dimensional structure of proteins. For a long time, elucidating protein structures was a highly complex endeavor, until machine learning found its way into protein research. AI models with names such as AlphaFold or RosettaFold have ushered in a new era: they calculate ...

A new review led by Associate Professor Sanjay Singhal from Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences sheds light on the prevalence and practice patterns of ADT in patients with ARDS. The study was made available online on 05 July 2025 and was published in the  Journal of Intensive Medicine. Aerosol therapy is frequently used in critically ill patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) worldwide. Previously published studies have shown that most of these patients do not have chronic respiratory disease, and aerosol drug therapy (ADT) is still used. In general, the use of bronchodilators ...

With populations aging rapidly worldwide, heart failure has become one of the most pressing medical and social challenges. Older patients face not only a high mortality risk but also losses in muscle strength, mobility, and independence. Clinicians frequently see people who, despite optimal cardiac care, still struggle with frailty and declining physical performance. Until now, different groups have proposed their own criteria: the AWGS criteria developed mainly by Asian experts, the EWGSOP criteria from Europe, and the SDOC statement from the United States. As a result, three different definitions and diagnostic methods have ...

From cells that migrate to tissues that heal, nature abounds with systems capable of sensing and adapting to their surroundings. Replicating this level of adaptability in synthetic systems has remained a grand challenge in chemistry and materials science. Most artificial materials, though inspired by biology, still react to only one stimulus and lack the integrated responsiveness that characterizes living matter. A new study published online on August 7, 2025, in Volume 6, Issue 9 of the journal Accounts ...

Prediction of crystal structures of organic molecules is a critical task in many industries, especially in pharmaceuticals and design of functional materials. In pharmaceuticals, crystal structures directly influence a drug’s solubility and stability. In functional materials, like organic semiconductors, controlling crystal structures is crucial for achieving desired electronic properties. However, crystal structure prediction (CSP) is an inherently challenging task due to the weak and diverse intra- and inter-molecular interactions unique to organic crystals. Even minor variations can result in entirely different packing arrangements. CSP is typically ...

Work engagement refers to a positive, fulfilling state of mind towards one’s work. It plays a key role in supporting both personal well-being and company success. However, ways to strengthen work engagement over the long term remain limited. A new study led by Professor Noriko Yamagishi from Ritsumeikan University, in collaboration with Dr. Norberto Eiji Nawa from the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), and Mr. Shota Isomura from NTT Data Institute of Management Consulting, Inc., suggests that a simple practice, namely gratitude journaling, can make a meaningful difference. Published in BMC Psychology on October 6, 2025, the study invited 100 ...

Heart failure (HF) is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide, affecting millions of people and placing an enormous burden on healthcare systems. The disease occurs when the heart can no longer pump blood efficiently, leaving patients short of breath, fatigued, and at risk of life-threatening complications. For decades, scientists have focused on studying cardiomyocytes—the heart’s muscle cells responsible for pumping blood—believing that these were the key drivers of the disease. But new research challenges this long-standing view by showing that another, often-overlooked group of cells ...

An international team of scientists from three continents led by Dr. Petr Cígler of IOCB Prague has developed a method for creating light-emitting quantum centers in nanodiamonds in only a matter of minutes. In just one week, the process can yield as much material as conventional methods would produce in more than forty years. Moreover, the resulting nanodiamonds show improved optical and quantum properties. The breakthrough brings us one step closer to the industrial production of higher-quality and more affordable quantum nanodiamonds, ...

The National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR) hosted its 2025 Global Summit and Award Ceremonies for Cancer Research & Entrepreneurship on October 24 at the National Press Club, in Washington, D.C., gathering many of the most forward-thinking minds in oncology, cancer research, technology, patient care, and biomedical innovation. This year’s summit centered on a defining theme: how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the entire ecosystem of cancer research and patient care, from laboratory discovery to bedside decision-making. The Next Frontier: AI’s Expanding Role in Cancer Research The ...

Our experiences leave traces in the brain, stored in small groups of cells called “engrams”. Engrams are thought to hold the information of a memory and are reactivated when we remember, which makes them very interesting to research on memory and age- or trauma-related memory loss. At the same time, scientists know that the biology of learning is accompanied by epigenetic changes, which refers to the ways the cell regulates genes by adding chemical "post-it notes" on DNA. But the question of whether the epigenetic state of a single gene in turn can cause a memory ...

CAMBRIDGE, MA -- Nearly everyone has experienced it: After a night of poor sleep, you don’t feel as alert as you should. Your brain might seem foggy, and your mind drifts off when you should be paying attention. A new study from MIT reveals what happens inside the brain as these momentary failures of attention occur. The scientists found that during these lapses, a wave of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flows out of the brain — a process that typically occurs during sleep and helps to wash away waste products that have built up during the ...

A team of Chinese scientists has uncovered a hidden 3D structure in rice DNA that allows the crop to grow more grain while using less nitrogen fertilizer. The finding, published in Nature Genetics by researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) on Oct. 29, could guide the next "green revolution" toward higher yields and more sustainable farming. The study reveals that a looping section of DNA—a "chromatin loop"—controls the activity of a gene called RCN2, which governs how rice plants form ...