New York City offers nearly every type of medical specialist but provides fewer specialty healthcare providers per capita than smaller cities, according to a new study that challenges conventional assumptions about urban healthcare advantages and reveals a troubling paradox across America's largest metropolitan areas. The research, published in Nature Cities, analyzed data from 1.4 million healthcare providers across 75 medical specialties in 898 metropolitan and micropolitan areas. The innovative approach combines urban scaling theory—which ...

All current local anesthetics block sensory signals — pain — but they also interrupt motor signals, which can be problematic. For example, too much epidural anesthesia can prevent mothers in labor from being able to push. Prolonged local anesthesia after orthopedic surgery can leave patients unable to participate in rehab. Researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital now report an alternative local anesthetic, 2',6'-pipecolylxylidine (PPX), in the journal Anesthesiology, the peer-reviewed ...

1 in 8 Italian cetacean strandings show evidence of fishery interactions, with bottlenose and striped dolphins most commonly affected, according to analysis across four decades of data and more than 5,000 strandings Article URL: http://plos.io/47pWwAl Article title: Assessing fishery interaction on cetaceans stranded along the Italian coastline between 1986 and 2023 Author countries: Italy Funding: The author(s) received no specific funding for this work. END ...

The first-ever measurements of the ethanol content of fruits available to chimpanzees in their native African habitat show that the animals could easily consume the equivalent of more than two standard alcoholic drinks each day, according to researchers at the University of California, Berkeley. It's not clear whether they actively seek out fruit with high ethanol levels, which are typically riper fruit with more sugars to ferment. But the availability of ethanol in many species of fruit that they normally eat suggests that alcohol is a regular part of their diet and likely was a part of the diets of our human ancestors. "Across all sites, male and female chimpanzees ...

Permafrost, ground frozen for at least two years underlying the cold Arctic and alpine regions of the Northern Hemisphere, covers about 17% of the global land surface and stores an estimated one-third of the world's soil organic carbon. As climate change causes this permafrost to thaw, the potential release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) has raised concerns about passing a tipping point, triggering an irreversible positive feedback loop that accelerates warming. A critical unanswered question has been whether these ecosystems can ...

Embargoed until 7pm BST (2pm ET USA) on Wednesday 17 September 2025 – PLOS One embargo -With pictures- Farmers in the Middle East were more committed to wine production over olive growing during times of climatic change in the Bronze and Iron Ages, according to new research. Archaeologists who analysed the charred remains of ancient plant samples found that irrigation was used to maintain grape cultivation as people prioritised viticulture. Their findings provide evidence of the importance of wine production for cultural and economic purposes during that period. The ...

Indian adolescents are mostly starting their periods at an earlier age than 25 years ago - likely because of demographic factors such as improved education, and possibly even climate change.   Article URL: https://plos.io/4nqfag7   Article Title: Understanding age at menarche: Environmental and demographic influences over a quarter century in India Author Countries: Bangladesh Funding: The author(s) received no specific funding for this work. END ...

Temporary medical centers in Gaza known as "Medical Points" (MPs) treat an average of 117 people daily with only about 7 staff per MP, filling a critical role despite severe staffing and supply shortages (with insulin and cancer treatments unavailable in over 90% of cases, for instance).   Article URL: https://plos.io/4nn4PRX Article Title: Resilience amid chaos: The role of Gaza medical points Author Countries: Jordan, Palestine, United States Funding: The author(s) received no specific funding for this work. END ...

In an analysis by race, sex, age, and geography, alcohol-induced death rates in 2024 are nearly double those in 1999, with a sharp increase at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although rates are higher for men, the largest increase in alcohol-induced deaths over the full 25-year period occurred in females aged 25-34, according to a study published on September 17 by Dr. Tony Wong and colleagues at UCLA in the open-access journal PLOS Global Public Health. Alcohol-induced deaths have been increasing over the past two decades. Particularly concering are increases between 2019 ...

BUFFALO, N.Y. — People with substance use disorder who participate in recovery running programs have shown improved success in maintaining their sobriety and reducing their risk for relapse. Those observations led Panayotis Thanos, a University at Buffalo neuroscientist who studies the brain’s reward system, to try to figure out the brain mechanisms behind that phenomenon. In a new study published today in PLOS One, Thanos, PhD, senior research scientist in the Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB, and co-authors reveal that ...

Two healthcare workers get COVID-19 vaccinations on the same day. Both show strong antibody responses initially, but six months later one stays healthy while the other contracts the virus. A new study published in Science Translational Medicine could help explain this difference. Researchers tracked individuals’ antibody levels after vaccinations and identified four distinct patterns of immune response after the first booster vaccination. Notably, the group that started with the highest antibody levels but experienced a faster decline were infected earlier. People with lower blood levels of IgA(S) antibodies, ...

A newly developed molecule brings together two powerful immunotherapy strategies in one treatment. Researchers at the University of Basel and University Hospital Basel, Switzerland, have demonstrated that this fusion protein can both block the “do not attack” signal used by cancer cells and selectively activate tumor-fighting immune cells. This dual action could pave the way for more effective cancer therapies with fewer side effects. Back in the early 1980s, Linda Taylor, just 33 years old, was diagnosed with advanced skin cancer and faced a grim prognosis. Luckily, she met Dr. Stephen Rosenberg from the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, who treated ...

People with temporal lobe epilepsy in particular often wander around aimlessly and unconsciously after a seizure. Researchers at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB), the University of Bonn, and the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) have identified a neurobiological mechanism that could be responsible for this so-called post-ictal wandering and potentially other postictal symptoms. According to their hypothesis, epileptic seizures are not directly responsible for post-ictal symptoms, but rather seizure-associated depolarization waves, also known as spreading depolarization (SD). The results ...

Musical people find it easier to focus their attention on the right sounds in noisy environments. This is shown in a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in the journal Science Advances. The results suggest that music training can be used to sharpen attention and cognition. Being able to focus on a conversation in a room full of noise is a complex task for the brain. In a new study, researchers have investigated how music training affects the brain's ability to focus attention on specific sounds. The ...

Hydride ion (H⁻), with their low mass and high redox potential, are considered promising charge carriers for next-generation electrochemical devices. However, the lack of efficient electrolyte with fast hydride ion conductivity, thermal stability, and electrode compatibility has hindered their practical applications. In a study published in Nature, Prof. CHEN Ping’s group from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) developed a novel core–shell hydride ion electrolyte, and constructed the first rechargeable hydride ion ...

CAMBRIDGE, MA -- A genome-editing technique known as prime editing holds potential for treating many diseases by transforming faulty genes into functional ones. However, the process carries a small chance of inserting errors that could be harmful. MIT researchers have now found a way to dramatically lower the error rate of prime editing, using modified versions of the proteins involved in the process. This advance could make it easier to develop gene therapy treatments for a variety of diseases, the researchers say. “This ...

A “teenaged” pachycephalosaur from Mongolia’s Gobi Desert may provide answers to lingering questions around the dinosaur group, according to new research published today in the journal Nature. The fossil represents a new species of pachycephalosaur and is both the oldest and most complete skeleton of this dinosaur group found to date. “Pachycephalosaurs are iconic dinosaurs, but they’re also rare and mysterious,” says Lindsay Zanno, associate research professor at North Carolina State University, head of paleontology at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and corresponding ...

Could cocoa extract supplements rich in cocoa flavanols reduce inflammation and, in turn, prevent age-related chronic diseases? In a new study from the COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS), investigators from Mass General Brigham and their colleagues looked at changes in five age-related markers of inflammation among participants who received daily cocoa supplements over several years. They found that hsCRP—an inflammatory marker that can signal increased risk of cardiovascular disease—decreased in participants taking the cocoa extract supplement, suggesting its anti-inflammatory potential may ...

About The Study: The findings of this study suggest that metabolic bariatric surgery was associated with more weight loss at lower ongoing costs compared with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) in class II and III obesity. Further study is needed to determine if metabolic bariatric surgery should still be considered the last resort in treating obesity.  Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, George M. Eid, MD, email george.eid@ahn.org. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website ...

About The Study: The results of this cohort study suggest that there is a decreased risk of skin cancer among patients treated with nicotinamide, with the greatest effect seen when initiated after the first skin cancer. Nicotinamide is a vitamin B3 derivative that is sold as an over-the-counter medication. JAMA Dermatology Editor in Chief Kanade Shinkai, MD, PhD, selected the paper as a highlight for journalists. Once published, the paper will be accompanied by a podcast and short video. Corresponding Author: To contact ...

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified a novel way brown fat — an energy-burning form of fat — can rev the body’s metabolic engine, consuming cellular fuel and producing heat in a way that improves metabolic health. The study, in mice, reveals new avenues to exploit brown fat to treat metabolic diseases, such as insulin resistance and obesity. The study is published Sept. 17 in Nature. Brown fat is known for its ability to turn energy (calories) from food into heat. In contrast, white fat stores energy for later use while muscle makes energy immediately ...

A USC Stem Cell-led research team has achieved a major step forward in the effort to build mouse and human synthetic kidneys. In a new paper published in Cell Stem Cell, the scientists describe generating more mature and complex lab-grown kidney structures, or organoids, than ever before.  “This is a revolutionary tool for creating more accurate models for studying kidney disease, which affects one in seven adults,” said corresponding author Zhongwei Li, associate professor of medicine, and stem cell biology and regenerative medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. “It’s also a milestone ...

When do people behave badly? Extensive research in behavioral science has shown that people are more likely to act dishonestly when they can distance themselves from the consequences. It's easier to bend or break the rules when no one is watching—or when someone else carries out the act. A new paper from an international team of researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, the University of Duisburg-Essen, and the Toulouse School of Economics shows that these moral brakes weaken even further when people delegate tasks to AI. Across 13 studies involving more than ...

Research supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) shows that repeated head impacts from contact sports can cause early and lasting changes in the brains of young- to middle-aged athletes. The findings show that these changes may occur years before chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) develops its hallmark disease features, which can now only be detected by examining brain tissue after death.    “This study underscores that many changes in the brain can occur after ...

EMBARGOED by Nature until 11 a.m. ET, September 17, 2025 Contact: Gina DiGravio, 617-358-7838, ginad@bu.edu BU Study of Young Athletes Finds Neurodegeneration Might Begin Before CTE These results have the potential to significantly change our perspective on contact sports. (BOSTON) This fall, tens of millions of people will be at risk for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease caused by repeated head impacts from contact sports like football, soccer, and ice hockey, or military service. Researchers have long ...