ANN ARBOR—Seagrass has the potential to be one of the world's most effective sponges at soaking up and storing carbon, but we don't yet know how nutrient pollution affects its ability to sequester carbon. In a pair of studies, U-M researchers evaluated the impact of nitrogen and phosphorus on seagrass, short, turf-like grasses that live in shallow, coastal areas. Examining data gathered from a plot of seagrass enriched with nutrients over a period of nine years, the scientists found that nutrients can increase seagrass's ability ...

For more information, contact: Nicole Fawcett, nfawcett@umich.edu     EMBARGOED for release at 10 a.m. ET Sept. 4, 2025     Study shows how smoking drives pancreatic cancer Researchers trace how chemicals from cigarettes and other environmental toxins lead to higher risk of pancreatic cancer and worse outcomes   ANN ARBOR, Michigan — A new study explains why smokers have a higher chance of developing pancreatic cancer and why they tend to have worse outcomes than nonsmokers.   Researchers from the University of Michigan ...

Osaka, Japan - The research group led by Drs. Mitsuru Arase, Mari Murakami, and Prof. Kiyoshi Takeda (Graduate School of Medicine/ Immunology Frontier Research Center at The University of Osaka) revealed that transcription factors RUNX2 and BHLHE40 play crucial roles in inducing T cells involved in Crohn's disease. Crohn's disease is an intractable disorder characterized by chronic inflammation in the digestive tract. Tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM), which persist in long-term in the ...

The Earth BioGenome Project (EBP) is a global network of scientists sequencing the genomes of Earth’s eukaryotes. They aim to create a digital library of DNA sequences to help us preserve and protect life on Earth, and tackle rapid environmental change and biodiversity loss.  Thanks to major technical advances, high-quality genomes can be produced 10 times faster and at significantly lower cost than before. Now, published in a Frontiers in Science lead article, the EBP Community of Scientists has revealed a refined strategy to scale up the sequencing of 150,000 ...

Canadian researchers show that stress modifies the morphology of brain cells in mice, directly influencing the rodents’ level of physical activity. Astrocytes in the lateral hypothalamus region of the brain, an area involved in the regulation of sleep and wakefulness, play a key role in neuron activity in mice and affect their behaviour, Canadian researchers have found. Led by Ciaran Murphy-Royal of Université de Montréal’s affiliated hospital research centre, the CRCHUM, the scientists detail their finding in a study published in Nature Communications. In ...

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — The University of Maryland will lead an eight-country research consortium to develop an artificial intelligence-powered early warning system to help communities prepare for and respond to diarrheal disease risks – and potentially other conditions – worsened by extreme weather events. Americans and people around the globe are grappling with increasing incidence of extreme weather, from flooding to droughts. Now, funded by a three-year, $1.9 million joint grant, the Awareness Against Health Threats of Extreme Weather Events (AWARE) project will unite University of Maryland researchers with partners from Nepal, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, ...

WASHINGTON – Sept. 4, 2025 – With so much confusion around what makes a grain food truly healthy, new research now offers a clearer picture: a combination of grain foods can support better nutrition and metabolic health when they deliver on nutrient density. A new study published in Nutrients, which analyzed the diets of more than 14,000 Americans over five years, found that both whole and refined grain foods play a role in improved diet quality, nutrient intake and everyday accessibility.   Conducted by researchers at the Center for Public Health Nutrition at the University of Washington, the peer-reviewed study analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination ...

On Friday, July 4, the Korea University College of Medicine hosted the K-CLUB (Korea Club for Leading-edge University Biomedical-science) International Symposium at the SK Future Hall on the university’s Seoul campus in Seongbuk District, bringing together distinguished global scholars for an in-depth examination of “Health for Humanity.”   This year’s inaugural K-CLUB International Symposium was organized to promote interdisciplinary collaboration and strengthen global research networks in addressing shared challenges facing humanity, including ...

A major study has investigated the relationship between walking and the risk of developing chronic lower back problems. The findings could save the healthcare system significant amounts of money while also alleviating many people’s back pain – if we just follow the simple advice provided. The results are clear: People who walk a lot have less back pain than people who do not walk much – and the volume is what matters most, not the intensity.. It is better to walk a lot than to walk fast. “People who walk more than 100 minutes every day have a ...

Key Points: Researchers screened commercial broccoli seeds for Alternaria brassicicola, a fungal pathogen. They found that seeds can harbor A. brassicicola and can spread resistance to multiple fungicides that growers use to try to manage A. brassicicola. Based on the findings, the researchers developed a faster way for detecting and monitoring fungicide resistance. Washington, D.C.—A new study found evidence that commercial broccoli seeds can harbor a fungal seedborne pathogen, Alternaria brassicicola, with cross resistance to 2 commonly used fungicides. The finding highlights the need to include ...

New York, NY [September 4, 2025]—A team of researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has developed a new method to identify and reduce biases in datasets used to train machine-learning algorithms—addressing a critical issue that can affect diagnostic accuracy and treatment decisions. The findings were published in the September 4 online issue of the Journal of Medical Internet Research [DOI: 10.2196/71757]. To tackle the problem, the investigators developed AEquity, a tool that helps detect and correct bias in health care datasets before they are used to train artificial intelligence (AI) and machine-learning models. The investigators tested AEquity ...

PULLMAN, Wash. -- Strawberries are delicate and hard to harvest—easily bruised and often hidden under a canopy of leaves. This creates headaches for scientists trying to design robotic harvesters. Now a Washington State University-led team has designed one that combines an artificial-intelligence vision system, soft silicone “fingers,” and a fan that gently move leaves out of the way to get at hidden fruit. Experiments in the lab and in outdoor fields showed that the harvester correctly detected strawberries 80% of the time, on average, and could classify whether the berries were hidden 93% of the time. The design, development ...

Tracking human behavioral patterns in cities can be used to determine urban delineations and urban land use, which has the potential to improve urban planning. Urban areas are human settlements, typically cities, characterized by high population densities and built infrastructure. Urban areas need to be carefully planned, to ensure they are safe and sanitary. They are not self-sustaining but are dependent on an influx of essential resources. Delineating urban areas is of great importance for planning and governance. Historically, this has been determined by establishing administrative boundaries and ...

WASHINGTON – Advanced systems for removing the toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS from drinking water can deliver far greater health benefits than previously thought. They also slash levels of other harmful contaminants, a new peer-reviewed Environmental Working Group study finds. The research underscores the fact that PFAS water filtration systems can also help reduce levels of cancer-causing disinfection byproducts, or DBPs, agricultural nitrates and heavy metals like arsenic ...

As we enter the fifth funding cycle for Direct to Open (D2O)—our model for open access monographs—the MIT Press is thrilled to partner with Duke University Press and Goldsmiths Press to bring even more vital research to the communities that need it most. Starting in 2026, D2O will include offerings from all three presses, furthering our shared mission in building a more open and accessible future for academic publishing. Libraries and consortia can commit to support the growing Direct to Open program through November 30, 2025. Launched in 2021, D2O is the MIT Press’s bold, innovative framework for open access monographs that shifts publishing ...

A newly published clinical trial in Nutrients highlights pork’s role in military nutrition, showing that meals containing lean pork support better recovery, mood and anabolic status in cadets performing intense tactical fitness exercises compared to plant-based meals.  The randomized controlled trial, conducted by Texas A&M University and funded by the National Pork Board (NPB) and the U.S. Department of Defense, evaluated whether pork-based or plant-based military-style Meals, Ready-to-Eat (MREs) influenced recovery after the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) in cadets.  Pork Meals Reduce Catabolism, ...

The Mount Sinai Hospital has announced the completion of a major six-phase redesign project of its Emergency Department (ED) that provides more clinical space, a completely renovated observation unit, and a more private and comfortable experience for patients. This transformation features innovative, state-of-the-art advancements to enhance access to life-saving, high-quality care and improved experience for the 100,000 patients who visit the ED each year. Construction began in the summer of 2020. “This exciting work represents the culmination of five years of planning and effort,” says Benjamin S. Abella, ...

In an increasingly globalized world, English is no longer just a beneficial skill to have but a crucial tool for professionals in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Researchers, engineers, and scientists alike must be able to communicate internationally, access the latest research findings, and publish their work in English. It is thus, vital to understand the various language learning strategies (LLSs) that people use to learn English as a second language. Despite the widely recognized importance of LLSs, educators have struggled to accurately and objectively analyze them in specific learning environments. The Strategy Inventory for Language Learning ...

The process of improving the synchronization between visual perception and motor skills is called visuomotor learning. It entails adaptation of movements based on visual information. This kind of training can help with skill development and rehabilitation by enhancing motor skills. However, the explicit strategies involved in visuomotor learning might not be universal. Society and culture often control our cognitive behavior, and this leads to unconscious, cultural, and cognitive biases. This might have an impact on ...

The composition of sweat makes it a valuable diagnostic fluid. While it is mostly water, the small fraction containing electrolytes, metabolic byproducts, and chemical traces can reveal important information about a person’s health. Today, commercial sweat-based sensors can already track dehydration, electrolyte loss, and more. One emerging application is the measurement of lactic acid in sweat. Lactic acid, or more precisely L-lactate, is a byproduct of metabolism produced mainly in muscle cells when glucose is broken down for energy under low-oxygen conditions, such as during intense physical activity. Athletes and trainers use lactate measurements ...

Two Assistant Professors at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) have won European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grants of 1.5 million euros each to pursue their potentially groundbreaking work in astrophysics and neuroscience. These prestigious grants empower scientists at the beginning of their careers to launch projects, form teams and explore their best ideas. Neuroscientist Amelia Douglass looks into how animals react to stress – both behavioral and physiological – to ensure their survival. Astrophysicist Ylva Götberg researches pairs of stars ...

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem proudly congratulates two of its outstanding researchers on receiving the prestigious European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grants for 2025. The grants valued between €1.5-1.7 million, supports promising early-career researchers in launching independent projects that push the frontiers of scientific knowledge. The new recipients join a long list of Hebrew University researchers who have received these prestigious grants in recent years. Link to pictures: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1VmsHiSMf196vXz9Tda9-dOG5RhIHcQ6z?usp=sharing  The ...

As the European Research Council announced today, two further ERC Starting Grants have been awarded to Graz University of Technology (TU Graz). Theresa Rienmüller from the Institute of Biomechanics and Robert Winkler from the Institute of Electron Microscopy and Nanoanalysis were able to secure this highly endowed prize with their submitted projects. Theresa Rienmüller is researching the electrical stimulation of nerve cells as a therapy for traumatic brain injury, while Robert Winkler is developing ...

Kelli Lehto, Associate Professor of Neuropsychiatric Genomics at the University of Tartu, is leading a prestigious European Research Council (ERC) grant project that brings together genetics, psychology, and data science to investigate the causes of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults and enhance diagnostic methods. ADHD is a highly heritable neurodevelopmental condition, which has been primarily diagnosed in children and is characterised by impulsivity, hyperactivity and attention problems. Recently, an increasing number of adults are being diagnosed with ADHD. According to data from ...

A new study by researchers at the University of Oxford, University of Leeds, and University College London has identified a new constraint on the chemistry of Earth’s core, by showing how it was able to crystallise millions of years ago. The study has been published today (4 September) in Nature Communications. The researchers showed that the core would need to be made of 3.8% carbon for it to have begun crystallising. This result indicates that carbon may be more abundant in Earth’s core than previously thought, and that this element could have played a key role in how it froze, offering a rare glimpse into ...