PITTSBURGH, June 23, 2025 – In this digital era, both kids and adults are often glued to smartphone screens. Digital technology keeps users entertained, connected to friends, and in tune with important news. But some reports suggest that, particularly for adolescents, excessive time on these screens can be linked to mental health problems and even depression. New research from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine published today in JAMA Pediatrics suggests that that association is driven by shorter ...

A rare gene mutation that delays Alzheimer’s disease does so by damping inflammatory signaling in brain-resident immune cells, according to a preclinical study led by investigators at Weill Cornell Medicine. The finding adds to growing evidence that brain inflammation is a major driver of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s—and that it may be a key therapeutic target for these disorders. In the study, published June 23 in Immunity, the researchers examined the effects of the mutation APOE3-R136S—known as the “Christchurch ...

Researchers at the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have found that cannabidiol (CBD), a non-intoxicating compound found in cannabis, could help reduce problematic behaviors in autistic boys. The results provide valuable insights into the potential benefits and limitations of CBD as a therapeutic intervention for autism. Autism spectrum disorder is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social communication difficulties, repetitive behaviors ...

CAR-T cells, which are genetically programmed to specifically recognize and kill target cells, have altered the therapeutic landscape of lymphoma. After the tumor antigens are identified by scFv, CAR-T cells execute anti-tumor activity through granzyme and perforin secretion, inducing cell apoptosis in a Fas-FasL-dependent pathway and producing inflammatory cytokines to antagonize the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments (TME) and induce host immune responses. However, CAR-T cell therapy still faces many challenges owing to the heterogeneity of tumor cells, interference from TME, T cell exhaustion, as well as severe adverse events. Recent years, advances in tumor ...

Tsukuba, Japan—Displaced aggression, such as lashing out at an unrelated individual after a frustrating experience, is a well-documented phenomenon in both humans and animals. In mice, males typically attack unfamiliar, potentially rival males that enter their territory. However, when the rival was placed inside a transparent enclosure, physical contact was blocked despite visual and olfactory access. This situation increased arousal in the subject—a phenomenon known as "social instigation"—which primed the animal for heightened aggression. When subsequently presented with access to a different rival, the subject exhibited significantly ...

1. Prediction of key genes in the AICAR biosynthetic pathway of endophytic Fusarium solani   Previous study showed that overexpression of the global regulator VeA mediated a significant increase in the antitumor activity of F. solani, with a marked enrichment of differential metabolites including AICAR. To elucidate the molecular regulatory mechanism by which veAOE14 contributed to the increased synthesis of AICAR, we obtained the predicted synthetic pathway of AICAR in F. solani by analyzing the veAOE14 transcriptome and metabolome data, with a total of 10 steps in the major synthetic reactions. Based on the previous findings and predicted ...

A low FODMAP diet developed by Monash University researchers for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has been shown to improve gastrointestinal symptoms in women with endometriosis. Sixty percent of study participants responded to the Low FODMAP Diet (LFD), compared to 26 per cent who responded to a control diet based on Australian Dietary Guidelines. The majority of those on the LFD experienced a clinically significant improvement in gastrointestinal symptoms, and overall symptom severity was 40 per cent lower on the LFD than on the control diet. Published in Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, researchers found that the LFD also eased abdominal pain and bloating, and normalised ...

(Santa Barbara, Calif.) — A condition long considered to be unfavorable to electrical conduction in semiconductor materials may actually be beneficial in 2D semiconductors, according to new findings by UC Santa Barbara researchers published in the journal Physical Review Letters.  Electron-phonon interactions — collisions between charge-carrying electrons and heat-carrying vibrations in the atomic lattice of the material — are considered the primary cause of electrons slowing down as they travel through semiconductor material. But according to UCSB mechanical engineers Bolin Liao and Yujie Quan, when electrons ...

Long-term exposure to wildfire smoke may increase the risk of heart failure (HF), especially in older adults, women and vulnerable populations, according to a study published today in JACC, the flagship journal of the American College of Cardiology. In this first national, population-based study to examine how prolonged wildfire smoke exposure impacts HF risk, compared to other types of air pollution, researchers found that as the level of air pollution from wildfire smoke increased over a two-year period, the risk of developing heart failure ...

In 2025, love and politics are colliding for many LGBTQ+ singles. A new Kinsey Institute and DatingNews survey finds 1 in 4 are changing how they date amid the political climate. The State of Us: National Study on Modern Love & Dating in 2025 shows politics are affecting LGBTQ+ singles across demographics, however Gen Z ages 18-25 are feeling the most impact. Among the overall sample of 302 respondents: 25% of LGBTQ+ singles say politics have changed how they date 35% of LGBTQ+ adults say they don’t feel safe being open about their identity while dating 18% of respondents said they are taking extra measures to protect their identity and privacy ...

**Various Embargoes** THE LANCET JOURNALS: Papers being presented at the American Diabetes Association [ADA] 85th Scientific Sessions The following papers published across The Lancet Group will be presented at the American Diabetes Association [ADA] 85th Scientific Sessions. The conference will take place from Friday 20 June through Monday 23 June 2025 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Contact details for corresponding authors are provided should you wish to arrange an interview with the authors. Funding information is listed on ...

Restaurants and dinner hosts could improve dining experiences and reduce social awkwardness by serving guests at the same time, a new study has found. We have all faced that situation in a restaurant or at a dinner party: our food has arrived but we find ourselves waiting for others at the table to be served before starting. This long-established norm is the subject of new research co-authored by Bayes Business School, that shows we are more concerned about violating this practice ourselves than we are about others doing so. WATCH: Authors of the study explain its outcomes The ...

Despite decades of ocean exploration, humans still lack basic answers to one of the most fundamental ecological questions: where is marine life found, and why? A new study published in Communications Earth & Environment, highlights just how uneven our knowledge of ocean biodiversity really is. By systematically processing nearly 19 million records from the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS), the study reveals that global marine biodiversity data from below 30m are heavily biased towards shallow waters (50% of benthic records come from just the shallowest 1% of the ...

Penn-led researchers have turned a deadly fungus into a potent cancer-fighting compound. After isolating a new class of molecules from Aspergillus flavus, a toxic crop fungus linked to deaths in the excavations of ancient tombs, the researchers modified the chemicals and tested them against leukemia cells. The result? A promising cancer-killing compound that rivals FDA-approved drugs and opens up new frontiers in the discovery of more fungal medicines. “Fungi gave us penicillin,” says Sherry Gao, ...

As artificial intelligence reshapes workplaces worldwide, a new study provides early evidence suggesting AI exposure has not, thus far, caused widespread harm to workers' mental health or job satisfaction. In fact, the data reveals that AI may even be linked to modest improvements in worker physical health, particularly among employees with less than a college degree. But the authors caution: It is way too soon to draw definitive conclusions. The paper, “Artificial Intelligence and the Wellbeing of Workers,” published June 23 in Nature: Scientific Reports, uses two decades of longitudinal data from the ...

The use of this test in clinical practice would allow for the avoidance of side effects and the implementation of more effective treatment. "We've found a way to practice precision medicine with standard chemotherapy," says Geoff Macintyre, a researcher at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO). The research has been published in the journal Nature Genetics The test will now be validated in a hospital setting, thanks to a new project funded by the Spanish Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Service. Chemotherapy seeks to destroy tumor cells and has been a standard treatment ...

Cancer Research UK-funded scientists at the University of Cambridge, in collaboration with the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) and Cambridge-based startup Tailor Bio, have created a test which can successfully predict whether cancer will resist common forms of chemotherapy treatment. It works by looking at changes to the order, structure and number of copies of DNA within the cancer - known as chromosomal instability (CIN) signatures. These signatures are found by reading the full DNA sequence of the tumour and looking for patterns in how the chromosomes are disrupted when compared to normal cells The ...

Years after wildfires burn forests and watersheds, the contaminants left behind continue to poison rivers and streams across the Western U.S. — much longer than scientists estimated.  A new study, published today in Nature Communications Earth & Environment, analyzed water quality in more than 500 watersheds across the Western U.S., and is the first large-scale assessment of post-wildfire quality. The research was led by scientists from the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Science ...

The chemical reaction to produce hydrogen from water is several times more effective when using a combination of new materials in three layers, according to researchers at Linköping University in Sweden. Hydrogen produced from water is a promising renewable energy source – especially if the hydrogen is produced using sunlight. The production of new petrol and diesel cars will be banned in the EU as of 2035. Electric motors are expected to become increasingly common in vehicles – but they are not suitable for all types of transport. “Passenger cars can have a battery, but heavy trucks, ships or aircraft cannot use ...

Researchers have discovered that the most aggressive melanomas, the deadliest form of skin cancer, overactivate two key processes in mitochondria, the components of cells that provide energy. Blocking these pathways with currently available drugs effectively killed melanoma cells. The findings are published by Wiley online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. By mapping the proteins expressed in 151 tumor and normal skin samples, investigators found that the most aggressive melanomas hyper-activate the ...

A single pellet of recycled plastic can contain over 80 different chemicals. A new study with researchers from University of Gothenburg and Leipzig shows that recycled polyethylene plastic can leach chemicals into water causing impacts in the hormone systems and lipid metabolism of zebrafish larvae. The plastic pollution crisis has reached global levels, threatening both planetary and human health, and recycling is proposed as one of the solutions to the plastics pollution crisis. However, as plastics contain thousands of chemical additives and other substances that can be toxic, and these are almost ...

Giving birth to a child after 40 is becoming more and more common – but it can entail an increased risk to the child. A new study based on data from over 300,000 births in Sweden shows that children of older mothers are more often born prematurely or with complications, especially when the mother is 45 years of age or older. In large parts of the world, women are having children later and later in life. In Sweden, 4.8% of mothers were 40 years of age or older in 2022. Previous research has shown that older mothers differ from younger mothers in several respects such as having a higher BMI, a higher proportion having utilised assisted ...

Many doctors abandon a potentially life-saving medical scanning technology soon after training, because systemic barriers prevent it from becoming part of their routine practice, a study has found. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) enables doctors to perform rapid bedside scans using a portable device. This can quickly reveal life-threatening problems – including heart failure, fluid in the lungs, or internal bleeding – that can often be treated if identified in time. Although thousands of doctors in the UK are now trained to use POCUS, research, including the new study, shows that many do not continue to use it in practice after completing ...

(Helsinki, Finland, Monday, 23 June 2025) Insulin resistance detected by routine triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index can flag people with early Alzheimer’s who are four times more likely to present rapid cognitive decline, according to new research presented at the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress 2025.1 Neurologists at the University of Brescia reviewed records for 315 non-diabetic patients with cognitive deficits, including 200 with biologically confirmed Alzheimer’s disease. All subjects underwent an assessment of insulin resistance using the TyG index and a clinical follow-up of 3 years. When patients ...

Highlights: Resistance to colistin, a potent antibiotic, is on the rise. In 2016, researchers discovered that colistin resistance could be transferred laterally among microbes. Researchers have isolated genes that confer colistin resistance from imported seafood purchased from markets in Atlanta, Ga. The findings suggest imported seafood could promote the spread of transmissible colistin resistance.  Los Angeles, Calif.—Colistin is a potent, last-resort antibiotic, used only to treat people ...