WHAT: Lowering the body temperature of preterm infants (born at 33 to 35 weeks of pregnancy) with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)—a type of brain damage caused by oxygen loss—offers no benefits over standard care, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Previous studies of near-term and term infants (born after 36 weeks) with HIE found that this cooling treatment, which lowers body temperature to about 92 degrees Fahrenheit, significantly reduced the risk of death or disability by age 18 months (corrected for prematurity). However, the current findings show ...

BATON ROUGE – When faced with multiple food options and ultimately choosing one, the factors of that decision-making process may be more physiological than previously assumed. A group of scientists led by Pennington Biomedical Research Center’s Dr. Christopher Morrison recently discovered that the hormone fibroblast growth factor 21, or FGF21, plays an influential role in brain reward mechanisms like those involved in dietary choices.   The discovery was announced in the research team’s recent paper titled “FGF21 ...

As electric vehicles (EVs) gain momentum in the fight against climate change, the conversation around public charging infrastructure is growing increasingly complex. Xinwu Qian , assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at Rice University, is spearheading research that reimagines how and where charging stations should be deployed — ensuring that alignment with people’s daily routine and activities, beyond mere accessibility, are at the forefront. “Charging an electric vehicle isn’t just about plugging it in and waiting — it takes 30 minutes to an hour even with the fastest charger ...

On Wednesday 26 February, a thermal imaging camera built by researchers at the University of Oxford’s Department of Physics will blast off to the Moon as part of NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer mission. This aims to map sources of water on the Moon to shed light on the lunar water cycle and to guide future robotic and human missions. Once in orbit, the spacecraft – weighing 200kg and about the size of a washing machine- will map the surface temperature and composition of the ...

CHICAGO—February 24, 2025—Beacon Technology Solutions (Beacon), with collaborators at Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech), has been awarded a grant to support a novel study on how Far-UVC technology can help mitigate the spread of infectious diseases in public spaces. The grant was awarded through the Illinois Innovation Vouchers (IIV) Program, which fosters research collaborations between small- and medium-sized enterprises and Illinois’ world-class universities. Beacon’s flagship product is a wall-mounted smart disinfection device that uses Far-UVC 222nm light, which has been shown to disinfect up to 99.99 percent ...

New technology developed by researchers at the University of Houston could revolutionize medical imaging and lead to faster, more precise and more cost-effective alternatives to traditional diagnostic methods. For years, doctors have relied on conventional 2D X-rays to diagnose common bone fractures, but small breaks or soft tissue damage like cancers often go undetected. More expensive and time-consuming MRI scans are not always suitable for these tasks in these detection or screening settings. Now, Mini Das, Moores professor at UH’s College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and Cullen College ...

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — International process systems and operation experts have launched high-tech startup Crystallization Systems Technology Inc. (CrySyst) to streamline processes used by companies in the pharmaceutical and fine chemical industries. CrySyst’s quality-by-control (QbC) framework addresses crystallization monitoring, modeling and control. The framework is based on research published in the April 15, 2020, and Oct. 5, 2021, issues of the journal Crystal Growth & Design and the Sept. 22, 2022, issue of the journal Industrial & Engineering ...

Discarded food scraps, stray branches, seashells and many other natural materials are key ingredients in a new system that can pull drinkable water out of thin air developed by researchers from The University of Texas at Austin. This new “molecularly functionalized biomass hydrogels” system can convert a wide range of natural products into sorbents, materials that absorb liquids. By combining these sorbents with mild heat, the researchers can harvest gallons of drinkable water out of the atmosphere, even in dry conditions. “With ...

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Researchers have developed a battery that can convert nuclear energy into electricity via light emission, a new study suggests.  Nuclear power plants, which generate about 20% of all electricity produced in the United States, produce almost no greenhouse gas emissions. However, these systems do create radioactive waste, which can be dangerous to human health and the environment. Safely disposing of this waste can be challenging.  Using a combination of scintillator crystals, high-density materials that emit light when they absorb radiation, and solar cells, the team, led by researchers from The Ohio State University,  demonstrated that ambient ...

A novel tool for rapidly identifying the genetic “fingerprints” of cancer cells may enable future surgeons to more accurately remove brain tumors while a patient is in the operating room, new research reveals. Many cancer types can be identified by certain mutations, changes in the instructions encoded in the DNA of the abnormal cells. Led by a research team from NYU Langone Health, the new study describes the development of Ultra-Rapid droplet digital PCR, or UR-ddPCR, which the team found can measure the level of tumor cells in a tissue sample ...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 2025 – Keeping work surfaces clean during meat processing is a challenge. Bacteria from meat can attach, grow, and build up to create a biofilm that is difficult to remove, even on stainless steel surfaces used in industrial facilities. It can also aggregate, clumping together into an invisible mass that is stronger than individual cells, making it harder to kill using food-grade antibacterial surface cleaners. In a paper published this week in Journal of Laser Applications, from AIP Publishing and the Laser Institute of America, researchers from the Hopkirk Research Institute, New Zealand Food Safety Science and Research Centre, ...

About The Study: The findings of this study indicate that higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with a modest reduction in the risk of obesity-related cancers, independent of adiposity measures. Further research is needed to clarify the mechanisms by which the Mediterranean diet may contribute to cancer prevention. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Inmaculada Aguilera-Buenosvinos, PhD, email iaguilerabuenosvinos@gmail.com. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.61031) Editor’s Note: Please see the ...

Barcelona, 25 February 2025 - Myeloid leukaemias are among the most aggressive blood cancers and have low survival rates. Today, leukaemia patients undergo genetic analysis to identify mutations and select the most appropriate treatment. However, even among patients with the same mutation, disease progression and response to therapy can vary significantly. A study led by ICREA researcher Dr. Alejo Rodríguez-Fraticelli at IRB Barcelona, and funded by Fundación CRIS contra el cáncer, has now revealed these differences can be explained by the fact that not all blood stem cells ...

Researchers from the Organoid group at the Hubrecht Institute have found that specific gut cells, BEST4/CA7+ cells, regulate electrolyte and water balance in response to bacterial toxins that cause diarrhea. Their findings, published in Cell Stem Cell, show that these cells greatly increase in number when exposed to the cytokine interferon-γ (IFNγ), presenting a promising target for therapeutic strategies. In the gut, a variety of cell types collaborate to keep a balance of electrolyte and water. Bacterial infections can disrupt this balance, leading ...

Working toward more effective tuberculosis (TB) vaccines, researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine have developed two strains of mycobacteria with "kill switches" that can be triggered to stop the bacteria after they activate an immune response. Two preclinical studies, published, Jan. 10 in Nature Microbiology, tackle the challenge of engineering bacteria that are safe for use in controlled human infection trials or as better vaccines. While TB is under control in most developed countries, the disease still kills over a million people a year worldwide. Spreading easily through ...

SAN ANTONIO — February 25, 2025 —Four small suitcase-sized spacecraft, designed and built by Southwest Research Institute headquartered in San Antonio, are poised to launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California no earlier than Feb. 28. NASA’s Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere, or PUNCH, spacecraft is sharing a ride to space with the Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer (SPHEREx) observatory. “The PUNCH mission will study the solar corona, the Sun’s outer atmosphere, and the solar wind that fills ...

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is prevalent among middle-aged and elderly populations, can cause disability and significantly impairs quality of life. Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is an effective treatment for end-stage KOA; however, long-term outcome and prosthesis survivorship were limited reported, particularly in Chinese cohorts.   Led by Professor Weng Xi-sheng and Professor Feng Bin, the orthopedic team at Peking Union Medical College Hospital conducted a landmark follow-up study spanning over two decades. The research analyzed KOA patients who underwent primary ...

OAK BROOK, Ill. – An advanced type of MRI uncovers significant lung abnormalities in children and adolescents with long COVID, according to a new study published today in Radiology, a journal of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). Post-COVID-19 condition, commonly known as long COVID, can affect individuals of all ages and is diagnosed when symptoms persist for more than 12 weeks after an initial COVID-19 infection. Children and adolescents typically experience a milder form of the condition, but common symptoms such as chronic fatigue, headaches and poor concentration can negatively impact school performance and social activities. While ...

DALLAS, February 25, 2025 — More than half of people who experiencing sudden cardiac arrest out of hospital don’t receive immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), contributing to a high death rate. A many as 9 out of 10 people who experience sudden cardiac arrest die[1]. CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a person’s chance of survival. To save more lives, the American Heart Association, a global force changing the future of health for all, and National Basketball Association/NBA G League players are working to educate about the lifesaving skill. More Americans than ...

WASHINGTON—Hormones may be leveraged to treat and prevent signs of aging such as wrinkles and hair graying, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society journal Endocrine Reviews. Until now, only a limited number of hormones, mainly topical retinoids (retinol and tretinoin) and estrogen which is typically used to treat side effects of menopause, have been used in clinical practice as anti-skin aging compounds. This study reviews a new class of hormones and their anti-aging properties. “Our paper highlights key hormone players that orchestrate pathways of skin aging such as ...

It is unpleasant to have an enemy. Most people try to avoid hostilities that escalate to the point of mutual antagonism. Which raises the question: What does it take to make an enemy? One possible answer is that aversive or off-putting behaviors increase the likelihood of clashes with others that lead to lasting enmity. Yet without longitudinal data, it’s unclear which comes first – being aversive or being disliked – making it hard to distinguish between the causes and the consequences of having an enemy. New research from Florida Atlantic University clearly establishes the order of effects. The results, published in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence, ...

Colon cancer continues to be one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with poor dietary habits identified as a major risk factor. Ferulic acid, a phenolic compound abundant in many plant foods, has previously demonstrated potential anti-cancer properties by inhibiting cell proliferation and promoting apoptosis. Despite its promising effects, the impact of ferulic acid on colon cancer cells at different Duke’s progressive stages of the disease has remained largely unexplored. Given the critical need for new preventative measures, understanding the mechanisms through which ferulic acid acts on cancer cells is vital. Published (DOI: 10.26599/FMH.2025.9420063) ...

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is notorious for its role in food spoilage and infections, posing a significant threat to both food safety and human health. Traditionally, antimicrobial agents have been the go-to solution for managing contamination. However, the overuse of these agents has accelerated the development of drug resistance, leading to the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains that are difficult to treat. In response to this growing concern, the need for alternative methods to mitigate Pseudomonas aeruginosa’s pathogenicity ...

An autonomous underwater vehicle can propel itself efficiently by using the energy in nearby water currents. Underwater and aerial vehicles must make their way through a complex environment of gusts and currents, fighting against many flows as they attempt to stay on course. Peter Gunnarson and John O. Dabiri designed an underwater robot that makes use of these flows to cut down on the energy needed to travel, “surfing” vortices to make its way to its destination. The palm-sized robot, CARL, was equipped with an onboard inertial measurement unit, ten motors to allow movement in all three axes, and a simple but effective algorithm: if ...

Neuroimaging can capture brain activity in response to stimuli before a person decides how to respond. Initial affective responses—broadly good or bad feelings about a stimulus—have been associated with activity in evolutionarily conserved subcortical and cortical circuits including the Nucleus Accumbens (NAcc) and Anterior (AIns). Activity then continues through integrative circuits associated with more deliberative and reflective processing. Previous work has suggested that the early affective responses may be more ...