COLUMBUS, Ohio – Financial benefits, such as saving on utility payments and avoiding electricity rate hikes, are a key driver of U.S. adults’ willingness to consider installing rooftop solar panels or subscribing to community solar power, a new study suggests. Researchers at The Ohio State University conducted a national survey to gauge consumer perceptions about adopting solar power. Though previous work has examined views about rooftop solar, this study is the first assessment of public opinion about accessing community solar energy for household use. The findings led researchers to recommend that policymakers and industry leaders increase marketing campaign ...

Human consumption of antibiotics increased by 65% between 2000 and 2015. These drugs are not completely metabolized while passing through the body, nor completely destroyed or removed by most wastewater treatment facilities. Heloisa Ehalt Macedo and colleagues calculate that worldwide humans consume around 29,200 tonnes of the 40 most used antibiotics. After metabolism and wastewater treatment, an estimated 8,500 tonnes (29% of consumption) may reach the world’s river systems, and 3,300 tonnes (11%) may arrive at the world’s oceans or inland sinks (such as lakes or reservoirs). The authors calculate these ...

DALLAS, April 22, 2025 — The American Heart Association and the National Football League (NFL) want more people to be confident and capable when faced with a cardiac emergency. Currently, 9 out of every 10 people who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital die[1]. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), performed immediately, can double or triple a person’s chance of survival. That’s why the Heart Association and the NFL are working together to expand the Nation of Lifesavers™ movement, the Association’s most recent commitment to CPR. With support from the NFL and ...

Chronic pain, a common and debilitating condition, often leads practitioners to prescribe opioids in escalating doses. The prescription of opioids has created a serious nationwide crisis that killed more than 107,000 Americans from December 2020 through December 2021, according to a report by the American Medical Association (“Nation’s opioid-related overdose and death epidemic continues to worsen”). Given these realities, an urgent need exists to develop novel non-opioid and non-addicting therapies capable of effectively managing chronic pain. To help spur the development of these therapies, ...

Psychedelic drugs are seeing a surge of interest from mainstream medicine, and initial results suggest that psychedelic-therapy can be a safe and effective treatment for some mental health conditions. However, the side-effect profile is still incompletely understood. In particular, the use of psychedelics has been posited to carry a risk of triggering latent psychotic disorders or persistent visual hallucination, known as Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD). In order to better understand the prevalence and risk factors of such side-effects, Katie Zhou and colleagues surveyed 654 people online who were planning to take psychedelics through their ...

Researchers from the Human Computer Interaction Institute (HCII) and Robotics Institute (RI) at Carnegie Mellon University introduced a novel method for fabricating functional flat-to-shape objects using a computer-controlled sewing machine.  The team includes Sapna Tayal, undergraduate student in the School of Design; Lea Albaugh, Mark Stehlik postdoctoral teaching fellow at HCII; James McCann, associate professor in RI; and Scott E. Hudson, professor and associate department head for education in HCII.  “Flat-to-shape” refers to objects that can be transformed from a flat sheet into a three-dimensional form through ...

A study in mice suggests that senescent cells are at least partially responsible for post-surgical delirium and similar conditions in elderly people—and identifies a combination of drugs that might be able to prevent the complication.  Elderly people sometimes experience neurocognitive problems after infections or surgeries. Shyni Varghese and colleagues investigated the role of cellular senescence in the neuroinflammation that occurs in these cases. Cellular senescence is a normal process that helps prevent abnormal cell proliferation, but it can also occur in response to stress. Senescent cells stop dividing and typically secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines and other molecules ...

The highs and lows of blood glucose aren’t just an energy rollercoaster; they could be a key to detecting diabetes risk early and spare you a needle prick or two. Researchers at the University of Tokyo have identified a simple, noninvasive method for assessing blood glucose regulation — an essential factor in diabetes risk. Their approach, based on continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data, could improve early detection and risk assessment for diabetes without relying on blood samples and expensive or complex procedures. The ...

While much of the global research on menopause has focused on Western populations, the unique cultural, genetic, and lifestyle factors affecting Asian women during menopause have been largely overlooked. Key findings from a new white paper that surveyed 1,741 working women across five major Asia Pacific (APAC) countries—Singapore, Vietnam, Australia, Japan, and Indonesia titled ‘Menopause and the Bottom Line: A Critical Leadership Challenge for APAC Leaders’, published by NUS Bia-Echo Asia Centre for Reproductive Longevity and Equality (ACRLE) at the NUS ...

Insects are disappearing at an alarming rate worldwide, but why? Agricultural intensification tops the list of proposed reasons, but there are many other, interconnected drivers that have an impact, according to new research led by Binghamton University, State University of New York.  Research on insect decline has surged in recent years, sparked by an alarming 2017 study that suggested that insect populations had declined by 75% in less than three decades. This has led to countless published papers, with scientists hypothesizing different ...

Many people view their dog as a family member, friend, or kid, but does the relationship with them really resemble these human relationships? Researchers from ELTE Eötvös Loránd University now set out to explore the precise role dogs play in human social networks by comparing human-dog relationships with human-human relationships using 13 relationship scales. Their study revealed that the owner-dog relationship can be interpreted as a mix of child and best friend relationships, combining positive aspects of the child relationship with the lack of negative aspects of friendship, blended with a high level of control over the dog.  Interestingly, ...

Scientists at the VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology and VIVES University College have developed a new method to genetically improve poplar trees without introducing foreign DNA into its genome. This advancement could pave the way for faster and more widely accepted use of gene-edited trees in forestry and the bio-based economy. The work appeared in New Phytologist.   Gene editing without the baggage  Gene editing tools like CRISPR are revolutionizing plant science by allowing precise and targeted improvements ...

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, USA, 22 April 2025 – In a groundbreaking research study, University of Michigan researchers have discovered that a single dose of a psychedelic compound can enhance cognitive flexibility—the brain's ability to adapt to changing circumstances—for weeks after administration, potentially revolutionizing treatments for depression, PTSD, and neurodegenerative diseases. The study, published today in the journal Psychedelics, demonstrates that mice treated with a single dose of 25CN-NBOH, a selective serotonin 2A receptor agonist, showed markedly ...

PISCATAWAY, New Jersey, USA, 22 April 2025 – In a comprehensive Genomic Press peer-reviewed research article, researchers have revealed compelling evidence that biological sex significantly influences substance use patterns among individuals with panic disorder, with implications for both clinical assessment and treatment strategies. The noteworthy study, published today in the journal Genomic Psychiatry, examined associations between panic disorder and both alcohol and tobacco use disorders in a demographically diverse sample of nearly 11,000 individuals. The research team, led by Dr.  Michele Pato from Rutgers University, ...

NANTES, France, 22 April 2025 – In a wide-ranging Genomic Press Interview, Dr. Jeremie Poschmann of INSERM and Université de Nantes shares the story behind his bold, data-centric approach to immunology and translational science. The conversation, published in Genomic Psychiatry as part of the Innovators & Ideas series, explores how Dr. Poschmann’s unconventional path—from nurse to systems biologist—has uniquely shaped his research into the circulating immune system. His lab focuses on the molecular analysis of blood-derived immune cells using multi-omics tools, ...

NEW YORK, New York, USA, 22 April 2025 – A powerful editorial published today in Brain Medicine raises alarm about a previously overlooked threat to brain development and public health: the disruption of sterol biosynthesis by common prescription medications. The editorial, authored by Brain Medicine Editor-in-Chief Julio Licinio, responds to a recent article by Korade and Mirnics (https://doi.org/10.61373/bm025p.0011) that identified over 30 FDA-approved drugs—including widely prescribed psychiatric medications such as aripiprazole, trazodone, haloperidol, and cariprazine—that inhibit DHCR7, a critical enzyme in cholesterol ...

PCR genetic analysis has been in the spotlight since COVID-19, but light is now further facilitating PCR-free methods. Osaka Metropolitan University scientists have developed a light-induced DNA detection technique, using heterogeneous probe particles, that enables ultra-sensitive and ultra-fast genetic analysis without the need for PCR amplification. This advancement is lighting the way for faster, more affordable, and precise genetic analysis across medicine, environmental science, and portable ...

A new study from Aalborg University in Denmark reveals that European hares (Lepus europaeus) are not only surviving—but thriving—in urban environments. Using a combination of citizen science and thermal imaging technology, researchers have documented surprisingly high hare densities in two of Denmark’s largest cities, raising new questions about the role of cities in European wildlife conservation. “We were surprised to find such high numbers of hares right in the middle of the city. In several areas, the population density rivals or even exceeds that of the best rural habitats in Europe,” says senior ...

Findings From More Than 64,000 People, in 29 Countries, Show the Relationship Between Loneliness and Age Varies by Country. Adults in Denmark Report the Lowest Levels of Loneliness. Those in Greece and Cyprus Reported the Overall Highest Levels. Middle-aged Americans demonstrated some of the highest levels of loneliness in a new study assessing tens of thousands of 50-to-90-year-olds across 29 countries. The peer-reviewed research, published in Aging and Mental Health, shows loneliness generally increases ...

The Frontiers Planet Prize names 19 National Champions – scientists offering scalable solutions to help keep humanity safely within planetary boundaries.  Following an independent scientific assessment involving 100 experts, chaired by Professor Johan Rockström, the developer of the Planetary Boundaries framework, the prize ensures faster global scientific consensus around the innovative ideas with greatest potential to drive change.  The Frontiers Planet Prize has today announced 19 National Champions from science ...

April 21, 2025 MSU has a satellite uplink/LTN TV studio and Comrex line for radio interviews upon request. Contact: Bethany Mauger: 765-571-0623, maugerbe@msu.edu; Sydney Hawkins: 517-206-0547, sydneyh@msu.edu Images Should farm fields be used for crops or solar? MSU research suggests both Strategic use of solar arrays could provide financial boost, help farmers continue producing crops and even save water EAST LANSING, Mich. – As farmers debate whether fields should be used for agriculture or solar panels, new research from Michigan State University says the answer could be both.  Jake Stid, a graduate student in the College ...

Using pilocarpine eye drops following Kahook Dual Blade (KDB) goniotomy surgery may improve clinical outcomes for patients with glaucoma and reduce the need for future medications, according to new research published by faculty members and trainees in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. “The KDB goniotomy is a minimally invasive glaucoma surgery that we do a lot here at the Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center, and there was some variability in the post-operative eye drop regimen among different providers,” says Julia Xia, MD, a uveitis ...

Stanford Medicine researchers have developed a blood test capable of detecting cancers, the ways cancer resists treatments and tissue injury caused by non-cancerous conditions. The new test analyzes RNA molecules in the bloodstream. This type of RNA is called cell-free RNA because the tiny molecules no longer inhabit a cell. There are always fragments of both DNA and RNA floating in blood — byproducts of natural cell death from all types of tissues and organs throughout the body, including cancerous tumors. The researchers spent more than six years developing novel methods to target messenger RNA in blood and then used it to identify the presence of cancers at different stages, ...

Primary progressive aphasia is a neurological condition that causes a gradual decline in language abilities. There is no cure or medication that can reverse or stop the progression of PPA. The standard practice in the clinical setting is speech-language therapy to help people with PPA maintain their ability to communicate.  University of Arizona neuroscientists have come up with a new treatment approach for PPA that combines traditional speech therapy with noninvasive electrical stimulation of the brain. The technique – called transcranial direct current stimulation – uses a low electrical current applied through electrodes on the scalp.  A ...

By John Lovett University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — While biodegradable plastics currently account for a half percent of the hundreds of millions of tons of plastic produced annually, a growing demand for the alternative reflects consumer awareness and corporate response. Researchers from Brazil, Germany and the United States document a multi-faceted global snapshot of the environmental aspects and trends surrounding single-use plastics in a review article titled “Rethinking single-use plastics: Innovations, policies, consumer awareness and market ...