PULLMAN, Wash. — The urgent onset of “the munchies” after cannabis use isn’t imaginary – it’s a cognitive response that occurs regardless of sex, age, weight or recent food consumption and could offer clues to help people struggling with appetite loss. Those findings from a collaborative study, conducted by researchers at Washington State University and the University of Calgary, were recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). “There are a lot of different diseases, conditions and disorders associated with wasting syndromes ...

Pygmy sperm whales (Kogia breviceps) are among the ocean’s most enigmatic inhabitants – rarely seen and largely unstudied. They live far offshore in small groups, diving in search of squid and fish. Their quiet behavior and elusive nature have made it difficult to study them in the wild. Pygmy sperm whales are rarely encountered free-swimming. Most scientific knowledge about them has come from stranded individuals – especially along the southeastern coast of the United States, where these whales strand ...

Artificial intelligence has taken the world by storm. In biology, AI tools called deep neural networks (DNNs) have proven invaluable for predicting the results of genomic experiments. Their usefulness has these tools poised to set the stage for efficient, AI-guided research and potentially lifesaving discoveries—if scientists can work out the kinks. “Right now, there are a lot of different AI tools where you’ll give an input, and they’ll give an output, but we don’t have a good way of assessing the certainty, or how confident they are, in their answers.” explains Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) Associate Professor Peter ...

In the pursuit of powerful and stable quantum computers, researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, have developed the theory for an entirely new quantum system – based on the novel concept of ‘giant superatoms’. This breakthrough enables quantum information to be protected, controlled, and distributed in new ways and could be a key step towards building quantum computers at scale. It is anticipated that quantum computers will revolutionise technologies in areas such as drug development and encryption by tackling problems far ...

Microplastic (MP) pollution poses a major concern, especially in aquatic environments, necessitating efficient detection technologies to safeguard marine life as well as human health. However, conventional detection methods like Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy require complex equipment and are often time-consuming, limiting their applicability for real-time monitoring. In this regard, electrochemical sensing methods, specifically those based on metal oxide electrodes, are highly promising for quick and sensitive ...

A new study led by Marie-Pierre Sylvestre, professor at the Université de Montréal School of Public Health, examines cannabis use 4 to 5 years after Canadian legalization by adopting a different perspective: rather than focusing solely on at-risk cases or those associated with problems, it identifies the socio-demographic, mental health, and lifestyle profiles of those who present a low risk of cannabis use disorder (CUD). The study, of which Guillaume Dubé is the lead author, analyzed data from 731 Quebec adults in their mid-thirties. The results show that among the ...

  Photos   Two of the three recipients of the second-ever Sony Women in Technology Award with Nature are from University of Michigan Engineering. The award "celebrates remarkable women working in science and technology" by providing a $250,000 prize to support their research endeavors.   Xiwen Gong, an assistant professor of chemical engineering, develops optoelectronics, or electronics that create or react to light, as well as electrically conductive materials for wearable sensors and medical devices. Zhen Xu, the Li Ka Shing Professor of Biomedical Engineering, is an ...

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have developed a method to predict when someone is likely to develop symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease using a single blood test. In a new study published Feb. 19 in Nature Medicine, the researchers demonstrated that their models predicted the onset of Alzheimer’s symptoms within a margin of three to four years. This could have implications both for clinical trials developing preventive Alzheimer’s treatments and for eventually identifying individuals likely to benefit from these ...

Researchers at Amsterdam UMC have discovered that a second pregnancy alters the female brain. Previous research from the same group had already demonstrated the impact of a first pregnancy on the female brain. These results are published today in Nature Communications. The research demonstrates that both a first and a second pregnancy have a strong and unique impact on mothers’ brains. A previous study by Elseline Hoekzema and colleagues was the first to show that pregnancy changes the structure of the human brain. The research group also ...

Mass General Brigham’s evaluation of low-field MRI performance lays potential groundwork for this technology to be a lower-cost, accessible option for breast imaging Researchers at Mass General Brigham have demonstrated the technical feasibility of using ultra-low field (ULF) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for breast imaging. With further refinement and evaluation, the technology could offer an alternative to existing breast cancer screening methods and may reduce barriers to screening. Results are published in Scientific Reports. “These results are a very encouraging proof of principle, though larger studies are needed to establish diagnostic performance,” ...

In 2024, researchers in the Laboratory of Nanoscience for Energy Technology (LNET) in EPFL’s School of Engineering reported a platform for studying the hydrovoltaic (HV) effect – a phenomenon that allows electricity to be harvested when fluid is passed over the charged surface of a nanodevice. Their platform consisted of a hexagonal network of silicon nanopillars, the space between which created channels for evaporating fluid samples. Now the LNET team, led by Giulia Tagliabue, has developed this platform into a hydrovoltaic system with a power output that matches or exceeds similar technologies – with a major advantage. Instead of relying on heat and light to simply ...

In the realm of entomology, few creatures command as much fascination as the mantis. Throughout history, these striking insects have been deeply woven into local myths and legends, sometimes respected as mystical soothsayers that can guide lost travelers home, and other times feared as little devils.  Today they remain captivating animals, serving as excellent bioindicators of biodiversity, and helping us identify rich and diverse ecosystems when present as native species.  However, a new study published in the open-access Journal of Orthoptera Research reports that two mantis species identified ...

The brain does not only communicate through fast electrical impulses; it also relies on slower, more diffuse chemical signals that modulate our emotional and social states over time. A study led by the Institute for Neurosciences (IN), a joint center of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH), has identified a key molecular mechanism that regulates the release of oxytocin within the brain. Published in the journal Communications Biology, the work sheds light on how this hormone maintains a “social tone” and how its release contributes to the quality of social interactions. Oxytocin is a hormone widely recognized ...

Public and patient engagement is becoming an established part of academic research, and funders increasingly require that citizens and patients are seen as research partners rather than merely as research subjects. Yet many researchers question what this means in everyday research practice. An interview-based study conducted at the University of Eastern Finland examined this question from the researchers’ perspective. Researchers from two Finnish universities described their experiences of, and expectations of, public and patient involvement. The findings focus on power relations between researchers and patients as something that ...

Scientists at Nagoya University in Japan have found two gut bacteria working together that contribute to chronic constipation. The duo, Akkermansia muciniphila and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, destroy the intestinal mucus coating essential for keeping the colon lubricated and feces hydrated. Their excess degradation leaves patients with dry, immobile stool. This discovery, published in Gut Microbes, finally explains why standard treatments often fail for millions of people with chronic constipation.   Notably, the study shows that Parkinson's disease patients, who suffer from constipation decades before developing tremors, ...

□ A research team led by Professor Su-Il In of the Department of Energy Science and Engineering at DGIST (President Kunwoo Lee) has uncovered the principle that the products and reaction pathways of carbon dioxide (CO₂) conversion to fuel via solar energy depend on the design of atomic-level interactions in the catalyst.   □ The technology of converting CO₂, a major greenhouse gas, into useful fuels or chemical feedstocks is a key challenge for achieving a carbon-neutral society. In particular, “artificial photosynthesis” technology, which utilizes solar energy to turn greenhouse gases into resources, is attracting attention. However, there ...

A new multinational study from the INTERCOVID Consortium, including Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, has found that COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy, particularly when combined with a booster dose, significantly reduces the risk of preeclampsia, a serious and potentially life-threatening pregnancy complication. The findings offer unprecedented insight into preeclampsia prevention, independent of the direct effects of COVID-19 infection. The study, published in eClinicalMedicine, titled COVID-19 Vaccination Status During ...

Menopausal hormone therapy (commonly known as hormone replacement therapy or HRT) is not associated with an increased risk of death, finds a Danish study of over 800,000 women published by The BMJ today. The findings support current guidelines that recommend hormone therapy for women who have recently begun menopause who have moderate to severe symptoms and no contraindications, say the researchers. Menopausal hormone therapy can help relieve menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, sleep disturbance, mood swings, and depression. But its use has steadily declined during the last two decades, mainly due to safety concerns, and real world evidence ...

Four fifths of England’s integrated care boards (ICBs) - responsible for planning health services for their local population - would need to at least double their number of general practitioners to meet staffing standards considered safe for patients, finds an analysis of NHS workforce data published by The BMJ today. The British Medical Association (BMA) says that, by 2040, England should have one  full time equivalent (FTE) GP for every 1,000 patients, to ensure manageable workloads and patient safety. But new data released last month shows ...

Booster vaccines reduced the risk of COVID‑19–related hospitalisation and death, according to a new study of over 3 million adults who had the autumn 2022 vaccine in England.  The research led by the universities of Bristol and Oxford, provides further evidence of the effectiveness of booster vaccination against COVID-19. The study, published in Vaccine today [18 February], also found that this effectiveness was similar for Moderna (BA.1 mRNA-1273) and Pfizer-BioNTech (BA.1 BNT162b2) booster vaccines, but protection declined over time. Previous work has shown the initial COVID-19 vaccination was effective in reducing the risk ...

Women with stage IV breast cancer detected through screening have a 60% chance of survival ten years after diagnosis. This is in comparison to a survival rate of under 20% of those with stage IV breast cancer which was not detected through screening. The study by King’s College London, Queen Mary University London, and the University of Southern Denmark, aimed to find out if the method by which breast cancer is detected impacts survival rates at different stages of the cancer. These results, published in JNCI, suggest that even at the most ...

The American College of Cardiology will recognize Plicy Perez-Kersey, MD, as the first recipient of the Thad and Gerry Waites Rural Cardiovascular Research Fellowship Award. Perez-Kersey will be honored at American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session (ACC.26) taking place March 28 – 30, in New Orleans. The Thad and Gerry Waites Rural Cardiovascular Research Fellowship was funded through Thad F. Waites, MD, MACC, in honor of his wife Gerry. It reflects their commitment to combating cardiovascular disparities and uplifting underserved populations through evidence-based clinical interventions and innovative research. ...

NORMAN, Okla. – Researchers at the University of Oklahoma have developed new hybrid materials that challenge conventional thinking about how light-emitting compounds work and could advance the field of fast radiation detection. The research, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, presents a novel approach to designing layered perovskite materials that combine the best of both organic and inorganic components. Perovskites are crystalline materials with a specific atomic arrangement that has made them increasingly important ...

In most states, Medicaid eligibility rules shift at age 19, when individuals transition from child to adult classification. A new study led by the University of Chicago finds that this policy threshold coincides with a sharp spike in Medicaid disenrollment, exposing millions of young adults — including those with significant health needs — to potential gaps in insurance coverage.  In the study, published February 16 in JAMA Pediatrics, researchers observed that 13.4% of young adults with complex medical conditions were disenrolled at age 19, compared with 35.6% of those without complex conditions. Disenrollment was defined as two or more months without ...

Researchers have published a comprehensive review showing how a little-known thermal treatment called biomass torrefaction could transform agricultural and forestry waste into high-value carbon materials for energy storage, environmental cleanup, and medicine. Biomass such as crop residues, wood waste, and municipal organics is one of the most abundant renewable carbon resources on Earth. Yet much of it is burned or discarded, releasing greenhouse gases and wasting potential value. The new review explains how torrefaction, a mild heating process performed at roughly 200 to 300 degrees Celsius in low-oxygen ...