Murres, a common seabird, look a little like flying penguins. These stout, tuxedo-styled birds dive and swim in the ocean to eat small fish and then fly back to islands or coastal cliffs where they nest in large colonies. But their hardy physiques disguise how vulnerable these birds are to changing ocean conditions. A University of Washington citizen science program — which trains coastal residents to search local beaches and document dead birds — has contributed to a new study, led by federal scientists, documenting the devastating effect of warming waters on common murres in Alaska. In 2020, participants of the UW-led Coastal ...

AMHERST, Mass. — A new study in Science by researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and University of Cincinnati has mapped 35 years of river changes on a global scale for the first time. The work has revealed that 44% of the largest, downstream rivers saw a decrease in how much water flows through them every year, while 17% of the smallest upstream rivers saw increases. These changes have implications for flooding, ecosystem disruption, hydropower development interference and insufficient freshwater supplies. Previous attempts to quantify ...

mRNA vaccines clearly saved lives during the COVID-19 pandemic, but several studies suggest that older people had a somewhat reduced immune response to the vaccines when compared with younger adults. Why? Researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital, led by Byron Brook, PhD, David Dowling, PhD, and Ofer Levy, MD, PhD, found some answers — while providing proof-of-concept of a new system that can model mRNA vaccine responses in a dish. This, in turn, could help expedite efforts to make ...

COLLEGE PARK, Md. –  Dr. Mika Hamer is about to go ghost hunting. Thanks to a $100K grant from the Robert Johnson Wood Foundation (RWJF), the University of Maryland School of Public Health researcher aims to uncover the extent of so-called “ghost networks” in Medicare Advantage health insurance plans.  A “ghost network” describes the difference between advertised in-network healthcare providers for a given insurance plan and the providers who are in fact available to deliver care to patients enrolled in those plans – meaning a patient ...

Some patients with diabetes develop a serious condition known as diabetic cardiomyopathy, which is slow and cannot be directly attributed to hypertension or other cardiovascular disorders. This often under-diagnosed  heart function impairment is one of the leading causes of death in diabetic patients and it affects both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. There is no current specific drug treatment or clinical protocol approved to address this disease. A study published in the journal Pharmacological Research describes a potential target that could spur the ...

In what is believed to be the first study of its kind, University of Michigan researchers dug deeper into the numbers-only data of COVID-19-era suicides and evaluated the narratives contained in reports from coroners, medical examiners, police and vital statistics.   The researchers sought to understand how the crisis influenced suicide deaths in the first year of the pandemic, how the response by governments, employers and others influenced individuals, and if their handling could inform future public health responses.   "Our study adds much-needed context and meaning to the data that have assumed the deaths are ...

Soil plays a much bigger role in the spread of antibiotic resistance than one might imagine. Surprisingly, the ground beneath us is packed with antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) — tiny codes that allow bacteria to resist antibiotics. Human activities, such as pollution and changing land use, can disturb soil ecosystems and make it easier for resistance genes to transfer from soil bacteria and infect humans. Jingqiu Liao, assistant professor in civil and environmental engineering, is on a mission to understand how soil bacteria contribute to ...

For parents trying to shield their children from online threats, limiting screen time is a common tactic. Less time scrolling, the rationale goes, means less exposure to the psychological dangers posed by social media.  But research from Rutgers University-New Brunswick upends this assumption. Writing in The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, Jessica L. Hamilton, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at the School of Arts and Sciences, reports that screen time ...

In a recent study published in Engineering, a team of researchers led by Wenyu Zhang from South China Agricultural University has developed a groundbreaking cotransporter system that combines a tracked rice harvester and transporter for fully autonomous harvesting, unloading, and transportation operations. The key innovation of this system lies in the proposed dual-unloading mode, which includes two distinct methods: harvester waiting for unloading (HWU) and transporter following for unloading (TFU). In the HWU system, the harvester halts and summons the transporter when its ...

Physicists have long theorized the existence of a unique state of matter known as a quantum spin liquid. In this state, magnetic particles do not settle into an orderly pattern, even at absolute zero temperature. Instead, they remain in a constantly fluctuating, entangled state. This unusual behavior is governed by complex quantum rules, leading to emergent properties that resemble fundamental aspects of our universe such as the interactions of light and matter. Despite its intriguing implications, experimentally proving ...

SPOKANE, Wash. – Adding strong evidence in support of “walkable” neighborhoods, a large national study found that the built environment can indeed increase how much people walk. The study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, showed a strong connection between place and activity by studying about 11,000 twins, which helps control for family influences and genetic factors. The researchers found that each 1% increase in an area’s “walkability” resulted in 0.42% increase in neighborhood walking. When scaled up, that means a 55% increase in the walkability of the surrounding neighborhood ...

The long-term erosion and corrosion issues during the development of offshore oil and gas fields pose significant threats to the safe and efficient operation of these facilities. Superhydrophobic coatings, known for their ability to reduce interactions between corrosive substances and substrates, have garnered considerable attention. However, their poor mechanical properties often hinder their long-term application in practical working environments. To address this challenge, a research team led by Prof. Yuekun Lai from Fuzhou University and Prof. Xuewen Cao from China University of Petroleum (East China) has developed a biomimetic dental enamel coating with ...

In a recent study published in Engineering, a team of researchers led by Bo Hu and Changzheng Shao from Chongqing University in China has introduced a novel method for evaluating the real-time dynamic reliability of composite power systems integrated with renewable energy sources (RES). The research addresses the challenges posed by the uncertainties associated with RES, which have been a significant obstacle in ensuring the stable and reliable operation of power grids. The increasing integration of RES, such as wind and solar power, into the power grid has brought about concerns regarding power imbalance and load shedding due to their ...

The future of breast cancer screening and risk-reducing strategies is being shaped by artificial intelligence (AI), according to a review article published by Cell Press on December 12 in the journal Trends in Cancer. “We discuss recent advances in AI-assisted breast cancer risk prediction, what this means for the future of breast cancer screening and prevention, and the key research needed to progress mammographic features from research into clinical practice,” says senior study author Erik Thompson of the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia. Breast tissue that appears white on ...

Virtually every cell in the human body has an internal clock. These clocks take their cues from a central clock in the brain. In a normal, biological process called synchrony, the central clock coordinates daily rhythms around the body, so that every cell and tissue recognizes the same external time of day. Knowing local time helps our bodies to regulate essential processes, including when to sleep and wake, when to eat and what temperature to maintain, among many other important functions. But a deadly interloper is keeping time the same ...

About The Study: The results of this study suggest that the BNT162b2 XBB vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech) provided protection against COVID-19–associated hospitalization and emergency department or urgent care visits among children 5 to 17 years of age during the 2023-2024 season with estimated vaccine effectiveness point estimates ranging from 63% to 73%.  Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Sara Y. Tartof, PhD, MPH, email Sara.Y.Tartof@kp.org. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.49944) Editor’s ...

About The Study: From 2008-2020, teachers reported an increase in emotional/mental health and suicide prevention in schools, along with related teacher training. However, they reported a decrease in substance use prevention, particularly among middle schools, and no change in teacher training. Substance use during early adolescence is associated with risk for long-term addiction, and middle schools may be underused for prevention.  Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Chloe Gao, BHSc, email chloe.gao@childrens.harvard.edu. To ...

Genetic variants that determine the shape of your teeth – including a gene inherited from Neanderthals – have been identified by a team co-led by UCL researchers. In a new paper published in Current Biology, scientists found substantial tooth differences between ethnicities, potentially due in part to a gene inherited from Neanderthals that was only found in study participants of European origin. Co-lead author Dr Kaustubh Adhikari (UCL Genetics, Evolution & Environment and The Open University) said: “Teeth ...

Whether they’re lifelong buddies or recently connected, close to home or miles away, a new poll shows the key role that friends play in the lives and wellbeing of adults aged 50 and older. But it also reveals some challenges for those who have physical health or mental health issues – suggesting it may be important for them connect with existing friends or make new friends. In all, 90% of people aged 50 and older say they have at least one close friend, and 75% say they have enough close friends, ...

Excessive screen use by preschool-age children can lead to reduced sleep quality, exacerbating problems such as poor attention, hyperactivity and unstable mood, a new study suggests. Peer-reviewed findings published in Early Child Development and Care show how screen time is “significantly” correlated with increased hyperactive attention problems and emotional symptoms, and with decreased sleep quality. Additionally, the research – carried out by experts in China and Canada – demonstrates how sleep quality is also extensively correlated with decreased hyperactive attention problems, emotional symptoms and peer problems. The findings ...

Sweetpotatoes are an agricultural powerhouse that feeds millions globally. However, their complex genetics make it challenging for breeders to understand and improve traits like yield, disease resistance, and nutritional content. A new study reveals insights into the significance of leveraging “allele dosages” in sweetpotato breeding practices. “Sweetpotatoes are hexaploid, meaning they have six copies of each chromosome, unlike diploid crops like tomato or rice, which have two," explained Zhangjun Fei, a professor at the Boyce Thompson Institute and one of the study's lead authors. “This genetic ...

Dan M. Frangopol, the inaugural Fazlur R. Khan Endowed Chair of Structural Engineering and Architecture at Lehigh University, has co-authored a new book on probabilistic structural performance assessments. System Reliability, Risk, Longevity, Sustainability and Optimal Decision-Making: Emphasis on Marine Structures (available April 11, 2025) offers a comprehensive framework for analyzing and predicting the time-dependent performance of deteriorating structures. The book emphasizes marine infrastructure, addressing system reliability, risk, longevity, sustainability, and optimal decision-making processes. It is a valuable resource for students, engineers, researchers, decision-makers, ...

DILI is broadly categorized into intrinsic and idiosyncratic types. Intrinsic hepatotoxins, such as APAP, cause dose-dependent injury, while idiosyncratic DILI involves complex immune and metabolic interactions that remain poorly understood. Mechanistic studies of intrinsic hepatotoxins have revealed oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction as key contributors to injury. Historically, LPO and iron-catalyzed free radical generation were central to understanding DILI, but the focus shifted toward apoptosis in the late 20th century. The discovery of ferroptosis—a regulated form of cell death characterized ...

CLEVELAND - A recent study conducted at University Hospitals Connor Whole Health has evaluated a Reiki program designed for outpatients with cancer and receiving infusion treatments at two University Hospitals infusion centers. The study, entitled “Evaluation of a Reiki Volunteer Program within Two Cancer Infusion Centers,” was recently published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, a peer-reviewed journal that serves as an interdisciplinary audience of professionals. This retrospective review, conducted between March 2022 and February 2024, evaluated the effects of Reiki on outpatients receiving infusion treatments such as chemotherapy. During Reiki sessions, a ...

WHAT: A large study found that greater exposure to long-term air pollution was linked with increased risks for blood clots that can occur in deep veins, which, if untreated, can block blood flow and cause serious complications, even death.   These findings came from a longitudinal study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that included 6,651 U.S. adults who were followed for an average of 17 years between 2000 and 2018. Participants lived in or near one of six major metropolitan areas: New York, Baltimore, Chicago, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Throughout the study, 248 adults, 3.7% of the study sample, developed blood clots ...