Healthy gut microbiome improves success of cancer treatment

The largest study to date has confirmed the link between the gut microbiome and the response to cancer immunotherapy therapy for melanoma.

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Cholesterol-lowering drugs may slow down metastases

Many people have to take statins to lower their cholesterol levels. But statins may be able to do even more: Researchers report that these drugs inhibit a gene that promotes cancer cell metastasis.

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Suspending syringe services programs will result in an increase of HIV infections

A new study shows the effectiveness of syringe services programs in both curbing HIV transmission among people who use drugs and preventing future outbreaks.

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Snail competition leads to fewer parasites that cause schistosomiasis

A new study shows that schistosome transmission can actually be highest when freshwater snail populations are low. This study demonstrates how the size of a freshwater snail population relates to its parasitic infection rate.

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A slow-motion section of the San Andreas fault may not be so harmless after all

The central section of the great fault spanning California, thought to be creeping along harmlessly at the moment, has experienced big quakes in the past, says a new study.

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Computer drug simulations offer warning about promising diabetes and cancer treatment

Using computer drug simulations, researchers have found that doctors need to be wary of prescribing a promising treatment for all types of cancer and patients.

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Making the invisible visible: A clearer ‘picture’ of blood vessels in health and disease thanks to new imaging approach

Researchers have developed and tested a new imaging approach they say will accelerate imaging-based research in the lab by allowing investigators to capture images of blood vessels at different spatial scales.

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Making the invisible visible: A clearer ‘picture’ of blood vessels in health and disease thanks to new imaging approach

Researchers have developed and tested a new imaging approach they say will accelerate imaging-based research in the lab by allowing investigators to capture images of blood vessels at different spatial scales.

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Machine learning antibiotic prescriptions can help minimize resistance spread

Researchers find personalized antibiotic prescriptions can reduce the emergence of antibiotic resistance.

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Machine learning antibiotic prescriptions can help minimize resistance spread

Researchers find personalized antibiotic prescriptions can reduce the emergence of antibiotic resistance.

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Researcher urges caution on AI in mammography

Analyzing breast-cancer tumors with artificial intelligence has the potential to improve healthcare efficiency and outcomes, but doctors should proceed cautiously, according to a new editorial.

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New state-of-the-art technology collects a unique time series from methane seeps in the Arctic

The K-Lander observatory -- where state-of-the-art technology meets science. A new study presents a unique time series collected by the K-Lander from two distinct methane seepage sites offshore western Svalbard, in the Arctic. This publication links cutting-edge technology with developments in our understanding of the environment and climate, highlighting and constraining uncertainties in current methane estimates from the seepage of methane from the seafloor.

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Researcher urges caution on AI in mammography

Analyzing breast-cancer tumors with artificial intelligence has the potential to improve healthcare efficiency and outcomes, but doctors should proceed cautiously, according to a new editorial.

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Study questions the role of vitamin D2 in human health but its sibling, vitamin D3, could be important for fighting infections

New research has found significant differences between the two types of vitamin D, with vitamin D2 having a questionable impact on human health. However, the study found that vitamin D3 could balance people's immune systems and help strengthen defences against viral infections such as Covid-19.

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Study questions the role of vitamin D2 in human health but its sibling, vitamin D3, could be important for fighting infections

New research has found significant differences between the two types of vitamin D, with vitamin D2 having a questionable impact on human health. However, the study found that vitamin D3 could balance people's immune systems and help strengthen defences against viral infections such as Covid-19.

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When muscles inexorably shrink

The effect of iron supplementation on skeletal muscle atrophy in cancer patients and sufferers from other wasting diseases has been investigated by scientists who studied causes of these conditions in humans and mouse models. The findings shed light on wasting mechanisms in advanced stage cancer patients, for whom prevalence of devastating skeletal muscle atrophy known generally as cachexia reaches 80 percent.

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When muscles inexorably shrink

The effect of iron supplementation on skeletal muscle atrophy in cancer patients and sufferers from other wasting diseases has been investigated by scientists who studied causes of these conditions in humans and mouse models. The findings shed light on wasting mechanisms in advanced stage cancer patients, for whom prevalence of devastating skeletal muscle atrophy known generally as cachexia reaches 80 percent.

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A potential antiviral for SARS and SARS-like coronaviruses

In a new paper, researchers lay out the similarities in biochemical function among PLpros (papain-like proteases) from SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-1, and those of other SARS-like viruses already circulating among bats and other species.

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A potential antiviral for SARS and SARS-like coronaviruses

In a new paper, researchers lay out the similarities in biochemical function among PLpros (papain-like proteases) from SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-1, and those of other SARS-like viruses already circulating among bats and other species.

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Newly diagnosed diabetes in patients with COVID-19 may simply be a transitory form of the blood sugar disorder

A new study shows that blood sugar levels of COVID-19 patients newly diagnosed with diabetes during hospital admission often returned to normal following discharge, and that only eight percent used insulin after one year.

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Newly diagnosed diabetes in patients with COVID-19 may simply be a transitory form of the blood sugar disorder

A new study shows that blood sugar levels of COVID-19 patients newly diagnosed with diabetes during hospital admission often returned to normal following discharge, and that only eight percent used insulin after one year.

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The impacts from using genetic testing to track down relatives

Genetic genealogy has become a popular hobby over the past several years, thanks to direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing and relative-finder services offered by some DTC genetic testing companies. Researchers now report results from a survey that asked people who had participated in these services what effect the discovery of previously unknown relatives had on their lives.

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New stem cell population provides a new way to study the awakening of the human genome

Researchers have discovered a new type of stem cell that resembles cells in the early human embryo during the transition of 'genomic power' from mother to embryo. During this major developmental event the genome is reset and reorganized with large numbers of embryonic genes being expressed for the first time. If unsuccessful, further embryo development fails or there may be implications for later developmental stages. The newly identified stem cells provide the closest model available to study this process without the need for human embryos. This model of the early embryo will allow the study of human genome activation in a much more detailed way, providing important functional insights into genome regulation, developmental disorders, and early embryo loss.

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Diet, malaria and substance use linked to Pacific preterm births

A new study has found diet, malaria, substance use and a lack of antenatal care services are linked to one in 10 babies in the Pacific Island region being born preterm and of low birth weight.

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Mouse study may help doctors choose treatments for leukemia patients

Some genetic mutations linked to leukemia are less than useful guides to making treatment decisions for patients. A new study suggests a group of clinical signs that can be paired with genetic testing to better inform the timing of more aggressive treatment.

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Basis for next-gen bioprocesses

Succinic acid is an important precursor for pharmaceutical and cosmetic products and also serves as a component in biodegradable plastics. It is currently derived mainly from petroleum-based processes. Researchers are using the marine bacterium Vibrio natriegens as a biocatalyst. This could permit the production of succinic acid in sustainable processes using renewable raw materials.

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Agriculture: Global cropland could be almost halved

In the context of trade-offs between land use and biodiversity, geographers have simulated land saving potentials for agriculture.

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Diet, malaria and substance use linked to Pacific preterm births

A new study has found diet, malaria, substance use and a lack of antenatal care services are linked to one in 10 babies in the Pacific Island region being born preterm and of low birth weight.

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Astronomers map mysterious element in space

A research team has provided an important clue to the origin of the element Ytterbium in the Milky Way, by showing that the element largely originates from supernova explosions. The groundbreaking research also provides new opportunities for studying the evolution of our galaxy.

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Sonic advance: How sound waves could help regrow bones

Researchers have used sound waves to turn stem cells into bone cells, in a tissue engineering advance that could one day help patients regrow bone lost to cancer or degenerative disease.

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Sonic advance: How sound waves could help regrow bones

Researchers have used sound waves to turn stem cells into bone cells, in a tissue engineering advance that could one day help patients regrow bone lost to cancer or degenerative disease.

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Singing in the brain

For the first time, neuroscientists have identified a population of neurons in the human brain that light up when we hear singing, but not other types of music.

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Seeing 'green' can ease confusion, anger in navigating hospitals

Research has shown that introducing nature into large hospitals can humanize the institutional environment and reduce the stress of patients, visitors and healthcare providers.

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Versatile ‘nanocrystal gel’ could enable advances in energy, defense and telecommunications

New applications in energy, defense and telecommunications could receive a boost after a team created a new type of 'nanocrystal gel' -- a gel composed of tiny nanocrystals each 10,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair that are linked together into an organized network.

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Seeing 'green' can ease confusion, anger in navigating hospitals

Research has shown that introducing nature into large hospitals can humanize the institutional environment and reduce the stress of patients, visitors and healthcare providers.

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New material offers remarkable combo of toughness and stretchiness

Researchers have created new materials that are very stretchable and extremely tough. The new materials fall under the broader category of ionogels, which are polymer networks that contain salts that are liquid at room temperature.

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Blueprint for proteins: How mRNA gets its final shape

Proteins need to interact in a complex manner for a so-called 'messenger RNA' (mRNA) to be created in human cells from a precursor molecule. mRNA provides a blueprint for proteins; the first vaccines against the coronavirus are also based on mRNAs. Scientists have now discovered how an essential final step in the production of mRNA precisely works.

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Metal mix and match: An unexpected discovery could improve the crystallinity of coordination nanosheets

Coordination nanosheets are emerging 2D materials with a wide range of applications. However, highly crystalline nanosheets are difficult to synthesize through solution-based approaches. In a recent study, scientists found a simple strategy to improve the structural order and performance of nanosheet films by using two different metal ions instead of one. Their findings highlight a solution for the development of high-quality coordination nanosheets with superior crystallinity and conductivity.

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Hepatitis C patients cured with antiviral medicines are less likely to be hospitalized, need ER care for liver, other health-related issues

Researchers report that patients with chronic hepatitis C who are treated with direct-acting antiviral medicines are less likely to be hospitalized or seek emergency care for liver and non-liver related health issues. The study underscores the extraordinary effect of these newer antivirals, which have been shown to cure hepatitis C in 98 percent of patients who take them.

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Hepatitis C patients cured with antiviral medicines are less likely to be hospitalized, need ER care for liver, other health-related issues

Researchers report that patients with chronic hepatitis C who are treated with direct-acting antiviral medicines are less likely to be hospitalized or seek emergency care for liver and non-liver related health issues. The study underscores the extraordinary effect of these newer antivirals, which have been shown to cure hepatitis C in 98 percent of patients who take them.

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Steroid treatments for Duchenne muscular dystrophy may depend on the clock

Latest advance in chronopharmacology, based on mouse models, suggests that time-of-day matters when using steroids to treat muscle diseases.

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Steroid treatments for Duchenne muscular dystrophy may depend on the clock

Latest advance in chronopharmacology, based on mouse models, suggests that time-of-day matters when using steroids to treat muscle diseases.

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Predicting and preparing for the impact of approaching storms

Climate experts and engineers have created a new model to predict the damage caused by adverse weather. This new framework for 'consequence forecasting' enables first responders to effectively target resources prior to an extreme weather event, such as Storm Eunice.

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A possible paradigm shift within piezoelectricity

Researchers have found a new method to induce the piezoelectric effect in materials that are otherwise not piezoelectric. It can pave the way for new uses and more environmentally friendly materials.

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Scientists characterize the imbalanced gut bacteria of patients with myocardial infarction, angina and heart failure

Researchers show how major disturbances occur in the gut microbiome of patients suffering from heart disease. Given this latest evidence from microbiome research, researchers now call for stronger and more focused public health initiatives to prevent or delay these common diseases that are a leading cause of premature death worldwide through encouraging a plant-based and energy-controlled diet, avoidance of smoking and compliance with daily exercise.

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Scientists characterize the imbalanced gut bacteria of patients with myocardial infarction, angina and heart failure

Researchers show how major disturbances occur in the gut microbiome of patients suffering from heart disease. Given this latest evidence from microbiome research, researchers now call for stronger and more focused public health initiatives to prevent or delay these common diseases that are a leading cause of premature death worldwide through encouraging a plant-based and energy-controlled diet, avoidance of smoking and compliance with daily exercise.

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Researchers link cutting-edge gravity research to safer operation of construction cranes

The research provides new insight into the maneuvers required to safely and quickly transport heavy loads.

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Gut health compromised in severe COVID-19

New research of samples of intestine from people who have died of COVID-19 has shown the impact of the virus on the gut immune system.

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Three-drug combination prolongs survival in men with metastatic, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer

Results from an international, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 clinical trial indicate that adding the androgen-receptor inhibitor darolutamide to androgen-deprivation therapy and chemotherapy prolongs the survival of men with metastatic, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer.

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Gut health compromised in severe COVID-19

New research of samples of intestine from people who have died of COVID-19 has shown the impact of the virus on the gut immune system.

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Treatment for Parkinson’s could now get even better

Specialized groups of neurons within the brainstem control movement. Now researchers have found that activation of such neurons is sufficient to restore full movement function in mice with symptoms of Parkinson's Disease. The study helps clinicians to focus Deep Brain Stimulation to the right therapeutic spot and hopefully could improve treatment of motor symptoms in Parkinson's Disease.

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Treatment for Parkinson’s could now get even better

Specialized groups of neurons within the brainstem control movement. Now researchers have found that activation of such neurons is sufficient to restore full movement function in mice with symptoms of Parkinson's Disease. The study helps clinicians to focus Deep Brain Stimulation to the right therapeutic spot and hopefully could improve treatment of motor symptoms in Parkinson's Disease.

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Researchers identify protein complex critical in helping control cell death

A pathway critical for regulating a form of cell death known as necroptosis has been identified. The team's preclinical findings suggest that an inhibitor targeting this PPP13RG protein complex can help prevent or reduce deaths and severe tissue damage from heart attacks and other inflammation-associated diseases.

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New DNA computer assesses water quality

Synthetic biologists have developed a low-cost, easy-to-use, hand-held device that can let users know -- within mere minutes -- if their water is safe to drink. The new device works by using powerful and programmable genetic networks, which mimic electronic circuits, to perform a range of logic functions.

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Study strengthens case that vitamins cannot treat COVID-19

A meta-analysis of 26 studies that included more than 5,600 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 has found that taking immune-boosting micronutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin D and zinc do not lessen a patient's chance of dying from COVID-19.

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MRI may lower breast cancer deaths from variants in 3 genes

Annual MRI screenings starting at ages 30 to 35 may reduce breast-cancer mortality by more than 50% among women who carry certain genetic changes in three genes, according to a comparative modeling analysis. The predictions involve pathogenic variants in ATM, CHEK2 and PALB2 genes -- which collectively are as prevalent as the much-reported BRCA1/2 gene mutations.

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Elephant sharks offer a novel perspective on how humans evolved

Researchers have used an ancient fish to reel in new insights about human biology and, in particular, how and why a widely used medication works to abort pregnancies (in people, not fish).

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Size matters in particle treatments of traumatic injuries

Chemical engineers tested how different-sized polymer nanoparticles circulate in the body and interact with platelets, the cells that promote blood clotting. Such particles could be used to help stop internal bleeding after traumatic injuries.

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Depression and Alzheimer’s disease share genetic roots

Epidemiological data have long linked depression with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive dementia that affects nearly 6 million Americans. Now, a new study identifies common genetic factors in both depression and AD. Importantly, the researchers found that depression played a causal role in AD development, and those with worse depression experienced a faster decline in memory.

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MRI may lower breast cancer deaths from variants in 3 genes

Annual MRI screenings starting at ages 30 to 35 may reduce breast-cancer mortality by more than 50% among women who carry certain genetic changes in three genes, according to a comparative modeling analysis. The predictions involve pathogenic variants in ATM, CHEK2 and PALB2 genes -- which collectively are as prevalent as the much-reported BRCA1/2 gene mutations.

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A new tool for 3-D measurement of the aorta may identify fatal heart conditions earlier

Researchers have developed a novel method of measuring growth in the aorta that may help clinicians to identify potentially fatal heart conditions earlier. The technique, called vascular deformation mapping, measures changes in the thoracic aorta by using high-resolution CT imaging to calculate three-dimensional changes in the aortic wall. In the study, VDM significantly outperformed the standard manual rating methods performed by experts.

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Risk of soil degradation and desertification in Europe’s Mediterranean may be more serious than realized

Due to human-caused pressures and global warming, some soils in Europe's Mediterranean region are reaching what the researchers refer to as 'critical limits for their ability to provide ecosystem services,' which include farming and absorbing carbon, among others. Perhaps even more troubling, the problem could be even more extensive than we realize, says an author of a new study.

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Researchers use solar cells to achieve fast underwater wireless communication

Researchers have shown that solar cells can be used to achieve underwater wireless optical communication with high data rates. The new approach -- which used an array of series-connected solar cells as detectors -- could offer a cost-effective, low-energy way to transmit data underwater.

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Preclinical study finds gut fungi influence neuroimmunity and behavior

A specific group of fungi residing in the intestines can protect against intestinal injury and influence social behavior, according to new preclinical research. The findings extend a growing body of work identifying a 'gut-immunity-brain axis,' a signaling system that may have a wide range of effects on physiology in both health and disease, influenced not only by the body's own cells but also the resident microbes.

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Where children live linked to delayed access to surgical care

A new study found that children from less resourced neighborhoods were at increased odds of presenting with complicated appendicitis, an indicator of delayed access to surgical care. This is the first pediatric study to link many neighborhood-level factors that influence health -- such as quality of schools, housing, safety, and economic opportunity -- to timely surgical care access.

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Where children live linked to delayed access to surgical care

A new study found that children from less resourced neighborhoods were at increased odds of presenting with complicated appendicitis, an indicator of delayed access to surgical care. This is the first pediatric study to link many neighborhood-level factors that influence health -- such as quality of schools, housing, safety, and economic opportunity -- to timely surgical care access.

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SARS-CoV-2 protein targeted by immune cells also triggers response in bat coronaviruses, study shows

A future vaccine providing protection against a wide range of coronaviruses that jump from their original animal hosts to humans -- including SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19 -- may be possible, say researchers.

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Pandemic upends breast cancer diagnoses

Researchers surveyed and compared early- and late-stage breast and colorectal cancer diagnoses in patients in pre-pandemic 2019 and in 2020, the first full year of the COVID-19 pandemic, discovering fewer of the former and more of the latter as patients delayed care.

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COVID-19 vaccination boosts mental health along with immunity, study finds

Receiving at least one vaccine dose was associated with statistically significant declines in multiple psychological distress factors, researchers report in a new study.

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A new atlas of cells that carry blood to the brain

Researchers created a comprehensive atlas of the types of cells found in the brain cerebrovasculature, which provides oxygen and nutrients to the brain and helps form the blood-brain barrier. They also found significant differences between healthy cells and those from Huntington's disease patients.

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Computer models show how crop production increases soil nitrous oxide emissions

A computer modeling study shows how the emissions of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide have increased from soils over the last century. The newly published research found the expansion of land devoted to agriculture since 1900 and intensive fertilizer inputs have predominantly driven an overall increase in nitrous oxide emissions from U.S. soils.

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Predicting 30-day mortality risk for patients with alcohol-associated hepatitis

Researchers have developed a new scoring system to help health care professionals predict the 30-day mortality risk for patients with alcohol-associated hepatitis, and the tool appears to more accurately identify patients at highest risk of death and those likely to survive.

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How a protein controls the production of nerve cells in the brain

Researchers have discovered that the protein YME1L regulates the production of new nerve cells and the maintenance of neural stem cells in the adult brain. This holds great potential for regenerative treatments after brain injuries and other diseases.

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Discovery of ancient plant fossils in Washington points to paleobotanic mystery

A new description of two well-preserved ancient fossil plant specimens in Washington state is prompting paleobotanists to rethink how plants might have been dispersed during the Late Cretaceous, between 66 and 100 million years ago.

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How a protein controls the production of nerve cells in the brain

Researchers have discovered that the protein YME1L regulates the production of new nerve cells and the maintenance of neural stem cells in the adult brain. This holds great potential for regenerative treatments after brain injuries and other diseases.

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'Amazing' nanoparticles from maize: A potent and economical anti-cancer therapeutic

Nanomaterials have revolutionized the world of cancer therapy, and plant-derived nanoparticles have the added advantage of being cost-effective and easy to mass produce. Researchers have recently developed novel corn-derived bionanoparticles for targeting cancer cells directly, via an immune mechanism. The results are encouraging, and the technique has demonstrated efficacy in treating tumor-bearing laboratory mice. Moreover, no serious adverse effects have been reported in mice so far.

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Blood levels of common antiepileptic drugs drop during pregnancy, causing breakthrough seizures

Blood levels of many commonly used antiepileptic drugs drop dramatically with the onset of pregnancy, report researchers.

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Study reveals likely link between mitochondrial dysfunction and age-dependent cognitive disorders

Increased oxidative damage is linked to neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Even though the pathophysiology of AD has been widely investigated, the likely relationship between mitochondrial dysfunction and the disease remains largely unknown. A research team has now confirmed that AD progression is linked to oxidative brain damage, which impairs cognitive function in AD transgenic mice in an age-dependent manner.

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Fertility: A missing 'motor' causes our eggs to fail

Human eggs often contain the wrong number of chromosomes, leading to miscarriages and infertility. A research team has discovered that human eggs are missing an important protein, which acts as a molecular motor. This motor helps to stabilize the machinery that separates the chromosomes during cell division. The researchers' findings open up new avenues for therapeutic approaches that could reduce chromosome segregation errors in human eggs. Researchers essentially find a way to recapitulate spindle stability in human eggs.

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Robots that can check your blood pressure

Scientists are empowering small, humanoid-sensing robots to take a patient's blood pressure -- using only a simple touch.

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Nuclear power may be the key to least-cost, zero-emission electricity systems

Nuclear power generation can play a crucial role in helping the world reach a key goal of zero carbon emissions by the middle of the century, especially in countries with low wind resources, according to new work.

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Helping the body overcome SARS-CoV-2

Interferons are the host's first line of defense against infections. Different subtypes of these messenger substances have different effects. Researchers showed which subtypes are most effective against SARS-CoV-2. The researchers not only elucidated the principles underlying the host's defense mechanisms against the virus, but also presented potential alternative treatment options for high-risk patients in the early stages of an infection.

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Researchers find trove of proteins that may influence cystic fibrosis

Researchers have identified hundreds of new proteins that could play a role in cystic fibrosis, and which may shed light on why some patients respond better than others to current therapies.

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A serendipitous finding lends new insight into how atopic dermatitis develops

New research reveals a mechanism behind the inflammation that is a feature of the common skin disease.

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A serendipitous finding lends new insight into how atopic dermatitis develops

New research reveals a mechanism behind the inflammation that is a feature of the common skin disease.

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Better prediction of megathrust earthquakes: Illuminating slow slip plate tectonics in south-western Japan

Within the next 30 years, a highly destructive Nankai Trough megathrust earthquake is predicted to hit southwest Japan. Understanding long-term slow slip events that occur along the plate interface between the subducting Philippine Sea plate and overriding Amurian plate under the Bungo Channel is essential for pinpointing when such an earthquake will happen.

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Hemoglobin acts as a chemosensory cue for mother mice to protect pups, study finds

Hemoglobin is well known as the molecule in blood responsible for carrying oxygen around the body, but when fresh mouse blood is detected in the nose, the molecule also works as a chemosensory signal warning lactating mother mice to protect their young, researchers have found.

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Initiative to map the cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) landscape in Europe will help improve patient outcomes

Bile duct cancer, also known as cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), is a rare cancer often diagnosed only at an advanced stage. A comprehensive analysis of diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic aspects of over 2,200 patients in Europe now provides a valuable knowledge base for raising awareness and managing CCA to improve outcomes.

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Initiative to map the cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) landscape in Europe will help improve patient outcomes

Bile duct cancer, also known as cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), is a rare cancer often diagnosed only at an advanced stage. A comprehensive analysis of diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic aspects of over 2,200 patients in Europe now provides a valuable knowledge base for raising awareness and managing CCA to improve outcomes.

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Black Death mortality not as widespread as long thought

A new study used pollen data to evaluate the second plague pandemic's mortality at a regional scale across Europe. Results showed that the impacts of the Black Death varied substantially from region to region and demonstrated the importance of cross-disciplinary approaches for understanding past -- and present -- pandemics.

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Lifetime of knowledge can clutter memories of older adults

When a person tries to access a memory, their brain quickly sifts through everything stored in it to find the relevant information. But as we age, many of us have difficulty retrieving memories. Researchers propose an explanation for why this might be happening: the brains of older adults allocate more space to accumulated knowledge and have more material to navigate when attempting to access memories. While this wealth of prior knowledge can make memory retrieval challenging, the researchers say it has its upsides -- this life experience can aid with creativity and decision-making.

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Researchers make non-alcoholic beer taste like regular beer

Finally, researchers have found a way to brew non-alcoholic beer that tastes just like regular beer. Even more, the method is far more sustainable than the existing brewing techniques.

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Lifetime of knowledge can clutter memories of older adults

When a person tries to access a memory, their brain quickly sifts through everything stored in it to find the relevant information. But as we age, many of us have difficulty retrieving memories. Researchers propose an explanation for why this might be happening: the brains of older adults allocate more space to accumulated knowledge and have more material to navigate when attempting to access memories. While this wealth of prior knowledge can make memory retrieval challenging, the researchers say it has its upsides -- this life experience can aid with creativity and decision-making.

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This bizarre looking helmet can create better brain scans

Researchers have developed a dome-shaped device, which fits over a person's head and can be worn during a brain scan, that boosts MRI performance, creating crisper images that can be captured at twice the normal speed. Eventually, the magnetic metamaterial has the potential to be used in conjunction with cheaper low-field MRI machines to make the technology more widely available, particularly in the developing world.

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This bizarre looking helmet can create better brain scans

Researchers have developed a dome-shaped device, which fits over a person's head and can be worn during a brain scan, that boosts MRI performance, creating crisper images that can be captured at twice the normal speed. Eventually, the magnetic metamaterial has the potential to be used in conjunction with cheaper low-field MRI machines to make the technology more widely available, particularly in the developing world.

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A 'fairly simple' breakthrough makes accessing stored hydrogen more efficient

A new catalyst extracts hydrogen from hydrogen storage materials easily and efficiently. The process occurs at mild temperatures and under normal atmospheric conditions, without using metals or additives.

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Debris from disintegrating planets hurtling into white dwarfs across the galaxy

The moment that debris from destroyed planets impacts the surface of a white dwarf star has been observed. Astronomers saw X-rays from planetary debris heated to a million degrees as it fell onto the dead core of its host star.

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Brainy birds may fare better under climate change

Many North American migratory birds are shrinking in size as temperatures have warmed over the past 40 years. But those with very big brains, relative to their body size, did not shrink as much as smaller-brained birds, according to new research. The study is the first to identify a direct link between cognition and animal response to human-made climate change.

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Your microbiome shapes your life. But where did it come from?

The gut microbiome is an ecosystem of hundreds to thousands of microbial species living within the human body. These populations affect our health, fertility, and even our longevity. But how do they get there in the first place? New research reveals crucial details about how the bacterial communities that comprise each of our individual gut microbiomes are acquired. These findings have major implications for treatments such as fecal transplants and probiotic administration.

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Musical preferences unite personalities worldwide, new study finds

Research involving more than 350,000 participants from over 50 countries and 6 continents has found that links between musical preferences and personality are universal. The findings suggest that music could play a greater role in overcoming social division, as well as offering currently untapped therapeutic benefits.

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Musical preferences unite personalities worldwide, new study finds

Research involving more than 350,000 participants from over 50 countries and 6 continents has found that links between musical preferences and personality are universal. The findings suggest that music could play a greater role in overcoming social division, as well as offering currently untapped therapeutic benefits.

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Delta vs. Kappa: Study examines molecular factors that fuel COVID-19 variants

Researchers are shedding new light on the molecular factors that give COVID-19 variants a competitive edge -- essential knowledge that could improve disease management as new variants continue to emerge. The findings explain how the Delta variant may have been able to beat out the Kappa variant and become dominant across the globe.

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Fecal implants drive behavioral and cognitive changes in Alzheimer’s model

New research in mice for the first time draws a definitive causal connection between changes in the gut microbiome to behavioral and cognitive changes in an animal model of Alzheimer's disease.

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Agricultural fungicides may be driving antimicrobial resistance

New research has shown that compounds used to fight fungal diseases in plants are likely causing resistance to antifungal medications used to treat people.

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Immune cells leave fingerprints on tumors metastasized to the brain offering clues to future therapies

Using data from over 100,000 malignant and non-malignant cells from 15 human brain metastases, researchers have revealed two functional archetypes of metastatic cells across 7 different types of brain tumors, each containing both immune and non-immune cell types. Their findings provide a potential roadmap for metastatic tumor formation that could be used to design therapies to improve the treatment of metastasized patients.

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Fecal implants drive behavioral and cognitive changes in Alzheimer’s model

New research in mice for the first time draws a definitive causal connection between changes in the gut microbiome to behavioral and cognitive changes in an animal model of Alzheimer's disease.

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Agricultural fungicides may be driving antimicrobial resistance

New research has shown that compounds used to fight fungal diseases in plants are likely causing resistance to antifungal medications used to treat people.

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Immune cells leave fingerprints on tumors metastasized to the brain offering clues to future therapies

Using data from over 100,000 malignant and non-malignant cells from 15 human brain metastases, researchers have revealed two functional archetypes of metastatic cells across 7 different types of brain tumors, each containing both immune and non-immune cell types. Their findings provide a potential roadmap for metastatic tumor formation that could be used to design therapies to improve the treatment of metastasized patients.

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Potential target for treating osteoporosis

Channels on the surface of bone cells called osteocytes help build stronger bones in response to mechanical stress, shows a new study.

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Potential target for treating osteoporosis

Channels on the surface of bone cells called osteocytes help build stronger bones in response to mechanical stress, shows a new study.

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Important step towards fasting-based therapies

Voluntary fasting, for example interval fasting, is beneficial to health for many people, depending on their individual condition. For example, controlled periods of starvation can prevent and improve diseases such as diabetes and obesity. Researchers have now found that the immune system plays an important role in ensuring the positive effects of fasting on our bodies. The new findings will help develop more effective therapies based on fasting.

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A new multipurpose on-off switch for inhibiting bacterial growth

Researchers have discovered an antitoxin mechanism that seems to be able to neutralize hundreds of different toxins and may protect bacteria against virus attacks. The mechanism has been named Panacea, after the Greek goddess of medicine whose name has become synonymous with universal cure. The understanding of bacterial toxin and antitoxin mechanisms will be crucial for the future success of so-called phage therapy for the treatment of antibiotic resistance infections, the researchers say.

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Important step towards fasting-based therapies

Voluntary fasting, for example interval fasting, is beneficial to health for many people, depending on their individual condition. For example, controlled periods of starvation can prevent and improve diseases such as diabetes and obesity. Researchers have now found that the immune system plays an important role in ensuring the positive effects of fasting on our bodies. The new findings will help develop more effective therapies based on fasting.

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Unique seagrass nursery aims to help Florida's starving manatees

More than 1,000 manatees died in 2021, due mostly to starvation. They consume about 100 pounds of seagrass a day, and this staple food is now scarce in Florida's Indian River Lagoon (IRL). A new study shows that about 7,400 acres of seagrasses were lost in the IRL between 1943 and 1994. Between 2011 and 2019, about 58 percent of seagrasses were lost. To help with recovery efforts, researchers are experimenting with growing seagrass in large tanks and then transplanting it into the IRL to try to restore some of the lost seagrass beds.

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Monkeys, like people, can 'choke under pressure'

Being stressed about doing well on a test might not be limited to humans, according to a new study.

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Predicting the efficiency of oxygen-evolving electrolysis on the Moon and Mars

Scientists have today provided more insight into the possibility of establishing a pathway to generate oxygen for humans to potentially call the Moon or Mars 'home' for extended periods of time.

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Giant sponge gardens discovered on seamounts in the Arctic deep sea

Massive sponge gardens thrive on top of seamounts in the Central Arctic Ocean, one of the most oligotrophic seas on Earth. They appear to feed on the remnants of an extinct fauna. Microorganisms support the sponges in exploiting this fluffy material as a source of food and energy.

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Large new titanosaurian dinosaur from the Pyrenees

Researchers have described the new species of titanosaur dinosaur Abditosaurus kuehnei from the remains excavated at the Orcau-1 site, in the southern Pyrenees (Catalonia, Spain). The semiarticulated 70.5-million-year-old skeleton is the most complete specimen of this herbivorous group of dinosaurs discovered so far in Europe.

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Big data imaging shows rock's big role in channeling earthquakes in Japan

Thanks to 20 years of seismic data processed through one of the world's most powerful supercomputers, scientists have created the first complete, 3D visualization of a mountain-size rock called the Kumano Pluton buried miles beneath the coast of southern Japan. They now see the rock could be acting like a lightning rod for the region's megaquakes, diverting tectonic energy into points along its sides where several of the region's largest earthquakes have happened.

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Jet stream models help inform US offshore wind development

With the federal government planning to hold the largest sale of offshore wind farm leases in the nation's history, a new study could help inform the development of offshore wind farms by providing detailed models characterizing the frequency, intensity and height of low-level jet streams over the U.S. Atlantic coastal zone.

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New fossil reveals origin of arthropod breathing system

Scientists have discovered a new fossil that reveals the origin of gills in arthropods.

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Nanowires under tension create the basis for ultrafast transistors

Nanowires have a unique property: These ultra-thin wires can sustain very high elastic strains without damaging the crystal structure of the material. A team of researchers has now succeeded in experimentally demonstrating that electron mobility in nanowires is remarkably enhanced when the shell places the wire core under tensile strain.

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Advanced prostate cancer antibody drug shows success in pet dogs

Mice are typically used as models in advanced prostate cancer research, but the profound differences between them and humans has long bedeviled the translation of findings from the animal to success in people. Dogs however are the only other animal that suffers from a significant incidence of prostate cancer, and researchers are finding them much more enlightening subjects in identification of drugs that show promise for human patients.

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Protons are probably actually smaller than long thought

A few years ago, a novel measurement technique showed that protons are probably smaller than had been assumed since the 1990s. The discrepancy surprised the scientific community; some researchers even believed that the Standard Model of particle physics would have to be changed. Physicists have now developed a method that allows them to analyze the results of older and more recent experiments much more comprehensively than before. This also results in a smaller proton radius from the older data. So there is probably no difference between the values - no matter which measurement method they are based on.

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Venomous Australian sea anemone may lead to life-saving drugs

An entirely new toxic compound found in an Australian tropical sea anemone is being analysed as a potential new drug therapy, after it was discovered by biomolecular scientists during investigation of the species' multiple venoms.

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Underwater 'breathing' plants could be key to stress-resistant crops

Wetland plants have a high tolerance against flooding due to the formation of 'lysigenous aerenchyma,' air channels that help transfer gases to the submerged roots. These channels also help the plant withstand drought and nutrient deficiency. Now, scientists investigate the underlying mechanism of aerenchyma formation to understand the phenomenon better, opening doors to the development of crops that are resilient against extreme weather changes.

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One in four Australian workers suffer ‘ringing ears’, survey shows

As many as half a million Australians are suffering from constant tinnitus, with farmers, automotive workers, transport drivers, construction workers and other trades people at the greatest risk, a national survey has found.

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One in four Australian workers suffer ‘ringing ears’, survey shows

As many as half a million Australians are suffering from constant tinnitus, with farmers, automotive workers, transport drivers, construction workers and other trades people at the greatest risk, a national survey has found.

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Pre-infection deficiency of vitamin D is associated with increased disease severity and mortality among hospitalized COVID-19 patients

In a new study, researchers show a correlation between vitamin D deficiency and COVID-19 severity and mortality. The study is among the first to analyze vitamin D levels prior to infection, which facilitates a more accurate assessment than during hospitalization, when levels may be lower secondary to the viral illness.

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Preventing pandemics costs far less than controlling them

An analysis by epidemiologists, economists, ecologists and biologists at 21 institutions finds we could reduce the risks of future pandemics by investing as little as 1/20th of the losses incurred so far from COVID into conservation measures designed to stem the spread of zoonotic viruses from wildlife to humans in the first place. This includes funding programs to train more veterinarians, create a global database of virus genomics, and end tropical deforestation and wildlife trafficking.

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Preventing pandemics costs far less than controlling them

An analysis by epidemiologists, economists, ecologists and biologists at 21 institutions finds we could reduce the risks of future pandemics by investing as little as 1/20th of the losses incurred so far from COVID into conservation measures designed to stem the spread of zoonotic viruses from wildlife to humans in the first place. This includes funding programs to train more veterinarians, create a global database of virus genomics, and end tropical deforestation and wildlife trafficking.

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The abyssal world: Last terra incognita of the Earth surface

The first unified vision of the world ocean biodiversity, based on analysis of DNA sequences from the surface to deep-ocean sediments, unveils the rich and unknown life in the abyssal realm, the last terra incognita of the Earth surface. This collective effort was made possible by 15 international deep-sea expeditions.

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Widely-used hormone drug associated with increased risk of benign brain tumor at high doses

High doses of a widely-used drug used in the hormonal treatment of conditions such as excessive hair growth, early puberty, prostate cancer, are linked to an increased risk of meningioma -- the most common type of benign brain tumor, finds a new study of over 8-million patients.

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Discovery unravels how atomic vibrations emerge in nanomaterials

A hundred years of physics tells us that collective atomic vibrations, called phonons, can behave like particles or waves. When they hit an interface between two materials, they can bounce off like a tennis ball. If the materials are thin and repeating, as in a superlattice, the phonons can jump between successive materials. Now there is definitive, experimental proof that at the nanoscale, the notion of multiple thin materials with distinct vibrations no longer holds. If the materials are thin, their atoms arrange identically, so that their vibrations are similar and present everywhere. Such structural and vibrational coherency opens new avenues in materials design, which will lead to more energy efficient, low-power devices, novel material solutions to recycle and convert waste heat to electricity, and new ways to manipulate light with heat for advanced computing to power 6G wireless communication.

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Widely-used hormone drug associated with increased risk of benign brain tumor at high doses

High doses of a widely-used drug used in the hormonal treatment of conditions such as excessive hair growth, early puberty, prostate cancer, are linked to an increased risk of meningioma -- the most common type of benign brain tumor, finds a new study of over 8-million patients.

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Too many disk galaxies than theory allows

The Standard Model of Cosmology describes how the universe came into being according to the view of most physicists. Researchers have now studied the evolution of galaxies within this model, finding considerable discrepancies with actual observations.

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How our body controls inflammation during clean-up mechanisms of damaged cells

A research team has investigated in detail how messenger substances signal inflammation during the removal of damaged cells in the body. Using high-resolution microscopy methods, the researchers were able to show that two proteins interact dynamically with each other and thus determine whether a dying cell triggers an inflammatory reaction in the body.

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Those at highest risk for severe COVID-19 often least likely to get monoclonal antibodies, study finds

People over age 65 at the highest risk for severe COVID-19 have often been the least likely to receive monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) -- a highly effective treatment for the disease -- both across and within U.S. states, according to new research.

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How long-term cannabis use can damage lungs

Smoking cannabis leads to lung damage, but in a different way to tobacco, new research has found. The findings come from the long-running Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study, which has documented cannabis use and measured lung function throughout adult life up to age 45 in more than 1,000 individuals born in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1972/73.

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Scientists test promising biosensor aimed for use in brain

Scientists have successfully tested in the lab a tiny biosensor they developed that can detect biomarkers tied to traumatic brain injuries.

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Scientists test promising biosensor aimed for use in brain

Scientists have successfully tested in the lab a tiny biosensor they developed that can detect biomarkers tied to traumatic brain injuries.

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More spice could help seniors avoid salt

Add a little spicy seasoning to a low sodium meal, and adults over the age of 60 may have a harder time noticing a lack of salt, according to a new study. The study tested saltiness perception in older adults using white sauce formulations with varying amounts of salt and different spices and seasonings added.

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What a salamander virus can tell us about the future of biodiversity amid a changing climate

The 'Ebola virus of the amphibian world' is as unpleasant as it sounds, but a species of salamander that lives in Arizona found a way to live with the endemic disease. As the climate changes, viruses change along with it, and this unpredictable virus could have a more severe effect on different species in the future.

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More spice could help seniors avoid salt

Add a little spicy seasoning to a low sodium meal, and adults over the age of 60 may have a harder time noticing a lack of salt, according to a new study. The study tested saltiness perception in older adults using white sauce formulations with varying amounts of salt and different spices and seasonings added.

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Scientists detect novel SARS-CoV-2 variants in NYC wastewater

Researchers have detected at least four 'cryptic' variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in samples of wastewater from New York City's public sewer system.

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COVID forecasting method using hospital and cellphone data proves it can reliably guide US cities through pandemic threats

Using cellphone mobility data and COVID-19 hospital admissions data, researchers have reliably forecast regional hospital demands for almost two years, according to a new study. The forecasting system, which municipal authorities credit with helping Austin maintain the lowest COVID-19 death rate among all large Texas cities, has been built out for use by 22 municipal areas in Texas and can be used by any city to guide COVID-19 responses as the virus continues to spread.

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Cancer treatment: A berry from Brazil helps out

Castalagin, a polyphenol from the Amazonian fruit camu-camu, increases the efficacy of immunotherapy in mice by modifying their microbiome, researchers find.

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Scientists uncover 'missing' plastics deep in the ocean

A new study unveils the prevalence of plastics in the entire water column of an offshore plastic accumulation zone in the southern Atlantic Ocean and implicates the ocean interior as a crucial pool of 'missing' plastics. Results show that small microplastics are critical, underexplored and integral to the oceanic plastic inventory. In addition, findings show that weak ocean current systems contribute to the formation of small microplastics hotspots at depth, suggesting a higher encounter rate for subsurface particle feeders like zooplankton.

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The last ice age widened the Aare and Gürbe valleys

A team was able to prove that the glaciers of the penultimate ice age ('Riss' glaciation) mainly eroded the bedrock between Thun and Bern, but that during the last glaciation (' Würm'- glaciation) glacial carving resulted in a widening and not in a further deepening of the valleys. The researchers reconstructed the geometry of the bedrock using gravity measurements to reach their conclusions.

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COVID forecasting method using hospital and cellphone data proves it can reliably guide US cities through pandemic threats

Using cellphone mobility data and COVID-19 hospital admissions data, researchers have reliably forecast regional hospital demands for almost two years, according to a new study. The forecasting system, which municipal authorities credit with helping Austin maintain the lowest COVID-19 death rate among all large Texas cities, has been built out for use by 22 municipal areas in Texas and can be used by any city to guide COVID-19 responses as the virus continues to spread.

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Different autism risk genes, same effects on brain development

Researchers have found that three different autism risk genes actually affect similar aspects of neuron development and the same neuron types, although each gene acted through unique molecular mechanisms. Additionally, a person's specific genomic background fine-tuned the genes' effects. The study was conducted using miniature 3D models, or 'organoids,' of the human cerebral cortex, the part of the brain responsible for cognition, perception, and language. The results advance our understanding of autism spectrum disorder and are a first step toward finding treatments for the condition.

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Different autism risk genes, same effects on brain development

Researchers have found that three different autism risk genes actually affect similar aspects of neuron development and the same neuron types, although each gene acted through unique molecular mechanisms. Additionally, a person's specific genomic background fine-tuned the genes' effects. The study was conducted using miniature 3D models, or 'organoids,' of the human cerebral cortex, the part of the brain responsible for cognition, perception, and language. The results advance our understanding of autism spectrum disorder and are a first step toward finding treatments for the condition.

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New computational tool predicts cell fates and genetic perturbations

Researchers have built a machine learning framework that can define the mathematical equations describing a cell's trajectory from one state to another, such as its development from a stem cell into one of several different types of mature cell. The framework, called dynamo, can also be used to figure out the underlying mechanisms -- the specific cocktail of gene activity -- driving changes in the cell.

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Treatment keeps alcoholic monkeys from drinking as much

A hormone produced by the liver called fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) suppresses alcohol consumption in primates, finds a new study. Vervet monkeys with a strong preference for ethanol that were given an FGF21 analogue consumed 50% less alcohol. The study also studied the brain circuits involved in mice and found that the protein, known to also reduce sugar intake, acts on different circuits to reduce alcohol and sugar consumption.

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Compounds made from 'digested' molecules feeds appetite for greener pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals

A method of producing vital chemical building blocks for use in the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries mimics how plants manufacture them.

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Growth charts for the brain help to explain mental illness

Researchers have developed a set of growth charts for the brain. These 'brain charts' provide reference models for brain development and ageing across the entire human lifespan, based on a very large data set. These models can be used to make personalized predictions for each individual relevant to many brain conditions, and therefore have a high clinical potential. The software tools and models are available online.

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Finding structure in the brain’s static

Researchers found that a monkey's state of attentiveness may be encoded in the shapes and speeds of slow electrical waves that course over the surface of the brain. Like a surfer that avoids smooth water and favors more active waves, the brain uses faster, choppier waves to process information to which it is paying attention. By separating how the brain encodes its state of attention versus stimuli to which it is responding, scientists hope to understand sleep, anesthesia, attention, and disease better.

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Response to exercise is key to novel device therapy for the most common type of heart failure

A new study suggests that some patients with HFpEF may benefit from a novel, minimally invasive cardiac implant device called an atrial shunt. The study also offers new insight into the role exercise plays in understanding, diagnosing and treating this type of heart failure.

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Study links lead in childhood well water to teen delinquency

Exposure to lead in drinking water from private wells during early childhood is associated with an increased risk of being reported for delinquency during teenage years, according to a new study. Researchers found that children who get their water from private wells before age 6 have higher blood lead levels and also have a 21% higher risk of being reported for any delinquency after age 14.

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Promising results of Phase 1 drug trial for HIV patients

A Phase 1 clinical trial has demonstrated the safety and efficacy of a novel immunotherapy drug in the treatment of HIV.

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