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Science News Archive 2025 - Page 44


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Prescribed opioid pain medications during pregnancy likely aren’t associated with increased risk of autism, ADHD

A Swedish study of over 1.2 million children found no significant association between prenatal exposure to opioids and increased risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The researchers attributed the observed differences in ASD rates among exposed versus unexposed children to other pre...

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateSep 16, 2025

Semaglutide provides powerful protection against diabetic retinopathy, the leading cause of blindness in working-age adults, Greek study suggests

A new study published in Pharmaceutics found that semaglutide provides powerful protection against diabetic retinopathy, a condition that can lead to sight loss. The study suggests that GLP-1 receptor agonists enhance retinal cells' defences against damage in diabetes-like conditions.

Precision targeting of the centromedian nucleus in drug-resistant epilepsy highlighted in brain network disorders

Researchers developed new methods to accurately target the centromedian nucleus for deep brain stimulation in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. Advanced imaging techniques, such as high-resolution MRI and DTI tractography, improve targeting accuracy by identifying specific brain pathways and neural firing patterns.

SourceBrain Network Disorders Editorial Office·JournalBrain Network Disorders·TypeLiterature review·DateSep 16, 2025

Older brothers close in age reduce their sisters’ chances of survival

Researchers found that having more older brothers close in age reduces the chances of survival for girls, whereas having more older sisters close in age has a positive effect on both girls and boys. This study highlights the importance of considering sex-specific effects when studying the impact of siblings on human survival.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 16, 2025

Mapping the Universe, faster and with the same accuracy

Researchers have developed an emulator called Effort.jl that mimics the behavior of large-scale structure models, allowing for fast analysis on standard laptops. The new model delivers similar accuracy as the original, enabling scientists to analyze upcoming data releases from experiments like DESI and Euclid.

SourceSissa Medialab·JournalJournal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 16, 2025

Harnessing non-matched illumination for dark-field-like contrast in live-cell imaging

Researchers developed DF-FPDT to address low-frequency loss from non-matched illumination in live-cell imaging, enabling high-resolution and high-contrast 3D reconstructions. This breakthrough technique leverages non-matched illumination to enhance structural details without additional hardware or post-processing.

Loss of key male fertility gene leads to changes in expression of hundreds of other genes

A new study conducted at the University of Hawaiʻi has shown that the loss of a key male fertility gene leads to infertility and changes in the expression of hundreds of other important genes. The researchers found that sperm precursor cells are dying prematurely, and sperm have DNA that is not properly condensed.

SourceUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa·JournalCell Death and Differentiation·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 16, 2025

Orforglipron taken orally once daily leads to significant body weight loss (ATTAIN-1 Study)

A phase 3 trial of once-daily orforglipron found substantial weight loss in people with obesity but not type 2 diabetes. The medication improved cardiometabolic levels and was associated with significant reductions in body weight, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, triglyceride levels, and non-HDL cholesterol.

SourceEuropean Association for the Study of Diabetes·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateSep 16, 2025

Groundbreaking AI aims to speed lifesaving therapies

A new open-source AI tool, ProRNA3D-single, has significantly increased accuracy in predicting and visualizing protein-RNA complex structures. This method can generate finely detailed images of molecules in 3D, enabling drug developers to design treatments by analyzing where viruses attach to human proteins.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalCell Systems·DateSep 16, 2025

Justice is being lost in translation – Surrey researchers build AI to fix this problem

Researchers developed a custom speech recognition system trained on Supreme Court hearings, reducing transcription errors by up to 9% compared to leading commercial tools. The AI tool semantically matches paragraphs with timestamps, allowing users to scroll through judgements and instantly watch relevant exchanges from the hearing.

SourceUniversity of Surrey·JournalApplied Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateSep 16, 2025

Cybersecurity training programs don’t prevent employees from falling for phishing scams

A recent study found that cybersecurity training programs do little to prevent employees from falling for phishing scams. Researchers sent 10 different phishing email campaigns to over 19,500 employees at UC San Diego Health and found that embedded phishing training only reduced the likelihood of clicking on a phishing link by 2%. As t...

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateSep 16, 2025

A new way to produce ammonia more efficiently

A new way to produce ammonia more efficiently has been discovered by boosting its production using low-temperature plasma. This method could create ammonia in smaller facilities closer to where it is needed, making it safer and easier to transport, and potentially leading to a transformative change in energy storage and transportation.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalACS Energy Letters·DateSep 16, 2025

IU researchers find that opioid pain meds prescribed during pregnancy do not cause increased risk of autism or ADHD

A comprehensive study suggests that mild to moderate use of prescribed opioid pain medications during pregnancy does not increase the risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. The study found that other factors, such as parental age and psychiatric conditions, may explain th...

SourceIndiana University·JournalPLOS Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 16, 2025

New study sheds light on impact of stress on baby lizards

A Bangor University study found that stressed baby lizards grow more slowly and behave differently, but surprisingly, these offspring are also more social. The research suggests maternal stress has long-lasting effects on lizard social behavior, overriding the influence of social environment after birth.

SourceBangor University·JournalJournal of Animal Ecology·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 16, 2025

U of I researchers trace genetic code’s origins to early protein structures

A recent study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign sheds new light on the origin and evolution of the genetic code, providing valuable insights for genetic engineering and bioinformatics. The research team found that the genetic code's origins are mysteriously linked to the dipeptide composition of a proteome, with dipepti...

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·JournalJournal of Molecular Biology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 16, 2025

AI hardware reimagined for lower energy use

A new chip architecture called Double Duty has been developed to make AI-powered computing more efficient and less energy-intensive. This innovation allows for reduced space needed for specific AI tasks by over 20% and improved overall performance on a large suite of circuits by nearly 10%.

Circular RNA-encoded protein SCAP-129aa drives platinum resistance in triple-negative breast cancer, new study from Sun Yat-Sen University finds

A new study from Sun Yat-Sen University identifies a critical molecular driver underlying platinum resistance in triple-negative breast cancer. The research team found that the circular RNA-encoded protein SCAP-129aa directly mediates platinum resistance by stabilizing PIK3R2 protein levels.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience China Life Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 16, 2025

UCalgary researchers show brain shunts significantly benefit older adults with hydrocephalus

A groundbreaking trial published in New England Journal of Medicine demonstrates the benefits of surgical treatment with a shunt for idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (iNPH) in older adults. Eighty percent of participants showed significant clinical improvement, including improved walking speed and balance.

SourceUniversity of Calgary·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateSep 16, 2025

Brain organoids could unlock energy-efficient AI

The team will study neurons within a brain organoid, a millimeter-sized, three-dimensional structure grown in the lab from adult stem cells, to design smarter and more sustainable artificial intelligence. They aim to replicate complex computations that occur in the human brain to improve AI efficiency.

Stem cells repair mouse brains post-stroke

Stem cell transplantation has been shown to reverse stroke damage in mice by regenerating neurons and restoring motor functions. The treatment also improved blood-brain barrier integrity, reduced inflammation, and promoted new blood vessel formation.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 16, 2025

Chapman University research reveals tropical rainforest soils may fuel climate change as the Earth warms – Accelerating global warming

A new study reveals that tropical forest soils may release enormous amounts of CO2 as they warm, potentially amplifying global warming. The research found that soil respiration increased by 42–204% in experimentally warmed plots, marking one of the largest CO2 release rates ever recorded.

SourceChapman University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 16, 2025