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Science News Archive 2025 - Page 553


Page 553 of 574

Neanderthals and Mesolithic hunter-gathereres lit the fire: Humans shaped European landscapes long before agriculture

A new study shows that Neanderthals and Mesolithic hunter-gatherers had a significant impact on vegetation patterns in Europe, with human-induced fires and hunting affecting up to 47% of plant type distribution. The research challenges the notion of an 'untouched landscape' in Europe before agriculture.

SourceAarhus University·JournalPLOS One·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 23, 2025

Researchers reveal mystery of neurotransmission with time-resolved cryo-ET

Researchers developed a time-resolved cryo-ET method to capture snapshots of cultured neuronal synapses. The study identified a 'kiss-shrink-run' pathway that unifies the debated 'kiss-and-run' and 'full-collapse' fusion mechanisms, providing a structural basis for efficient synaptic transmission.

Researchers overcome key scaling barriers in photonic AI with a novel deep photonic neural network chip

A new chip architecture has successfully overcome major limitations of photonic neural networks, achieving record-breaking input sizes and robust performance with partially coherent light sources. The device demonstrated accuracies of 94% and 96% in handwritten digit and fashion image classification tasks.

Gender equality universally linked to physical capacity

A new study from Karolinska Institutet found that countries with higher human development indices and lower gender inequality have higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness among young adults. Women's VO2peak was significantly higher in countries with high gender equality compared to those with low gender equality.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalJournal of Sport and Health Science·DateOct 23, 2025

Parent opioid prescriptions linked to teen and young adult opioid use

A Norwegian study of over 21,000 adolescents and young adults found that those with persistent parental opioid prescriptions faced more than double the risk of persistent opioid use. The study suggests considering family-based approaches to managing pain conditions in adolescents and young adults.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateOct 23, 2025

Study uncovers origins of urban human-biting mosquito, sheds light on uptick in West Nile virus spillover from birds to humans

Researchers from Princeton University uncover the origins of the human-biting mosquito Culex pipiens molestus, dating it back over 1,000 years to ancient agricultural societies in Egypt. The study reveals genetic links between bird-biting and human-biting mosquitoes, crucial for understanding West Nile virus transmission.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 23, 2025

Mount Sinai study finds chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) rare among individuals with isolated brain injuries

Researchers at Mount Sinai found chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) rare among individuals with isolated brain injuries. The study, published in the Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology, analyzed postmortem brain tissue from 47 donors and revealed that CTE is more common in those with extensive repetitive head impacts.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalJournal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology·TypeObservational study·DateOct 23, 2025

Second and third harmonic generation in topological insulator-based van der Waals metamaterials

Researchers successfully generate even and odd terahertz frequencies using topological insulator-based van der Waals metamaterials, confirming long-standing theories and opening doors to new applications. This breakthrough enables the development of compact terahertz sources, sensors, and ultrafast optoelectronic devices.

What will stroke care look like in 2050?

In a new Stroke article, Dr. Joseph Broderick predicts stroke care advancements by 2050, with a focus on patient-wearable diagnosis tools and AI-driven treatments for ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. Researchers will overcome the challenge of neuroprotection and develop smaller, safer clot removal devices.

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalStroke·DateOct 23, 2025

Dinosaurs in New Mexico thrived until the very end, study shows

A study from Baylor University and New Mexico State University reveals that dinosaurs in North America were not fading away before the asteroid impact, but instead living in vibrant ecosystems. The research found that dinosaur communities across the continent were divided into bioprovinces based on temperature differences.

SourceBaylor University·JournalScience·TypeContent analysis·DateOct 23, 2025

South American long-necked dinosaur could easily stand on two legs

Researchers used computational engineering techniques to simulate weight and gravitational stress on sauropod femurs. They found that two South American genera, Uberabatitan and Neuquensaurus, could generally remain standing for extended periods, allowing them to feed on high branches and defend against predators. The simulations sugge...

Warmer Nordic springs double the incidence of avian malaria

A 30-year study in southern Sweden finds that rising spring temperatures have doubled the incidence of avian malaria, with a specific period from May 9 to June 24 being particularly critical. The researchers believe that warmer years trigger blood-sucking insects to seek out nests, allowing parasites to thrive and spread disease.

SourceLund University·JournalGlobal Change Biology·DateOct 23, 2025

From “forever chemicals” to “PFAS-free” drinking water: Mapping a 20-year global research landscape and governance roadmap

Research on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in drinking water has evolved through three distinct phases, with a focus on monitoring and treatment challenges. The study reveals growth in research, with cumulative publications expected to reach 7,689 by 2030.

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalWater & Ecology·TypeSystematic review·DateOct 23, 2025

Unravelling the use of non-prescription weight-loss supplements by students in Egypt

A new study by Beni-Suef University in Egypt reveals that nearly half of undergraduate students use non-prescription weight loss supplements without prior medical consultation. The researchers found that many users were aware of potential health risks but continued taking the supplements due to social media and family influence.

SourceDe Gruyter·JournalInternational Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health·TypeObservational study·DateOct 23, 2025

UMass Amherst chemists develop tool providing unrivaled look inside cells

Researchers at UMass Amherst have developed a new tool, iConRNA, that provides an unrivaled look inside cells and can help solve the mystery of how devastating diseases develop. The tool resolves the balance of physical driving forces of phase separation and predicts how this balance is tuned under different cellular situations.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 23, 2025

Chemistry: The key to civet coffee is in the chemistry

Researchers analyzed faecal matter samples from civets eating ripe coffee berries, finding significantly higher levels of fats and key flavour-enhancing compounds in the resulting civet coffee beans. These chemical differences are believed to affect the coffee's final flavour profile.

SourceScientific Reports·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 23, 2025

New insights into cholesterol metabolism regulation illuminate therapies for cardiometabolic and neurodegenerative diseases

Recent discoveries on the molecular regulation of cholesterol metabolism have far-reaching implications for human diseases. Four interconnected modules of cholesterol metabolism are outlined, including hepatic de novo synthesis, intestinal absorption, and reverse transport via HDL.

UC Irvine researchers find new Alzheimer’s mechanism linked to brain inflammation

Researchers at UC Irvine found that amyloid precursor proteins form a complex with voltage-gated proton channels in human brain immune cells, altering their operation and promoting neuroinflammation. The study suggests two specific mutations linked to early-onset Alzheimer's further increase channel activity.

SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 23, 2025

Vaccinated against polio - or not?

A German study using a digital cohort dataset found that twenty percent of participants had unreported polio vaccinations, while forty percent of documented doses were unidentified. The study emphasizes the need for improved vaccine tracking and booster vaccination strategies to ensure effective population protection.

SourceHelmholtz Centre for Infection Research·JournalBMC Public Health·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 23, 2025

Global study reveals tempo of invasive species‘ impacts

A global meta-analysis of biological invasions found that impacts vary over time and are shaped by ecological contexts. Invasive plants reduce native plant diversity, while abiotic effects weaken after years. The study suggests early action to prevent invasive species' impacts on biodiversity and climate change.

SourceUniversity of Bern·JournalScience·TypeMeta-analysis·DateOct 23, 2025

Shining a light on heart disease risk

A new study found that bright light exposure at night significantly increases the chances of developing serious heart problems. Women and younger people were especially vulnerable to this impact. The researchers are now calling for more research into lighting guidelines to help reduce night-time light exposure.

SourceFlinders University·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 23, 2025

Te‑modulated Fe single atom with synergistic bidirectional catalysis for high‑rate and long–cycling lithium‑sulfur battery

Researchers develop Te-modulated Fe single-atom catalyst to overcome polysulfide shuttle effect and sluggish redox kinetics in Li-S batteries. The catalyst significantly improves both rate performance and cycling stability, making it a promising solution for high-energy, low-cost energy storage.

SourceShanghai Jiao Tong University Journal Center·JournalNano-Micro Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 23, 2025

Researchers find certain ecological experiments may be too human-centric

A recent study found that plasticine models, commonly used in ecological experiments, may not accurately capture real-world biotic interactions due to their reliance on visual cues. The research team deployed over 2,400 models across two habitats and found similar attack rates regardless of color, shape, or size.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·DateOct 23, 2025

A perfect shape for varying circumstances

The study reveals that certain rectangular shapes allow chloroplasts to achieve both efficient light capture at high density and enough space for shifting during strong light avoidance. The natural geometry of Elodea cells matches the predicted optimal shapes well, with a balance between packing and flexibility.

SourceUniversiteit van Amsterdam·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 23, 2025