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Science News Archive 2025 - Page 554


Page 554 of 574

Technique allows estimation of the force acting on each grain of sand in a dune

Brazilian researchers have developed a technique that estimates the force exerted on each grain of sand in a dune from images, enabling the study of previously unmeasurable physical processes. The method uses numerical simulations and artificial intelligence to transform the study of granular system dynamics.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateOct 23, 2025

PolyU research achieves record efficiency in semi-transparent solar cells, advancing the development of building-integrated photovoltaics

Researchers at PolyU developed an innovative parameter to evaluate photoactive materials for ST-OPVs, advancing high-performance devices with low-cost production and environmental sustainability. Record light utilisation efficiency of 6.05% was achieved in semi-transparent solar cells.

SourceThe Hong Kong Polytechnic University·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 23, 2025

Modeling atomistic biomolecular dynamics from HS-AFM imaging

A team of scientists has created a novel computational framework that can accurately model biomolecular dynamics from high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) imaging. This framework enables the inference of 3D atomistic models of dynamic protein conformations with unprecedented precision, even for large protein assemblies. By combi...

Researchers warn of the urgent need to include the cumulative effects of extreme climate events in penguin conservation

A new international analysis highlights the need to assess the combined effects of multiple climate extremes on penguin survival. The study identifies regions particularly affected by extreme events, where penguins are most at risk and biodiversity may be reshaped in decades to come.

SourceSpanish National Research Council (CSIC)·JournalGlobal Change Biology·TypeNews article·DateOct 23, 2025

Snake bites: How they do it

Researchers studied snake strikes using high-speed cameras, revealing distinct biting styles among viper, elapid and colubrid species. Viper fangs embed quickly, while elapids bite repeatedly, with colubrids sweeping their jaws to deliver maximum venom.

SourceThe Company of Biologists·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 23, 2025

Functional extinction of Florida’s reef-building corals following the 2023 marine heatwave

The 2023 marine heatwave caused widespread coral mortality in Florida's Coral Reef, leading to the functional extinction of critically endangered Acropora species. Researchers found that between 97.8 and 100% of coral colonies had died by March 2024, highlighting the urgent need for interventions to maintain these populations.

Tooth code cracked: Scientists find cells that know when, where, and how to grow teeth

Researchers discovered that young dental cells are directed by their position along the lingual-buccal axis to grow into distinct structures. Cells on one side formed tooth enamel, while those on the other side focused on stem cell activity and supporting tissue growth.

SourceEditorial Office of West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University·JournalInternational Journal of Oral Science·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 23, 2025

Perception of fraud as a “victimless” offense can weaken police investigations, study shows

A new study by Dr. Rasha Kassem and Professor Umut Turksen found that police officers perceive fraud as low-harm and low-priority, leading to weakened investigations and limited victim support. The researchers advocated for targeted training, investment in cyber and financial forensics, and cultural change within police organisations.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalPolicing An International Journal·TypeSurvey·DateOct 23, 2025

NIH grant allows for development of next-generation computational tools to study fat metabolism and disease

Dr. Yu-Ming Mindy Huang's research aims to overcome limitations in current methods by building a higher-accuracy computer microscope to investigate membrane-bound protein diffusion and interactions. The study has two complementary directions: modeling viral proteins and understanding lipid storage on lipid droplets.

Sanger Institute: Origins of the ‘London Underground mosquito’ uncovered, shedding light on West Nile virus transmission

New research has revealed that the 'London Underground mosquito' evolved over 1,000 years ago in Ancient Egypt, contradicting a long-held theory of its emergence in northern Europe. The study's findings suggest that hybridisation between human-biting and bird-biting mosquitoes may contribute to West Nile virus transmission.

Madagascar: The island split in two by time

A new study reveals that Madagascar's striking landscape was shaped by two great rifting events, separated by nearly 80 million years. These tectonic shifts created fragmented environments where species evolved independently, contributing to the island's extraordinary biodiversity.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalScience Advances·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 23, 2025

Young age and low number of prior pregnancies identified as risk factors for misdiagnosis of interstitial ectopic pregnancy

Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine found that younger women and women with fewer prior pregnancies are more likely to be misdiagnosed with interstitial ectopic pregnancy. This study highlights the importance of awareness among radiologists and gynecologists to improve accuracy in transvaginal ultrasound screening.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalEmergency Radiology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 23, 2025

Forests recovering from acid rain mine rocks for nutrients, leading to less acidic streams and more acid-sensitive soils

A long-term study in the White Mountains of New Hampshire found that recovering forests are using roots to mine minerals for nutrients, leading to improved stream pH but depleted soil fertility. This process enhances mineral weathering, which can make forests more vulnerable to future pollution.

SourceCary Institute of Ecosystem Studies·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 23, 2025

Loneliness interventions help but are not a cure-all

Research published by the American Psychological Association found that psychological interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, are more effective than social strategies in reducing loneliness. The study analyzed over 280 studies and found that digital-only programs tend to be less effective compared to in-person approaches.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalAmerican Psychologist·TypeMeta-analysis·DateOct 23, 2025

HKUST researchers uncover immune-hot brain tumor subtype with poorer survival and develop ai framework for precise identification

Researchers have discovered a previously overlooked brain tumor subtype with strong immune activity but poorer survival rates. An AI framework has been developed to assist doctors in accurately identifying this subtype, enabling more personalized patient care.

SourceHong Kong University of Science and Technology·JournalCancer Cell·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 23, 2025

Miniscule wave machine opens big scientific doors

University of Queensland researchers have developed a microscopic 'ocean' on a silicon chip, allowing for the study of wave dynamics at an unprecedented scale. The device, made with superfluid helium, enables the observation of striking phenomena, including waves that lean backward and shock fronts.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 23, 2025

Lighting up life: Rice scientists develop glowing sensors to track cellular changes as they happen

Researchers at Rice University have engineered living cells to use a 21st amino acid that illuminates protein changes in real time, providing a new perspective on the inner workings of life. This breakthrough addresses a long-standing challenge in biology by allowing scientists to track subtle protein changes within living systems.

SourceRice University·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 23, 2025

Researchers get wind of hydrogen’s role in the gut

Researchers have discovered that hydrogen gas produced in the gut supports beneficial bacteria and helps maintain digestion. The study found that a specific enzyme called Group B [FeFe]-hydrogenase is mainly responsible for making hydrogen, which is then used by other microbes for energy.

SourceMonash University·JournalNature Microbiology·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 23, 2025

New gene-editing tech holds promise for treating complex genetic diseases

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a novel gene-editing method that can correct multiple disease-causing mutations simultaneously. This approach uses bacterial retrons to protect the microbes from viral infection and has shown promising results in correcting scoliosis-causing mutations in zebrafish embryos.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalNature Biotechnology·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 23, 2025

Plastic pollution could linger at ocean surfaces for over a century, new research finds

A new model shows that buoyant plastics degrade slowly at the surface, fragmenting into smaller particles over decades. These tiny fragments can then sink to the ocean floor, but it may take more than 100 years for surface plastic waste to disappear.

SourceQueen Mary University of London·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 23, 2025