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Science News Archive April 2025 - Page 38


Page 38 of 51

Novel drug delivery platform paves way to potential new treatments for Alzheimer’s, other brain-related disorders

Researchers developed nanoparticles to deliver anti-inflammatory agents across the blood-brain barrier, opening new possibilities for treating Alzheimer's disease and other brain-related disorders. The delivery method successfully reduced inflammatory markers and improved food intake in mice with cancer cachexia.

SourceOregon State University·JournalAdvanced Healthcare Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 8, 2025

Bans on outdoor junk food ads derailed by industry lobbying

A recent investigation reveals how the advertising industry is targeting councils with warnings of financial losses if they restrict junk food ads, leading to some councils shelving their plans. Experts are urging a national ban on out-of-home HFSS advertising to combat childhood obesity rates projected to increase by 50% by 2050.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThe BMJ·TypeNews article·DateApr 8, 2025

High prevalence of tooth and gum issues in teenage professional footballers in England

A recent study published in BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine found that nearly 3 out of 4 teenage professional footballers in England have inflamed gums or periodontitis, with many experiencing tooth wear and breakage. The researchers emphasize the importance of good oral health for overall wellbeing and sporting performance.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalBMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateApr 8, 2025

Hearing loss linked to heightened heart failure risk

A large long-term study found a significant association between hearing loss and increased risk of developing heart failure. The psychological distress caused by hearing impairment played a key role in this observed association, with socially isolated individuals and those experiencing anxiety and depression facing a heightened risk.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalHeart·TypeObservational study·DateApr 8, 2025

Ancient fossil sheds big light on evolution mystery: Solving a 100-year arthropod mystery

Harvard researchers formally describe the 100-year-old arthropod fossil Helmetia expansa, offering new insights into its anatomy, behavior, and evolutionary relationships. The study reveals that Helmetia likely walked like trilobites and exhibited a unique molting strategy.

SourceHarvard University, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology·JournalJournal of Systematic Palaeontology·DateApr 8, 2025

Dartmouth-led research team receives $13 million PCORI funding award to test the impact of video on visit communication for people with ALS

A dual-principal investigator research group led by Dartmouth and the Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Massachusetts General Hospital will test the effectiveness of video as a communication tool during patient visits for people living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and their caregivers.

Treating patients for opioid use disorder in the hospital leads to better outcomes after they are discharged, study finds

A new study finds that treating hospitalized patients with opioid use disorder leads to better outcomes after discharge. The program, which pairs patients with treatment programs and medication, increases the likelihood of follow-up care and reduces hospital stay length.

SourceUniversity of New Mexico Health Sciences Center·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateApr 8, 2025

Is it good to know how much your co-workers make?

A study by UC Riverside professor Boris Maciejovsky found that revealing employee pay can influence workplace dynamics, with those at the top feeling entitled to higher compensation and those at the bottom demoralized. The research highlights a complex interplay between social comparison and individual perceptions of worth.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalJournal of Business Ethics·TypeObservational study·DateApr 8, 2025

New study suggests that simultaneously burying broadband and electricity could be worth millions to people in MA towns

A new study from the University of Massachusetts Amherst found that co-undergrounding wires, particularly in outage-prone areas, can pay off with a cost savings of nearly 40% compared to replacing them separately. The study suggests that proactively undergrounding lines that are currently above ground can bring significant benefits.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalCell Reports Sustainability·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 8, 2025

New research finds fluorescence in feathers of long-eared owls

A recent study published in The Wilson Journal of Ornithology reveals that Long-eared Owls have fluorescent pigments in their feathers that can only be seen under ultraviolet light. The amount of pigment varies within a population and is correlated with age, sex, and size, suggesting alternative functions beyond sexual signaling.

SourceDrexel University·JournalThe Wilson Journal of Ornithology·DateApr 8, 2025

HKU State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases and InnoHK Centre for Virology, Vaccinology and Therapeutics successfully develop nasal spray H5N1 avian influenza vaccine

Researchers at HKU and CVVT create a nasal spray vaccine offering single-dose protection against H5N1 infection, inducing comprehensive immunity in the upper respiratory tract. The vaccine's high safety profile and ability to curb viral transmission make it a critical reserve for future outbreaks.

SourceThe University of Hong Kong·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 8, 2025

Predicting animal movements under global change

A new framework helps scientists predict where and when animals will move in rapidly changing environments, addressing a pressing problem in the field of animal ecology. The study focuses on incorporating biological mechanisms into models to develop better predictions, which can inform effective wildlife management and policy.

SourceSwansea University·JournalJournal of Animal Ecology·DateApr 8, 2025

Bringing DNA computing to life

A comprehensive review explores DNA computing circuits operating within living cells, leveraging dynamic nanodevices powered by DNA strand displacement reactions. Key findings include the integration of computational principles with random biochemical processes and chemical reactions in biological systems.

SourceIntelligent Computing·JournalIntelligent Computing·DateApr 8, 2025

Two mixtures of common food additives, including aspartame, sucralose, xanthan & guar gums, modified starches, carrageenan and citric acid, are linked with slightly increased risk of type II diabetes, per French cohort study of more than 100,000 adults

A French cohort study of over 100,000 adults found that mixtures of common food additives, including aspartame and carrageenan, were associated with a slightly increased risk of type II diabetes. The study suggests that these additives may have adverse effects on glucose metabolism.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateApr 8, 2025

Breakthrough gene therapy offers hope for rare, deadly heart disease in young men

A team of researchers has developed a gene-therapy strategy to treat arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy type 5 (ARVC5), a rare and deadly hereditary disease. The treatment, using adeno-associated viruses, improved cardiac function and prolonged survival in mice with ARVC5-like disease.

SourceCentro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (F.S.P.)·JournalCirculation Research·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 8, 2025

Even under stress, male-female pairs had each other’s backs

A new study found that coordination during fear looks different in males and females, with opposite-sex pairs showing resilience under stress. Female mice were more responsive to their partners, while males tended to copy each other's actions, forming a strong social unit against stress.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalBiological Psychiatry Global Open Science·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 8, 2025

Tech-assisted peer therapy effective for perinatal depression in lower income countries

A University of Liverpool study shows that a novel tech-assisted intervention combining peer-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy with a digital app is as effective as standard therapy in treating perinatal depression. The programme, led by Professor Atif Rahman, reduces depressive symptoms significantly and offers a scalable soluti...

SourceUniversity of Liverpool·JournalNature Medicine·DateApr 8, 2025

Predictable visual stimuli as an early indicator for autism spectrum disorder in children

A recent study found that children with autism spectrum disorder tend to prefer predictable movements, which could serve as an early indicator of the condition. This preference may be linked to difficulties in learning cause-and-effect relationships and is a key characteristic of repetitive behaviors associated with ASD.

SourceWaseda University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 8, 2025

HKU ecologists lead international effort to understand declining insect biodiversity in the tropics

A team of HKU ecologists led an international initiative to study declining tropical insect populations, highlighting alarmingly limited knowledge and threats from urbanization, habitat loss, and climate change. The review emphasizes the need for more research and conservation interventions to maintain tropical biodiversity.

SourceThe University of Hong Kong·JournalNature Reviews Biodiversity·TypeObservational study·DateApr 8, 2025

Researchers identify safer pathway for pain relief

A team of scientists at the University of Florida has developed a new drug compound that selectively targets delta opioid receptors, providing pain relief without the dangerous side effects associated with opioids. The study's findings offer a promising approach to developing safer pain treatments, which could also be applied to treati...

SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 8, 2025

Urinals without splashback

Researchers designed urinals using physics and differential equations to minimize splashback, improving hygiene and accessibility. The Nautilus design fits various urination heights, making it accessible for children and people with wheelchairs.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateApr 8, 2025

New study reviews decades of findings on effects of physical work environments on firms’ organizational processes and outcomes

Researchers analyzed decades of findings to understand how physical work environments influence organizational processes and outcomes, including employee health and motivation, as well as a firm's resource position and reputation. Effective design can enhance task accomplishment and shape intangible assets.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalJournal of Management·DateApr 8, 2025

HKU cross-disciplinary research reveals oral microbiota as promising screening tool for young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

A cross-disciplinary research team from HKU has found a connection between oral microbiota and ASD, identifying 11 bacterial species as potential biomarkers. The study developed a prediction model with an 81% accuracy rate for early detection, paving the way for non-invasive screening tools during dental check-ups.

SourceThe University of Hong Kong·JournalJournal of Dentistry·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 8, 2025

Tackling the ‘silent pandemic’: breakthrough study puts first long COVID treatment on horizon

Researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute have developed a drug compound that can prevent long COVID symptoms in mice, including brain and lung dysfunction. The study also found that the compound can treat acute COVID with better efficacy than Paxlovid, the leading treatment currently approved for COVID-19.

SourceWalter and Eliza Hall Institute·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateApr 8, 2025