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Science News Archive December 2025 - Page 43


Page 43 of 46

Are primary students prepared to write in a digital world?

A national study by Edith Cowan University reveals that most Australian primary schools allocate too little time to teaching students how to write using computers. The research found that teachers spent significantly more time on paper-based writing, with keyboarding receiving just nine minutes of instructional time per week.

SourceEdith Cowan University·JournalThe Australian Educational Researcher·TypeSurvey·DateDec 2, 2025

Gap-free genome reveals key genes behind medicinal saponins in balloon flower

Researchers have assembled the first T2T gap-free genome of Platycodon grandiflorus, a traditional medicinal herb valued for its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. The study identifies key oxidosqualene cyclases and cytochrome P450 enzymes involved in the biosynthesis and diversification of triterpenoid saponins.

Epigenetics linked to high-altitude adaptation in Andes

A study led by Emory University researchers has identified epigenetic changes that help Indigenous people of South America adapt to high altitudes. The research found strong differences in DNA methylation between low- and high-altitude populations for genes associated with vascular system regulation and muscle growth.

SourceEmory University·JournalEnvironmental Epigenetics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 2, 2025

December 2025 issues of APA Journals feature new research on borderline personality disorder, depression, trauma interventions in schools, and more

The December issues of The American Journal of Psychiatry and Psychiatric Services feature updates on substance use disorders, depression, and borderline personality disorder treatment. New research on trauma interventions in schools aims to improve mental health support for students.

SourceAmerican Psychiatric Association·JournalAmerican Journal of Psychiatry·DateDec 2, 2025

Engineering smarter care for ALS patients

University of Missouri researchers are combining in-home sensor technology with artificial intelligence to monitor daily changes in ALS patients' health. The system uses machine learning to estimate a patient's score on the ALS Functional Rating Scale Revised, predicting potential problems before they occur.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalFrontiers in Digital Health·DateDec 2, 2025

‘Creeping catastrophe’: Climate change is driving global rise in infectious diseases, leading health experts warn

A study of 3,752 health professionals and researchers from 151 countries finds climate change is combining with poverty and drug resistance to create a major health crisis. The top threats include vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengue, which are expected to surge without urgent global action.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalScientific Reports·TypeSurvey·DateDec 2, 2025

Continuous glucose monitoring in insulin-treated older adults with diabetes and Alzheimer disease and related dementias

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has been associated with improved long-term clinical outcomes in insulin-treated older adults with diabetes and Alzheimer disease. This pragmatic trial aimed to assess the feasibility of CGM use in this population, highlighting its potential benefits for managing chronic conditions.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateDec 2, 2025

Intelligent hydrogel microstructures enable the precise application of force to cellular systems

Scientists at Max Planck Institute develop a novel lab-on-a-chip system using intelligent hydrogel structures to simulate spatially and temporally controlled mechanical perturbations of biological polymer networks. The system applies precise pressure forces to cellular microenvironments, enabling research into biomechanical interaction...

SourceMax Planck Institute for the Science of Light·JournalLab on a Chip·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 2, 2025

Unraveling the fungi-cancer connection

Research highlights the connection between fungi and cancer, revealing that fungal microbiome can promote tumour progression and activate immunosuppressive pathways. Modulating the fungal microbiome may enhance antitumour immunity, with preliminary validation from preclinical and clinical trials.

SourceResearch·JournalResearch·TypeNews article·DateDec 2, 2025

Light-sensitive microbial protein may herald new cancer therapies

Researchers developed a new approach using the microbial protein Archaerhodopsin-3 to induce apoptosis in cancer cells, leading to significant tumor shrinkage when exposed to green light. The findings, published by Okayama University, show great potential for this light-activated molecule as a novel cancer therapy.

SourceOkayama University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 2, 2025

Historical geography helps researchers solve 2,700-year old eclipse mystery

Researchers used historical geography to accurately measure Earth's rotation speed during a total solar eclipse in 709 BCE, providing new data about the Sun's activity. The study also supports recent solar cycle reconstructions and independently validates previous findings using radiocarbon analysis.

SourceNagoya University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 2, 2025

KAIST suppresses side effects of mRNA therapeutics, broadly applicable platform for safer, personalized treatments​

Researchers at KAIST have developed a new strategy to control the initiation timing and rate of mRNA protein production, enabling safer treatment. By using this method, proteins can be produced sequentially in a desired order, reducing the risk of side effects.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeMeta-analysis·DateDec 2, 2025

ISTA physicists overcome fundamental limitation of acoustic levitation

Researchers at ISTA have successfully used electric charge to separate levitated particles, overcoming a fundamental limitation of acoustic levitation. This breakthrough enables the formation of stable, controlled structures from small building blocks, with potential applications in materials science, robotics, and microengineering.

SourceInstitute of Science and Technology Austria·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 2, 2025

Challenges and future perspectives on the ecological uses of reclaimed water

A new study evaluates the ecological use of reclaimed water, identifying key dimensions of indicators for pollution level, purification process, sensory quality, and nature proximity. The authors propose a holistic framework to address these impacts and develop differentiated safety standards for toxins, nutrients, and pathogens.

SourceKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.·JournalWater & Ecology·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateDec 2, 2025

Progress towards a quantum internet

A team of researchers from Paderborn University and the Sapienza University of Rome successfully teleported the polarisation state of a single photon between two physically separated quantum dots. This achievement represents a crucial step towards scalable quantum relays and the practical implementation of a quantum internet.

SourceUniversität Paderborn·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 2, 2025

Insilico Medicine and Atossa Therapeutics publish AI-driven study in Nature's Scientific Reports identifying (Z)-endoxifen as a potential therapeutic candidate for glioblastoma

Researchers used Insilico's AI-powered PandaOmics platform to identify (Z)-endoxifen as a promising therapeutic candidate for glioblastoma, with strong reversal of biological programs driving tumor growth and treatment resistance. Laboratory validation confirmed the compound's cytotoxic activity and showed enhanced effects in combination.

SourceInSilico Medicine·JournalScientific Reports·DateDec 2, 2025

Gas stoves and nitrogen dioxide exposure

A recent study estimates that 22 million Americans exceed safe nitrogen dioxide exposure levels due to gas stove use. Gas stoves are found to be a significant source of indoor nitrogen dioxide emissions, particularly in households with multiple burners and oven usage.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateDec 2, 2025

LLMs choose friends and colleagues like people

Large language models (LLMs) exhibit network formation behaviors similar to humans, including preferential attachment, triadic closure, and homophily. In real-world simulations, LLMs prioritize homophily most strongly, followed by triadic closure and preferential attachment.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateDec 2, 2025

Pusan National University researchers use AI to create optimized engine components that outperform human designs

Researchers at Pusan National University have developed an AI-powered design methodology for gerotor pumps, achieving a 32.3% increase in average flow rate and reducing pressure fluctuation by 53.6%. This innovation has the potential to improve engine durability, lubrication, and cooling, leading to quieter operation and increased reli...

SourcePusan National University·JournalEngineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 2, 2025

Sun-watcher SOHO celebrates thirty years

SOHO has provided a nearly continuous record of our Sun's activity for close to three 11-year-long solar cycles. The mission has overcome challenges, including a critical error and failed gyroscopes, but continues to produce high-quality data on a daily basis.

SourceEuropean Space Agency·JournalNature Astronomy·DateDec 2, 2025

Largest study of nose microbiome helps highlight those at risk of staph aureus infection

The largest-ever study of the nasal microbiome found that persistent carriers have a distinct microbiome with an abundance of Staphylococcus aureus and a lack of other species, while certain bacteria may help resist S. aureus colonization in non-carriers. The study also identified patterns in the nasal microbiome and used machine learn...

SourceWellcome Trust Sanger Institute·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 2, 2025

Urban sprawl could deny 220 million people access to clean water by 2050

A study analyzing over 100 cities in Asia, Africa, and Latin America found that compact urban planning is crucial for delivering water and sanitation to growing populations. The research suggests that if cities spread outward rather than building more densely, access to clean water and basic sanitation could be significantly impacted.

SourceComplexity Science Hub·JournalNature Cities·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 2, 2025

New study supports the value of medical humanities in illuminating the root causes of health care disparities in Washington, DC

A new study analyzing dozens of published papers found that medical humanities approaches identified crucial barriers and opportunities for intervention, including systemic information gaps and stigma-related barriers. The study highlights the importance of a human-centered approach in understanding health inequities.

SourceGeorgetown University Medical Center·JournalHumanities and Social Sciences Communications·TypeLiterature review·DateDec 2, 2025

Structural racism and cultural misunderstanding compound grief for Black British and Black Caribbean communities, study finds

A new study by the University of Bristol highlights how bereavement experiences and support needs among Black British and Black Caribbean communities are poorly understood. The research found that structural racism, cultural misunderstanding, and lack of tailored end-of-life support intensify grief, leading to mistrust in services.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalDeath Studies·TypeSurvey·DateDec 2, 2025