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Science News Archive December 2025 - Page 9


Page 9 of 46

Kinetic careers

Three Sandia National Laboratories engineers, Anton Sumali, Bishnu Khanal and Esther Woon Lyn John, have been recognized for their career achievements in various fields. They share a common trait - continuously learning and adapting to new challenges, making them natural fits for leading innovative projects.

SourceDOE/Sandia National Laboratories·TypeNews article·DateDec 18, 2025

Fertility remains high in rural Tanzania despite access to family planning

A new study from the University of Illinois found that men in rural Tanzania want an average of 4 more children, while women prefer 2.4, but after participating in a couples consultation program, both spouses' fertility preferences increased. This suggests that factors beyond access to contraception influence fertility decisions.

Vision-impaired individuals estimate the arrival time of approaching vehicles surprisingly

A new international study found that people with central vision loss can judge the motion of vehicles almost as accurately as those with normal vision. When both visual and auditory information were available, the two groups showed comparable accuracy in estimating the arrival time of approaching vehicles. The research, published in PL...

How intersections of race, education, and socioeconomic status may predict unequal greenspace exposure

A new study found that considering factors jointly can capture a more accurate representation of disparities in residential greenspace exposure, driven by structural racism. Exposure to trees and grass provides numerous benefits to physical and mental health, but inequities persist due to disinvestment in marginalized communities.

SourceBoston University School of Public Health·JournalEnvironmental Epidemiology·TypeObservational study·DateDec 18, 2025

Life on lava: How microbes colonize new habitats

Research reveals that single-celled organisms are among the first to colonize newly formed lava environments, thriving in scarce water and nutrient conditions. As diversity stabilizes over time, rainwater plays a critical role in shaping microbial communities, suggesting an unexpected link between weather phenomena and life on Earth.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalCommunications Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 18, 2025

For Black women with breast cancer, ultra-processed foods may worsen health outcomes

A study from Rutgers Cancer Institute researchers found that Black women with breast cancer who ate the most ultra-processed foods before diagnosis were 36-40% more likely to die from their cancers or other causes of death. The researchers followed 1,733 Black women diagnosed with breast cancer in New Jersey between 2005 and 2019.

SourceRutgers University·JournalEClinicalMedicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 18, 2025

Journal highlights need to transform girls’ mental health care

A special issue of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America seeks to transform how clinicians, educators, and policymakers think about girls' mental health by focusing on systems that support or fail to support them. The issue explores intersectionality, trauma-informed approaches, and the impact of social media on bod...

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalChild and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America·TypeObservational study·DateDec 18, 2025

Latin American research indicates a lower prevalence of a type of head and neck cancer

A recent study analyzing over 1,400 cases of squamous cell carcinoma found that more aggressive histopathological variants occur at a rate of 4.6%, significantly lower than previous estimates. The researchers highlight the importance of considering regional differences in tumor origin and behavior to improve treatment outcomes.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalAnnals of Diagnostic Pathology·DateDec 18, 2025

Hybrid health care key to alleviating dwindling primary services in Ontario’s underserved communities

A new University of Ottawa study highlights the positive impact of a hybrid approach combining virtual and in-person care, improving access to primary care in rural regions. The hybrid model has been found to be effective in recruiting providers in underserved areas and providing equitable care access for patients.

SourceUniversity of Ottawa·JournalBMC Health Services Research·TypeSurvey·DateDec 18, 2025

New PET imaging breakthrough expands possibilities

Researchers at Virginia Tech have developed a new method for attaching fluorine-18 to trifluoromethyl groups, enabling the tagging of previously inaccessible targets in PET scans. This breakthrough expands the range of molecules that can be imaged, potentially leading to earlier diagnoses and more targeted treatments for diseases.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalScience·DateDec 18, 2025

Combined oral contraceptive use among people with migraine with aura persists, despite cautions

A new study found that a sizable minority of people with migraine with aura still receive estrogen-containing birth control pills and hormone therapy, despite treatment contraindications. The study highlights the need for updated research on stroke risks associated with these medications among people with this type of migraine.

SourceBoston University School of Public Health·JournalPharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety·TypeObservational study·DateDec 18, 2025

Most Americans still get nicotine wrong

A new study found that many Americans incorrectly think nicotine is inherently deadly, leading to misconceptions about the dangers of smoking. The researchers discovered that changing the wording of questions can significantly impact the percentage of people answering correctly, from 10% to 80%.

SourceRutgers University·JournalNicotine & Tobacco Research·TypeSurvey·DateDec 18, 2025

Breakthrough in detection of deadly toxins in children’s medicines

A major scientific breakthrough has shown that deadly contaminants in medicinal syrups can be detected in seconds using simple, low-cost tests. This innovation addresses a long-standing problem and offers a realistic new way to prevent contaminated medicines from reaching children, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

SourceUniversity of East London·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 18, 2025

Night waking impacts cognitive performance regardless of sleep duration

A new study published in Sleep Health found that the quality of a night's sleep, rather than its length, predicts how quickly older adults process information the next day. Researchers analyzed data from 261 participants aged 70 and above, who wore devices to track their sleep and completed cognitive assessments six times a day.

SourcePenn State·JournalSleep Health·TypeObservational study·DateDec 18, 2025

Studies by Montana State scientists reveal importance of experimentation on greenhouse gas-producing organisms

Scientists at Montana State University have discovered a new group of methane-producing microbes, Thermoproteota, which defy predictions of genomic models. The organisms grow and produce methane not by feeding on carbon dioxide but on methylated compounds, highlighting the need for further experimental study.

SourceMontana State University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 18, 2025

Research reinvents MXene synthesis

Researchers at University of Chicago have developed a new technique for synthesizing MXene materials, enabling faster and more efficient production at a fraction of the cost. The new method uses chemical vapor deposition to create MXenes with remarkable properties.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalNature Synthesis·DateDec 18, 2025

New study finds more comfortable option for guiding breast cancer surgery

A new study has found that radioactive seed localization (RSL) is an effective and comfortable alternative to traditional wire localization for breast cancer surgery. Patients who received RSL reported less pain and anxiety, while surgeons rated the technique as more convenient and satisfying to perform.

SourceAtrium Health Wake Forest Baptist·JournalAnnals of Surgery·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateDec 18, 2025

Cosmic crash caught on camera

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope captured a cosmic fender bender, revealing two luminous clouds of debris from violent collisions between space rocks. The discovery offers insights into planet formation and asteroid composition, shedding light on the structure of asteroids crucial for planetary defense programs.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalScience·TypeObservational study·DateDec 18, 2025

Weekly episode releases drive higher viewer engagement and subscriptions on streaming platforms, study finds

A new study in Marketing Science reveals that gradually releasing TV show episodes leads to higher viewer engagement and substantially higher subscription rates on SVoD platforms. Drip-release strategies keep viewers engaged for weeks, expanding content discovery and strengthening retention.