Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for February 14, 2025


A diabetes, heart failure, and kidney disease medication is the first of its kind to significantly reduce both heart attacks and strokes

A new medication approved to treat type 2 diabetes and kidney disease also significantly reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes among these patients. Sotagliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransporter inhibitor, blocks proteins that help control blood sugar levels and has been shown to reduce cardiovascular events by 23%.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalThe Lancet·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateFeb 14, 2025

Marine mystery solved: How anemonefish avoid stings from their sea anemone hosts

Researchers have discovered that anemonefish have evolved to maintain very low levels of sialic acid in their skin mucus to avoid triggering the release of nematocysts in their sea anemone hosts. This adaptation allows them to safely coexist with sea anemones, which also lack these sugar compounds in their own mucus.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalBMC Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 14, 2025

New blood test could improve Alzheimer’s Disease diagnosis, research finds

A new blood test has shown promise in improving the accuracy of Alzheimer's Disease diagnosis, with results comparable to established CSF biomarkers. The study found that measuring plasma p-tau217 was over 90% accurate, potentially replacing invasive diagnostic methods for up to half of patients.

SourceTrinity College Dublin·JournalAlzheimer s & Dementia Diagnosis Assessment & Disease Monitoring·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 14, 2025

Most comprehensive study on U.S. health care spending by county reveals wide variation

The most comprehensive study on US health care spending by county reveals drastic fluctuations in expenses from coast to coast. The analysis found that Nassau County in New York City's metropolitan area has the highest per capita health care expenditure at $13,332, while Clark County in Idaho has the lowest at $3,410.

SourceInstitute for Health Metrics and Evaluation·JournalJournal of the American Medical Association·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 14, 2025

A chemical approach to expand the developmental potentials of conventional human pluripotent stem cells

Scientists discovered a novel method to activate extraembryonic trophoblast potentials in conventional human pluripotent stem cells through transient treatment of epigenetic regulators. This approach holds promise for advancing understanding and treatment of diseases related to placental development.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience China Life Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 14, 2025

Terabytes of data in a millimeter crystal

The UChicago Pritzker Molecular Engineering team has developed a technique to store classical computer memory in crystal gaps where atoms should be, enabling terabytes of data storage in a small millimeter-sized cube. This innovation combines quantum techniques with solid-state physics to revolutionize classical non-quantum computers.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalNanophotonics·DateFeb 14, 2025

Outstanding Cal Poly public health faculty member and global health advocate among first Faculty Excellence Award honorees

Joni Roberts, a Cal Poly Assistant Professor, has been chosen as the first recipient of the Faculty Excellence Award for her exceptional dedication to public health education and global health advocacy. Her research addresses health disparities and promotes equity, while her teaching spans the public health curriculum.

Harnessing device architecture for enhanced terahertz harmonic generation

Researchers have developed novel strategies to enhance THz nonlinearities in graphene-based structures, increasing third harmonic generation up to 30 times. A multilayered design and metasurface substrates were used to amplify the THz field, leading to a two-order magnitude increase in efficiency.

Researchers develop a five-minute quality test for sustainable cement industry materials

Researchers developed a five-minute quality test for sustainable cement industry materials, reducing testing time from seven days to just five minutes. The test uses colorimetry and camera technology for real-time quality control of calcined clays, which can partially replace ordinary Portland cement.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalCement and Concrete Research·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 14, 2025

Breakthrough catalyst boosts green hydrogen production with enhanced OER efficiency and stability

A new catalyst, Ru3Zn0.85W0.15Ox (RZW), has been developed to improve the efficiency and stability of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in acidic media, enabling more efficient green hydrogen production. The catalyst harnesses the unique electron-withdrawing properties of tungsten and sacrificial behavior of zinc to enhance OER performance.

SourceAdvanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR), Tohoku University·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateFeb 14, 2025

A new switch for the cell therapies of the future

Researchers have developed a new gene switch that uses nitroglycerine to trigger the production of insulin and regulate blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. This switch is made exclusively of human constituents, eliminating the risk of false triggering or immune reactions.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·DateFeb 14, 2025

New study finds brake pad emissions can be more toxic than diesel exhaust

A new study by the University of Southampton has found that brake pad emissions can be more toxic than diesel exhaust, particularly due to high copper content. The research highlights the need for policy changes to mitigate the health effects of vehicle particulate matter, as electric vehicles are not emission-free.

SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalParticle and Fibre Toxicology·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 14, 2025

Want some salt with that?

Researchers found evidence of sodium carbonate, halite, and sodium sulfates on Ryugu, indicating liquid saline water once existed within its parent body. This discovery provides insights into the chemical history of Ryugu and sheds light on the loss of liquid water in the outer Solar System.

SourceKyoto University·JournalNature Astronomy·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 14, 2025

Flies play too, researchers find

In a groundbreaking study, researchers observed flies displaying play-like behaviors, such as swinging and sliding, in response to a rotating carousel. The findings provide valuable insights into the genetic and neuronal factors underlying playful behavior in insects.

SourceUniversität Leipzig·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 14, 2025

Hybrid entanglement carrying orbital angular momentum

The team led by Xiaolong Su prepares hybrid polarization-cat entangled state with OAM degree of freedom, demonstrating non-zero logarithmic negativities for various OAM states. This breakthrough enables increased information capacity in quantum communication and takes a crucial step towards hybrid quantum information processing.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience Bulletin·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 14, 2025

New horizons in breast cancer care: insights from China's CSCO BC guidelines

The 2024 Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology Breast Cancer (CSCO BC) guidelines offer a comprehensive approach to managing breast cancer, informed by high-quality clinical studies and real-world data from China. The updated guidelines prioritize precision medicine, recommending tailored treatment approaches for various subtypes of bre...

SourceChina Anti-Cancer Association·JournalCancer Biology & Medicine·DateFeb 14, 2025

Research reveals how Earth got its ice caps

A team of scientists found that Earth's current ice-covered state is not typical for the planet's history and was only achieved through a lucky coincidence. The researchers concluded that no single process could drive these cold climates, and that multiple processes working together were necessary.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalScience Advances·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 14, 2025

Under-sea mountains are key ‘hubs’ for sharks

Researchers found that seamounts support vast numbers of predators, including sharks and tuna, with shark biomass being 41 times higher at shallow seamounts. The study suggests that seamounts serve as 'hubs' for predators to gather, socialize, mate, or rest, and concentrate food in predictable spots.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalPLOS Biology·DateFeb 14, 2025

Chiral Exceptional point enhanced tuning and non-reciprocity in silicon microring

Researchers explore the contribution of exceptional points to electro-optic tunability, modulation, and nonreciprocal responses in silicon microring. A novel EP system enables precise phase-sensitive control of coupling between clockwise and counterclockwise modes, leading to enhanced amplitude modulation.

Mouse study finds impaired cell development: Intermittent fasting could be unsafe for teenagers

A recent study reveals that intermittent fasting can impair beta-cell function and maturation in young mice, potentially leading to diabetes. Researchers found that adolescent mice showed a decline in insulin production after prolonged fasting, with defective beta cells resembling those of type 1 diabetes patients.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalCell Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 14, 2025