Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for January 23, 2025


Exposure to secondhand cannabis smoke among children

A cross-sectional study found that children exposed to secondhand cannabis smoke at home have significantly higher urinary cannabinoid biomarker levels, indicating increased exposure to toxic and carcinogenic chemicals. Reducing in-home cannabis smoking can substantially reduce child exposure to these harmful substances.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateJan 23, 2025

HKU physicists pioneer entanglement microscopy algorithm to explore how matter entangles in quantum many-body systems

Researchers develop 'entanglement microscopy' to map quantum entanglement in small regions of quantum systems, revealing intricate interactions and structures. The study reveals short-range entanglement at critical points and more gradual decline in entanglement with increasing separation.

SourceThe University of Hong Kong·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 23, 2025

Viruses and the human cell: The evolutionary arms race

Scientists at Technion-Israel Institute of Technology have identified a genetic mechanism that enables cells to rapidly and efficiently defend against viruses. The discovery focuses on the interaction between NORAD and STAT3 molecules, which prevents immune responses in healthy cells but releases brakes in response to viral attacks.

SourceTechnion-Israel Institute of Technology·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 23, 2025

Study reveals unique features of early onset colorectal cancer in racial and ethnic minorities

Researchers identified distinct molecular features of early onset colorectal cancer in racial and ethnic minorities, including widespread changes in DNA methylation and metabolic gene expression. These findings suggest that environmental risk factors such as diet and stress may contribute to the disparities in incidence and mortality a...

SourceBaylor College of Medicine·JournalClinical Epigenetics·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 23, 2025

Scientists develop new AI method to forecast cyclone rapid intensification

A new contrastive learning model has been developed to forecast cyclone rapid intensification (RI) with high accuracy, reducing false alarms by a factor of three compared to existing techniques. The model achieved an impressive 92.3% accuracy when tested on data from the Northwest Pacific between 2020 and 2021.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 23, 2025

Adverse childhood experiences influence potentially dangerous firearm-related behavior in adulthood

Researchers at Rutgers University found that adverse childhood experiences increase threat sensitivity, depression, and defensive gun use in adulthood. This relationship is partly driven by threat sensitivity, suggesting that people with a history of abuse and neglect may be more likely to overreact in neutral situations.

SourceRutgers University·JournalJournal of Psychiatric Research·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 23, 2025

Child mortality has risen since pandemic, new study shows

A new study from the University of Bristol reveals that child mortality in England has increased since the pandemic lifted, with a temporary decrease in deaths during lockdowns. The research found that children from non-white backgrounds faced higher rates of death compared to white children, highlighting existing healthcare inequalities.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalPLOS Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 23, 2025

$17.9M NIH grant to research neurodevelopment disorders

The research aims to understand how high-risk genes disrupt neurodevelopment and lead to neuropsychiatric conditions, potentially informing diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. A national team of researchers will examine the effects of these genes on brain development, connectivity, and behavior in a mouse model.

New dual stem cell therapy developed to treat brain metastasis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Researchers have developed a novel stem cell treatment strategy for leptomeningeal brain metastasis, a severe form of metastatic brain cancer. The new therapy, which combines allogeneic dual stem cells with oncolytic herpes simplex virus and single chain variable fragment of anti-PD-1, shows promise in preclinical models.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 23, 2025

RSClin® Tool N+ gives more accurate estimates of recurrence risk and individual chemotherapy benefit in node-positive breast cancer

The RSClin Tool N+ provides more accurate estimates of recurrence risk and individual chemotherapy benefit in node-positive breast cancer. The tool combines clinical and pathologic factors with the 21-gene Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score to predict patient-level prognosis and treatment benefit.

SourceSWOG Cancer Research Network·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 23, 2025

Smartwatches to better understand psychiatric illnesses and their genetic basis

Researchers used smartwatch data to train AI models predicting psychiatric illnesses like ADHD and anxiety. The findings link digital phenotypes with genotypes, suggesting wearable sensors can provide a deeper understanding of psychiatric diseases. The approach may be widely applicable for neurological diseases or neurodegeneration.

SourceUniversity of Barcelona·JournalCell·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 23, 2025

Study tracks physical and cognitive impairments associated with long COVID

Researchers tracked nearly 1,000 people with post-COVID-19 syndrome, finding persistent physical and cognitive impairments that worsened with exercise intolerance. The study's findings support the inclusion of cognitive and exercise testing in clinical evaluation for patients with suspected post-COVID-19 syndrome.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateJan 23, 2025

Thousands of European citizen scientists helped identify shifts in the floral traits of insect-pollinated plants

A pan-European study reveals a significant imbalance in the proportions of long-styled and short-styled flowers among insect-pollinated plants. The shift towards more short-styled flowers is associated with increased summer precipitation and intensive land use, which may contribute to species extinction.

SourceEstonian Research Council·JournalJournal of Ecology·TypeObservational study·DateJan 23, 2025

U of M Medical School study highlights financial burden of medical equipment on cancer survivors

A University of Minnesota Medical School study reveals that medical equipment is the leading cause of out-of-pocket costs for cancer patients, with wheelchairs and hearing aids among the most expensive items. The research emphasizes the need to address accessibility and affordability issues to improve cancer survivor care.

SourceUniversity of Minnesota Medical School·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 23, 2025

Secret of effective learning: Retrieving information in different ways

Researchers suggest that learning different facets of information in each session and retrieving information from memory in various ways can lead to better memory retention. This method involves creating multiple paths to memorized information, which can be used to retrieve the information more effectively.

SourceSWPS University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 23, 2025

Team publishes review of synthetic design strategies for developing high-performance photocatalysts

A research team published a review on synthetic design strategies for developing high-performance photocatalysts. They focus on improving photocatalytic performance for clean energy applications, such as carbon dioxide reduction and plastic waste photoreforming. The review highlights advanced strategies to enhance light absorption and ...

SourceTsinghua University Press·JournalCarbon Future·DateJan 23, 2025

In a landmark study, an NYBG scientist and colleagues find that reforestation stands out among plant-based climate-mitigation strategies as most beneficial for wildlife biodiversity

A new study published in Science found that reforestation has the most beneficial effect on wildlife biodiversity compared to other plant-based climate-mitigation strategies. The research, led by NYBG Assistant Curator Evelyn Beaury, suggests that well-intentioned strategies could have unforeseen impacts on biodiversity.

SourceThe New York Botanical Garden·JournalScience·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 23, 2025

Bacteria found to eat forever chemicals — and even some of their toxic byproducts

A University at Buffalo-led team has identified a strain of bacteria that can break down and transform at least three types of PFAS, as well as some of the toxic byproducts of the bond-breaking process. The bacteria, Labrys portucalensis F11, metabolized over 90% of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) after a 100-day exposure period.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalScience of The Total Environment·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 23, 2025

Mane attraction: Molecular ‘switch’ may control long scalp hair

A team of researchers from Penn State and the University of California, Irvine, have proposed a novel theory on the molecular basis underlying human scalp hair growth. They suggest that long scalp hair initially evolved to protect early human ancestors in equatorial Africa from intense heat and solar radiation.

SourcePenn State·JournalBritish Journal of Dermatology·DateJan 23, 2025

Empowering numerical weather predictions with drones as meteorological tools

Researchers evaluate drones' potential for long-term daily collection of meteorological data, showing promising results and cost-effectiveness. The study demonstrates that drones can provide accurate measurements comparable to traditional methods, improving the accuracy of numerical weather predictions and disaster prevention.

SourceResearch Organization of Information and Systems·JournalJournal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 23, 2025

Scale-up fabrication of perovskite quantum dots

Researchers have developed a scalable fabrication method for perovskite quantum dots, allowing for mass production of these tiny semiconductor nano materials. The spray-drying fabrication technique produces 2000 kg of PQDs per year, exhibiting excellent stability and efficiency in display applications.

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalEngineering·DateJan 23, 2025

Breaking the traditional interface design: Facet-boosted interface engineering enhances efficient proton transfer and long-term stability of proton ceramic electrolyte cells with composite steam electrodes

A novel composite steam electrode enhances efficient proton transfer and long-term stability in PCECs, demonstrating improved durability under high-humidity conditions. The facet-boosted interface engineering boosts proton conductivity by an entire order of magnitude compared to nanosized BZY.

SourceTsinghua University Press·JournalJournal of Advanced Ceramics·DateJan 23, 2025

Boosting this molecule could help retain muscle while losing fat

A new study from the Salk Institute has discovered that a protein called BCL6 plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy muscle mass. Increasing BCL6 levels successfully reversed muscle losses in mice, suggesting that pairing GLP-1 medications with a BCL6-boosting drug could help counteract unwanted muscle loss.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 23, 2025

Using alternative protein sources: Improving the mouthfeel of plant-based foods with fava beans

Researchers at the Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology found that fava bean protein nanofibrils alter the activity of receptor genes and interact with cell membranes, influencing texture perception. The study aims to develop sensorially appealing plant-based foods with improved texture.

China's temperature extremes: a 60-year climate chronicle

A recent study reveals China's spatio-temporal patterns of temperature extremes over six decades, highlighting alarming warming trends and the impact of global atmospheric drivers. The research analyzed 14 extreme temperature indices across 2138 weather stations, finding significant changes in cold and warm extremes.

SourceIGSNRR CAS·JournalJournal of Geographical Sciences·DateJan 23, 2025

Scientists predict what will be top of the crops in UK by 2080 due to climate change

Climate change may lead to increased production of legumes such as chickpeas and soybeans, while oranges and okra become more widely grown. This could support shifts towards a more balanced diet and lower carbon footprint, but also poses economic and environmental risks.

SourceUK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology·JournalClimate Resilience and Sustainability·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 23, 2025

Simon Stellmer receives ERC Proof of Concept Grant

Professor Simon Stellmer from the University of Bonn is awarded a €150,000 ERC Proof of Concept Grant to improve measurement accuracy and monitor ground motion with high-precision rotation sensors. The technology aims to enhance natural disaster early warning systems and commercialize innovative gyroscope technology.

Chinese Academy of Sciences explores the application of intelligent imaging technology

Researchers found AI-based imaging technology improves disease diagnosis accuracy, particularly in cardiology, oncology, neurology, and ophthalmology. The technology also enhances diagnostic efficiency and reduces healthcare disparities by delivering high-quality diagnostics to underserved areas.

SourceChinese Medical Journals Publishing House Co., Ltd.·JournalChinese Medical Journal·TypeLiterature review·DateJan 23, 2025

Detecting edges at the speed of light

Physicists have devised a new optical analog computing method to detect edges in images, working at the speed of light and consuming almost no energy. The technique can identify edges even in small objects, with potential applications in high-resolution microscopy and biological samples.

SourceUniversiteit van Amsterdam·JournalACS Photonics·DateJan 23, 2025

Global top ten engineering achievements 2024

This year's Global Top Ten Engineering Achievements include advancements in CAR-T cell therapy, Chang'e 6 lunar mission, Starlink satellite constellation, flexible displays, and high-temperature gas-cooled reactor nuclear power station. These achievements demonstrate significant impacts on treating cancer, exploring the Moon, providing...

SourceHigher Education Press·JournalEngineering·DateJan 23, 2025

New insights into bonding nature of antimony – implications for materials research

The study combines experimental measurements with theoretical calculations to analyze the nature and strength of chemical bonding in antimony. The findings demonstrate a smooth transition between classical covalent bonding and electron-rich multi-centre bonding, with important implications for phase change materials.

SourceUniversität Leipzig·JournalAdvanced Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 23, 2025

Researchers track sharp increase in diagnoses for sedative, hypnotic and anxiety use disorder in young adults

Researchers tracked a sharp threefold to fivefold increase in diagnosed disorders from recurrent use of sedative, hypnotic and antianxiety medications among adolescents and young adults between 2001 and 2019. The study highlights the need for cautious prescribing and efforts to target nonmedical use of these drugs.

SourceRutgers University·JournalAddiction·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 23, 2025

More acidic oceans may affect the sex of oysters

A study found that ocean acidification can shift the sex ratio of oysters towards females, a mechanism known as environmental sex determination. This phenomenon was observed across multiple generations in both hatcheries and natural habitats, highlighting the potential impact of climate change on marine ecosystems.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateJan 23, 2025

Likely 50-fold rise in prevalence of gender related distress from 2011-21 in England

A study analyzing primary care data in England found a significant rise in the prevalence of gender dysphoria between 2011 and 2021. The condition affects fewer than 1 in 200 17-18 year olds, with high levels of anxiety, depression, and self-harm recorded. Access to timely care is a pressing concern for young people and their families.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalArchives of Disease in Childhood·TypeObservational study·DateJan 23, 2025

From root to shoot: How silicon powers plant resilience

Researchers at Okayama University have identified the Shoot-Silicon-Signal protein as a crucial regulator of silicon uptake and accumulation in rice and other grasses. The study highlights the importance of silicon in enhancing plant resilience and productivity, particularly under climate change conditions.

SourceOkayama University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 23, 2025

Patients with AMA/anti-sp100/anti-gp210 positivity and cholestasis can manifest conditions beyond primary biliary cholangitis

A study found that patients with AMA/anti-sp100/anti-gp210 positivity and elevated liver enzymes can manifest conditions beyond primary biliary cholangitis. Etiological treatments improved or resolved cholestatic biochemistry in these patients, justifying their initiation over ursodeoxycholic acid therapy.

SourceXia & He Publishing Inc.·JournalJournal of Clinical and Translational Hepatology·DateJan 23, 2025

London taxi drivers have specialized human mental strategies for expertly navigating their city’s streets, scientists find

Researchers analyzed London taxi drivers' route-planning behavior and found they prioritize high-complexity parts of the city space during offline thinking time. This contradicts previous hypotheses about their decision-making process.

SourceChampalimaud Centre for the Unknown·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateJan 23, 2025

New study highlights role of lean red meat in gut and heart health as part of a balanced healthy diet

A recent study from Purdue University reveals that adopting a consistent dietary pattern featuring lean red meat can contribute to gut microbiota balance and support cardiovascular health. The study found that maintaining a balanced diet with lean red meat is more effective in sustaining long-term health benefits.

SourceNational Pork Board·JournalNutrients·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJan 23, 2025

Offline versus online promotional media: Which drives better consumer engagement and behavioral responses?

A field experiment found that offline promotional coupons resulted in higher redemption rates and greater sales compared to online-only coupons. Cognitive engagement was a key factor in the coupon redemption behavior of consumers. The study highlights the importance of designing targeted promotional strategies for marketers.

SourceSophia University·JournalJournal of Advertising Research·TypeSurvey·DateJan 23, 2025

Methods enhance tornado damage surveys, reducing uncertainties in records

Researchers have introduced cutting-edge approaches to improve tornado record-keeping, including social media trawling, spaceborne photography, and UAV-based surveys. These methods aim to reduce uncertainties in tornado counts and refine intensity estimations, making global damage surveys more accurate, comprehensive, and timely.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateJan 23, 2025

Diamonds are forever—But not in nanodevices

A team at JILA created a tabletop microscope that uses high-energy DUV laser light to create nanoscale interference patterns on a material's surface, allowing for detailed studies of electronic, thermal, and mechanical properties. This capability enables the study of materials like diamond with unprecedented spatial resolution.

SourceJILA·DateJan 23, 2025

Major uncertainties remain about impact of treatment for gender related distress

Two pooled data analyses suggest that puberty blockers and gender-affirming hormone therapy have no conclusive evidence on their effectiveness or impact on mental and physical health. The findings echo the Hilary Cass review, concluding that the evidence is wholly inadequate to gauge the effectiveness of these treatments.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalArchives of Disease in Childhood·TypeSystematic review·DateJan 23, 2025