Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for January 28, 2025


Grating the cheese of networks: New tool finds critical points in everything from cybersecurity to ecological conservation

Researchers introduce 'fitness centrality,' a faster method to identify crucial elements in any network, with practical applications in supply chains, ecological conservation, and cybersecurity. The approach streamlines analysis, making it practical for vast networks.

SourceComplexity Science Hub·JournalJournal of Physics Complexity·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 28, 2025

Researchers illuminate new structures of a critical amyloid protein

The study reveals that the transthyretin protein forms asymmetric structures with two differently shaped binding pockets, which may contribute to its instability. The researchers' novel graphene grid method allows them to capture the protein's natural conformations, providing new insights into its structure and potential for targeted t...

SourceScripps Research Institute·JournalNature Structural & Molecular Biology·DateJan 28, 2025

Moderate exercise keeps appetite at bay

A recent study by Murdoch University reveals that moderate-intensity exercise significantly influences appetite-related hormones and perceptions in males with obesity. The study confirms the benefits of incorporating regular exercise into daily routines for weight management and overall health improvement.

SourceMurdoch University·JournalPhysiological Reports·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJan 28, 2025

Calorie labels on menus could make eating disorders worse

A new study from King's College London suggests that calorie labels on menus can trigger eating disorder thoughts and behaviors in individuals with a lived experience of the condition. The review of existing research found that people with eating disorders feel stigmatized when nutritional labels are made mandatory, leading to increase...

SourceKing's College London·JournalBMJ Public Health·TypeLiterature review·DateJan 28, 2025

Sharp look into Ockham’s razor

A new paper challenges the long-held principle of parsimony in modeling, suggesting that complex models can be more flexible and accurate. Researchers argue that relying too much on parsimony can lead to misapplied assumptions and biased results, highlighting the need for a tool to guide model building.

SourceSanta Fe Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 28, 2025

Cancer drugs linked to severe chronic peripheral nerve pain for 4 in every 10 patients

A pooled data analysis found that cancer chemotherapy is linked to persistent severe peripheral nerve pain for around 4 in every 10 patients, with platinum-based drugs and taxanes associated with the highest rates of painful neuropathy. The study analyzed data from 77 eligible studies involving 10,962 participants from 28 countries.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalRegional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateJan 28, 2025

Can you really have it all? New study reveals how to succeed at work without sacrificing your free time

A new INFORMS study finds that employees who integrate professional development into their free time report feeling more confident, motivated and capable at work. However, this approach may not be suitable for everyone, particularly those who prefer a clear separation between work and personal life.

SourceInstitute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences·JournalOrganization Science·TypeObservational study·DateJan 28, 2025

Journals publish Montana State ecologist’s studies on the effects of prey depletion on populations of large African carnivores

The studies, published in various journals, found that prey depletion has a significant impact on population dynamics of large African carnivores. In protected areas, lion populations have shown growth due to increased prey availability, while African wild dogs face challenges with low prey density and high competition from lions.

SourceMontana State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateJan 28, 2025

Microbial therapy offers new hope for vitiligo patients

A natural compound derived from gut-friendly bacteria significantly slows vitiligo progression and may restore pigmentation in mice. The findings could offer hope to millions affected by the autoimmune disease, which causes visible patches of skin discoloration and carries profound emotional and physical consequences.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalJournal of Investigative Dermatology·DateJan 28, 2025

Moffitt Research advocates for routine brain MRI screening in asymptomatic late stage breast cancer patients

A new study published in Neuro-Oncology found that asymptomatic brain metastasis is more common in stage 4 breast cancer patients than previously thought. The study suggests that doctors may need to rethink current screening guidelines for detecting brain metastasis in patients without symptoms.

SourceH. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute·JournalNeuro-Oncology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 28, 2025

Keith C. Brown Endowed Scholarship

The University of Texas at Austin's McCombs School of Business has established the Keith C. Brown Endowed Scholarship to support high-potential students from low- and middle-income families. The scholarship is made possible by a generous donation from Danielle DiMartino Booth, MBA '96, and her husband John.

Leveraging artificial intelligence for vaccine development: A Ragon-MIT advancement in T cell epitope prediction

Researchers developed MUNIS, a deep learning tool that predicts CD8+ T cell epitopes with high accuracy, potentially accelerating vaccine development. The tool was validated using experimental data from influenza, HIV, and EBV, demonstrating its potential to streamline vaccine design.

SourceRagon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard·JournalNature Machine Intelligence·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 28, 2025

More primary care physicians are affiliated with hospitals, leading to increased patient costs

A study by Brown University researchers found that nearly half of primary care providers in the US are affiliated with hospitals or private equity firms, resulting in higher charges. These affiliations were linked to a 10.7% increase in negotiated prices for office visits compared to independent practices.

SourceBrown University·JournalJAMA Health Forum·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 28, 2025

First mouse with two male parents to reach adulthood

Researchers successfully created a bi-paternal mouse by modifying genes involved in reproduction. The mice that reached adulthood exhibited altered growth and shortened lifespan, but could potentially lead to new therapeutic strategies for imprinting-related diseases.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Stem Cell·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 28, 2025

Most Americans favor school vaccination requirements, but support is rising for opt-out options

A new survey finds that nearly three-quarters of US adults support requiring children to be vaccinated against preventable diseases, while over half support prohibiting unvaccinated children from attending school. However, support for this prohibition has dropped significantly since the Covid-19 pandemic, and there is growing support f...

Mapping Antarctica’s hidden ice-free lands: a blueprint for conservation

A high-resolution map and hierarchical classification system of Antarctica's ice-free lands reveal nine Major Environment Units, 33 Habitat Complexes, and 269 Bioregional Ecosystem Types. This unprecedented level of detail provides a critical foundation for protecting biodiversity in the continent's fragile ecosystems.

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalScientific Data·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 28, 2025

How simple prompts can make partially automated cars safer

A new study found that driving-related conversational prompts improve driver performance in taking control of the vehicle, but only when drivers are engaged. Conversely, non-driving related tasks like solving anagrams can significantly decrease performance and render prompts ineffective.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalHuman Factors The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 28, 2025

Innovative one-minute video game boasts 80% success rate in diagnosing autism

A new video game, CAMI, uses motion-tracking technology to detect differences in motor imitation skills, distinguishing children with autism from neurotypical children and ADHD patients with 80% accuracy. The tool has the potential to transform autism diagnoses worldwide by providing a quick, low-cost, and easy-to-use alternative.

SourceKennedy Krieger Institute·JournalThe British Journal of Psychiatry·DateJan 28, 2025

A mite-y use of electricity

Researchers found that the mites sense and rely on electric fields generated by hummingbird wings for survival. The study revealed that the mites are attracted to specific frequencies of static electricity and can recognize positive charges.

SourceUniversity of Connecticut·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 28, 2025

Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation awards $3.2 million to innovative early-career scientists

The foundation has awarded eight recipients of the 2025 Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovation Award, including five early-career researchers with initial grants of $400,000 over two years. The awardees aim to develop novel cancer therapies using innovative approaches such as engineered skin bacteria and small molecule-boosted drug delivery.

Damage caused to crops by barnacle geese can be mitigated with designated set-aside and repelling fields

Researchers from the University of Turku and Natural Resources Institute Finland found that combining accommodation and repelling fields can help mitigate crop damage and human-wildlife conflict. The study suggests using stakeholder knowledge and coordinated field design to prepare for goose damage and reduce costs.

SourceUniversity of Turku·JournalJournal of Applied Ecology·DateJan 28, 2025

The European Society For Paediatric Endocrinology and the European Society Of Endocrinology join together in 2025 to launch the first joint Congress – “Connecting Endocrinology Across The Life Course”

The European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and the European Society of Endocrinology will host the first-ever joint Congress on May 10-13, 2025. The event aims to bring together paediatric and adult endocrine specialists from across Europe and the world to collaborate and celebrate endocrinology.

Nourishing T cells to fight cancer

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have developed a new way to grow T cells that can live longer and better destroy cancer cells in mice. By adding a compound called dichloroacetate to growth media, they created T cells less reliant on glucose and more efficient at using other energy sources.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalCell Metabolism·DateJan 28, 2025

Study reveals gaps in healthcare quality assessments across Israel, the US, and the UK

A new study reveals striking similarities and critical gaps in how three major countries measure healthcare quality, with an emphasis on family medicine and process-focused metrics. The findings underscore the need for a more balanced approach that includes all aspects of medical care, from infrastructure to patient outcomes.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·TypeContent analysis·DateJan 28, 2025

Empathy for other peoples’ pain peaks in young adulthood

A new study found that empathy responses peak in young adulthood, with increased sensitivity to social pain. This development demonstrates that empathy strengthens as people age, but also accompanies reduced ratings of pain for others, highlighting the complexities of empathic responses.

SourceUniversity of Kent·JournalSocial Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 28, 2025

Towards a natural control of robotic limbs

Researchers at Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia and Imperial College London demonstrate the connection between hand movement patterns and motoneuron control patterns, enabling natural control of bionic limbs. The study reports successful testing of a soft prosthetic hand with individuals with physical impairments.

SourceIstituto Italiano di Tecnologia - IIT·JournalScience Robotics·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 28, 2025

Standardizing provider assessments reveals important information about gun and opioid access for veterans at risk of suicide

Researchers found that fewer veterans reported having access to firearms than expected, with only 5% included in discussions. The study also revealed that most veterans with opioid access did not accept overdose-reversing medication, highlighting the need for improved suicide safety planning.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateJan 28, 2025

A new triple combination of inhibitors based on precision medicine emerges as a potential new treatment for Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors

Researchers identified a potential new treatment for aggressive sarcoma arising in nerves, using a pre-clinical platform that combines inhibitors targeting specific mutations. The triple combination of MEKi-BETi-CDKi showed promising results in shrinking tumors and even eliminating some cases, offering hope for improved treatment options.

SourceGermans Trias i Pujol Research Institute·JournalClinical Cancer Research·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 28, 2025

Pancreas cells secrete neuroprotective factor

Researchers discovered that pancreatic β cells produce a neuroprotective agent called Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 (FGF23), which can stop amyloid-β-induced neuronal cell death. FGF23 may increase ribosomal proteins, helping to maintain homeostasis in neurons.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateJan 28, 2025

Ocean-surface warming four times faster now than late-1980s

A new study found that ocean temperatures have more than quadrupled since the late 1980s, rising from 0.06°C/decade to 0.27°C/decade. This accelerating warming is driven by the Earth's growing energy imbalance and is expected to lead to even more rapid temperature increases in the future.

SourceUniversity of Reading·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 28, 2025

The oral microbiome and dementia

A study found a link between oral microbiome and dementia risk, with certain bacteria associated with better executive function. A nitrate-rich diet may favor beneficial oral bacteria, potentially delaying cognitive decline.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateJan 28, 2025

Cell death and aging in cancer research review

A review of cell death and aging in cancer research reveals the significance of cellular senescence in promoting cancer growth. The study highlights the potential of various types of programmed cell death, such as necroptosis and pyroptosis, as therapeutic targets against senescent cells.

SourceOsaka Metropolitan University·JournalSeminars in Cancer Biology·TypeLiterature review·DateJan 28, 2025

Structural color shields: water repellent coatings

Researchers developed a novel coating material that captures the brilliance of structural colors using melanin particles, producing non-iridescent color even when viewed from different angles. The coatings displayed a contact angle of over 160 degrees, monochromatic hues, and a self-cleaning surface.

SourceChiba University·JournalMacromolecular Reaction Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 28, 2025

Paywalls shape newspaper coverage

Adopting paywalls leads to a strategic shift in newspaper coverage, with a 5.1% decrease in local news and modest declines in soft news, according to a study of US newspapers between 2006-2022. Smaller cities and urban areas experiencing demographic changes exhibit notable declines in local news and increases in popular content.

SourcePNAS Nexus·JournalPNAS Nexus·DateJan 28, 2025

Q&A: How rate of CO2 rise can affect a global ocean current

A recent University of Washington study found that a slower increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels has less impact on the Atlantic Ocean's circulation. The research, published in PNAS, suggests that this slowdown allows the ocean system more time to adapt to rising CO2 levels and mitigates its effects.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 28, 2025

University of Virginia study reveals air pollution inequities linked to industrial swine facilities are detectable from space

A University of Virginia study uses satellite data to show long-term air pollution inequalities tied to industrialized swine facilities in Eastern North Carolina. The research finds that these disparities extend multiple kilometers beyond the immediate vicinity of facilities, affecting communities of color disproportionately.

SourceUniversity of Virginia College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateJan 28, 2025

Could fecal microbiota transplantation help patients heal after stem cell transplantation?

A new phase 2 clinical trial demonstrates the safety of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in preventing acute graft-versus-host disease in patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplants. The study found that FMT helped restore microbial diversity and promote beneficial bacterial species, supporting a healthy immune system.

SourceFred Hutchinson Cancer Center·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateJan 28, 2025