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Science News for January 30, 2025


Fans ineffective in heat waves

A recent study found that electric fans provide little cooling relief for older adults indoors during extreme heat due to their limited sweat production. Dr. Fergus O'Connor from Griffith University suggests using air conditioning at a higher temperature in conjunction with a fan to provide effective cooling and reduce operating costs.

SourceGriffith University·JournalJAMA·TypeObservational study·DateJan 30, 2025

Aging reactors need a concrete solution

Researchers from the University of Tokyo have verified the impact of neutron radiation on concrete expansion, finding a 'flux effect' that reduces degradation. This discovery may allow nuclear power plants to operate more safely over longer periods.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalJournal of Nuclear Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 30, 2025

Cutting back on alcohol may be more effective than immediately abstaining for preventing misuse among college students

A Texas A&M University researcher found that reducing alcohol consumption aligns with a harm reduction approach, which may be a more feasible approach for high-risk college drinkers. The study surveyed 822 high-risk college students and analyzed their intention to reduce drinking using the Theory of Planned Behavior.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalAmerican Journal of Health Education·DateJan 30, 2025

COVID-19 pandemic drove significant rise in patients choosing to leave ERs before medically recommended

A recent study found that patients who left emergency departments before being medically advised had higher rates of readmission, mortality, and increased costs. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a 53.6% increase in such cases, primarily due to concerns about infection, long wait times, and dissatisfaction with care.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalThe American Journal of Emergency Medicine·DateJan 30, 2025

The pressure to explore

Caltech researchers have developed a platform to characterize ultrathin membranes that could be used in lightsails for interstellar space travel. The team's experiments mark the first step towards achieving this audacious goal, which aims to reach ultrafast speeds and explore distant star systems.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalNature Photonics·DateJan 30, 2025

Harnessing generative AI to treat undruggable diseases

A team of researchers at Duke University has developed a novel AI-based platform that can design and match small peptides with complex proteins, previously considered unreachable. The PepPrCLIP platform utilizes generative large language models to create peptide guide proteins and an algorithm framework to screen and test the peptides.

SourceDuke University·JournalScience Advances·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 30, 2025

New evidence suggests the temporomandibular joint is a neurogenic joint: Sympathetic-sensory interaction promotes pain in temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis via bone sensing mechanisms

The temporomandibular joint is a neurogenic joint susceptible to peripheral nerve regulation, as confirmed by previous studies. A new study reveals the pivotal role of sympathetic nerves in modulating TMJ osteoarthritis pain and highlights a previously unexplored interaction between the sympathetic and sensory nervous system.

SourceMaximum Academic Press·JournalInternational Journal of Oral Science·DateJan 30, 2025

PROTAC technology for prostate cancer treatment

The latest therapeutic strategies for castration-resistant prostate cancer focus on innovative proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology, which degrades target proteins and holds potential as effective treatments. PROTAC technology is a novel means to combat resistance mechanisms in PRPC.

SourceCompuscript Ltd·JournalActa Materia Medica·DateJan 30, 2025

Aspects of marriage counseling may hold the key to depolarizing, unifying the country, study finds

A recent study found that 'reciprocal group reflection' - an intervention inspired by marriage counseling - helped reduce affective polarization among opposing political parties. Participants showed reduced signs of division and increased willingness to support depolarization efforts, even after six months.

SourceUniversity of Notre Dame·JournalPolitical Behavior·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJan 30, 2025

Caregiving hours increase menopause burden, researchers find

A recent study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings found that women who care for others for more than 15 hours a week are more likely to experience moderate or severe menopause symptoms. The study highlights the need for greater advocacy and support systems for midlife women in caregiving roles.

SourceElsevier·JournalMayo Clinic Proceedings·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 30, 2025

Digital Science announces external Advisory Board

The Digital Science Advisory Board will provide strategic guidance to the company, ensuring responsible and reliable innovations for the communities that invest trust. The board comprises six global experts from various fields, including research funding, academic management, and technology development.

Moffitt study shows AI boosts efficacy of cancer treatment, but doctors remain key

A recent study led by H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center researchers found that artificial intelligence can help doctors make better decisions when treating cancer. The study showed that collaboration between AI and human judgment improves radiotherapy outcomes for patients with non-small cell lung cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma.

SourceH. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute·JournalNature·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 30, 2025

Why maggots love the texture of decaying fruit

A study on fruit fly larvae revealed the presence of neurons with mechanoreceptors in their peripheral taste organs, allowing them to sense food texture. This discovery sheds light on the complex process of tasting texture and highlights the importance of multisensory contributions in food perception.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 30, 2025

Magnetic whirl simulation in real time

A team of researchers from Mainz University successfully simulated skyrmion dynamics on real-time experimental scales using a novel collaborative approach. By combining theoretical and experimental methods, the researchers were able to accelerate the development of skyrmion-based applications for energy-saving computer architectures.

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJan 30, 2025

Being social may delay dementia onset by five years

A study published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association found that frequent social activity may help prevent or delay dementia in old age, with socially active individuals showing reduced rates of cognitive decline over a five-year period. Social activity strengthens neural circuits and activates areas o...

SourceRush University Medical Center·JournalAlzheimer s & Dementia·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 30, 2025

Are dogs really bred for function? New Chapman study challenges the assumptions about certain breeds

A new study by Nicholas Hebdon and Lindsay Waldrop found substantial overlap in skull shapes across dog breeds and functional categories, challenging the prevailing belief that certain breeds are inherently superior at specific tasks. The researchers discovered no clear evidence of morphological specialization for bite work or scent work.

SourceChapman University·JournalScience Advances·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJan 30, 2025

Study confirms link between mental health and psychological resilience in older women post-hip fracture

Researchers found that addressing overall mental health can contribute to maximizing recovery potential among older women recovering from hip fractures. Lower scores on the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) were associated with higher psychological resilience.

SourceHebrew SeniorLife Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research·JournalThe Journals of Gerontology Series A·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJan 30, 2025

A hearing aid for … your nose?

A new study by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory researchers explains how the brain updates associations between smells and sounds based on context. The findings suggest that a feedback loop between the olfactory cortex and olfactory bulb enables fast adaptation, allowing animals to fine-tune their motor responses accordingly.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 30, 2025

Borrowing nature’s blueprint: How scientists replicated bone marrow

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science have developed a platform that emulates human marrow's native environment. The device, called a bone marrow-on-a-chip, generates functional human blood cells and models the immune system's response to infections, paving the way for advanced drug dev...

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalCell Stem Cell·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 30, 2025

New technology tracks dairy cows for improved health and productivity

Researchers at Tokyo University of Science develop a location-based method to track dairy cows in entire barns using multi-camera systems, improving accuracy and detecting health issues. The system achieves around 90% accuracy in tracking cows and 80% Identification F1 score for individual cow identification.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalComputers and Electronics in Agriculture·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 30, 2025

Antibiotics of the future are prone to bacterial resistance

Recent studies have found that new antibiotics are prone to rapid development of resistance, even before they are widely used. This raises concerns about the effectiveness of these treatments in the long run. To address this issue, researchers call for a shift in antibiotic development prioritizing novel modes of action and responsible...

SourceHUN-REN Szegedi Biológiai Kutatóközpont·JournalNature Microbiology·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 30, 2025

Australian researchers enhance next-generation gene-editing technologies for cancer and medical research

Researchers at La Trobe University's Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute have developed a novel pre-clinical model expressing an enhanced version of the Cas12a enzyme, which can delete multiple genes simultaneously with high efficiency. This breakthrough enables complex genetic disorders to be modeled and interrogated.

SourceLa Trobe University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 30, 2025

Girish N. Nadkarni, MD, MPH, CPH, named to leadership roles in AI and Digital Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Dr. Girish N. Nadkarni, a pioneering physician-scientist, has been named Chair of the Windreich Department of Artificial Intelligence and Human Health and Director of the Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Health at Mount Sinai. He will lead efforts to advance AI research, education, and clinical translation.

Future of UK peatlands under threat due to climate change

The UK's peatlands are critical ecosystems for carbon storage and biodiversity, but climate change threatens their viability. Western Scotland emerges as a priority area for conservation, while England's peatlands, including Dartmoor and the Peak District, may lose their suitability.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalJournal of Applied Ecology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 30, 2025

Delays in cancer diagnosis for pregnant women

A study from the University of Surrey reveals that delays in cancer diagnosis for pregnant women are often due to misattributed symptoms as normal pregnancy changes. Women experiencing more specific symptoms, such as breast lumps, are more likely to receive quicker diagnoses and referrals.

SourceUniversity of Surrey·JournalBritish Journal of General Practice·DateJan 30, 2025

Better digital memories with the help of noble gases

Researchers at Linköping University have developed a new technology that adds xenon to digital memories, allowing for even material coating in small cavities. This breakthrough enables more information storage in the same physical size, with 4 terabytes possible in a memory card once holding only 64 megabytes.

SourceLinköping University·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 30, 2025