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Science News for June 27, 2025


Insurance churn and the COVID-19 pandemic

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act led to a significant decrease in Medicaid health insurance loss. The study found that the Act reduced the risk of losing health insurance for individuals enrolled in the Medicaid program.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Health Forum·DateJun 27, 2025

How urea forms spontaneously

A team led by Ruth Signorell at ETH Zurich has found a previously unknown reaction pathway for urea formation on water surfaces under ambient conditions. This spontaneous reaction could have occurred on prebiotic Earth and provides insights into the origin of life.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalScience·DateJun 27, 2025

Timepoint at which developing B-cells become cancerous impacts leukemia treatment

The study found that the stage of normal cell development at which B cells transform into leukemic cells impacts treatment outcomes for pediatric patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Researchers identified a 'multipotency score' to predict clinical outcomes, providing valuable insights into drug resistance and str...

SourceSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital·JournalNature Cancer·DateJun 27, 2025

Theoretical prediction of conditions for “sleep learning”

Researchers used computational simulations to investigate changes in synaptic connections during sleep-wake states. They found that synaptic connections are strengthened when specific levels of neural activity accompanied typical synaptic learning rules, enabling theoretical predictions of sleep learning conditions.

SourceJapan Science and Technology Agency·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 27, 2025

How mitochondrial energy metabolism is controlled

A collaborative study from the University of Cologne has discovered the key role of mitochondrial protein AIFM1 in regulating cellular energy metabolism. The research found that AIFM1 interacts with AK2A to maintain energy homeostasis, and visualized its complex structure using cryo-electron microscopy.

SourceUniversity of Cologne·JournalMolecular Cell·TypeObservational study·DateJun 27, 2025

Roberto Morandotti wins prestigious IEEE Photonics Society Quantum Electronics Award

Professor Roberto Morandotti has won the 2025 IEEE Photonics Society Quantum Electronics Award for his groundbreaking research on entanglement generation and processing of complex quantum states in photonic devices and systems. His work at INRS's Ultrahigh Speed Light Manipulation Laboratory has led to numerous patents and collaboratio...

Old termite mounds help support high insect biodiversity in tropical rainforests

A new study reveals that abandoned termite mounds serve as microhabitats for a wide range of insects and other invertebrates in Bornean tropical rainforest. The team found five to nine times higher abundance of insects in unoccupied mounds compared to surrounding soil, with ants being the most commonly found insect group.

SourceQueen Mary University of London·JournalSoil Ecology Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 27, 2025

Precursors to bone marrow cancer can stop themselves

Some precursor plasma cells in patients with MGUS and SMM enter cellular senescence, a dormant state that prevents cancer progression. In contrast, patients who develop bone marrow cancer lack this protective mechanism. The discovery offers hope for early intervention and potential treatments that promote or inhibit senescence.

SourceAarhus University·JournalLeukemia·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 27, 2025

Early intervention changes trajectory for depressed preschoolers

A 4-year-old intervention program has been shown to effectively treat depression in young children, with a majority of participants achieving remission. The treatment, called PCIT-ED, helps parents interact with their children differently in the emotional domain, leading to improved mental health outcomes.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalJournal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·TypeObservational study·DateJun 27, 2025

From ochre to innovation

A new study reveals that early modern humans at Blombos Cave in South Africa used ochre as a multi-use tool for stone toolmaking, showcasing advanced technical skills. The discovery challenges traditional interpretations of ochre and highlights its integral role within technological systems.

SourceThe University of Bergen·JournalScience·DateJun 27, 2025

Removing out-of-pocket fee improves access to 3D mammography

Eliminating the fee increased overall usage by 7.8 percentage points, particularly benefiting underserved populations, including non-English speakers and those from socioeconomically disadvantaged areas. Despite gains, some disparities persisted, highlighting the need for additional strategies to ensure equitable access.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalJournal of the American College of Radiology·TypeObservational study·DateJun 27, 2025

HonorHealth Research Institute presents ‘monumental’ increase in survivability for patients suffering ultra-low blood pressure

Researchers at HonorHealth Institute used non-surgical techniques to treat damaged heart valves, increasing survival rates for patients suffering from structural shock. The study found that 86% of patients survived at least 3 months and 73% survived at least 6 months.

SourceHonorHealth Research Institute·JournalJournal of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJun 27, 2025

Insilico ranked Top50 in USA in Nature Index’s “2025 Research Leaders: Global corporate institutions for all-subject output”

Insilico Medicine secured a position among the Top 100 global corporate institutions for biological sciences and natural sciences publications. The company's remarkable rise was driven by two studies published in Nature Biotechnology, highlighting the transformative potential of AI in providing solutions for unmet medical needs.

Precision oncology Organ Chip platform accurately and actionably predicts chemotherapy responses of patients suffering from esophageal adenocarcinoma

Researchers developed patient-specific Cancer Chips to model esophageal tumor microenvironments, enabling accurate prediction of chemotherapy responses. The approach can rapidly stratify patients into responders and non-responders, paving the way for personalized medicine.

SourceWyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard·JournalJournal of Translational Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 27, 2025

KIST develops high-performance memory devices that dissolve in water, addressing the E-waste problem

Researchers developed a biodegradable polymer material for high-performance data storage that degrades within three days when immersed in water. The device showed excellent signal discrimination and durability, with applications in implantable medical devices, eco-friendly data storage, and reducing e-waste.

SourceNational Research Council of Science & Technology·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJun 27, 2025

How the early heart develops

A team of scientists has found that the ion channel PIEZO2 is crucial for coronary vessel formation and heart development. Without PIEZO2, coronary arteries may develop improperly, leading to oxygen supply issues in the heart muscle. This discovery could lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects.

SourceMax Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association·JournalNature Cardiovascular Research·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 27, 2025

Malnutrition in children rises when economy drops

A study analyzing data from over 1.6 million children across 68 low and middle-income countries found that early-life exposure to economic shocks is linked to an increased risk of malnutrition, including undernutrition and overweight/obesity. Targeted interventions during critical periods like pregnancy and the first 1,000 days of life...

SourceBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)·JournalThe Lancet Global Health·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 27, 2025

AI detects fatty liver disease with chest X-rays

A research team at Osaka Metropolitan University has developed an AI model that can detect fatty liver disease from chest X-ray images with an accuracy rate of 0.82-0.83. This breakthrough has the potential to improve early detection and treatment of the disease, which affects one in four people worldwide.

SourceOsaka Metropolitan University·JournalRadiology Cardiothoracic Imaging·TypeImaging analysis·DateJun 27, 2025

How a faulty transport protein in the brain can trigger severe epilepsy

Scientists have comprehensively studied the function and structure of SLC13A5 membrane transporter, revealing molecular mechanisms linked to severe epilepsy. The study analyzed nearly ten thousand genetic mutations and identified disease-causing variants, shedding new light on the mechanisms of this disease.

SourceCeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 27, 2025

New study reveals episodic and gradual patterns in plant diploidization process

A recent study has revealed that the diploidization process in plants can be both episodic and gradual, depending on the type of mutation. The researchers used population genomics to uncover a nuanced picture of this process, including gene fractionation, transposable element accumulation, and homoeologous expression bias.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 27, 2025

New model enables the study of how protein complex influences mitochondrial function

A study by the Center for Redox Processes in Biomedicine presents a valuable new experimental model for investigating the interaction between the proteasome and mitochondrial function. The proteasome plays a role in protein quality control, while mitochondrial metabolism affects protein degradation efficiency.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalArchives of Biochemistry and Biophysics·DateJun 27, 2025

Device study offers hopes for spinal cord injuries

A device study has shown promise in treating spinal cord injuries by harnessing naturally occurring electric fields to stimulate healing. In an animal study, rats who received daily electric field treatment showed improved movement and sensation compared to those without treatment, indicating the potential for effective recovery.

SourceUniversity of Auckland·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 27, 2025