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Science News for May 5, 2025


Properties of the drip‑line nucleus and mass relation of mirror nuclei

Heavy nuclei at the neutron drip line exhibit weak binding due to coupling between nucleus-bound states and continuum spectrum. Researchers find that isospin asymmetry saturation affects Coulomb energy and symmetry energy, while deformation energy resists augmented proton charge. They also discover a correlation between magic numbers a...

SourceNuclear Science and Techniques·JournalNuclear Science and Techniques·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 5, 2025

The West’s spring runoff is older than you think

Most spring runoff heading to reservoirs is actually several years old, indicating that most mountain snowfall has a years-long invisible journey as groundwater before it leaves the mountains. The findings indicate there is an order of magnitude more water stored underground than most Western water managers account for.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalCommunications Earth & Environment·TypeObservational study·DateMay 5, 2025

Halo patterns around coral reefs may signal resilience

New study models spatial patterns of grazing halos around coral reefs and finds that halo patterns can signal reef resilience. The research suggests that stable halos exist where herbivores are limited by predators, while oscillating halos may indicate a shift in system health.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalThe American Naturalist·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 5, 2025

Sampling, lab capacity could be weak links in African swine fever outbreak

The study models ASFV outbreaks in densely populated US swine states, highlighting the need for enhanced sampling strategies and laboratory capacity to prevent delays and contamination. The model suggests that a minimum of 136-367 sample collectors are needed in non-epidemic scenarios, increasing to 833-3115 in large outbreak scenarios.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalPreventive Veterinary Medicine·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 5, 2025

Children as young as five can navigate a 'tiny town'

A study at Emory University revealed that five-year-olds have the brain system that supports map-based navigation, challenging the assumption that this cognitive ability develops until age 12. Children can recognize landmarks and navigate through a virtual town with remarkable accuracy.

SourceEmory University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 5, 2025

EuroPCR 2025 – The place to share solutions

The EuroPCR 2025 conference will cover interventions for coronary and peripheral vessels, valvular disease, heart failure, hypertension, and stroke. Sessions on complex topics will be held throughout the four-day programme, with a focus on sharing solutions.

SourcePCR·DateMay 5, 2025

New study highlights mental health challenges among Ecuadorian healthcare providers during COVID-19

A recent study revealed critical insights into the mental health of healthcare providers in Ecuador during the COVID-19 pandemic. Key findings include high compassion satisfaction, moderate burnout, and moderate secondary traumatic stress, with significant differences based on gender, professional roles, and geographic regions.

SourceSociety for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc.·JournalDisaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness·TypeSurvey·DateMay 5, 2025

Depressive symptoms among U.S. adults

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a substantial increase in depressive symptoms among US adults, with younger individuals being disproportionately affected. Worsening mental health trends were observed across the population.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·DateMay 5, 2025

A Snapshot of Relativistic Motion: Special relativity made visible

Researchers from Vienna University of Technology successfully reproduced the Terrell-Penrose effect using laser pulses and precision cameras, demonstrating the relativistic length contraction and its impact on perceived rotation. The experiment uses a novel technique inspired by art to recreate the effect in the laboratory.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalCommunications Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 5, 2025

Eric J. Nestler, MD, Ph.D., leading brain scientist and Interim Dean of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, elected to the National Academy of Sciences

Eric J. Nestler, a world-leading expert on addiction and depression, has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) for his distinguished achievements in original research. The recognition is a testament to his extensive scientific experience and impact on the field of neuroscience.

New molecular label could lead to simpler, faster tuberculosis tests

Researchers have developed a method to label and visualize the glycans in Mycobacterium tuberculosis cells, which may lead to faster and cheaper diagnostic tests for TB. The approach uses an organic molecule that reacts with specific sulfur-containing sugars found in only three bacterial species, including M. tuberculosis.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 5, 2025

Physically active young people less likely to be depressed

A study published in Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry found that adolescents who are more physically active have a lower risk of developing depression symptoms. The research followed 873 participants from age 6 to 18 and found that physical activity protected against depression symptoms in adolescence.

SourceNorwegian University of Science and Technology·JournalJournal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·TypeContent analysis·DateMay 5, 2025

Urban rats spread deadly bacteria as they migrate, study finds

Researchers discovered how urban rat migration spreads leptospirosis, a deadly disease, and developed a novel technique for testing rat kidneys. The study used advanced molecular techniques to analyze DNA from 328 rat kidney samples collected from 17 sites in Boston, finding that 59 rats were positive for Leptospira bacteria.

SourceTufts University·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateMay 5, 2025

Harnessing generative AI to expand the mitochondrial targeting toolkit

Researchers used generative AI to design diverse mitochondrial targeting sequences, achieving a 50-100% success rate in yeast, plant cells, and mammalian cells. The AI-generated sequences showed improved targeting abilities compared to existing ones, with potential applications in metabolic engineering and therapeutics.

AI could help improve early detection of interval breast cancers

A new study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute suggests that artificial intelligence can help detect interval breast cancers earlier, potentially reducing their rates by 30%. The research used AI software to analyze mammograms and identify subtle signs of cancer that were missed by radiologists.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateMay 5, 2025

Certain traits in romantic partners can amplify the impact of a person’s genetic risk for alcohol problems

Research led by VCU and Rutgers University found that romantic partners' substance use habits, personality traits, and mental health status can enhance or diminish a person's genetic predisposition to binge drinking. The study suggests that couple-based interventions could be more effective when addressing environmental influences.

SourceVirginia Commonwealth University·JournalClinical Psychological Science·DateMay 5, 2025

University of Texas-led team solves a big problem for fusion energy

A University of Texas-led team has discovered a shortcut to design leak-proof magnetic confinement systems in stellarator reactors, addressing a 70-year-old challenge. This breakthrough enables engineers to simulate the system more efficiently without sacrificing accuracy, paving the way for the development of reliable fusion energy.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 5, 2025

Are at-home water tests worth it? New UMass Amherst study shows quality can vary widely

A new study from UMass Amherst found significant variability between at-home water testing kit abilities to detect contaminants. Single-parameter tests generally had more accurate results than multi-parameter ones, but users should interpret the results with skepticism, especially if testing for high levels of metals.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalJournal of Water and Health·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 5, 2025

Blue tips are red algae’s red flags

Researchers at Kobe University discovered that red algae use structural color to communicate with each other. The discovery was made in the European Journal of Phycology and suggests that these colors may serve as a warning signal to algae-eating fish.

SourceKobe University·JournalEuropean Journal of Phycology·TypeObservational study·DateMay 5, 2025

Moffitt study finds structural barriers may prevent cancer care for people living with HIV

Researchers found that people living with HIV in lower-income and less educated areas were 27% less likely to receive curative cancer treatment. The study highlights the need for policies and community-level interventions to address social factors of health and ensure equitable cancer care for all patients

SourceH. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute·JournalCancer·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 5, 2025

Ancient poems tell the story of charismatic river porpoise’s decline over the past 1,400 years

Researchers analyzed 724 ancient Chinese poems to track the decline of the Yangtze finless porpoise's habitat range. The study found that the porpoise's range decreased by at least 65% over 1,400 years, with most of this decline occurring in the past century. This ancient art form provides a unique window into biodiversity conservation.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeContent analysis·DateMay 5, 2025

Privacy-aware building automation

Researchers at the University of Tokyo developed a framework to enable decentralized artificial intelligence-based building automation, allowing devices to cooperate directly without central servers. The system learns user preferences over time, adjusting automatically, and provides fine-grained control without programming.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 5, 2025

A Big Data approach for battery electrolytes

A new paper outlines a path for AI and machine learning to help build tomorrow’s batteries by maximizing three components: ionic conductivity, oxidative stability, and Coulombic efficiency. The team used a dataset compiled from 250 research papers to identify promising candidates for scientists to test in the lab.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalChemistry of Materials·DateMay 5, 2025

Liver cancer survival rates reflect income disparities

A study published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe found that patients with low household income were more likely to be diagnosed late and receive less effective treatment for liver cancer. This highlights the need for targeted screening in deprived areas to improve early diagnosis and survival rates.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalThe Lancet Regional Health - Europe·TypeObservational study·DateMay 5, 2025

Energy deficiency impacts collegiate running performance

A recent study by Penn State researchers found that chronic energy deficiency in collegiate female endurance runners negatively impacts their performance and training benefits. Runners with insufficient energy intake had slower race times and reduced training benefits, but these effects can be reversed by increasing calories.

SourcePenn State·JournalEuropean Journal of Sport Science·TypeObservational study·DateMay 5, 2025

Beef production emits more than twice the greenhouse gas targets

Researchers found that Brazil's beef production, if left unchecked, would exceed the country's limit for meeting its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target by up to 63GtCO2e by 2030. The study suggests that adopting emission reduction practices could prevent losses of up to $42.6 billion and ensure greater competitiveness.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalEnvironmental Science and Pollution Research·DateMay 5, 2025

Prenatal cannabis use and neonatal outcomes

A recent study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that prenatal cannabis use is associated with an increased risk of preterm birth and low birth weight. The research also suggests a potential link between cannabis use during pregnancy and smaller-than-average newborns.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Pediatrics·DateMay 5, 2025

What happens when a companion chatbot crosses the line?

A recent study from Drexel University found that AI companion chatbots can lead to sexual harassment and unwanted behavior, with over 800 reviews mentioning such incidents. The study suggests that companies must implement safeguards and ethical guidelines to protect users who are vulnerable to emotional harm.

SourceDrexel University·TypeContent analysis·DateMay 5, 2025

Adolescents with mental health conditions use social media differently than their peers, study suggests

A study by the University of Cambridge found that adolescents with mental health conditions spend an average of 50 minutes extra on social media each day compared to their peers. They also report higher levels of social comparison, mood changes due to online feedback, and lower self-control over time spent on platforms.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalNature Human Behaviour·DateMay 5, 2025

Physical cloaking works like a disappearing act for structural defects

Engineers at Princeton University and Georgia Institute of Technology have created a method to reinforce structures without creating new weaknesses. The approach uses microstructures designed to protect against multiple loads, allowing designers to counter various stresses simultaneously.

SourcePrinceton University, Engineering School·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 5, 2025

Spanking and other physical discipline lead to exclusively negative outcomes for children in low- and middle-income countries

A meta-analysis of 195 studies found physical punishment in low- and middle-income countries leads to poor health, lower academic performance, and impaired social-emotional development. The study suggests that physical punishment is universally harmful to children and adolescents, with no positive outcomes associated.

SourceNew York University·JournalNature Human Behaviour·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMay 5, 2025