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Science News for October 2, 2025


Identifying factors affecting word processing during second-language English reading at different processing stages

Researchers analyzed eye-tracking data to identify key factors influencing word processing during English reading. Word length was found to be the most critical factor in determining skipped words and total reading time, while word frequency and predictability played a significant role in initial processing and rereading.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalStudies in Second Language Acquisition·DateOct 2, 2025

“What’s with the long face?”: a new study looks at horses and how we can recognize their pain

A new study at Bournemouth University found that people with horse experience were more accurate at recognizing pain in horse faces, while those with social anxiety were better at detecting pain in human faces. The findings aim to improve animal welfare by helping owners recognize changes indicating pain in horses.

SourceBournemouth University·JournalAnthrozoös·TypeObservational study·DateOct 2, 2025

Job changes may cause headaches and insomnia

A nationwide survey of 20,000 people found that those who changed jobs in the past year reported higher rates of health symptoms. Job changers often experience more stress factors, such as late-night shifts and excessive workloads, which can negatively impact mental and physical health.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalOccupational and Environmental Medicine·DateOct 2, 2025

Quantum uncertainty tamed at the University of Arizona

The team developed a new method to produce ultrafast squeezed light, which can fluctuate between intensity and phase-squeezing by adjusting the position of fused silica relative to the split beam. This breakthrough could lead to more secure communication and advance fields like quantum sensing, chemistry, and biology.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 2, 2025

From glacier to gorge: Peking University study maps the hidden life of river carbon along the upper Yangtze

A Peking University study maps the hidden life of river carbon along the upper Yangtze River, revealing how landscape, fire, and sunlight shape the global carbon cycle. The research found that organic carbon changes as it travels from the river's high-altitude headwaters to its densely populated downstream reaches.

SourceBiochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University·JournalCarbon Research·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 2, 2025

HKUST scientists reveal critical impacts of a Chinese genetic risk factor in Alzheimer’s disease

A study by HKUST reveals that the TREM2 H157Y variant significantly increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease in individuals of ethnic Chinese descent. The research found that this variant is associated with more rapid clinical progression and severe neurodegeneration, highlighting the importance of genetic studies in diverse populations.

SourceHong Kong University of Science and Technology·JournalAlzheimer’s & Dementia·TypeCase study·DateOct 2, 2025

Viruses help cut farm greenhouse gas emissions by targeting soil microbes

Researchers found that soil viruses selectively infect denitrifying microbes, reducing nitrous oxide emissions by up to 20%. The study suggests viral regulation as a potential method for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture. Viruses may play a critical role in supporting sustainable food production and protecting the planet.

Countries with highest reported levels of hearing loss have lowest use of hearing aids

The study found that countries with the highest reported prevalence of hearing loss, such as China and South Korea, also had the lowest levels of hearing aid use. Conversely, adults in Northern Europe, USA, and Western Europe were most likely to report using a hearing aid. Men were generally more likely than women to report difficultie...

SourceBMJ Group·JournalBMJ Global Health·TypeObservational study·DateOct 2, 2025

The Lancet: Billions lack access to healthy diets as food systems drive climate and health crises, but sustainable, equitable solutions are within reach, says new EAT-Lancet report

The new EAT-Lancet report highlights the urgent need for a sustainable, equitable food system, with nearly 3.7 billion people lacking access to a healthy diet. Adhering to the Planetary Health Diet can reduce chronic disease risk and prevent approximately 15 million premature deaths per year.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 2, 2025

New approach to gravitational wave detection opens the Milli-Hz Frontier

Scientists have unveiled a new detector concept that uses optical cavity and atomic clock technologies to detect gravitational waves in the milli-Hertz frequency band. This approach provides an immediate, cost-effective means to explore the mid-band range, which hosts signals from compact binaries of white dwarfs and black hole mergers.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalClassical and Quantum Gravity·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 2, 2025

Early medical abortion at home up to 12 weeks is safe, effective, and comparable to hospital care

A study of 14,458 abortions in Scotland found that early medical abortion at home between 10-12 weeks of pregnancy is safe and effective, with a similar success rate to hospital procedures. However, women who had medical abortion at home were more likely to contact the abortion service for questions or concerns.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalBMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health·TypeObservational study·DateOct 2, 2025

Body composition and cardiometabolic risk in children

A repeated cross-sectional study shows that cardiometabolic risk factors in Spanish children have improved over the last 30 years, with decreases in excess weight, lipid parameters, and blood pressure. The study provides valuable insights into the evolution of cardiometabolic risk in children.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateOct 2, 2025

AI wrote nearly a quarter of corporate press releases in 2024

A recent study reveals that large language models have been used in nearly a quarter of corporate press releases in 2024. The researchers found an increasing trend in the use of AI-assisted writing across various sectors, with significant growth in UN and US press releases.

SourceCell Press·JournalPatterns·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 2, 2025

DFG to fund four new research units

The DFG is establishing four new Research Units to address pressing issues in linguistics, security, precision medicine and environmental history. The Research Units will focus on topics like bilingual flexibility, security in catastrophic times, genome-based precision medicine and medieval coastal landscape development.

Improvements in mental health best predict life satisfaction

A new study published in PLOS Global Public Health found that increases in mental health most strongly predict improvements in life satisfaction. The researchers used data from a weekly running event and found that even small improvements in mental health can lead to significant increases in life satisfaction.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Global Public Health·TypeObservational study·DateOct 2, 2025

ASTRO 2025 Highlights from MSK

Researchers at MSK presented two clinical trials looking at the benefits of lowering radiation doses for patients with throat cancer. The studies found that reducing treatment can protect the immune system and help patients recover quickly. Additionally, a trial on breast cancer treatment showed that accelerated partial breast irradiat...

New imaging system maps retinal oxygen in unprecedented detail

A new dual-imaging system simultaneously maps retinal structure and capillary oxygen levels in live mice, allowing researchers to study vision-threatening diseases like glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. This non-invasive approach offers a powerful tool for elucidating local capillary values and tracking changes in retinal oxygenation.

New polymer designs for beyond-5G telecommunications

Researchers at Waseda University have developed a new class of polymers with ultralow dielectric loss, enabling high-speed telecommunications. The polymers, specifically poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene sulfide) (PMPS), achieved a low dielectric constant and dissipation factor, making them suitable for future 5G and beyond networks.

SourceWaseda University·JournalCommunications Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 2, 2025

The magnetic math of breast health

Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have created a tool called MaGNet to analyze the branching structure of mouse mammary glands. The system enables precise comparison of stained images and quantifies data with ease, allowing for earlier detection of breast cancer and investigation into hormonal changes and treatments.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalJournal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia·DateOct 2, 2025

Study finds new program to enhance HIV screening dramatically boosts testing in urgent care clinics and emergency departments

A comprehensive program in urgent care clinics and emergency departments significantly increased HIV testing for patients being evaluated for other sexually transmitted diseases. The program resulted in a 42% increase in HIV testing in urgent care clinics and a 53% increase in Intermountain emergency departments.

SourceIntermountain Healthcare·JournalClinical Infectious Diseases·TypeMeta-analysis·DateOct 2, 2025

Passive silver-nanoring coating points to “self-regulating” smart windows — without power or tinting

Aarhus University researchers have developed a transparent layer with silver nanorings that adapts to sunlight intensity, controlling heat entry through glass without dimming the view. The thermoplasmonic effect reduces near-infrared transmission, lowering cooling demand and CO₂ emissions in energy-efficient buildings.

SourceAarhus University·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 2, 2025

Hanbat National University study finds quantum computing can make homes smarter and greener

A new study from Hanbat National University demonstrates how quantum reinforcement learning can optimize residential heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems for improved energy efficiency and indoor air quality. The technology reduces power consumption by up to 63% and decreases electricity costs by up to 64%.

SourceHanbat National University Industry–University Cooperation Foundation·JournalEnergy and AI·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 2, 2025

New AI techniques to solve complex equations in physics

Researchers developed a new framework that significantly improves the resolution of complex differential equations. The study uses innovative techniques such as Multi-Head training and Unimodular Regularization to tackle stiff equations, enabling scientists to recover unknown physical functions from synthetic data.

SourceUniversity of Barcelona·JournalCommunications Physics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 2, 2025

Tiny cell messengers in obese individuals accelerate Alzheimer’s-linked plaque buildup in the brain

A new study found that adipose-derived extracellular vesicles, tiny cell messengers in obese individuals, accelerate the buildup of amyloid-β plaques in the brain, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers hope targeting these tiny cell messengers could reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease in people with obesity.

SourceHouston Methodist·JournalAlzheimer s & Dementia·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 2, 2025

Six billion tonnes a second: Rogue planet found growing at record rate

Astronomers have identified a rogue planet with a mass five to 10 times that of Jupiter, growing at an unprecedented rate of six billion tonnes per second. The discovery provides valuable insights into the formation and growth of rogue planets, suggesting they may share a similar path to star formation.

SourceESO·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateOct 2, 2025

Studies find connection between impaired musical rhythm abilities and developmental speech-language disorders

Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center found a correlation between impaired musical rhythm perception and developmental speech-language disorders, including dyslexia and stuttering. The studies suggest that musical rhythm ability can be used to design targeted therapeutic interventions for affected individuals.

SourceVanderbilt University Medical Center·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 2, 2025

"Nanoreactor" cage uses visible light for catalytic and ultra-selective cross-cycloadditions

Researchers engineered a nanoreactor cage with visible-light absorption to drive highly efficient photochemical reactions. The cage achieved perfect stereo- and site-selectivity in cross-[2 + 2] cycloaddition reactions, enabling catalytic transformations of chemically inert substrates.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 2, 2025

Veterans more likely than general population to use all types of tobacco products, including the most harmful

A new study reveals that Veterans are disproportionately using all commercial tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. The study found that Veterans had a higher risk for former and current tobacco use, as well as multiple product use, posing significant health risks.

SourceBoston University School of Public Health·JournalNicotine & Tobacco Research·TypeSurvey·DateOct 2, 2025

EBMT publishes 2025 clinical practice recommendations for haematopoietic cell transplantation and CAR-T therapy

The European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation has released its 2025 clinical practice recommendations for haematopoietic cell transplantation and CAR-T therapy. The report highlights the growing role of innovative therapies in transforming treatment paradigms, while emphasizing the importance of harmonizing practices across...

SourceEuropean Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation·JournalBone Marrow Transplantation·DateOct 2, 2025

Researchers wake up microbes trapped in permafrost for thousands of years

Researchers have resurrected ancient microbes stuck in permafrost for up to 40,000 years, which can break down organic matter and release carbon dioxide. The study's findings suggest that thawing permafrost could lead to a vicious cycle of greenhouse gas emissions, with significant implications for the Arctic and global climate.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalJournal of Geophysical Research Biogeosciences·DateOct 2, 2025

The RESTART trial: a drug to block a toxic HIV molecule

Researchers investigate whether combining fostemsavir with antiretroviral therapy can lower 'bad' antibodies that damage CD4 cells. The trial aims to test if this treatment reduces cardiovascular problems in people living with HIV. Participants will undergo cardiac CT scans to measure coronary plaque progression.

SourceUniversity of Montreal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM)·JournalJournal of Infectious Diseases·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 2, 2025

Vision therapy reverses concussion-related double and blurred vision, NJIT-led study finds

A recent study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that vision therapy can effectively treat concussion-related eye coordination disorders, including convergence insufficiency and accommodation insufficiency. Nearly 90% of patients in the treatment group were able to see normally after 12 weeks of therapy.

SourceNew Jersey Institute of Technology·JournalBritish Journal of Sports Medicine·DateOct 2, 2025

Do elephants know when we're looking at them?

A study by researchers at Kyoto University found that Asian elephants understand the importance of visual attention for effective communication. The elephants gestured most when both the experimenter's body and face were oriented towards them, suggesting they use a combination of cues to recognize human visual attention.

SourceKyoto University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeObservational study·DateOct 2, 2025

MPs and public overestimate time left for climate action, study finds

A study found that UK MPs and the public overestimated the time needed for global greenhouse emissions to peak. Labour MPs were more likely to know the correct answer than Conservative MPs. The researchers suggest that institutions like the IPCC need to improve communication about climate change to policymakers and the public.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalCommunications Earth & Environment·TypeSurvey·DateOct 2, 2025

ESMT Berlin study: ESG ratings show limited financial impact in the Gulf

A new study by ESMT Berlin researchers finds that high ESG ratings in the Gulf region do not necessarily lead to superior financial performance. Instead, financially strong companies drive ESG improvements. The analysis also shows that ESG scores are shaped more by state-led policy and institutional commitments than market forces.

SourceESMT Berlin·JournalSustainable Communities·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 2, 2025

Semaglutide and tirzepatide recommended as first-line treatment of obesity and most of its complications in new guidance from European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO)

The European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) has recommended Semaglutide and Tirzepatide as the first-line treatment for people living with obesity and most of its complications. These medications have been shown to be effective in promoting total weight loss and reducing complications such as obstructive sleep apnea, knee ...

The importance of a leader–follower relationship for performing tasks

A study by Osaka Metropolitan University found that pairs outperformed individuals in a robotic arm-transporting task when roles naturally emerged. Role specialization was key to superior performance, rather than paired interaction. The research has implications for human-robot collaboration and rehabilitation settings.

SourceOsaka Metropolitan University·JournalThe International Journal of Robotics Research·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 2, 2025