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Science News Archive October 2025 - Page 48


Page 48 of 54

Programming robots with rubber bands

A team of engineers at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences designed a proof-of-concept walking robot using only four moving parts connected by rubber bands and powered by one motor. The robot can find its way through mazes, avoid obstacles, and sort objects by mass without electronic control systems.

SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 15, 2025

UC Irvine researchers invent bioelectronic-integrated artificial colon for disease studies, drug screening

Researchers at UC Irvine have developed a 3D human colon model integrated with bioelectronics to aid in colorectal cancer research and drug discovery. The model shows promising results in detecting resistance to chemotherapy drugs, making it a potential alternative to traditional animal testing.

SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalAdvanced Science·TypeMeta-analysis·DateOct 15, 2025

Nemours Children’s Health neurologist receives prestigious NIH grant to study brain patterns underlying autism, epilepsy, and Alzheimer’s disease

Nemours Children's Health neurologist Rodney Scott will investigate malfunctions in the brain's hippocampal region to identify shared therapies for patients with autism, epilepsy, and Alzheimer's disease. He aims to develop novel methods of brain stimulation that could restore healthy function across a range of disorders.

Study finds ending universal free school meals linked to rising student meal debt and stigma

A recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior found that discontinuing universal free school meal policies significantly increases school meal debt and stigma among students. States without UFSM programs reported a decline in participation rates and an increase in unpaid meal charges, highlighting the nega...

SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of Nutrition Education and Behavior·TypeSurvey·DateOct 15, 2025

Bioinspired precision peeling of ultrathin bamboo green cellulose frameworks for light management in optoelectronics

Researchers develop a scalable, eco-friendly method to isolate 10-μm-thick bamboo green frameworks with high transparency and haze levels. The study offers a promising pathway to sustainable light-management layers for next-generation photovoltaics and optoelectronics.

SourceShanghai Jiao Tong University Journal Center·JournalNano-Micro Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 15, 2025

Feeding the future from the soil up

Researchers found that beneficial bacteria can enhance the levels of amino acid and antioxidant ergothioneine in spring wheat, potentially improving nutritional value. This approach could associate plants with benign microbes to increase protein content in staple crops.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalFrontiers in Microbiology·DateOct 15, 2025

Rising seas and sinking cities signal a coastal crisis in China

A Rutgers study reveals that modern sea level rise is happening faster than at any time in the past 4,000 years, posing a significant risk to China's coastal cities. The team examined geological records and found that the global mean sea level rise rate since 1900 exceeds any century-long period in the past four millennia.

SourceRutgers University·JournalNature·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 15, 2025

Sleep trap: Many young adults use cannabis to fall asleep

A new study found that 22% of young adults aged 19-30 use cannabis or alcohol to initiate sleep. Cannabis was more common than alcohol for this purpose, with 41% of past-year users using it specifically to sleep. The study highlights the risks of long-term substance use for sleep problems and increasing risk of substance use disorder.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalJAMA Pediatrics·DateOct 15, 2025

Two Mount Sinai research papers present evidence of distinct molecular differences between brain tissue from living people and tissue collected after death

New research papers from Mount Sinai present unprecedented evidence that brain tissue from living individuals has a unique molecular character, differing significantly from postmortem samples. These findings challenge the conventional practice of using postmortem brain tissue for studying the human brain and its diseases.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 15, 2025

Human Organ Chip technology sets stage for pan-influenza A CRISPR RNA therapies

A new human lung alveolus chip model enables investigation of viral replication, inflammatory responses, and genetic off-target effects of a novel pan-influenza CRISPR therapy. The study achieved significant reductions in virus load and host inflammatory response after a single administration.

SourceWyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard·JournalLab on a Chip·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 15, 2025

Type 1 diabetes increased among young people during the pandemic

A study found a significant increase in type 1 diabetes cases among children under five and young adult men in Sweden during the Covid-19 pandemic. The incidence of diabetes increased by 12% in 2021 and 9% in 2022 compared to previous years, with no clear connection between Covid-19 infection and diabetes.

SourceLund University·JournalDiabetologia·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 15, 2025

Seoul National University of Science and Technology researchers discover breakthrough materials for removing pharmaceuticals from wastewater

Researchers at Seoul National University of Science and Technology have discovered fluorinated covalent organic polymers (FCOPs) that can remove 67.3% of beta-blockers like atenolol and metoprolol within the first minute. The FCOPs' strong adsorption performance is attributed to their rich structure, which enables multiple synergistic ...

SourceSeoul National University of Science & Technology·JournalEnvironmental Research·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 15, 2025

Atom-scale stencil patterns help nanoparticles take new shapes and learn new tricks

Researchers have developed atomic-level precision patterning on nanoparticle surfaces using stencils, creating 'patchy nanoparticles' with various shapes and functions. The technique allows for large-scale production of batched particles with intricate designs, enabling the creation of novel materials and metamaterials.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 15, 2025

Checkpoint inhibitor promotes tissue repair

Researchers at UZH have identified a new function of checkpoint inhibitors in promoting tissue healing, which could help treat fibrosis and chronic wounds. The study found that TIGIT upregulates a growth factor critical for repairing tissue after viral infections.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalNature Immunology·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 15, 2025

In the face of extreme weather events’ devastating effects on power grids, study identifies vulnerabilities that drive prolonged outages, suggests ways to reduce disruptions

Researchers analyzed power outage data and weather records to identify planning vulnerabilities and criticality as drivers of prolonged local outages. Targeted interventions, such as isolating critical nodes and improving operational flexibility, can reduce customer outages by up to 49.5%.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalINFORMS Journal on Data Science·DateOct 15, 2025

Study indicates dramatic increase in percentage of US adults who meet new definition of obesity

A study by Mass General Brigham researchers found that the new definition of obesity, which includes measures of body fat distribution, increases the prevalence to 70% among US adults. Those with 'anthropometric-only obesity' have a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 15, 2025

In chromosome of key biotech bacterium, different setups bring different strengths

Researchers found that Agrobacterium's virulence is more effective in its natural two-chromosome state, but it grows faster and handles stress better when fused into a single chromosome. This study opens the door for optimizing its use as a crop improvement tool or devising new ways to protect crops vulnerable to crown galls.

SourceIowa State University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 15, 2025