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Science News Archive September 2025 - Page 48


Page 48 of 54

A survival kit for smallpox viruses

Researchers at University of Würzburg uncover a previously unknown type of assembly chaperone in poxviruses, formed by an RNA molecule called tRNA. This discovery sheds light on the complex process of gene expression in viruses and could pave the way for new drugs against poxviruses.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalNature Structural & Molecular Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 4, 2025

Former Macalester College animal lab workers, alumni, and mental health experts raise alarm regarding student stress and coercion in deadly animal experiments

A national survey found that 44% of US college students feel coerced into participating in animal laboratories, with 20% stating they would participate anyway to avoid problems. The college has killed thousands of animals for over 50 years, despite alternatives being available.

ESC calls for a cultural shift to deal with the adverse combination of mental health conditions and cardiovascular disease

The European Society of Cardiology recommends systematically screening for mental health symptoms during cardiovascular care and assessing cardiovascular risk in those with mental health conditions. People living with both conditions have worse health outcomes due to the interplay between mental health and cardiovascular disease.

SourceEuropean Society of Cardiology·JournalEuropean Heart Journal·DateSep 4, 2025

How stress and social struggles fuel America’s obesity crisis

A new scientific review reveals that stress, hardship, and social challenges reshape a person's gut bacteria and brain performance, making it harder to keep weight off. Social determinants of health play a key role in obesity risk, and addressing these conditions is crucial for long-term solutions.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalClinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology·TypeLiterature review·DateSep 4, 2025

Biases hinder access to sexual assault evidence kits, study finds

A study by McGill University researchers found that biases and stereotypes influence healthcare staff's decisions to administer sexual assault evidence kits in rural hospitals. Survivors of sexual assault from marginalized groups face systemic barriers to accessing these kits, which are essential for documenting injuries and gathering ...

SourceMcGill University·JournalViolence Against Women·TypeContent analysis·DateSep 4, 2025

Researchers design robot that can find, pick hidden strawberries

A Washington State University-led team has designed a robotic harvester that can detect and classify hidden strawberries 80% of the time. The harvester uses a combination of artificial-intelligence vision system, soft silicone grippers, and a fan to gently move leaves out of the way, improving picking efficiency.

SourceWashington State University·JournalComputers and Electronics in Agriculture·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 4, 2025

Giving food waste fermentation a ‘jolt’ increases chemical production

Researchers at Ohio State University discovered that adding an electrical jolt to fermentation increases the yield and speed of platform chemicals from industrial food waste. Combining two bacterial species also enhances targeted chemical production and produces hydrogen gas as a byproduct, reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions.

SourceOhio State University·JournalJournal of Environmental Chemical Engineering·DateSep 4, 2025

No improvements with mavacamten in symptomatic nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

A large trial found that mavacamten treatment did not improve patient-reported health status or peak oxygen consumption in patients with symptomatic nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The study included 580 patients and lasted for 48 weeks, but no significant differences were observed between the mavacamten and placebo groups.

SourceEuropean Society of Cardiology·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateSep 4, 2025

Research findings offer new insight into blood thinners and bone builders

A team of Virginia Tech researchers has discovered new insights into blood thinners and bone builders, heparin. The findings may lead to designing safer and more reliable heparin therapies. Heparin's molecular composition affects its ability to bind calcium, influencing its effectiveness in biomineralization and blood clotting.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 4, 2025

Biodegradable PET alternative bioproduced at unprecedented levels

A Kobe University team has engineered E. coli bacteria to produce the compound pyridinedicarboxylic acid (PDCA) from glucose at unprecedented levels, surpassing previously reported concentrations. The breakthrough enables the clean and efficient synthesis of a biodegradable PET alternative with superior physical properties.

SourceKobe University·JournalMetabolic Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 4, 2025

Principal component analysis enhances 3D super-resolution microscopy

A new computational enhancement to structured illumination microscopy improves 3D imaging clarity and stability, addressing challenges of uniform illumination patterns in cells. Principal component analysis is used to uncover underlying order from complex signals, enabling more adaptive and robust reconstruction.

Weight-loss drug semaglutide reduces cocaine use in rats: Suggests possible first pharmacological treatment for human cocaine dependency

Semaglutide significantly reduces cocaine-seeking behavior in rats by 26%, with a 62% drop in seeking after abstinence. This finding suggests semaglutide's potential as a treatment for human cocaine dependency, currently lacking effective pharmacological options.

SourceEuropean College of Neuropsychopharmacology·JournalEuropean Neuropsychopharmacology·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 3, 2025

Are probiotics worth the cost to prevent infection after a colon removal surgery?

A UCLA Health study found that taking an 8-strain probiotic daily reduces the risk of pouchitis, a common inflammatory condition. However, the treatment's cost-effectiveness depends on the patient's likelihood of flare-ups, with benefits only seen in patients with frequent relapses.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalGastro Hep Advances·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 3, 2025

Pretreatment methods bring second-gen biofuels from oilcane closer to commercialization

Researchers at the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI) demonstrate industrial viability of hydrothermal pretreatment for producing second-generation biofuels from oilcane lignocellulose. The study showcases an efficient method for converting oilcane into bioethanol, reducing dependence on foreign oil.

NYU Tandon-led team develops new fabrication technique that opens door to new materials for quantum technologies

A new fabrication approach enables the exploration of a broader range of superconducting materials for quantum hardware. The study validates this approach using niobium and demonstrates comparable performance to state-of-the-art devices made with conventional chemistry-based methods.

SourceNYU Tandon School of Engineering·JournalApplied Physics Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 3, 2025

New meta-analysis demonstrates that access to the GeneSight test can significantly improve response and remission rates for patients with depression

A new meta-analysis of six prospective controlled studies found that access to the GeneSight Psychotropic test significantly improved response and remission rates for adults with major depressive disorder. The study included 3,532 unique adults who had at least one prior treatment failure.

SourceThe Motion Agency·JournalJournal of Clinical Psychopharmacology·TypeMeta-analysis·DateSep 3, 2025

High-volume antibody testing platform could accelerate disease research and treatment development

Researchers developed a high-volume method to rapidly build and test large numbers of antibodies at once, accelerating antibody research and treatment development. The oPool+ display platform has potential applications in influenza vaccination research, infectious disease treatment, and cancer research.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 3, 2025