Brightsurf delivers daily science news discoveries, articles, and the latest scientific breakthroughs. Your trusted source for science news today, covering nature news, science & technology, and scientific discoveries from leading research institutions worldwide.
Researchers have developed a new optogenetic tool that selectively inhibits neurons and heart muscle cells by activating a G-protein-coupled signaling pathway with blue light. The tool, Opn4L/GIRK1, has been shown to decrease the spontaneous beating rate of human heart muscle cells and inhibit the activity of cerebellar neurons.
A study of 1,300 students aged 10-18 found that motivation and responsibility are crucial in preventing bullying in physical education. Students who are more motivated to participate in physical education are more likely to show personal responsibility and actively intervene when faced with unfair situations.
A new review examines how gut microbiota and metabolites reshape liver immunity and propose strategies to overcome immunotherapy resistance. The review discusses four major directions of gut microbiota intervention, including probiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, engineered bacteria, and metabolite-based interventions.
Researchers at HIPS used AI to design new building blocks for active ingredient production, resulting in functional proteins with improved pharmaceutical properties. The AI-designed building blocks increased yield up to three times compared to natural variants, making it easier to obtain new compounds for research and development.
Researchers at Institute of Science Tokyo used integrated forensic methods to analyze a single tooth, revealing clues about birth year, age at death, dietary patterns, drug exposure, biological sex, and DNA profile. Stable carbon isotope analysis and amino acid racemization provided accurate estimates of birth year and age at death.
The book examines the security challenges and emerging practices associated with Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), including blockchain, cryptography, and steganography. It discusses secure authentication, data transmission, and strategies for improving system reliability and resilience across various industries.
The review highlights the importance of protein homeostasis in donor cells, particularly in the context of senescence and extracellular vesicle (EV) cargo. Researchers propose targeted clearance of misfolded proteins, such as oxidized SOD1, as a pre-transplant strategy to improve therapies for various diseases.
Researchers propose a new approach to targeted chemotherapy, using pH-sensitive polymers to release drugs at acidic tumor sites. The system relies on glucose priming to transiently widen the pH gradient, triggering release from ultra-pH-sensitive carriers. This approach aims to overcome the limitations of current chemotherapy, which of...
This edited volume examines the evolution of staycations, rural hospitality, eco-tourism, and wellness tourism, highlighting their economic, cultural, and environmental significance. Researchers and practitioners explore contemporary themes, including workcation culture and social media marketing.
AI is increasingly being used in stroke rehabilitation to predict recovery trajectories and monitor motor function, providing adaptive and continuous care. The review highlights the need for standardized outcome measures and data pipelines to determine the clinical impact of AI-based monitoring.
Researchers have developed a triple-layered artificial nerve conduit embedded with living cells that steers nerve regrowth across deep gaps, achieving functional recovery in rats that rivals a natural graft. The bioprinted nerve 'railway tracks' guide regenerating tissue, promoting axon-guidance genes and restoring electrical impulses.
A meter-scale flapping-wing robot demonstrates the benefits of low-angle takeoff, increasing flight distance by 49% and horizontal distance by 123%. The robot's ability to control pitch attitude through the flapping-pitch effect enables early acceleration and speed advantage.
Researchers identified cell-type-specific circadian gene programs and phase-specific pathway activities in liver and skeletal muscle. The study provides evidence for a cell-type-resolved circadian landscape and candidate transcription factors, suggesting potential circadian therapeutic windows.
A new study warns of the increasing impact of climate change, urban living, and digital misinformation on sleep health across Europe. The researchers call for coordinated action to protect sleep health, improve sleep health literacy, and tackle structural inequalities.
The strain accelerates wheat straw decomposition, reduces fungal proliferation, and decreases aflatoxin content, promoting peanut seedling growth and supporting sustainable agriculture. SQ1 functions as a dual-purpose biocatalyst, breaking down cellulose and inhibiting fungal growth.
A new study has reconstructed the genetic history of the Iberian Peninsula between the 1st and 8th centuries CE, revealing that Roman Hispania's genetic legacy survived the arrivals of the Suebi, Alans and Visigoths. The study found that Roman rule created an extraordinarily diverse society due to population movements across the Medite...
Jennifer Lewis, a Harvard professor, has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine for her pioneering work in 3D bioprinting and vascularized organoids. Her research focuses on developing functional materials for applications in printed electronics, artificial muscles, and human tissue engineering.
Researchers found women can expect to spend more years over their lifetimes caring for aging family members or friends, with a 3-year gap from men. This disparity extends to caring for parents, grandparents, and extended family and friends, highlighting the need for increased support and resources for caregivers.
A McGill University study found that Montrealers reduced their outdoor activities by only 5.8% when wildfire smoke warnings were issued, switching to more enclosed modes like bikeshare and public transit. The researchers suggest pairing advisories with practical incentives to encourage compliance.
Maladaptive brain-state locking (MBSL) is a lifespan hypothesis suggesting that distinct disorders converge on impaired state-transition or recovery dynamics. Candidate features include abnormal persistence, impaired transition, and delayed recovery, with lifespan timing and regional context modifying phenotypic expression.
A massive, 1-mile-thick ice shelf in Baffin Bay helped lock in three of the largest ice sheets in northern Canada and Greenland, contributing to hundreds of feet of sea-level rise. The discovery provides new insights into the future of Antarctica's massive ice sheets and the potential for sea-level rise.
Researchers discovered a signalling system regulated by metabolites that extends lifespan and delays age-related decline in animals. Muscle tissue produces the metabolite dihydrobiopterin (BH2), which is transported to other tissues to maintain protein homeostasis and tissue health.
Physicists at Northwestern University trap and cool a single positron, creating a controlled quantum state that allows for precise measurement of its magnetic properties. This breakthrough could reveal a crack in the Standard Model, offering new insights into the universe's matter-antimatter imbalance.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine discovered distinct astrocyte subtypes, CD51+ and CD51-, which have specialized jobs in forming synapses, shaping memory circuits and aiding recovery after stroke. These findings challenge the long-held assumption that astrocytes are uniform support cells.
Researchers discovered a new role for Wee1 in healthy cells, which could explain toxic side effects in cancer patients. Wee1 helps switch off a protein degradation complex, delaying cell division. This finding may lead to more targeted therapies and identify patients most likely to benefit from treatment.
A mouse study of Angelman syndrome identifies a potential opportunity to restore healthy neurodevelopment by targeting the buildup of a normally harmless enzyme, asparagine synthetase. The findings suggest that the enzyme's accumulation triggers a stress response that impairs brain growth.
A recent study found that overdose-reversing drug naloxone use did not increase relative to the number of overdoses in the US since 2023. Instead, nonfatal drug overdoses fell by 20.9% and opioid-related overdoses dropped by 32.7%.
Researchers have discovered a new way in which the Andes virus captures its receptor on human cells, a finding that could lead to effective therapies. The study reveals details on the molecular specifics of the interaction, including a deep groove or pocket that limits antibody access.
Zeolites can catalyze new olefin carbonylation reactions, enabling the selective production of chemical building blocks. The team discovered a key design principle: the location and size of zeolite pores determine which olefin molecules can be selectively carbonylated.
A Lehigh-led team is developing an AI platform called UniBrain to simplify brain imaging analysis, reducing the time and expertise required. The platform aims to unify image preprocessing and downstream brain network analysis, integrating information from multiple imaging modalities.
A study from Northwestern University found that a personalized fitness program for liver transplant candidates can significantly improve frailty and reduce mortality risk by 50%. The program, called prehabilitation, was linked to a lower risk of dying while awaiting a transplant.
Researchers at FAU's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute will investigate environmental and biological mechanisms driving harmful algal blooms in subtropical estuaries. The project aims to refine predictive models to mitigate blooms in other estuaries, with potential economic benefits of $28.3 billion.
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology developed a new optimisation method for near-optimal large-scale fleet control, accounting for uncertainties in real-world transport systems. The method combines machine learning techniques with advanced optimisation models to predict travel demand and charger availability, improving fle...
Canadian Science Publishing launches a new collection of French-language scientific articles, strengthening the creation, dissemination, and mobilization of scientific knowledge in French. The inaugural collection features 14 articles exploring topics of significant importance, including forestry, Indigenous knowledge, and biodiversity.
New research models energy demand extremes in the US, finding that technology diffusion may have a larger impact than climate change on peak demands in certain regions. The study considers four climate change scenarios and 18 technology diffusion pathways in 183 counties across the US, projecting changes in extreme peak demands.
The BabyMERIT trial will evaluate trametinib in infants with Noonan syndrome and related conditions who develop severe hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a potentially life-threatening condition. The study aims to improve outcomes for these young patients by targeting a molecular pathway known to drive these disorders.
A new open-source software package called PFclassify enables researchers to classify and quantify unprocessed and processed meats into separate subtypes, providing more accurate nutrition data. This gives scientists a standardized workflow to examine meat subtype-specific dietary intake, supporting more transparent and higher quality d...
Researchers have found that supernovae may not have played a central role in reionizing the early universe, contrary to long-held theory. Instead, young stars may have helped radiation escape, with winds from supernovae creating a barrier to ionizing radiation.
The grant will support Dr. Flanagan-Steet's research into understanding how metabolism and glycosylation work together during normal development and disease onset. The study aims to identify common biological pathways that contribute to rare diseases, with the ultimate goal of developing new treatments.
A consortium of researchers and clinicians aims to develop living cardiac tissues and components for infants and young children with congenital heart disease. The THUMPIN' initiative, supported by a $29.6 million contract, will create living heart tissue that can grow and adapt throughout childhood.