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.
A new kinetic model couples lignin and hemicellulose dynamics to sharpen biorefinery predictions. The model uses controlled kinetics to release phenolic compounds and acetic acid gradually, turning lignin-derived inhibitors into measurable proxies for tracking bond cleavage.
Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital discovered removing Regnase-1 from engineered immune cells enhances CAR T-cell therapy's ability to control osteosarcoma growth and prevent metastasis. The modified cells also alter their tumor microenvironment, activating immune cells and reducing immunosuppressive signals.
AnalySwift, a Purdue University-affiliated company, has received a Phase II STTR award to develop a robotic welding technology that enables disassembly and reassembly of large truss structures in space. The technology will simulate advanced materials and structures needed for this activity, including the feasibility of repurposing full...
A study by Maximilian Krolo found that higher intelligence is associated with greater wine knowledge, even in the absence of external incentives. Professional experience strengthens the effect, while simply drinking wine alone is not enough to develop extensive knowledge.
The University of Illinois-led NSF HQAN has been renewed for a second phase with $37.5 million in funding to develop an industry-ready pathway for implementing modular principles in quantum computing. The center has made significant technical achievements and is building a quantum workforce through educational programs.
A new study found a 16.8-percent increase in HIV cases among Hispanic populations in antisanctuary counties compared to baseline counties. The researchers attributed this increase to the 2018 announcement of changes to the public charge rule, which penalized immigrants for using public benefit programs.
Researchers at Keck School of Medicine of USC will investigate PFAS as a risk factor for liver and endometrial cancers. The studies aim to understand the biological mechanisms linking PFAS exposure to cancer risk and identify ways to mitigate that risk.
The NRG-GU005 trial shows that SBRT improves bowel health related quality of life in localized intermediate risk prostate cancer patients, with no significant impact on urinary HRQOL. SBRT is also associated with lower incontinence related quality of life and improved maintenance of erectile dysfunction compared to hypofractionated IMRT.
A systematic review and meta-analysis published in Cardiology Discovery shows AI-guided spatiotemporal dispersion area ablation yields an 87% pooled 12-month freedom-from-atrial-fibrillation rate for patients living with persistent atrial fibrillation. The technique aims to standardize substrate identification while preserving patient-...
Researchers validated Japan's seismic design guidelines through full-scale shaking table tests, revealing hidden vulnerabilities in cable trays. A simple steel-wire reinforcement method significantly improves seismic performance in new and existing buildings, enhancing public safety and business continuity.
A study of 79,000 Chinese university students found that team ball sports showed the most favorable mental health outcomes, while individual aerobic activities were less beneficial. The study also found that exercise frequency and duration, such as 3-4 sessions per week and 90-120 minute sessions, were linked to improved mental health.
Researchers mapped a five-stage roadmap for magnetic soft robots to advance minimally invasive medicine, including untethered and tethered designs for various applications. The review highlights the importance of standardized testing, biocompatibility validation, and clinical validation to bring these promising robots from laboratory p...
A new study by La Trobe University found that families navigating family courts amid family violence face substantial costs, including legal services, healthcare, counseling, and security measures. The average expenditure per parent is over $41,000 a year, with mothers carrying the greatest security and healthcare costs.
Wearable sweat sensors provide continuous real-time monitoring in ICUs, offering insights into hydration and homeostasis through electrolyte and metabolite tracking. The technology has vast application prospects, including sepsis warnings, renal management, and precision glycemic control.
The University of Eastern Finland has contributed to the development of a new international measure for assessing productivity-adjusted life years, considering health-related functional capacity and productivity. The new study provides Finnish norm values for estimating life expectancy adjusted for these factors, enabling comparisons a...
Researchers at the University of Turku discovered a molecular mechanism that regulates the spread of aggressive colorectal cancer. The mechanism involves the secretion of mucus onto the surface of tumour spheres, which facilitates their migration and invasion of tissue.
Researchers at Bielefeld University have discovered that microcline's most common surface is sufficient for ice to form in an ordered manner, known as epitaxial growth. This finding provides a new perspective on the importance of uncommon ice faces for understanding ice nucleation.
A study found that Radix isatidis herbal residue supplementation improved growth, mucosal immunity, gut microbiota, and lipid metabolism in broilers. The residue also increased serum immunoglobulin A, lowered low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and enhanced meat composition.
Researchers developed a novel adaptive model, BLAC-Q4DIM, to address ionospheric modeling errors. The model achieved dramatic improvements, reducing errors by 80-85% compared to standard GIMs and 58% compared to fixed-parameter Q4DIM, making it suitable for high-precision navigation and space weather monitoring.
The study found that Ct-HBx upregulates PAI-1 by opening chromatin and trans-activating its expression, increasing hepatocellular carcinoma risk and prognosis. PAI-1 levels and genetic polymorphisms serve as biomarkers for predicting HCC risk and postoperative prognosis.
The NSF has renewed the Quantum Leap Challenge Institute for Quantum Sensing for Biophysics and Bioengineering with a $37.5 million investment to advance quantum sensing technologies. This will enable the development of robust tools for investigating biological systems.
Researchers have found a reliable alternative to bone marrow sampling for children with rhabdomyosarcoma, using PET scans to detect bone marrow involvement with high accuracy. This approach could spare patients from painful procedures and improve diagnostic practices.
A study found that relocating turtle nests to cooler areas can produce mostly female hatchlings and reduce hatching success, while shading also affects hatchling size and ability to right themselves. Researchers aim to understand the factors affecting hatchling development to improve conservation strategies
A new study found that standard memory tests, such as word-pair or list-learning tests, may fail to detect the real-life memory problems reported by many female breast cancer survivors after chemotherapy. Story-based tests, on the other hand, revealed significant memory difficulties in these women.
The Galápagos snapdragon has shown encouraging signs of recovery thanks to a long-term partnership between the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Galápagos National Park Directorate. The project successfully outplanted 94 nursery-grown shrubs into harsh volcanic landscapes, with 28 adult plants established across two restoration sites.
PCORI awards funding for new patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research, addressing key healthcare questions and generating evidence for better-informed decisions. The projects will focus on emergency, hospital, and surgical care, as well as mental and behavioral health, to improve health outcomes.
Researchers at Kyushu University found a new molecular pathway that explains why intraocular pressure increases at night. Norepinephrine increases RHOB in the eye's drainage system, weakening its
A large NIH study found no link between prenatal organophosphate pesticide exposure and autism-related traits in children. Despite earlier studies suggesting cognitive challenges and ADHD, the study's findings indicate these pesticides may not be associated with autism-related traits at relatively low exposure levels.
Researchers discovered that gecko skin's nanoscopic hairs, called setulae, trap air and retain water, reducing evaporation and helping lizards survive in dry environments. The study used computational models to evaluate the effects of the hairs on water loss, finding a reduction in evaporation intensity.
Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi have developed a biodegradable, 3D-printed gastric stent that improves treatment for gastric leaks and doubles drainage performance, potentially eliminating the need for repeat procedures. The new device combines an internal lattice design with biodegradable materials, safely breaking down after treatment.
UCSF scientists have invented a way to treat cancer with teacher cells and tumor pieces, combining immune cells grown in the lab with patient tumor samples. The method uses dendritic cells to train T cells to recognize and destroy cancer cells, offering a promising approach to immunotherapy.
A supported transition from obstetric care to postpartum primary care was associated with greater use of primary care-provided mental health services among pregnant and postpartum individuals with anxiety or depression. This low-cost intervention may facilitate ongoing access to mental health care supports and treatments beyond the imm...
The study proposes an electric ignition scheme for ADN-based thrusters, eliminating the need for catalysts and preheating, and achieving rapid cold-start ignition. The results show that the thruster achieves stable combustion at room temperature, with optimal ignition voltage identified as 80 V.
A new open-source platform, PAMP, enables high-resolution morphological profiling of industrial fungi throughout their life cycle, uncovering quantitative relationships between fungal architecture and fermentation performance. The platform reveals that peripheral architectural features strongly influence citric acid production.
Researchers found that envy plays a greater role when resources are allocated through majority voting than individual decisions. Participants preferred to reduce the other person's allocation, even though they received no additional money, indicating a preference for envy over greed. The study also found that voting influences particip...
In Nigeria, ethnopharmacology played a culturally important role in the COVID-19 response, with some remedies showing promise, such as IHP Detox Tea and Niprimum, but high-quality RCT data are limited and IP laws inadequately protect traditional knowledge.
Researchers at SwRI will use a plasma reactor to convert waste CO2 into solid carbon for a domestic graphite supply, reducing reliance on foreign imports. The team aims to produce graphite through a process that involves tuning the CO2 molecule to remove oxygen atoms and solidify into carbon allotropes.
A 6-month study of 5132 MyNetDiary users found that consistent food-tracking, even with fewer than 2 days per week, is associated with better weight loss outcomes. Users who tracked food 6-7 days per week lost an average of 11.33% of their body weight, while those who tracked only 2-3 days per week lost 7.35%.
A study by the University of Queensland suggests that urban parks lack vital midstorey vegetation, which is essential for small animals and birds. The researchers propose designing parks with denser, midstorey vegetation to improve the quality of urban green space and support wildlife, while also promoting community wellbeing.
A two-year study enrolling up to 300 participants on Martha's Vineyard will investigate who develops alpha-gal syndrome and why, as well as its impact on daily life and healthcare use. The study aims to identify immune and demographic factors that influence risk and inform diagnosis, prevention, and treatment approaches.