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American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)


Hibernating squirrels stay strong thanks to urea-salvaging gut microbes

A new study reveals that hibernating ground squirrels' gut microbes play a crucial role in recycling urea to replenish essential amino acids. This process helps the animals survive long periods of inactivity and fasting, suggesting similar mechanisms could be beneficial for humans suffering from muscle wasting and protein malnutrition.

Introducing: New ultra-fast cell sorter that allows rapid genome-scale cellular studies

A new ultra-fast cell sorter uses fluorescence imaging to enable genome-scale studies of complex phenotypes, expanding the accessible phenotypic space for cell sorting applications. This technique can rapidly isolate and quantify cells with diverse phenotypes, including those with differently localized proteins or in different mitotic ...

Stronger evidence for connection between Epstein-Barr virus and multiple sclerosis

A new analysis of US military recruits data reveals a strong connection between Epstein-Bellum virus and multiple sclerosis, with a significant increase in MS cases following EBV infection. The study's findings suggest that EBV may be the leading cause of multiple sclerosis, offering potential advantages over current treatments

Super-Earths have longer shielding against cosmic radiation, new melting curve analysis suggests

Researchers used high-powered lasers to determine the melting temperature of iron at conditions similar to those in super-Earth exoplanet cores. The findings suggest that super-Earths are likely to have longer magnetically shielded habitability periods than Earth, potentially supporting life as we know it.

Study in Biosphere 2 facility in Arizona reveals how tropical forests will respond to drought

A study in Biosphere 2's Arizona facility sheds light on tropical forest responses to drought, revealing diverse drought strategies among plant species. The research, which tracked carbon, water, and VOC fluxes during a 9.5-week drought, may help improve predictions of climate change impacts on these ecosystems.

Tropical forests can recover quickly on reclaimed agricultural lands

Tropical forests worldwide have disappeared rapidly due to deforestation. However, they can recover quickly on abandoned lands, with key forest functions rebounding within a decade. The study found that tropical forests can regain 78% of their old-growth values in just 20 years and near-total recovery occurs in less than 10 years.

How vaccinated UK healthcare workers infected with different variants respond to new ones

A new study found that vaccinated UK healthcare workers who were previously infected with different COVID-19 variants show varying levels of protection against new variants. The results suggest that the sequence of variant exposure influences immunogenicity profiles, highlighting the need for tailored vaccine development.

In Bangladesh, mask-wearing reduced COVID-like illness, cluster-randomized controlled trial shows

A cluster-randomized controlled trial in rural Bangladesh shows that proper mask-wearing significantly reduces symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections. Mask distribution and promotion increased community-wide mask-wearing by 29% and reduced reported COVID-like illness, especially among high-risk individuals.

Life in the forest’s understory versus its canopy changes flight among closely related butterflies

A new study found that Morpho butterflies adapted to understory habitats have powerful wing-flapping phases for fast flight, while canopy-dwelling species evolved efficient gliding abilities through unique aerodynamic mechanisms. The findings suggest multiple pathways of adaptive evolution for colonizing the forest's canopy.