A Northwestern University study found that disaster recovery efforts provided temporary boosts in mental and physical health for younger and retired men, but middle-aged men and elderly men did not experience similar benefits. As recovery activities ended, the boost declined, leaving elderly men worse off in the long run.
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.
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 discovered that postmenopausal ovaries continue to remodel with age, exhibiting increased inflammation and tissue structural changes. This finding challenges the notion that the ovary is an inactive organ after menopause, suggesting a potential link between ovarian aging and chronic diseases.
Researchers developed smart glasses that harvest mechanical energy from facial movements, detecting jaw clenching, teeth tapping, and blinking with high accuracy. The device, called GlassTENG, has the potential to monitor cardiovascular health, fatigue, and other activities without bulky batteries or charging.
A first-of-its-kind study tracks brain activity of toddlers and parents during activities that support child development, revealing that toddlers' brains are more engaged during parent interaction than screen viewing. The research found similar brain patterns across children with and without autism, suggesting that quality interaction ...
A new study found that tau proteins have a single dominant hotspot that recruits other tau proteins to misfold and propagate, leading to cognitive decline. Blocking this hotspot could prevent misfolded tau proteins from spreading and may lead to the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic agents.
A new study published in JAMA Network Open suggests that cannabis may not improve sleep quality as expected, but rather be associated with poorer objectively measured sleep. Despite not perceiving their sleep as worse, participants with long-term cannabis exposure experienced more nighttime disruptions and poorer sleep efficiency.
A new study from Northwestern University finds that long-term opioid use does not improve chronic pain, but rather alters brain activity and function. The study identified new molecular markers, including serotonin receptors, that could lead to new treatments for pain and opioid dependence.
A new Northwestern Medicine study found patient navigators can ease the transition to motherhood, leading to better health in the postpartum period and more consistent primary care. Navigators helped patients access care, manage social needs, and improve health literacy, resulting in improved health outcomes.
A Northwestern University study has identified specific brain cells that contribute to anxiety after cannabis exposure, particularly under stressful conditions. The researchers found that activating somatostatin neurons in the brain's central amygdala can drive excessive anxiety.
Scientists develop long, precisely patterned molecular threads that enhance brain cell growth and organization. The findings introduce a new way to design highly controlled supramolecular materials with precise physical arrangement, which could inform materials' design for regenerative medicine applications.
Researchers uncovered a new signaling pathway linking cardiac lymphatics, the heart's outer lining, and key growth genes that regulate cardiac growth. The study found that lymphatic-derived Reelin promotes epicardium maintenance, suggesting that lymphatics may function as organ-wide monitoring systems.
A new study developed a nanoparticle-based compound that absorbs deadly nerve agent toxins, providing potential protective clothing for soldiers and farmers. The compound, mixed with water, deactivates toxic chemicals, limiting their impact and preventing damage.
Neuroscientists at Northwestern University discovered that response speed on exhalation is faster than on inhalation by 41 milliseconds. This study is the first to measure response speed during all phases of respiration, including pauses between breaths.
Researchers found a 3% increase in prison admissions during district attorney election years, with the effects being largest in the South and Republican-leaning counties. The study suggests that district attorneys respond to perceived voter preferences, but argues that this approach can lead to inconsistencies in justice.
A new RNA therapy promotes thermogenesis, turning white fat into beige fat that burns energy, and preserves lean muscle mass when combined with GLP-1s. This treatment improves glucose tolerance and other measures of metabolic health, offering a potential solution to the loss of muscle mass associated with GLP-1 weight loss.
A Northwestern University study found that 20 minutes of calming music significantly improves clinician energy levels and mood, increasing from 56% to 83% after the intervention. The music, designed to slow brain activity and promote relaxation, may provide an easy and practical way to support clinicians' wellbeing.
Researchers found that intentionally designed differences can make systems more stable, including power grids and biological networks. The study suggests that scientists and engineers could harness disorder to build more robust systems, revealing a potential explanation for the prevalence of variation in natural networks.
A Northwestern University study reveals that people with congenital ichthyosis have higher rates of food allergies, asthma, and hay fever than the general U.S. population. The study's findings may advance scientific understanding of how the skin's protective barrier plays a role in allergic disease.
A new AI tool has been developed to rapidly and accurately measure colonoscopy quality, improving care quality and reducing colorectal cancer mortality. The tool analyzed nearly 19,000 colonoscopies performed by 55 physicians, identifying key moments and tracking quality indicators that cannot be feasibly measured by humans at scale.
A new study found that US children's emergency visits for mental health crises increased by 74% between 2016 and 2022. Half of these visits occurred in hospitals with low pediatric volume, highlighting the need for specialized resources and training.
A Northwestern University study identified 33 diagnoses associated with extreme heat exposure, including skin conditions, multiple sclerosis, and traffic accidents. The findings could help emergency departments and health care systems better prepare for heat waves, which are becoming more prevalent with climate change.
A new study from Northwestern University found that coronary calcium scans are most valuable for patients with borderline cardiovascular risk. The scans added relatively little to risk prediction from existing risk calculators, but provided a clearer picture for those at intermediate risk. The study suggests that not everyone needs a c...
A new study led by Northwestern University reveals that loneliness can reprogram the brain to drive alcohol consumption in males, but suppress it in females. The study identified a specific brain circuit that explains how social isolation escalates alcohol use in males, marking a major advance for the field.
Ukraine maintained a self-sufficient blood supply during the Russia-Ukraine War by centralizing operations and expanding donor recruitment. The country's 24-hour blood collection centers and public campaigns with patriotic slogans like “Your blood can fight!” increased donations.
A new study shows that caregivers from Indigenous Wichi and European descent cultures have different approaches to supporting infants' developing agency, with Wichi interactions being more communal and non-verbal. The research provides empirical evidence for alternative pathways to infants' acquisition of agency.
Researchers observe star fragments plowing through surrounding gas, tracing the recycling process that supplies raw materials for new planets and stars. The study offers a glimpse into the potential fate of our Sun, which will shed its outer layers and return material to the Milky Way.
Astronomers have discovered the first globular cluster stellar stream outside the Milky Way, providing a powerful tool for studying dark matter. The study uses the stream's shape to reconstruct the galaxy's gravitational field and infer how dark matter shaped the stars' orbits.
A new study found that AI-assisted proposals are four percentage points more likely to receive funding from the NIH. However, these proposals tend to resemble existing funded ideas, raising concerns about the potential for AI to steer scientific funding toward safer research.
A Northwestern University study found that viral reservoirs in a proxy animal model of HIV share features with immune-suppressive tumor microenvironments, suggesting that future HIV cure strategies may benefit from traditional cancer therapy approaches. By examining the broader tissue microenvironment, researchers identified shared bio...
A Northwestern University study found that areas with shrinking tree canopy cover experience higher mortality rates, particularly in hot neighborhoods. Protecting mature trees alongside planting new ones is crucial for reducing health risks and strengthening climate resilience.
Scientists used chemical clues in microscopic fossils to find evidence that ocean acidification caused one of the largest extinction events in planktic foraminifera history. The study suggests that volcanic eruptions and rising CO2 levels led to a decrease in shell-building ability, ultimately contributing to the extinction.
Northwestern University chemists have developed a new approach that replaces traditional trial-and-error methods with intentional design using flexible DNA strands. The strategy enables precise control over protein connections, creating soft, flexible crystals with high structural order. This breakthrough simplifies one of structural b...
Researchers successfully sent entangled photons through a 24.4-kilometer fiber-optic cable while carrying high-capacity internet traffic. The quantum signals remained intact, preserving entanglement with over 94% fidelity.
A nationwide analysis of over 18 million patients found a 30% higher risk of developing retinal vascular disease in the month following the spring clock change, while a 20% lower risk was observed in the fall. The study suggests that gaining an hour of sleep may be protective against disease risk.
A new paper reveals a live concert and lecture series improves emotional well-being, intellectual stimulation, and social interaction among dementia patients. Participants reported high satisfaction and improved mood following sessions.
Northwestern University engineers created a drone called Phantom Twist that harnesses motion blur to blend into its surroundings. The drone spins up to 25 times per second, making it difficult for humans to see clearly, and can potentially monitor wildlife or inspect infrastructure with less disruption.
A Northwestern University study found that average total payments per user for GLP-1 drugs more than doubled from 2017 to 2022. This raises concerns about the long-term affordability of these medications, which may be taken by patients for years or decades.
A new brain-like electronic device consumes very little energy and detects novelties almost instantly, with over 98% accuracy. The device requires roughly 10,000 times fewer computer operations than conventional AI approaches, paving the way for more energy-efficient AI systems.
Two studies found that mice take single sniffs to deliberately probe their environment, like humans. Humans process odors rapidly within a single sniff, mirroring rodent-like olfactory brain processing. These findings suggest fundamental biological rules behind smell processing have been preserved through evolution.
Astronomers discovered a giant planet orbiting a dead star, WD1856b, and used NASA's James Webb Space Telescope to analyze its atmosphere. The study found the planet migrated toward its dead companion billions of years after the star died, surviving destruction through extreme heat.
A new study by Northwestern Medicine found that patients with severe injuries from car crashes are 70% less likely to be transferred to another hospital in states with no-fault insurance laws. This is because policies guarantee reimbursement for trauma care, incentivizing hospitals to keep and treat seriously injured patients.
The James Webb Space Telescope has captured the first direct evidence of salt clouds in a cold object's atmosphere, surrounding the 'Pink Planet' GJ504b. The discovery provides insights into the composition and formation of this ancient, rosy-hazed world, which is too faint for ground-based telescopes.
A new study from Northwestern University found that fathers without access to paid leave face higher levels of anxiety and depression. The study highlights the critical role paid paternity leave plays in supporting new dads' mental health following the birth of their baby.
A novel rehabilitation system connects therapists and patients through robotic exoskeletons, enabling real-time adaptation and personalized care. Stroke survivors who used the system demonstrated improved joint range of motion, longer and higher steps, and high levels of motivation.
A recent study of 42,000 adults taking blood pressure medications and GLP-1s found higher rates of hypotension events, including dizziness and fainting. The study highlights a potential safety concern for patients aged 65 and older and those with diabetes.
Researchers developed a liquid material that charges like a battery, transforms like a living organism, and resets itself in open air. The material stores power for months and can be recharged, making it useful for adaptive clean renewable systems.
A new study found that one in three middle-aged American adults can't consistently read prescription instructions correctly or recall details from doctor visits involving chronic conditions. The researchers recommend simplifying health information using plain language to improve patient outcomes and reduce harm.
Natural waters slow down nature's cleanup process by shielding plastics from sunlight and microbes, according to a new study. The chemical makeup of natural waters, especially combinations of salt and organic matter, significantly delays the breakdown of polystyrene plastic.