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Eavesdropping on whale songs sparks new discoveries in whale ecology

Researchers tracked changes in baleen whale song detection over six years, finding correlations with shifts in foraging conditions and food availability. The study's findings suggest that whale song data can provide insights into the health of marine ecosystems and inform conservation efforts.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS One·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 26, 2025

Fossil eggshells from Utah's Cedar Mountain Formation include Cretaceous period eggs from 3 feathered bird-like dinosaurs, 2 herbivorous dinosaurs, and a crocodile-like species found for the first time outside Europe

Researchers have discovered fossilized eggs from three feathered bird-like dinosaurs, two herbivorous dinosaurs, and a previously unknown crocodile-like species in the Cedar Mountain Formation. The findings provide valuable insights into the diversity of ancient life forms and their habitats.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS One·DateFeb 26, 2025

Humans inherited their flexible joints from the earliest jawed fish

Researchers discovered synovial joints in ancient fish lineages, suggesting these features first evolved in jawed vertebrates. The study's findings shed light on the origins of humans' flexible joints and provide critical information for research into vertebrate skeletal architecture.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 25, 2025

Cholesterol metabolism byproduct linked to Parkinson’s disease

Researchers have discovered a critical link between a cholesterol byproduct and Parkinson's disease development in mice. The study highlights the role of 24-OHC in forming Lewy bodies and killing dopamine neurons, with potential therapeutic targets emerging as drugs that prevent its production.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 18, 2025

Protected habitats aren’t enough to save endangered species

A recent study published in PLOS Biology found that even within protected habitats, tropical species are still vulnerable to threats from beyond their borders. Human population density and habitat disturbance in surrounding areas can lead to a decline in species richness by up to 1% per 16 persons per square kilometer.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 13, 2025

Macaque monkeys can learn to associate pictures with sounds and words, even when the words are then spoken by new individuals, showing impressive abilities to learn cross-modal associations

In a groundbreaking study, macaque monkeys demonstrated the ability to form connections between visual images and auditory signals, as well as verbal cues. This remarkable capacity for cross-modal learning was observed even when the spoken words were presented by new individuals.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS One·DateFeb 12, 2025

ChatGPT has the potential to improve psychotherapeutic processes

A study published in PLOS Mental Health found that ChatGPT's responses were generally rated higher than those written by therapists, particularly in terms of core psychotherapy guiding principles. The AI model was also found to contextualize more extensively, leading respondents to rate its responses higher on common therapy components.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Mental Health·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 12, 2025

Zoom fatigue is linked to dissatisfaction with one’s facial appearance

A study published in PLOS One found that individuals dissatisfied with their facial appearance experience increased Zoom fatigue, leading to more use of impression management features and reduced intention to adopt virtual meeting technologies. The study highlights the need to address worker well-being in virtual communication environm...

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS One·TypeSurvey·DateFeb 5, 2025

Lots of screentime in toddlers is linked with worse language skills, but educational content and screen use accompanied by adults might help, per study across 19 Latin American countries

A study across 19 Latin American countries found that excessive toddler screen time is associated with poorer language skills. On the other hand, incorporating educational content and screen use accompanied by adults may mitigate this effect, according to the research.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS One·DateFeb 5, 2025

Labor market immigrants moving to Germany are less likely to make their first choice of residence in regions where xenophobic attitudes, measured by right-wing party support and xenophobic violence, are stronger, per 2004-2017 data

Research by PLOS found that labor market immigrants in Germany are less likely to choose their preferred region of residence when faced with stronger xenophobic attitudes. This suggests that hostile environments may discourage migrants from choosing areas they would prefer.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS One·DateFeb 5, 2025

Why maggots love the texture of decaying fruit

A study on fruit fly larvae revealed the presence of neurons with mechanoreceptors in their peripheral taste organs, allowing them to sense food texture. This discovery sheds light on the complex process of tasting texture and highlights the importance of multisensory contributions in food perception.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 30, 2025

Study tracks physical and cognitive impairments associated with long COVID

Researchers tracked nearly 1,000 people with post-COVID-19 syndrome, finding persistent physical and cognitive impairments that worsened with exercise intolerance. The study's findings support the inclusion of cognitive and exercise testing in clinical evaluation for patients with suspected post-COVID-19 syndrome.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateJan 23, 2025

Severe weather and major power outages increasingly coincide across the US

A study found that large-scale power outages commonly occur alongside severe weather events in the US, particularly during heavy precipitation and heat. The researchers suggest that understanding patterns of co-occurring outages and severe weather events is crucial for developing mitigation and response tactics.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Climate·TypeObservational study·DateJan 22, 2025

Antibiotics modulate E. coli’s resistance to phages

New research reveals that certain antibiotics can suppress the evolution of resistance to phages in E. coli bacteria by targeting a subset of LPS mutants. By modulating these mutants, antibiotics like chloramphenicol and gentamicin reduce phage resistance.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 21, 2025

Human papillomavirus infection kinetics revealed in new longitudinal study

A new longitudinal study has provided unprecedented insights into human papillomavirus (HPV) infection dynamics. The study found that non-persistent infections exhibit a plateau in viral load before rapidly declining, while chronic infections show a strong correlation between immune cells and virus production. This research could infor...

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeObservational study·DateJan 21, 2025

Risk of stillbirth and newborn death before 28 days was almost halved in “overdue” pregnancies lasting beyond 41 weeks, in nationwide Swedish study offering active management and induction of labor

A nationwide Swedish study found that active management and induction of labor in late- and postterm pregnancies significantly reduced the risk of stillbirth and newborn death before 28 days. The study, published in PLOS Medicine, showed a near halving of this risk, suggesting improved maternal and perinatal outcomes.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateJan 16, 2025

Nine in ten Afghans struggle with diminished quality of life

A survey of over 800 Afghans found that nearly nine in ten face diminished quality of life due to psychosocial stress, while three-quarters experience food insecurity and over seven in ten have poor healthcare access. The study highlights the impact of the Taliban's takeover on daily life.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Mental Health·TypeSurvey·DateJan 16, 2025

Reducing teens’ psychological stress could save billions for US budget, study suggests

A new study finds that improving adolescent mental health can lead to increased labor force participation and lower public assistance usage, resulting in significant economic benefits. Clinically significant psychological distress in adolescence is associated with lower annual wages and reduced labor force participation 10 years later.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateJan 16, 2025