News from the institutes and societies that organize science. Covers scientific medals, university-hospital partnerships, oncology cooperatives, and society leadership.
Scientists at the University of Bath have developed a new molecule that stops breast cancer cells from multiplying in laboratory trials. The method used to create the molecule has potential to be applied to develop new treatments for other cancers and diseases.
The UK's hazel dormouse population has declined by 72% over the past two decades, with conservation efforts proving insufficient to stem the decline. The research team is now calling for an urgent review of dormouse conservation to protect this beloved woodland mammal.
Researchers developed an adjustable optical microprobe to analyze and control deep brain regions, enabling minimally invasive devices for diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders. The microprobe uses optogenetics to activate or inhibit neurons with tunable light intensity, color, and frequency.
Researchers at Yale University developed a brief and reliable survey tool to measure resilience in children and adolescents displaced by the Syrian conflict. The tool identifies individual, family, and cultural sources of strength and asks respondents to rate statements on a five-point scale.
Researchers have obtained the first 3D snapshots of a sperm protein attached to a complementary egg coat protein at the beginning of fertilization. The study reveals a common egg protein architecture involved in sperm recognition in both mollusc and mammal species.
Scientists propose Induced Cell Turnover (ICT) to coordinate endogenous cell ablation with replacement cell administration. This method aims to manually vacate niches for new cells to engraft, minimizing the formation of scar tissue and promoting controlled turnover of aged tissues.
Researchers led by Barclay Morrison will examine concussion injury and recovery mechanisms using in vivo, in vitro, and computational models. The goal is to develop effective methods for preventing and treating concussion, with potential benefits for both acute and persisting neurocognitive dysfunction.
Researchers at the University of Nottingham have successfully simulated black hole conditions using a specially designed water bath, demonstrating the phenomenon of superradiance. This achievement provides new insights into the physics of black holes and has implications for further research on astrophysical observations.
New research found CEOs who appeared on CNBC saw an average compensation increase of $210,239. Media appearances had a stronger impact on smaller firms and those with strong stock market performance. In contrast, larger firms saw limited gains from media visibility.
The UNIST design team has developed Quietto, an interactive desk clock that uses a concrete and milled wood interface to show upcoming daily schedules. The award recognizes the unique approach to designing a tangible interface using concrete and introducing a new way of understanding time and schedule.
Scientists worldwide agree on a dictionary of terms to study sedentary behavior, an emerging global public health priority. The consensus definitions aim to facilitate research interpretation and comparison, helping to reduce confusion and advance the field of sedentary behavior research.
A new study published in Organization Science found that setting stretch goals can lead to lower risk-adjusted performance and higher variation in performance across organizations. The researchers discovered that about 80% of participants failed to reach their assigned stretch goals, often abandoning them for more manageable targets.
The Famula project has created a system that learns to recognize everyday objects through trial and error, mimicking human learning. The robot's language capabilities are also being developed to improve its interactions with humans.
Researchers from KIT and EPFL demonstrated a novel method for generating frequency combs in optical microresonators, enabling data transmission rates of over 50 terabits per second. This breakthrough uses soliton frequency combs to increase the performance of wavelength division multiplexing techniques in optical communications.
Scientists have developed a technique to capture and slow down light, allowing them to observe the quantum nature of electrons in graphene. This breakthrough could lead to new discoveries in superconductors and topological materials.
A team of researchers from KIT and EPFL used optical silicon nitride micro-resonators to generate continuously circulating solitons, enabling massive parallel data transmission on 179 wavelength channels. The system achieved a record-breaking data rate of over 50 terabits per second.
A new study found that whole grain breads, once thought healthier, may not have a significant impact on blood sugar levels. The researchers discovered that an individual's unique microbiome plays a crucial role in how their body responds to different types of bread.
Researchers used citizen scientists wearing boot socks on walks to find that slightly less than half of the socks were positive for Campylobacter, a common cause of diarrheal disease. The study suggests seasonal patterns and links to environmental factors, which could lead to interventions to reduce disease risk.
A quantum particle oscillates back and forth when interacting with a gas of Cesium atoms at extremely low temperatures. This behavior challenges Newton's laws of motion, as the particle's motion is restricted to the direction of the tubes.
A study by the University of Washington's Social Development Research Group found that adult marijuana use declines with parenthood, but doesn't end. The research, published in Prevention Science, surveyed 808 adults over a 12-year period and found that parents' marijuana use is strongly related to their children's use.
Scientists have dated prehistoric rock paintings in southern Africa up to 5500 years old, surpassing previous estimates. The technique used reveals that these paintings were made over a long period, with some sites producing similar art for over 1,000 years.
New research reveals the brain is a co-operative continuum for learning and memory, with different regions working together to reduce ambiguity. This understanding could lead to new treatments for cognitive diseases like Alzheimer's, where interference may be the cause of memory loss rather than forgetting.
Researchers at Lanzalab developed a compact model to describe the functioning of RRAM devices using graphene/h-BN/graphene van der Waals structures. The model accurately predicts the device's behavior and explains dispersion in cycle-to-cycle data, enabling simulation and mass production.
Scientists are developing chickpea varieties that can thrive in arid conditions, aiming to improve yields from 1.5 tonnes to 5 tonnes per hectare. The research uses low-cost imaging and computing techniques to identify resilient traits and develop algorithms for breeding high-performance varieties.
TU Dresden will establish two new Collaborative Research Centres (CRCs) and continue a third CRC, receiving significant funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG). The new CRCs focus on interdisciplinary research topics such as vituperations and insults, and the adrenal's role in stress and disease.
Researchers at MIT developed a composite material inspired by conch shells, showing 85% better crack propagation prevention than traditional materials. The 3-tiered structure combines strength and toughness, allowing for individualized, personalized helmets and body armor.
Researchers found that graphene covers weaken adsorption on Pt(111) surfaces, enabling modulation of surface reactions and promoting oxygen reduction reaction activity. This study demonstrates the potential of 2D materials in designing high-performance nanocatalysts.
A large study found that consuming moderate amounts of chocolate was associated with a significantly lower risk of atrial fibrillation, a common and dangerous type of irregular heartbeat. The study suggested that even small amounts of cocoa consumption can have a positive health impact.
A global research team has identified a new gene behind autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD), a rare form of childhood kidney disease. The discovery uses whole exome sequencing to analyze genes simultaneously, revealing errors in the DZIP1L gene that cause kidney defects.
Scientists have developed a conductive paper that can contribute to flexible electronics, enabling scalable production on a large scale. The material, which costs $1.30 per square meter, conducts electricity while maintaining durability, making it suitable for future flexible electronics.
A new study by University of Arizona researcher Russell Toomey found that LGB-specific strategies promote health and reduced likelihood of dropping out of high school. Cognitive and alternative-seeking strategies were associated with poorer adjustment, depressive symptoms, and lower self-esteem.
Researchers at Stanford University created a new approach to crowdsourcing complex tasks called flash organizations. Flash organizations combine virtual hierarchies with traditional crowdsourcing, enabling experts to assemble and adjust rapidly.
A new theory from McGill University researchers suggests that protecting remnant habitats and corridors can help preserve biodiversity by allowing species to move in response to environmental change. This approach is crucial for maintaining ecosystem structure and preventing extinctions.
The ORION project aims to explore ways to open up research funding, organization, and processes to the public. It will develop good practices and concrete actions for research organizations to implement Open Science and Responsible Research Innovation (RRI). The project will generate new training content, share lessons learned, and dis...
The Biogerontology Research Foundation will present its work on applying artificial intelligence and deep learning to combat aging and age-related disease. The foundation has published seminal papers demonstrating the potential of these approaches to accelerate drug discovery and development, reducing costs and risks.
The Biogerontology Research Foundation is helping to develop artificial intelligence for accelerated drug discovery in aging and age-related diseases. Researchers have made significant progress in using deep learning-based approaches to characterize biomarkers of ageing and predict the chronological age of patients.
The Plant-Biotic Interactions program aims to provide a deeper understanding of complex relationships between plants, microbes, and other organisms. Research funded through this program may lead to novel cropping systems that help plants thrive in extreme environments.
Researchers analyzed atmospheric temperatures and dust for 720,000 years, finding frequent climate fluctuations during glacial periods. Climate simulations revealed global cooling and freshwater inflow as key factors causing instability.
The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) has announced its 2017 Research Foundation award recipients, supporting talented investigators in digestive disease research. The awardees will receive grant funding and protected time for research, contributing to advancements in gastroenterology.
A study found that physical activity can reduce the weight-gaining effects of the strongest known genetic risk factor for obesity, the FTO gene. Accounting for physical activity also identified 11 novel genetic variants linked to obesity.
A RAND report identifies conditions that would help North Korean elites accept unification, including individual safety, wealth, and meaningful contributions. The report recommends actions by the ROK to address these concerns and prepare for potential unification.
A recent study found that people who had a truncal vagotomy at least five years earlier were 40% less likely to develop Parkinson's disease than those who did not have the surgery. The study suggests that the gut may play a role in the development of Parkinson's disease, which often involves gastrointestinal problems.
Researchers have identified a previously unrecognized step in muscle regeneration, highlighting the molecular mechanisms that impair muscle stem cells with age. The study also provides insight into the connection between accelerated muscle stem cell aging and muscular dystrophies.
Researchers demonstrate a 1/3 reduction in thermal resistance using WOW technology for 3D DRAM applications, improving heat dissipation and enabling higher stacking capacities. The study identifies key factors contributing to thermal resistance and achieves a significant reduction in temperature rise.
Researchers found that dominant banded mongooses target close female relatives for eviction due to their ability to resist, reducing competition for offspring. This behaviour is in contrast to expected social norms and highlights the importance of latent threats on social behavior.
Researchers found that brain regions for missing body parts are repurposed in congenital one-handers, suggesting a new understanding of brain organization based on function rather than body part. This discovery reveals remarkable brain plasticity and holds potential for developing prosthetic limbs.
Physicist Laurens Molenkamp has won an Advanced Grant from the European Research Council to study exotic superconductors in topological insulators. This project aims to explore their potential use in quantum computers.
Two UChicago studies were recognized as among the top three clinical research papers of 2016 by the Clinical Research Forum. Geneticist Carole Ober and immunologist Anne Sperling led a study showing that house dust mites from Amish homes suppressed allergic asthma in young children. Another team, led by pulmonologist John P. Kress, fou...
A research group at Toyohashi University of Technology has developed a technology that can recognize Japanese digits and monosyllables with 90% and 60% accuracy, respectively, using brain waves. This achievement paves the way for an EEG-activated typewriter and potentially empowers handicapped individuals to regain voice communication.
Researchers at TSRI have developed a broad and strikingly easy method for synthesizing boronic acid-based drugs, which could treat COPD and cystic fibrosis. The new method uses inexpensive carboxylic acids to create similar structures, offering potential for superior properties.
The European Union has funded two projects at Goethe University Frankfurt: one on producing environmentally friendly fuels from bacteria that can use carbon dioxide as a feedstock, and another on understanding how bacteria manipulate the ubiquitin system to their advantage in infectious diseases such as Salmonella and Shigella.
A new study by Scripps Research Institute reveals a key difference in the brains of alcohol-dependent and nondependent rats. Alcohol increases activity in the central amygdala through two distinct brain signaling pathways, which can be targeted for personalized treatments.
Three TU Dresden scientists, Prof. Stephan Grill, Frank Buchholz, and Stefan Kaskel, receive significant ERC Advanced Grants to advance research in embryo development, efficient genetic surgery, and pressure amplifying materials with potential applications in energy and environmental technologies
The EPSRC-funded projects explore new uses for digital distributed ledgers in energy, healthcare and finance. The research aims to improve transparency, security and privacy while enabling disruptive changes in the economy and society.
A team from CRAG has found that the regulation of protein activity through SUMOylation is crucial for plants to protect themselves against fungal infections. Plants with compromised SUMOylation show increased susceptibility to necrotrophic fungal infections.
The European Research Council awards €2.4M to Thomas Sunn Pedersen for creating the world's first matter-antimatter plasma. The plasma is expected to exhibit extraordinary properties and may reveal new discoveries in astrophysics.
The study identifies variables that attract and repel young Spanish researchers, highlighting the importance of social capabilities in retaining scientists. Attracting researchers involves differential advantages such as research career, training, funding, and institutional prestige, while retention focuses on social factors like work ...
A research team from the University of Freiburg has developed a new method to create microprobes that can grow into neural tissue without causing inflammation. These probes can deliver strong signals even after twelve weeks, opening up new possibilities for diagnoses and treatments for conditions like Parkinson's.
The US Air Force and Walt Disney Company have been recognized for their pioneering use of operations research (O.R.) to improve decision-making processes. The organizations have effectively integrated O.R. into their daily operations, resulting in enhanced efficiency, effectiveness, and innovation.
New research suggests that carbon dioxide concentrations will head towards values not seen since the Triassic period due to human activities. The study finds that if humanity fails to tackle rising CO2, by AD 2250 CO2 levels could reach 2000 ppm, potentially unprecedented in 420 million years.