ScienceDaily: All - April 15, 2025
Today's top research news
New study finds surprising way to curb college-aged drinking harms -- without cutting alcohol
Researchers have developed and tested an intervention called Counter-Attitudinal Advocacy and compared it to to the well-established Personalized Normative Feedback (PNF) to evaluate their effectiveness in decreasing drinks per week, peak blood alcohol concentration and alcohol-related consequences relative to a control group.
To avoid parasites, some fruit flies sacrifice sleep
Some fruit flies sacrifice sleep to avoid parasites like mites. Researchers discovered marked differences in gene expression related to metabolism in the hypervigilant flies.
Researchers may have solved decades-old mystery behind benzodiazepine side effects
Identifying a key protein's role could improve the common mental health medications and point to new treatments for inflammation-related diseases, a medicinal chemist says.
Physics reveals the optimal roof ratios for energy efficiency
There are roof shapes and ratios that maximize heat retainment and energy efficiency and, interestingly, ancient Italian architects and builders seemed to know it, too.
We're living in a period where the gap between rich and poor is dramatic, and it's continuing to widen. But inequality is nothing new. In a new study researchers compared house size distributions from more than 1,000 sites around the world, covering the last 10,000 years. They found that while inequality is widespread throughout human history, it's not inevitable, nor is it expressed to the same degree at every place and time.
New plant molecule encourages plant-fungi symbiosis to improve crops
Scientists use small peptides to enhance symbiosis between plants and fungi, offering a sustainable alternative to artificial fertilizers. Plant biologists discover new plant molecule, CLE16, as well as a fungal CLE16 mimic, that encourage the beneficial symbiotic relationship between plants and fungi. CLE16 supplementation in crop fields could help reduce harmful chemical fertilizer use by replacing it with sustainable, long-lasting symbiotic plant-fungus relationships for important crops like soy, corn, and wheat.
LSD analogue with potential for treating schizophrenia developed
Researchers have developed a new, neuroplasticity-promoting drug closely related to LSD that harnesses the psychedelic's therapeutic power with reduced hallucinogenic potential.
Wealth inequality's deep roots in human prehistory
Wealth inequality began shaping human societies more than 10,000 years ago, long before the rise of ancient empires or the invention of writing. That's according to a new study that challenges traditional views that disparities in wealth emerged suddenly with large civilizations like Egypt or Mesopotamia.
The gut health benefits of sauerkraut
A new study suggests that sauerkraut could help protect your gut, an essential part of overall health.
AI tool to better assess Parkinson's disease, other movement disorders
A groundbreaking open-source computer program uses artificial intelligence to analyze videos of patients with Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders. The tool, called VisionMD, helps doctors more accurately monitor subtle motor changes, improving patient care and advancing clinical research.
Pioneering method detects oral cancer earlier
The powerful potential of nano technologies and AI to detect oral cancer earlier and more accurately have been revealed by a new study.
Gestational diabetes linked to ADHD in children
A new study has found children born to mothers who experienced gestational diabetes (GDM) during pregnancy are more likely to develop attention-deficient hyperactive disorder (ADHD) and externalizing behavior.
High blood pressure? Eat more bananas
New research suggests increasing the ratio of dietary potassium to sodium intake may be more effective for lowering blood pressure than simply reducing sodium intake.
Scientists identify key enzyme in Alzheimer's disease that links brain inflammation to memory loss
A research team has identified a previously unknown enzyme, SIRT2, that plays a key role in memory loss associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The study provides critical insights into how astrocytes contribute to cognitive decline by producing excessive amounts of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA.
Photonic computing needs more nonlinearity: Acoustics can help
Neural networks are one typical structure on which artificial intelligence can be based. The term neural describes their learning ability, which to some extent mimics the functioning of neurons in our brains. To be able to work, several key ingredients are required: one of them is an activation function which introduces nonlinearity into the structure. A photonic activation function has important advantages for the implementation of optical neural networks based on light propagation. Researchers have now experimentally shown an all-optically controlled activation function based on traveling sound waves. It is suitable for a wide range of optical neural network approaches and allows operation in the so-called synthetic frequency dimension.
Rise and shine: Natural light lessens morning fatigue
Researchers tested whether introducing light into the bedroom before waking would improve morning wakefulness and found an amount of time that seems to help fight off fatigue and raise alertness most.
New method for detecting nanoplastics in body fluids
Microplastics and the much smaller nanoplastics enter the human body in various ways, for example through food or the air we breathe. A large proportion is excreted, but a certain amount remains in organs, blood and other body fluids. Scientists have now been able to develop a method for detecting and quantifying nanoplastics in transparent body fluids and determining their chemical composition.
Pioneering research reveals Arctic matter pathways poised for major shifts amidst climate change
A new study has shed unprecedented light on the highly variable and climate-sensitive routes that substances from Siberian rivers use to travel across the Arctic Ocean. The findings raise fresh concerns about the increasing spread of pollutants and the potential consequences for fragile polar ecosystems as climate change accelerates.
Scientists may have solved a puzzling space rock mystery
Researchers may have answered one of space science's long-running questions -- and it could change our understanding of how life began. Carbon-rich asteroids are abundant in space yet make up less than 5 per cent of meteorites found on Earth.
Sleep matters: Duration, timing, quality and more may affect cardiovascular disease risk
Healthy sleep includes multiple components, such as number of hours of sleep per night, how long it takes to fall asleep, daytime functioning and self-reported sleep satisfaction, and addressing these different dimensions of sleep may help to reduce cardiometabolic health and related risk factors, according to a new scientific statement.
Whether for cooking, heating, as a light source or for making tools -- it is assumed that fire was essential for the survival of people in the Ice Age. However, it is puzzling that hardly any well-preserved evidence of fireplaces from the coldest period of the Ice Age in Europe has been found so far. A group of scientists has now been able to shed some light on the mystery of Ice Age fire. Their analysis of three hearths at a prehistoric site in Ukraine shows that people of the last Ice Age built different types of hearths and used mainly wood, but possibly also bones and fat, to fuel their fires.
Light bulb moment for understanding DNA repair switches
Researchers have uncovered answers that provide the detail to explain two specific DNA repair processes that have long been in question.
Unlocking the genetic basis of animal behavior using fruit flies
Understanding how genes influence complex behaviors remains one of biology's most fascinating challenges. Now, however, in a recent study, researchers have compiled a comprehensive dataset documenting the behaviors of over 30,000 fruit flies across 105 genetically distinct strains. This valuable resource captures individual and group behaviors under various conditions, providing unparalleled insights into the genetic foundations of behavior that could ultimately enable a better understanding of human health conditions and ecology.
Stress, depression factor into link between insomnia, heavy drinking
A new study suggests that perceived stress and depression factor into the relationship between insomnia and hazardous drinking -- perhaps not a surprise. But because the relationship between insomnia and heavy drinking goes in both directions, the influence of stress or depression depends on which condition came first, the analysis found.
Modeling method provides smarter way to predict customer demand
Researchers have developed a new forecasting model that helps companies more accurately estimate how many customers are interested in a product -- even when key data is missing. The study introduces a mathematical modeling method that enables businesses to estimate customer interest beyond just completed transactions and traditional forecasting techniques. The approach offers a more precise way to understand demand, optimize operations and improve decision-making.
New tool for cutting DNA: Promising prospects for biotechnology
A team discovers a new family of enzymes capable of inducing targeted cuts in single-stranded DNA A few years ago, the advent of technology known as CRISPR was a major breakthrough in the scientific world. Developed from a derivative of the immune system of bacteria, CRISPR enables double strands of nucleotides in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) to be cut. This makes it possible to specifically modify a targeted gene in plant, animal and human cells. Ultimately, CRISPR became a preferred method in the search for treatments for acquired or hereditary diseases.
Footprints of tail-clubbed armored dinosaurs found for the first time
Footprints of armored dinosaurs with tail clubs have been identified, following discoveries made in the Canadian Rockies. The 100-million-year-old fossilized footprints were found at sites at both Tumbler Ridge, BC, and northwestern Alberta.
Combination of drugs could prevent thousands of heart attacks
Patients who receive an add-on medication soon after a heart attack have a significantly better prognosis than those who receive it later, or not all, new research suggests.
How the brain controls movement under uncertainty
A new study by neuroscientists shows that our brain deals with different forms of visual uncertainty during movements in distinct ways. Depending on the type of uncertainty, planning and execution of movements in the brain are affected differently. These findings could help to optimize brain-computer interfaces that, for example, help people with paralysis to control prostheses or computers with their thoughts alone.
Cooler faster better: Engineers uncover a new way to stop electronics from overheating
Engineers discovered a way to move heat ultrafast using crystal waves, offering a breakthrough in cooling advanced electronics.
A mysterious pathogen: Oropouche virus more common in Latin America than previously thought
Like the dengue and Zika viruses, Oropouche virus causes a febrile illness. There are recent indications that infections during pregnancy can cause damage to unborn babies. Researchers have now determined that the virus is much more widespread in Latin America than previously assumed. Their study also suggests that climatic conditions have a significant influence on the virus's spread.
Fishing for cephalopod DNA allows for efficient marine surveying
New DNA probes allow for efficient surveying of the hidden lives of squids and octopuses in the deep sea. This development provides an effective tool for marine ecological research and conservation efforts.
Recently discovered immune cell type is key to understanding food allergies
A new study has revealed that a special group of cells in the intestines tamp down the immune responses caused by exposure to food proteins. Called 'tolerogenic dendritic cells,' these cells enable food to pass through the body without triggering an immune reaction, unless they malfunction to cause allergies.
Study sheds light on how inherited cancer mutations drive tumor growth
Most cancer genome studies have focused on mutations in the tumor itself and how such gene variants allow a tumor to grow unchecked. A new study takes a deep dive into inherited cancer mutations measured in a healthy blood sample and reports how those mutations might take a toll on the body's cells starting at birth, perhaps predisposing a person to develop cancers at various stages of life.
Deep-sea mining risks leads study to urge shift to circular solutions
Deep sea mining operations are expected to increase the negative impact on environmental indicators by up to 13 per cent, a change categorized as having 'great' significance, relative to the 'without' DSM scenario, notably through increased coastal vulnerability, pollution, and biodiversity loss.
New, non-toxic synthesis method for 'miracle material' MXene
MXenes are materials with almost miraculous properties: they can be used for electromagnetic shielding, for energy storage or for novel sensors. It was recently found that they are also amazingly suitable as solid lubricants, even under the harshest conditions, for example in space technology. The only problem so far has been that producing these MXenes was considered extremely dangerous and toxic. But now a new method has been developed: instead of a toxic acid, electricity is used.
New model to evaluate impact of extreme events and natural hazards
Engineers have created a sophisticated computer model that tracks how water moves in estuaries -- which is critical for evaluating climate variability and sea level fluctuation impacts for coastal communities.
Astroparticle physics: Neutrinos weigh less than 0.45 electronvolts
New data establish an upper limit of 0.45 eV/c2 (equivalent to 8 x 10-37 kilograms) for the neutrino mass. KATRIN measures neutrino mass in the laboratory using a model-independent method.
Candidate deafness genes revealed in new study
New candidate genes which could be responsible for deafness have been identified.
Reshaping quantum dots production through continuous flow and sustainable technologies
Researchers have developed a pioneering, sustainable method for producing cadmium-based quantum dots (QDs) in water using a biocompatible chalcogen source. This fully aqueous, continuous flow process avoids harmful organic solvents and offers enhanced safety, scalability, and environmental performance. A collaboration led to the creation of a water-soluble chalcogen transfer agent inspired by peptide chemistry. Real-time Raman spectroscopy enabled detailed analysis of reaction mechanisms. The new system improves productivity while reducing waste and energy use. Although cadmium QDs are efficient, their toxicity remains a concern, prompting the team to explore greener alternatives. This innovation marks a significant step toward responsible, large-scale nanomaterial production.
Maximal entanglement sheds new light on particle creation
Physicists have shown that particles produced in collimated sprays called jets retain information about their origins in subatomic particle smashups.
Key mechanism to obtain brown algae-derived compounds with biotech applications
Every year, thousands of tons of brown algae are extracted from the seabed to obtain compounds such as alginates, a polymer composed of sugars that has high density and strength, offering potential biotechnological applications. An international team has deciphered the mechanism by which a type of enzyme, called alginate lyase (AL), is capable of degrading these marine biomaterials, allowing them to be used as carriers of drugs, additives or thickeners, among others. These results will help in the development and design of new 'tailored alginates' for specific applications, especially in the food and biomedical industries.
Deadly rodent-borne hantavirus is an emerging disease with pandemic potential
Virginia Tech researchers seek to understand the environmental factors that influence the distribution of hantavirus in rodent populations across the United States.
New immune boost could expand access to cancer immunotherapy
Researchers have found that tapping into the body's own immune system and activating a type of immune cell known as B cells, could be the key to boosting the effectiveness of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte, or TIL therapy.
Hundred-year storm tides will occur every few decades in Bangladesh, scientists report
For the highly populated coastal country of Bangladesh, once-in-a-century storm tides could strike every 10 years -- or more often -- by the end of the century, scientists report.
Researchers watch a live catalytic event in real time
A team of scientists has directly observed catalysis in-action at the atomic level. In mesmerizing new videos, single atoms move and shake during a chemical reaction that removes hydrogen atoms from an alcohol molecule. By viewing the process in real time, the researchers discovered several short-lived intermediate molecules involved in the reaction as well as a previously hidden reaction pathway.
Marine shipping emissions on track to meet 2030 goals, but expected to miss 2050 target
The United Nations organization responsible for international marine shipping today approved new emission reduction policies. A new paper highlights the need. Researchers surveyed 149 marine shipping experts in 2021 and found they expect the sector to see a reduction of 30 to 40 per cent in the carbon intensity of shipping -- a measure of the amount of CO2 emitted to ship cargo over a given distance -- by 2030 compared with 2008 levels. But they expect the sector won't meet its net-zero goal for 2050, instead achieving about 40 to 75 per cent reductions from 2008 levels.
New key genes in Parkinson's disease identified using CRISPR technology
A longstanding mystery in Parkinson's disease research has been why some individuals carrying pathogenic variants that increase their risk of PD go on to develop the disease, while others who also carry such variants do not. The prevailing theory has suggested additional genetic factors may play a role. To address this question, a new study used modern technology, called CRISPR interference, to systematically examine every gene in the human genome. The scientists identified a new set of genes that contribute to the risk of Parkinson's disease, which opens the door to previously untapped drug targets for treating PD.
Scientists observe exotic quantum phase once thought impossible
A team of researchers reported the first direct observation of a surprising quantum phenomenon predicted over half a century ago known as a superradiant phase transition, which occurs when two groups of quantum particles begin to fluctuate in a coordinated, collective way without any external trigger, forming a new state of matter.
A fluid battery that can take any shape
Using electrodes in a fluid form, researchers have developed a battery that can take any shape. This soft and conformable battery can be integrated into future technology in a completely new way.
Light that spirals like a nautilus shell
Pushing the limits of structured light, applied physicists report a new type of optical vortex beam that not only twists as it travels but also changes in different parts at different rates to create unique patterns. The way the light behaves resembles spiral shapes common in nature.
Crustal brines at an oceanic transform fault
A team presents new details of an oceanic transform fault at the Gofar fault in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The work reveals unexpected brine deposits beneath the seafloor near the fault, which could change the way we conceptualize oceanic transform faults.