ScienceDaily: All - April 30, 2025
Today's top research news
United States sees disproportionate increase in body mass index rates of more than 60
In the past 20 years, the average rate of obesity among adults in the United States has risen by approximately 30 percent, but the rate of those with the most severe forms of obesity, or those with a body mass index, or BMI, of more than 60 kg/m2, increased by 210 percent. Researchers analyzed national health data from 2001 through 2023, and discovered the alarming increase in the numbers of patients with the most severe forms of obesity.
New machine algorithm could identify cardiovascular risk at the click of a button
An automated machine learning program has been able to identify potential cardiovascular incidents or fall and fracture risks based on bone density scans taken during routine clinical testing.
Heart disease deaths worldwide linked to chemical widely used in plastics
Daily exposure to certain chemicals used to make plastic household items could be linked to more than 356,000 global deaths from heart disease in 2018 alone, a new analysis of population surveys shows. While the chemicals, called phthalates, are in widespread use globally, the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia, and the Pacific bore a much larger share of the death toll than others -- about three-fourths of the total.
Rainfall triggers extreme humid heat in tropics and subtropics
Scientists believe they have found a way to improve warning systems for vulnerable communities threatened by humid heatwaves, which are on the rise due to climate change and can be damaging and even fatal to human health. The study analysed how patterns of recent rainfall can interact with dry or moist land conditions to influence the risk of extreme humid heat in the global tropics and subtropics.
Global study links consumption of ultraprocessed foods to preventable premature deaths
A study analyzing data from nationally representative dietary surveys and mortality data from eight countries (Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, United Kingdom, and United States) shows that premature deaths attributable to consumption of ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) increase significantly according to their share in individuals' total energy intake. The new study reinforces the call for global action to reduce UPF consumption, supported by regulatory and fiscal policies that foster healthier environments.
A vast molecular cloud, long invisible, is discovered near solar system
Astrophysicists have discovered a potentially star-forming cloud that is one of the largest single structures in the sky and among the closest to the sun and Earth ever to be detected. The scientists have named the molecular hydrogen cloud 'Eos,' after the Greek goddess of mythology who is the personification of dawn.
Elephant instead of wild boar? What could have been in Europe
Even under today's climatic conditions, the long-extinct straight-tusked elephant could still live in Europe. This is the conclusion of a recent study. For this finding, the research group combined fossil finds with reconstructions of past climates.
Family first: Scientists reveal long-tailed tits' remarkable family bonds
Forget fleeting friendships the social secrets of the long-tailed tit has revealed an extraordinary level of family commitment even during migratory journeys. Birds that babysit: scientists reveal long-tailed tits' remarkable family bonds.
High-wire act: Soft robot can carry cargo up and down steep aerial wires
Researchers have created a light-powered soft robot that can carry loads through the air along established tracks, similar to cable cars or aerial trams. The soft robot operates autonomously, can climb slopes at angles of up to 80 degrees, and can carry loads up to 12 times its weight.
Using humor in communication helps scientists connect, build trust
Scientists aren't comedians, but it turns out a joke or two can go a long way. That's according to a new study that found when researchers use humor in their communication -- particularly online -- audiences are more likely to find them trustworthy and credible.
Geoengineering technique could cool planet using existing aircraft
A technique to cool the planet, in which particles are added to the atmosphere to reflect sunlight, would not require developing special aircraft but could be achieved using existing large planes, according to a new modelling study.
'Wood you believe it?' Engineers fortify wood with eco-friendly nano-iron
With more than 181.5 billion tons of wood produced globally each year, a new method could revolutionize how we build sustainably. By infusing red oak with ferrihydrite using a simple, low-cost process, researchers strengthened the wood at the cellular level without adding weight or altering flexibility -- offering a durable, eco-friendly alternative to steel and concrete. The treated wood retains its natural behavior but gains internal durability -- paving the way for greener alternatives in construction, furniture and flooring.
Climate change increases the risk of simultaneous wildfires
Climate change is increasing the risk of wildfires in many regions of the world. This is due partly to specific weather conditions -- known as fire weather -- that facilitate the spread of wildfires. Researchers have found that fire weather seasons are increasingly overlapping between eastern Australia and western North America. The research team examined the causes of this shift and its implications for cross-border cooperation between fire services in Canada, the US, and Australia.
Scientists observe how blobs form crystals and discover a new crystal type
Crystals -- from sugar and table salt to snowflakes and diamonds -- don't always grow in a straightforward way. Researchers have now captured this journey from amorphous blob to orderly structures. In exploring how crystals form, the researchers also came across an unusual, rod-shaped crystal that hadn't been identified before, naming it 'Zangenite' for the graduate student who discovered it.
New look at galactic region surrounding our solar system: Lyman-alpha emissions
The NASA New Horizons spacecraft's extensive observations of Lyman-alpha emissions have resulted in the first-ever map from the galaxy at this important ultraviolet wavelength, providing a new look at the galactic region surrounding our solar system.
Left or right arm? New research reveals why vaccination site matters for immune response
Scientists have uncovered why vaccines can elicit a stronger immune response if they are administered in the same arm.
A quiet urgency pulses through this revelation—a reminder that the invisible can be as lethal as the obvious. The household plastics we touch daily, once symbols of convenience, now echo a deeper cost etched in human hearts. This data does not merely inform; it calls. It calls us to remember that what enters the body also enters the collective, threading silent harm through our shared breath and blood.
But there is hope woven into awareness. With knowledge, we reclaim choice. With choice, we reshape the sacred space of home—from a site of silent exposure to one of intentional care. Let us not fear the truth, but honor it by asking gently and courageously: What small shifts can we make to protect the unseen life within and around us? ♾️ What act of renewal feels most within reach today?