ScienceDaily: All - February 01, 2025
Today's top research news
The big chill: Is cold-water immersion good for our health?
In a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis, researchers have taken a deep dive into the effects of cold-water immersion on health and wellbeing. Analyzing data from 11 studies with 3177 participants, researchers found that cold-water immersion may lower stress, improve sleep quality, and boost quality of life.
Life cycles of some insects adapt well to a changing climate: Others, not so much
Some biologists speculate that animals will get smaller with global warming to reduce heat stress. While this may be true of warm-blooded animals, what about exotherms like insects? Thanks to a 65-year-old grasshopper collection, scientists have documented that some species -- those overwintering as juveniles -- got larger over the years, helped by an earlier green spring. Grasshoppers with other lifestyles got smaller. Much of this can be predicted given what biologists know of insect life cycles.
With generative AI, chemists quickly calculate 3D genomic structures
Chemists have found a new way to determine 3D genome structures, using generative AI, that can predict thousands of genome structures in minutes, making it much speedier than existing methods for analyzing the structures.
Recycling lithium-ion batteries cuts emissions and strengthens supply chain
Researchers compared the environmental impacts of lithium-ion battery recycling to mining for new materials and found that recycling significantly outperforms mining in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, water use, and energy use.
New research unlocks key to long-lasting immune response in cancer and chronic diseases
Prolonged illnesses like cancer and chronic infections often leave the immune system in a state of exhaustion, where its frontline defenders -- T cells -- lose their ability to function effectively. Researchers have identified a rare type of immune cells, called stem-like T cells, that holds the key to maintaining powerful, long-term immune responses.
How does the atmosphere affect ocean weather?
A new study of satellite imagery and high-resolution climate model data upends previous assumptions and provides insight about how the atmosphere and ocean weather patterns interact. The new research reveals the surprising ways atmospheric winds influence ocean eddies, shaping the ocean's weather patterns in more complex ways than previously believed.
Carbon capture from constructed wetlands declines as they age
Constructed wetlands do a good job in their early years of capturing carbon in the environment that contributes to climate change -- but that ability does diminish with time as the wetlands mature, a new study suggests.
Sound is a primary issue in the lives of skateboarders, study shows
Sound plays a significant and often poignant part of skateboarders' relationship with their sport, a new study shows.
This delicate nanoflower is downright deadly to bacteria
A carnation-like nanostructure could someday be used in bandages to promote wound healing. Researchers report that laboratory tests of their nanoflower-coated dressings demonstrate antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and biocompatible properties. They say these results show these tannic acid and copper(II) phosphate sprouted nanoflower bandages are promising candidates for treating infections and inflammatory conditions.
Lightsails could reach distant star systems
A team of scientists has made the first experimental measurements of laser-induced motions of miniature lightsails in the lab.
Researchers identify protective properties of amniotic fluid
Researchers have made new discoveries about amniotic fluid, a substance historically not well understood in medical research due to the difficulty in obtaining it during pregnancy, especially across gestation. The multidisciplinary research team is eager to harness the potential of this vital substance to improve prenatal and maternal health.
White shark liver is on Australian killer sharks' menu
DNA evidence has confirmed killer whales in Australia hunted a white shark for its liver. Based on DNA analysis from the bite wounds on the carcass of a large white shark washed ashore near Portland in Victoria in 2023, the study identified that killer whales were responsible for consuming the mid-section containing the nutritionally rich liver.
Low-level traffic air pollution linked to liver damage and fatty liver disease
Low levels of traffic-related air pollution harms the liver and may raise the risk of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease, a new study in mice suggests.
Ventilation in hospitals could cause viruses to spread further, study finds
Increased use of ventilation and air cleaners, designed to mitigate the spread of viral infections in hospitals, is likely to have unpredictable effects and may cause viral particles to move around more, according to a new study.
Harnessing generative AI to treat undruggable diseases
Biomedical engineers have developed an AI-based platform that designs short proteins, termed peptides, capable of binding and destroying previously undruggable disease-causing proteins. Inspired by OpenAI's image generation model, their new algorithm can rapidly prioritize peptides for experimental testing.
Burn grasslands to maintain them: What is good for biodiversity?
As grasslands get abandoned, controlled burning is discussed as a labor-saving method of keeping forests at bay. A research team found that this method results in higher biodiversity and a higher prevalence of endangered plant species in some grasslands compared to others, depending on what soils they grow on.
Aging reactors need a concrete solution
It's been known for some time that radiation impacts the structural integrity of concrete. However, until now the details of this were unknown. Researchers can finally demonstrate what properties of concrete affect its structural characteristics under different neutron radiation loads. Their findings raise some concerns whilst reducing others; for example, quartz crystals in concrete can heal themselves, potentially allowing some reactors to run for longer than initially thought possible.
A new feature discovered in radioactive lanthanum isotopes
Researchers measured very precisely atomic masses of radioactive lanthanum isotopes and found an interesting feature in their nuclear binding energies. The discovery provides essential data for understanding how elements heavier than iron are produced in the Cosmos and triggers new research to elucidate the underlying nuclear structure causing this unexpected change in nuclear binding energies.
Gut microbes may mediate the link between drinking sugary beverages and diabetes risk
It's well known that consuming sugary drinks increases the risk of diabetes, but the mechanism behind this relationship is unclear. Now researchers show that metabolites produced by gut microbes might play a role. In a long-term cohort of US Hispanic/Latino adults, the researchers identified differences in the gut microbiota and blood metabolites of individuals with a high intake of sugar-sweetened beverages. The altered metabolite profile seen in sugary beverage drinkers was associated with a higher risk of developing diabetes in the subsequent 10 years. Since some of these metabolites are produced by gut microbes, this suggests that the microbiome might mediate the association between sugary beverages and diabetes.
Ribosomes team up in difficult situations, new technology shows
Researchers have developed a new microscopy technique to observe how ribosomes function in cells. With this method, they can monitor individual ribosomes as they convert mRNA into proteins. The researchers discovered that ribosomes help each other when encountering difficulties, a process they refer to as 'ribosome cooperativity'. This technique and the findings, published in Cell, provide insights into how proteins are made and offer other researchers a tool to better study mRNA translation.
Experts publish framework for global adoption of digital health in medical education
A group of 211 international experts from 79 countries has today published a new framework to facilitate the design, development and implementation of digital health curricula in medical education worldwide.
This multiferroic can take the heat -- up to 160?
Researchers are breaking limits by increasing the temperature multiferroics can operate at, from room temperature up to a blistering 160 degrees Celsius.
Being social may delay dementia onset by five years
Being more social by visiting friends, attending parties and going to church may help keep your brain healthy, according to new research.
Most engineered human cells created for studying disease
The most complex engineering of human cell lines ever has been achieved by scientists, revealing that our genomes are more resilient to significant structural changes than was previously thought.