ScienceDaily: All - February 04, 2025
Today's top research news
Slow traffic, fast food: Study links road delays with unhealthy eating
Ever notice how much more tempting it is to pick up fast food for dinner after being stuck in traffic? It's not just you. New research shows that traffic delays significantly increase visits to fast food restaurants, leading to unhealthier eating for millions each year.
Life-bearing water arrived on Earth later rather than sooner
Scientist have concluded water did not arrive as early during Earth's formation as previously thought, an insight that bears directly on the question of when life originated on the planet. The finding is significant because the data reported by the study support the idea that water arrived towards the final stages of Earth's development into a planet from dust and gas, what geologists refer to as late accretion.
Innovative program helps seniors manage stress
A new study shows significant long-term reductions in the stress hormone cortisol in seniors taking part in the O'stress program.
Inhibitor drugs to treat aggressive breast cancer identified
A national study seeking more effective treatment for deadly metaplastic breast cancer has identified two inhibitor drugs with the potential to interrupt disease progression.
The metal that does not expand
Most metals expand when their temperature rises. This effect is extremely undesirable for many technical applications. Now, scientists have created a new material that hardly changes in length over an extremely wide temperature range.
A light-activated drug to fight psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease that manifests itself mainly with skin symptoms (dryness, itching, scaly skin, abnormal patches and plaques). It affects about 2% of the population and is mediated by an altered immune system response that triggers the proliferation of skin cells. Depending on the severity, there are different therapeutic options (topical medications, phototherapy, systemic drugs, etc.), but some conventional treatments can have harmful effects on patients.
Understanding the increase in stillbirth rates in Germany amid European declines
The stillbirth rate in Europe has been steadily improving over the last few decades, but there are some exceptions. In Germany and Belgium, rates have significantly increased since 2010, while other European countries have seen declines or stability. Researchers have investigated how factors like increasing maternal age and multiple births may have influenced these trends and differences across Europe. The analyses indicate that these factors explain only a small portion of the variations.
We have underrated the climate effects of new particles in urban areas
A recent study has uncovered compelling evidence suggesting that the climate effects of new particles in urban areas have been significantly underestimated.
More, bigger crevasses open up in Greenland ice sheet, threatening increased sea level rise
More crevasse activity could lead to positive feedback loop threatening Greenland glacier's stability.
Scientists discover how genetic risk for alcoholism changes brain cell behavior
A new study may help explain why some people are more susceptible to developing drinking problems.
Engineers help multirobot systems stay in the safety zone
Engineers developed a training method for multiagent systems, such as large numbers of drones, that can guarantee their safe operation in crowded environments.
Most complex model of molecular 'wear-and-tear' to date shines light on how proteins age
New work could help produce more effective future anti-aging treatments.
Research aims to standardize rock climbing route difficulty through machine learning techniques
Researchers have explored how integrating machine and deep learning techniques can create a standardized system for evaluating rock climbing routes to provide a difficulty grading scale that promotes inclusivity, accuracy and accessibility for all experience levels. The study found that the most successful approach for determining the difficulty of a rock-climbing route used route-centric, natural language processing methods.
Building a circular future: Study reveals key organizational capabilities for sustainability
A recent study by management scholars underscores the importance of organizations' dynamic capabilities for greener business practices. Analyzing data from 139 manufacturing companies, the research reveals that financial and technological expertise combined with adaptability to regulations and evolving consumer demands, are key to advancing the green transition.
Researcher uses AI to reimagine telehealth billing
With the growing popularity of telehealth comes new issues with billing.
Global internet grid could better detect earthquakes with new algorithm
Early detection of earthquakes could be vastly improved by tapping into the world's internet network with a groundbreaking new algorithm, researchers say. Fiber optic cables used for cable television, telephone systems and the global web matrix now have the potential to help measure seismic rumblings thanks to recent technological advances, but harnessing this breakthrough has proved problematic. A new paper seeks to address these challenges by adapting a simple physics-based algorithm to include fiber optic data that can then be used hand-in-hand with traditional seismometer measurements.
High-yield rice breed emits up to 70% less methane
Rice cultivation is responsible for around 12% of global methane emissions, and these emissions are expected to increase with global warming and as the human population continues to grow. Now, scientists have identified chemical compounds released by rice roots that determine how much methane the plants emit. They report that this information enabled them to breed a new strain of rice that emits up to 70% less methane.
A protein at the heart of heart disease
Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) -- commonly known as bad cholesterol -- have long been on scientists' radar as a major contributor to heart disease. But these microscopic troublemakers have hidden their inner workings behind a maze of complexity. That is, until now. Researchers have now revealed the specific shape and structure of one of the body's most important yet complicated proteins: ApoB100. Acting as a kind of molecular exoskeleton, this protein wraps around LDL particles, allowing them to travel through the bloodstream, researchers found.
Vitamin D matters during first trimester
Maternal vitamin D levels in the first trimester were related to both prenatal growth and pregnancy outcomes, according to a new study. Low vitamin D levels during the first trimester of pregnancy were associated with higher rates of preterm birth and decreased fetal length.
Alarming rise in rates of advanced prostate cancer in California
The incidence of advanced prostate cancer in California rose markedly in the decade since doctors stopped routinely screening all men for the disease, according to a new study.
Men undergoing radiation therapy for prostate cancer who experience side effects early in treatment may face a higher risk of developing more serious long-term urinary and bowel health issues, according to a new study.