ScienceDaily: All - February 06, 2025
Today's top research news
Understanding aging requires more than counting birthdays
Many commercial biological age tests collect genetic information through saliva samples or oral swabs. For accurate measurements, however, blood samples are typically necessary according to a new study.
Could the key to easing anxiety be hidden in our gut? Scientists have discovered a crucial connection between gut microbes and anxiety-related behavior. Their research suggests that microbial metabolites -- specifically indoles -- play a direct role in regulating brain activity linked to anxiety. This finding opens up exciting possibilities for new probiotic-based therapies to improve mental health.
Reducing sulphur in the air may inadvertently increase natural emissions of methane from wetlands such as peatlands and swamps, a new study has found. The resulting additional future release of 20-34 million tons of methane each year from natural wetlands would mean targets to reduce human-caused emissions need to be more stringent than currently set out in the Global Methane Pledge.
Scientists simulate asteroid collision effects on climate and plants
A new climate modeling study presents a new scenario of how climate and life on our planet would change in response to a potential future strike of a medium-sized (~500 m) asteroid.
One in four chance per year that rocket junk will enter busy airspace
There's a 26 per cent annual chance that space rocket junk will re-enter the atmosphere and pass through a busy flight area, according to a recent study. While the chance of debris hitting an aircraft is very low, the research highlights that the potential for uncontrolled space rocket junk to disrupt flights and create additional costs for airlines and passengers is not.
Later-onset menopause linked to healthier blood vessels, lower heart disease risk
New research shows that women who hit menopause later in life have healthier blood vessels and mitochondria and a different composition of metabolites in their blood than those who stop menstruating earlier. The study helps explain why late-onset menopause is linked to lower risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Study finds new link between food choices, depression and Alzheimer's Disease
New research has shown that diet could influence the risk of both depression and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Evidence suggests that depressive symptoms are both a risk factor for AD and a reaction to early memory problems.
Illuminating the beginnings of animal development
New biophysics research adds to our knowledge about the origins of left-right asymmetry in the body.
Shifting landscapes due to the 2024 Noto peninsula earthquake in Japan
What created the Noto Peninsula landscape we know today? After examining the devastation from the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake, researchers have a theory.
New study reveals how RNA travels between cells to control genes across generations
Researchers uncover key mechanisms in gene regulation that may lead to better design of RNA-based medicines.
Polymeric delivery system revolutionizes mRNA therapeutics
A research team has developed a biodegradable polymer-based delivery system that efficiently transports mRNA.
Male flies sharpened their eyesight to call the females' bluff
With bloated bellies and hairy legs, female flies try to look bigger to get food from courting mates. But male flies, in turn, have sharpened their eyesight to call their bluff. A new study suggests that this is an ongoing evolution where both sexes try to outsmart each other.
New details about insulin production deciphered
How does the body regulate the activity of insulin-producing cells in order to react quickly to changing conditions? Researchers have investigated this question.
By studying neutron 'starquakes', scientists hope to transform their understanding of nuclear matter
The study of 'starquakes' (like earthquakes, but in stars) promises to give us important new insights into the properties of neutron stars, improving our understanding of the universe and advancing the way we live.
Carbohydrate cravings in depression
Depression affects 280 million people worldwide. The mental illness has been proven to lead to changes in eating behavior. Researchers have discovered that although patients with depression generally have less appetite, they prefer carbohydrate-rich foods.
Wealth is strong predictor of prosocial behavior around the world, study suggests
Wealthy people are more likely to engage in prosocial behavior such as donating money or volunteering, according to a new global study.
Boosting communication between the spinal nerves and the muscles using the spinal cord stimulation reverses spinal muscle atrophy (SMA) progression and could be applied to other motoneuron diseases, including ALS.
Body weight and body mass index alone are not enough to predict whether someone will develop a metabolic disease. A new atlas of cells in fat tissue could help to explain why some overweight people stay healthy, while others do not.
Drinking ketones improves heart health, study suggests
Drinking ketones improves heart health, a new small-scale study has found.
Beyond the gut: A new frontier in IBS treatment by targeting the brain
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common digestive disorder with unclear causes, affecting about 10% of the global population. Researchers have now discovered that opioid delta-receptor agonists may alleviate IBS symptoms by acting directly on the central nervous system. Using a novel stress-induced mouse model, they found these drugs reduce abdominal pain and regulate bowel movements. This research suggests a promising approach to treating IBS by targeting stress as a contributing factor.
New spin on quantum liquids: Quasi-1D dynamics in molecular spin systems
Quantum spin liquids are fascinating states of matter where magnetic spins stay disordered, defying the usual rules of magnetism. Scientists have made an exciting discovery about one such material. Instead of acting like a 2D system as expected, it behaves like a 1D system. This breakthrough changes how we understand these mysterious materials, offering new insights into magnetism and opening doors to advances in quantum materials and technology.
Gender equality is crucial for a climate resilient future
A new study shows why gender equality trends should be central when planning how societies adapt to and mitigate climate change.
Using sugars from peas speeds up sour beer brewing
Sour beers have become a fixture on microbrewery menus and store shelves. They're enjoyed for their tart, complex flavors, but some can require long and complicated brewing processes. Researchers have now brewed new sours in less time using a seemingly strange ingredient: field peas. The experimental beers had fruity -- not 'beany' -- flavors and other attributes comparable to a commercial Belgian-style sour, but with shorter, simpler brewing steps.
Stormwater pollution sucked up by specialized sponge
A specialized sponge that works to slurp up pollutants, and then release them as desired, may present a reusable, low-cost solution.
Value-added pancakes: Using science to improve nutrition of breakfast staple
Food scientists are working to make pancakes healthier by boosting the popular morning favorite's nutritional value while enhancing its taste and texture. Generally, pancakes are made with refined flours, contributing to empty calories. The scientists want to make tasty pancakes with whole grains that add some fiber and protein.
Plant power: A new method to model how plants move water globally
Earth systems models are an important tool for studying complex processes occurring around the planet, such as those in and between the atmosphere and biosphere, and they help researchers and policymakers better understand phenomena like climate change. Incorporating more data into these simulations can improve modeling accuracy; however, sometimes, this requires the arduous task of gathering millions of data points. Researchers have now developed a method to bypass the need for gathering data for over 55,000 tree species to better account for how plants influence the flow of water around the planet.
College commuters: Link between students' mental health, vehicle crashes
Young adults are at higher risk for crashes due to inexperience, risk-taking, and impaired driving. A study examines the link between commuter college students' mental health and crash risk, highlighting the added impact on their education, especially in transit-limited South Florida.
Researchers discover simple solution to break down forever chemicals
A researcher has discovered a new method to remove so-called 'forever chemicals' from our drinking water by heating the PFAS with granular activated carbon. The discovery represents a significant breakthrough in managing PFAS-containing solid wastes, biosolids and spent adsorbent media that are major concerns to farmers and communities.
Communication between body muscle and the brain influences fertility
A newly discovered line of communication between body muscle and the pituitary gland may play an unexpected role in female fertility, according to a new study. Researchers found that a protein produced in the muscles helps manage the release of a hormone made in the pea-sized gland attached to the base of the brain.
Researchers discover the brain cells that tell you to stop eating
Newly discovered brain cells count each bite before sending the order to cease eating a meal.
Drug reverses groin hernias in male mice without surgery, shows promise in humans
By age 75, a noteworthy 50% of men develop an inguinal (groin) hernia. Although common, the cause of these hernias is unknown, and the only treatment is surgery to repair the weakened area. Even after surgery, these hernias recur in 10 to 15% of men. Using a novel, medication-based approach, a new study successfully reversed existing inguinal hernias in male mice and fully restored their normal anatomy without surgery. Even more promising, the scientists also examined human hernia tissue and found the identical molecular markers as in the mouse model. More than a million inguinal hernia repair surgeries per year are performed under general anesthesia in the U.S.
Fool yourself: People unknowingly cheat on tasks to feel smarter, healthier
When given the opportunity, individuals will cheat to feel smarter or healthier, engaging in diagnostic self-deception to convince themselves that their performance is due to their ability and not the cheating, according to new research.
Physicists measure a key aspect of superconductivity in 'magic-angle' graphene
Physicists measured how readily a current of electron pairs flows through 'magic-angle' graphene, a major step toward understanding how this unusual material superconducts. By determining how readily electron pairs flow through this material, scientists have taken a big step toward understanding its remarkable properties.
Study in India shows kids use different math skills at work vs. school
A study by economists shows a wide gap between the kinds of math problems kids who work in retail markets do well and the kinds of problems kids in school do well.
Paving the way to quantum supercomputers
In a milestone that brings quantum computing tangibly closer to large-scale practical use, scientists have demonstrated the first instance of distributed quantum computing. Using a photonic network interface, they successfully linked two separate quantum processors to form a single, fully connected quantum computer, paving the way to tackling computational challenges previously out of reach.
Why antibiotics can fail even against non-resistant bacteria
Antibiotics are indispensable for treating bacterial infections. But why are they sometimes ineffective, even when the bacteria are not resistant? In their latest study, researchers challenge the conventional view that a small subset of particularly resilient bacteria are responsible for the failure of antibiotic therapies.
Missing link in Indo-European languages' history found
Where lies the origin of the Indo-European language family? Researchers contribute a new piece to this puzzle. They analyzed ancient DNA from 435 individuals from archaeological sites across Eurasia between 6.400--2.000 BCE. They found out that a newly recognized Caucasus-Lower Volga population can be connected to all Indo-European-speaking populations.
Cancer vaccine shows promise for patients with stage III and IV kidney cancer
Researchers report that all nine patients in a clinical trial being treated for stage III or IV clear cell renal cell carcinoma (a form of kidney cancer), generated a successful anti-cancer immune response after initiation of a personalized cancer vaccine.
A study of 57,000 people in 21 countries finds that only 6.9 per cent who met criteria for a mental health or substance-use disorder received effective treatment. The biggest barrier to effective treatment is a person not recognizing that they need it. However, even patients who contact the healthcare system often do not receive effective treatment, for various reasons. The study quantified, for the first time, where attrition occurs at each stage along the path to effective treatment.
Researchers have revealed novel sequence-structure-property relationships for customizing engineered living materials (ELMs), enabling more precise control over their structure and how they respond to deformation forces like stretching or compression.