ScienceDaily: All - March 25, 2025
Today's top research news
Mathematicians uncover the logic behind how people walk in crowds
Mathematicians studied the flow of human crowds and developed a way to predict when pedestrian paths will transition from orderly to entangled. Their findings may help inform the design of public spaces that promote safe and efficient thoroughfares.
A simple way to boost math progress
Scientists investigated whether email interventions informed by behavioral science could help teachers help students learn math.
5,700-year storm archive shows rise in tropical storms and hurricanes in the Caribbean
A storm, even once it has passed, can leave traces in the ocean that last for thousands of years. These consist of sediment layers composed of coarse particles, which are different from the finer sediments associated with good weather. In the Caribbean, an international research team has now examined such sediments using a 30 m long core from a 'blue hole' offshore Belize. The analysis shows that over the past 5,700 years, the frequency of tropical storms and hurricanes in the region has steadily increased. For the 21st century, the research team predicts a significant rise in regional storm frequency as a result of climate change.
New tool enables remote hardware troubleshooting
A team of researchers has developed a new tool designed to revolutionize hardware troubleshooting, with the help of 3D phone scans.
Researchers have discovered that chimpanzees living in Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania employ a degree of engineering when making their tools, deliberately choosing plants that provide materials that produce more flexible tools for termite fishing.
Avoidable deaths are on the rise in the United States, yet falling in many peer nations
In most high-income countries around the world, the number of avoidable mortalities is going down. But in the United States, avoidable deaths have been on the rise for more than a decade, according to a new study by researchers who examined mortality trends across U.S. states and 40 high-income countries.
Healthy eating in midlife linked to overall healthy aging
Maintaining a healthy diet rich in plant-based foods, with low to moderate intake of healthy animal-based foods and lower intake of ultra-processed foods, was linked to a higher likelihood of healthy aging -- defined as reaching age 70 free of major chronic diseases and with cognitive, physical, and mental health maintained, according to a new study. The study is among the first to examine multiple dietary patterns in midlife in relation to overall healthy aging.
New non-surgical contraceptive implant is delivered through tiny needles
Investigators have developed a long-acting contraceptive implant that can be delivered through tiny needles to minimize patient discomfort and increase the likelihood of medication use. Their findings in preclinical models provide the technological basis to develop self-administrable contraceptive shots that could mimic the long-term drug release of surgically implanted devices.
3D nanotech blankets offer new path to clean drinking water
Researchers have developed a new material that, by harnessing the power of sunlight, can clear water of dangerous pollutants.
How extreme weather threatens nature's essential services
A new model suggests that timber production in Minnesota could decrease by half as windstorms intensify with climate change.
The right moves to reign in fibrosis
Biomedical researchers have decoded how mechanical forces drive cell behavior in fibrosis.
Do-it-yourself box filter clears the air of indoor pollutants
When wildfires threaten communities, human health can be impacted as smoke distributes on the breeze, infiltrating various structures. To help people protect themselves and their families, researchers have developed a low-cost, durable, do-it-yourself air filtration system that works as well as more expensive HEPA filters to clear indoor air pollutants such as smoke -- or possibly limit the impact of airborne disease spread.
Breaking antibiotic-resistant bacteria's protective shields opens door for immune system response
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a serious public health threat. Understanding the biology of these bacteria--such as how they synthesise their protective capsules--is essential for developing new strategies to counter antibiotic resistance.
Citrus remedy squeezes out dry mouth for cancer patients
A natural citrus oil from oranges, lemons, and limes is proving highly effective in relieving dry mouth, and when combined with a new lipid formulation, new research suggests it may be effective without significant side effects. This formulation uniquely combines limonene (a citrus essential oil) with a lipid-based drug delivery system to treat dry mouth (xerostomia), a common side effect of radiotherapy.
To mitigate global climate change, emissions of the primary culprit, carbon dioxide, must be drastically reduced. A newly developed process helps solve this problem: CO2 is directly split electrochemically into carbon and oxygen. Oxygen could also be produced in this way under water or in space -- without requiring stringent conditions such as pressure and temperature.
Engineers develop a better way to deliver long-lasting drugs
Engineers devised a way to deliver drugs such as contraceptives by injecting them as suspended crystals. Once under the skin, the crystals assemble into a drug depot that can last for months or years, eliminating the need for frequent injections.
Scientists engineer starfish cells to shape-shift in response to light
Scientists used light to control how a starfish egg cell jiggles and moves during its earliest stage of development. Their optical system could guide the design of synthetic, light-activated cells for wound healing or drug delivery.
Fatty liver linked to increased risk of death from several diseases
A comprehensive study shows that people with fatty liver disease have almost twice the mortality rate of the general population. They have an increased risk of dying from both liver diseases and common diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Motion sickness brain circuit may provide new options for treating obesity
Researchers describe a new brain circuit involved in motion sickness that also contributes to regulating body temperature and metabolic balance. The findings may provide unconventional strategies for the treatment of obesity.
New research reveals secrets about locust swarm movement
New research is reshaping our understanding of one of nature's most stunning yet destructive phenomena -- massive locust swarms moving together.
How chromosomes shape up for cell division
For successful cell division, chromosomal DNA needs to be packed into compact rod-shaped structures. Defects in this process can lead to cell death or diseases like cancer. A new study has shown how chromosomes change shape during cell division. Certain protein complexes help fold DNA into overlapping loops that repel each other, which then stack to create a rod-like structure. This is the first time scientists have directly observed an entire chromosome in high resolution within a dividing cell, offering new insights into how chromosomes are formed.
Existing tax policies during the energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources will lead to major energy injustices and skewed priorities, new research shows.