ScienceDaily: All - May 03, 2025
Today's top research news
The secret to happiness lies within you, or society -- or both
What is the secret to happiness? Does happiness come from within, or is it shaped by external influences such as our jobs, health, relationships and material circumstances? A new study shows that happiness can come from either within or from external influences, from both, or neither -- and which is true differs across people.
Process driving evolution and major diseases
The only remaining autonomous 'jumping gene' can only attach to, and stitch a copy of itself into, DNA when it builds up into large clusters and only as cells divide.
New gene-editing therapy shows early success in fighting advanced GI cancers
Researchers have completed a first-in-human clinical trial testing a CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technique to help the immune system fight advanced gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. The results show encouraging signs of safety and potential effectiveness of the treatment.
The all-female Korean Haenyeo divers show genetic adaptions to cold water diving
The Haenyeo, a group of all-female divers from the Korean island of Jeju, are renowned for their ability to dive in frigid waters without the aid of breathing equipment -- even while pregnant. A study shows that the divers' remarkable abilities are due to both training and genetic adaptation, including gene variants associated with cold tolerance and decreased blood pressure. The divers also showed pronounced bradycardia, or slowing of the heart rate, when they dived, but this trait is likely due to a lifetime of training, not genetics.
Antivenom neutralizes the neurotoxins of 19 of the world's deadliest snakes
By using antibodies from a human donor with a self-induced hyper-immunity to snake venom, scientists have developed the most broadly effective antivenom to date, which is protective against the likes of the black mamba, king cobra, and tiger snakes in mouse trials. The antivenom combines protective antibodies and a small molecule inhibitor and opens a path toward a universal antiserum.
Manipulating microbubbles to control fluids
A watched pot never boils, goes the old saying, but many of us have at least kept an eye on the pot, waiting for the bubbling to start. It's satisfying to finally see the rolling boil, behind which complex physical mechanisms are at play. When this happens, the bubbles that form continuously change in shape and size. These dynamic movements influence the surrounding fluid flow, thereby affecting the efficiency of heat transfer from the heat source to the water. Manipulating small amounts of liquid at high speeds and frequencies is essential for processing large numbers of samples in medical and chemical fields, such as in cell sorting. Microbubble vibrations can create flows and sound waves, aiding in liquid manipulation. However, the collective behavior and interactions of multiple bubbles is poorly understood, so their applications have been limited.
Everyday actions and behaviors linked to better mental well-being: Study
Regular chats with friends, time spent in nature and mentally engaging activities are strongly linked to better mental health, according to new research that highlights the power of simple, everyday behaviors to improve well-being.
Is your heart aging too fast?
Researchers have developed a revolutionary new way to find out the 'true age' of your heart using MRI. A new study shows how an MRI scan can reveal your heart's functional age -- and how unhealthy lifestyles can dramatically accelerate this figure. It is hoped that the findings could transform how heart disease is diagnosed -- offering a lifeline to millions by catching problems before they become deadly. The team say their cutting-edge technique is a 'game changer'.