ScienceDaily: All - May 16, 2025
Today's top research news
Scientists track down mutation that makes orange cats orange
Many an orange cat-affiliated human will vouch for their cat's, let's say, specialness. But now scientists have confirmed that there is, in fact, something unique about ginger-hued domestic felines. In a new study, researchers have discovered the long-posited but elusive genetic mutation that makes orange cats orange -- and it appears to occur in no other mammal.
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Impact of oft-overlooked cell in brain function revealed
An often-ignored type of cell in the brain plays a dynamic and surprisingly complex role in our ability to process information, according to new research.
World's largest bat organoid platform paves the way for pandemic preparedness
Until now, most research has used either generalized cell samples or organoids made from just one type of tropical fruit bat, and only from a single organ. But a breakthrough has arrived: a research team has now created the world's most comprehensive bat organoid platform. These 'mini-organs' are grown from five common bat species found across Asia and Europe and represent four different organs -- airway, lungs, kidneys, and small intestine.
Key player in childhood food allergies identified: Thetis cells
Thetis cells, a class of immune cells first described in 2022, play an essential and previously unknown role in suppressing inflammatory responses to food, a new study finds.
The effect of physical fitness on mortality is overestimated
That fit people have a reduced risk of premature death from various diseases is a recurring result in many studies. New research shows that people with high fitness levels in their late teens also have a reduced risk of dying from random accidents. This suggests that the associations seen in previous studies have probably been misleading.
A multitude of protoplanetary discs detected in the galactic centre
Using new observations with the ALMA telescope array in Chile, researchers have compiled the most precise map of three regions in the Milky Way's Central Molecular Zone to date, providing valuable information on how stars form in that region.
Cyberbullying in any form can be traumatizing for kids
New research shows that cyberbullying should be classified as an adverse childhood experience due to its strong link to trauma. Even subtle forms -- like exclusion from group chats -- can trigger PTSD-level distress. Nearly 90% of teens experienced some form of cyberbullying, accounting for 32% of the variation in trauma symptoms. Indirect harassment was most common, with more than half reporting hurtful comments, rumors or deliberate exclusion. What mattered most was the overall amount of cyberbullying: the more often a student was targeted, the more trauma symptoms they showed.
Digital reconstruction reveals 80 steps of prehistoric life
A dinosaur's 40-second journey more than 120 million years ago has been brought back to life by a research team using advanced digital modelling techniques.
A research team has developed and safely delivered a personalized gene editing therapy to treat an infant with a life-threatening, incurable genetic disease. The infant, who was diagnosed with the rare condition carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 (CPS1) deficiency shortly after birth, has responded positively to the treatment. The process, from diagnosis to treatment, took only six months and marks the first time the technology has been successfully deployed to treat a human patient. The technology used in this study was developed using a platform that could be tweaked to treat a wide range of genetic disorders and opens the possibility of creating personalized treatments in other parts of the body.
New study finds that tea and chocolate may help lower blood pressure
We might have another reason to enjoy our daily cup of tea or small piece of dark chocolate, as a new study has found that naturally occurring compounds called flavan-3-ols -- found in cocoa, tea, apples and grapes -- may improve blood pressure and the health of our blood vessels.
Should we protect non-native species? A new study says maybe
A new study found that over a quarter of the world's naturalized plant species are threatened in parts of their native range -- raising questions about the role non-native populations may play in global conservation efforts.
Too much sleep can hurt cognitive performance, especially for those with depression
Sleeping nine hours or more per night is associated with worse cognitive performance, and it is even more the case for those with depression.
What behavioral strategies motivate environmental action?
A collaborative study tested 17 strategies in an 'intervention tournament.' Interventions targeting future thinking, such as writing a letter for a child to read in the future, are the most effective ways to motivate climate action.
New insights into the energy balance of brain neurons
A research team has demonstrated how the energy levels of individual neurons in the brain change during so-called spreading depolarizations -- waves of activity that occur in various brain disorders. The findings provide important foundations for understanding energy metabolism in cases of acute cerebral ischaemia, such as that which occurs during a stroke.
Rediscovering the first known cellular receptor
Scientists are aiming to determine the composition and topology of physiological Ashwell-Morell receptor ligands. Their findings will help uncover the receptor's still-hidden secrets.
Vision loss, damage could be tied to eye pressure, study finds
One of the world's leading causes of irreversible vision loss could begin with elevated eye pressure, according to a recent study.
What lies beneath: Using rock blasted from craters to probe the Martian subsurface
By analyzing how far material ejected from an impact crater flies, scientists can locate buried glaciers and other interesting subsurface features.
Brain scans reveal what happens in the mind when insight strikes
That 'aha' moment when you come back to a puzzle and immediately figure it out? Something fascinating is going on in your brain. A new study using functional magnetic resonance imaging shows that these flashes of insight aren't just satisfying -- they create strong memories that can help etch learning into the brain.
Marsupial research reveals how mammalian embryos form
Researchers have revealed insight into why embryos erase a key epigenetic mark during early development, suggesting this may have evolved to help form a placenta.
Following the folds -- with quantum technology
The connection between a crumpled sheet of paper and quantum technology: A research team at the EPFL in Lausanne (Switzerland) and the University of Konstanz (Germany) uses topology in microwave photonics to make improved systems of coupled cavity arrays.
Satellite data from ship captures landslide-generated tsunami
New research demonstrates shipborne navigation systems have potential to improve tsunami detection and warning.
Traditional methods of assessing damage after a disaster can take weeks or even months, delaying emergency response, insurance claims and long-term rebuilding efforts. New research might change that. Researchers have developed a new method that combines remote sensing, deep learning and restoration models to speed up building damage assessments and predict recovery times after a tornado. Once post-event images are available, the model can produce damage assessments and recovery forecasts in less than an hour.
Research shows how hormone can reverse fatty liver disease in mice
A pioneering research study details how the hormone FGF21 (fibroblast growth factor 21) can reverse the effects of fatty liver disease in mice. The hormone works primarily by signaling the brain to improve liver function.
Study shows vision-language models can't handle queries with negation words
Researchers found that vision-language models, widely used to analyze medical images, do not understand negation words like 'no' and 'not.' This could cause them to fail unexpectedly when asked to retrieve medical images that contain certain objects but not others.