ScienceDaily: All - May 22, 2025
Today's top research news
Shrinking Nemo: Clownfish survive heatwaves by shrinking
Clownfish have been shown to shrink in order to survive heat stress and avoid social conflict, research reveals.
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Personal space chemistry suppressed by perfume and body lotion indoors
In 2022 a team discovered that high levels of OH radicals can be generated indoors, simply due to the presence of people and ozone. This means: People generate their own oxidation field and change the indoor air chemistry around them within their own personal space. Now, in a follow-up study again in cooperation with an international research team, they found that commonly applied personal care products substantially suppress a human's production of OH radicals. These findings have implications for the indoor chemistry, the air quality of occupied spaces, and human health, since many of the chemicals in our immediate vicinity are transformed by this field.
Are groovy brains more efficient?
The smallest grooves on the brain's surface, unique to humans, have largely been ignored by anatomists, but recent studies show that they're related to cognitive performance, including face recognition and reasoning ability. A new study shows that the depths of these tertiary sulci are also linked to increased interconnectedness between areas of the brain associated with reasoning and high-level cognitive functions. The sulci may decrease the length of neural connections, improving communication efficiency.
Scientists discover class of crystals with properties that may prove revolutionary
Researchers have discovered a new class of materials -- called intercrystals -- with unique electronic properties that could power future technologies. Intercrystals exhibit newly discovered forms of electronic properties that could pave the way for advancements in more efficient electronic components, quantum computing and environmentally friendly materials, the scientists said.
A one-pixel camera for recording holographic movies
A new camera setup can record three-dimensional movies with a single pixel. Moreover, the technique can obtain images outside the visible spectrum and even through tissues. The development thus opens the door to holographic video microscopy.
Unlocking the secrets of bat immunity
Bats are known as natural hosts for highly pathogenic viruses such as MERS- and SARS-related coronaviruses, as well as the Marburg and Nipah viruses. In contrast to the severe and often fatal disease outcomes these viruses cause in humans, bats generally do not show obvious signs of viral illness following infection. An international research team has developed an innovative organoid research platform that allowed them to closely investigate the cellular antiviral defense mechanisms of mucosal epithelial tissues of bats. The results could pave the way for the development of new therapies against viral diseases.
A mechanism involving potassium channels in the brain that control brain cell activity could provide a new and fundamentally different way of treating depression symptoms in adults with major depressive disorder.
Engineered bacteria can deliver antiviral therapies, vaccines
New research demonstrates how specially engineered bacteria taken orally can operate as a delivery system for vaccines and antiviral therapies.
How to use AI to listen to the 'heartbeat' of a city
Researchers took a fresh approach to urban research by using artificial intelligence to explore the emotional side of city life. Their goal was to better understand the link between a city's physical features and how people feel in those environments.
Physics advance details new way to control solid objects in liquid
Researchers have detailed the physics behind a phenomenon that allows them to create spin in liquid droplets using ultrasound waves, which concentrates solid particles suspended in the liquid. The discovery will allow researchers to engineer technologies that make use of the technique to develop applications in fields such as biomedical testing and drug development.
Emotional expressions shape how help is received in the workplace
The way people express emotions while helping others can influence whether their assistance is welcomed, resented, or reciprocated, according to new research.
Unveiling the secrets of planet formation in environments of high UV radiation
The fundamental building blocks for planet formation can exist even in environments with extreme ultraviolet radiation, according to a new study.
Fool's gold: A hidden climate stabilizer
Researchers look to extremes in the past to study how the system reacts to imbalances. They detail an overlooked mechanism for how the ocean can help stabilize massive releases of carbon into the atmosphere following volcanic eruptions.
'Cosmic joust': Astronomers observe pair of galaxies in deep-space battle
Astronomers have witnessed for the first time a violent cosmic collision in which one galaxy pierces another with intense radiation. Their results show that this radiation dampens the wounded galaxy's ability to form new stars.
A new technology for extending the shelf life of produce
Researchers developed a way to extend the shelf life of vegetables by injecting them with melatonin using biodegradable microneedles.
Extreme weather cycles change underwater light at Lake Tahoe
Large shifts in UV radiation at Lake Tahoe are associated with wet and dry climate extremes, finds a new study.
On the origin (and fate) of plants that never bloom
Plants that reproduce exclusively by self-pollination arise from populations with extremely low diversity to begin with. The research not only adds a facet to possible evolutionary strategies, but also lends weight to Darwin's suspicion that this strategy might be a path to extinction.
Gas location drives star formation in distant galaxies
In the intriguing realm of star-forming galaxies, the key factor isn't the total amount of gas but rather its strategic distribution within the galaxy.
A new complexity in protein chemistry
Proteins are among the most studied molecules in biology, yet new research shows they can still hold surprising secrets. Researchers have discovered previously undetected chemical bonds within archived protein structures, revealing an unexpected complexity in protein chemistry. These newly identified nitrogen-oxygen-sulphur (NOS) linkages broaden our understanding of how proteins respond to oxidative stress, a condition where harmful oxygen-based molecules build up and can damage proteins, DNA, and other essential parts of the cell.
Thinking peers drink more drives risky behavior
The study explores how social influences, particularly peer pressure, impact substance use -- and misuse -- among young adults. A confidential online survey on alcohol use was given to 524 students at a large public university (not UTA).
Landmark report reveals key challenges facing adolescents
Poor mental health, rising obesity rates, exposure to violence and climate change are among the key challenges facing our adolescents today, according to a global report.
How serious is your brain injury? New criteria will reveal more
Trauma centers nationwide will begin to test a new approach for assessing traumatic brain injury (TBI) that is expected to lead to more accurate diagnoses and more appropriate treatment and follow-up for patients. The new framework expands the assessment beyond immediate clinical symptoms. Added criteria would include biomarkers, CT and MRI scans, and factors, such as other medical conditions and how the trauma occurred.