Science News

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The narrowing gap between binge drinking among adult women and men has been driven partly by women’s rising use of alcohol for social reasons—to have fun. In addition, women are increasingly using alcohol to relax or relieve tension, a new study has found. Alcohol use in the USA has increased steadily over the past 20 years, and excessive drinking underlies 1 in 8 deaths of working-age adults. The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to a 25% increase in alcohol-related deaths from 2019 to 2020. Overall, figures like these mask differences by age, however. For over four decades, alcohol use and binge drinking have declined among adolescents and early adults. But by age 30, that effect has plateaued or reversed. Binge drinking has risen more among women than men, narrowing the gender gap for reasons that haven’t been explained by broad societal trends (such as education, family timing, and gender roles). For the study in Alcohol: Clinical & Experimental Research, US researchers considered the

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InterQnet is a three-year initiative to demonstrate that quantum computers separated by large distances and even based on different hardware architectures can work in tandem.

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Using a 26-year-old common garden forest, a multi-institutional team of researchers collected fine root samples from four temperate tree species (three deciduous and one coniferous) that varied in their morphology.

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The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) recently hosted its first-ever Supplier Diversity event, “Diverse/Reverse Vendor Fair” supported by Columbia University and Ascend NYC on May 23rd, with more than 25 vendors showcasing their products and services to various business units throughout WCS.

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For the third year in a row, the city of La Paz, Bolivia topped the list of participants in the City Nature Challenge, a friendly citizen science competition among cities from around the global that measures the highest number of wildlife observations, species diversity, and participant engagement.

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Undergoing surgery is seldom a pleasant experience, and it can sometimes be highly invasive. Surgical procedures have evolved steadily over the centuries, growing with the knowledge of anatomy and biology.

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Nuclear physicists have long been working to reveal how the proton gets its spin. Now, a new method that combines experimental data with state-of-the-art calculations has revealed a more detailed picture of spin contributions from the very glue that holds protons together.

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Exoplanets are planets beyond our solar system. To date, more than 5,000 of them have been identified. They are expected to form and orbit around stars, in a similar fashion to planets in our solar system. However, some appear “free-floating” in space, not bound to any host star. The puzzle to their formation was further deepened in fall 2023, when astrophysicists using the James Webb Space Telescope identified massive floating binary objects about the size of Jupiter – and dubbed them JuMBOs (Jupiter-mass binary objects).

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Adults react differently to alcohol advertisements depending on how explicit or implicit the messaging is about the social pleasure of drinking and the possible health effects, a new study shows. Exposure to alcohol marketing is consistently linked to alcohol use. Research also suggests that alcohol advertising influences attitudes around alcohol, such as social norms or reasons for drinking. Policymakers’ options for lowering alcohol consumption and its harms include content controls on advertising. Restricting sales messages to facts about the product is known to reduce how persuasive it is among consumers. Mandating health warnings also increases consumers’ perceptions of risk and reduces the perceived benefits of drinking. No studies, however, have previously examined the effects of such content controls on consumers in the UK. In addition, most research has focused on young adults, yet adults in midlife and beyond may also be vulnerable to the effects of marketing. For the study i

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The intricate nature of light, characterized by its intensity, polarization, and spectrum composition, holds profound importance across a range of scientific and technological disciplines. From enhancing optical communications to enabling precise chemical and biological characterization, a comprehensive understanding of light's properties is indispensable.

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The Korea Institute of Energy Research develops a process to convert carbon dioxide into the antioxidant carotenoids using microorganisms. By using a carbon dioxide absorbent, the problem of low solubility is resolved, and the productivity of high-value substances is also improved. Published in the world-renowned journal in the field of chemistry, 'ChemSusChem

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Hybrid poplar tissue culture regeneration involves intricate changes in DNA methylation, significantly impacting gene expression. This study reveals the dynamic epigenetic landscape during shoot organogenesis, offering crucial insights into allele-specific DNA methylation and its regulatory role in gene expression.

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This study explores the mechanism by which exogenous methyl jasmonate (MeJA) enhances tomato resistance to saline-alkali stress. Researchers identified the transcription factor SlWRKY80 as a crucial regulator, which, when overexpressed, significantly improves the plant's tolerance.

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Researchers have sequenced the genome of Populus pruinosa, a plant thriving in extreme deserts. The study reveals key genes for high salinity and drought adaptability. Analysis of individuals from various populations shows genetic differentiation driven by precipitation, offering insights for ecological conservation and genetic enhancement of desert poplars.

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Researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) introduce a polymer-based material with unique properties in the latest issue of the journal Nature Communications. This material allows sunlight to enter, maintains a more comfortable indoor climate without additional energy, and cleans itself like a lotus leaf. The new development could replace glass components in walls and roofs in the future

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Splash a few drops of water on a hot pan and if the pan is hot enough, the water will sizzle and the droplets of water seem to roll and float, hovering above the surface.

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Caterpillars respond defensively to electric fields similar to those emitted by their natural predators, scientists at the University of Bristol have found.

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Quantum computing is on the brink of revolutionizing technology and science. It has, the potential to solve complex problems that are currently beyond the reach of classical computers

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Robert Wagner, associate laboratory director for the Energy Science and Technology Directorate at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, has been selected to receive the George Westinghouse Gold Medal from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, or ASME.

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The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Research Highlights showcases the latest breakthroughs in cancer care, research and prevention. These advances are made possible through seamless collaboration between MD Anderson’s world-leading clinicians and scientists, bringing discoveries from the lab to the clinic and back. This special edition features presentations by MD Anderson researchers at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.

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The Princeton Plasma Innovation Center (PPIC) will be the first new building at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory in decades.

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Astronomers are now using AI to measure the expansion of our universe. Two recent studies led by Maria Dainotti, a visiting professor with UNLV’s Nevada Center for Astrophysics and assistant professor at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), incorporated multiple machine learning models to add a new level of precision to distance measurements for gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) – the most luminous and violent explosions in the universe.

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UC San Diego biologists have provided new insights on a longstanding puzzle in biology: How complex organisms arise from a single fertilized cell. Producing a new “gene atlas” with 4-D imaging, the researchers captured unprecedented insights on how embryonic development unfolds.

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A team in Denmark examining archival data from the James Webb Space Telescope recently found a trio of distant galaxies that are in the process of gathering gas when the universe was only a few hundred million years old. Their detection and characterization are remarkable achievements that only Webb is currently capable of, thanks to its specialization in infrared light.

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While work is occasionally stressful for everyone, some people wear stress as a badge of honor. They’re taking one for the team and want to tell you all about it. New research from the University of Georgia Terry College of Business found people who brag about their stress levels are seen as less competent and less likable by their co-workers.

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You’re settling down in your patio chair, ready to enjoy a book, a pitcher of lemonade, and the sun-warmed breeze, when a mosquito settles down on your arm. And another lands on your leg, while another buzzes right by your ear. Virginia Tech entomologist Eric Day says that when it comes to controlling mosquitoes, there aren’t easy short cuts.

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Binghamton University Anthropology Professor Carl Lipo and Associate Professor of Geography Thomas Pingel are using the same technology used to locate Maya ruins amid the jungles of Guatemala to recreate the scene of the 1944 Battle of Guam in intricate detail, potentially leading to the recovery of missing servicemen.

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Concierge services built on artificial intelligence have the potential to improve how hotels and other service businesses interact with customers, a new paper suggests.

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It’s visually striking. When fully grown, open wings display showy hind wings with bright red near the abdomen, black spots, and black-and-white bars. But the spotted lanternfly, an invasive insect that came to the United States from its native habitat of Southeast Asia in 2014, is destructive. Despite its name, though, the spotted lanternfly is not a fly.

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The International Association for Great Lakes Research today announced its new board of directors and has named Donna Kashian, Ph.D., professor of biological sciences and director of environmental sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Wayne State University, as president. Kashian previously served as vice president of the board.

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A recent review explores the innovative use of self-assembled protein nanoparticles (SAPNs) and virus-like particles (VLPs) in veterinary vaccine development. The research highlights the superior safety and efficacy of these nanovaccines over traditional formulations, offering a promising future for animal health and disease prevention.

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Scientists have made discoveries about light particles known as photons that could aid the quest for fusion energy.

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The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1, and forecasts indicate a highly active season. Several Florida Atlantic University faculty experts are available to discuss various issues surrounding hurricane preparedness, evacuation and aftermath.

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Cold stress significantly hampers tomato growth and yield. Recent research reveals that 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) enhances cold tolerance in tomatoes by regulating the SlMYB4/SlMYB88-SlGSTU43 gene module. This discovery opens new avenues for genetic engineering to develop cold-resistant tomato varieties, potentially ensuring better crop resilience and productivity under low-temperature conditions.

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In the rapidly evolving world of cryptocurrency, volatility management remains a crucial challenge. Researchers have now developed a novel approach that integrates Exponential Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (EGARCH) with genetic algorithms and neural networks to enhance the precision of trading decisions in this volatile market.

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A new assembly toolkit, an efficient assembly toolkit (PMAT), is set to revolutionize the study of plant mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes), offering an unprecedented approach to understanding plant evolution and cytoplasmic male sterile line breeding. This tool stands to overcome significant challenges in the complete assembly of plant mitogenomes, a task previously hindered by complex recombination events and horizontal gene transfers.

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A recent study has assembled a gap-free genome for Mentha suaveolens, providing new insights into its genetic structure and terpenoid diversification. The research highlights the unique composition of volatile compounds, particularly piperitenone oxide, and identifies key genetic variations affecting its biosynthesis. These findings enhance our understanding of Mentha's medicinal properties and facilitate targeted breeding for improved traits.

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A recent study offers a thorough analysis of germ-free (GF) animal models, essential tools for unraveling the intricate interactions between microorganisms and their hosts. These models are proving crucial in understanding how microbiota influence a range of physiological processes and could lead to innovative treatments for various diseases.

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New research has introduced an approach to minimizing alignment errors in double-sided microlens arrays (DSMLAs) during precision glass molding (PGM), significantly enhancing the quality and functionality of optical devices.

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A new paper in Physical Review Letters explores the effects of memory in quantum systems and ultimately offers a novel solution to decoherence, one of the primary problems facing quantum technologies.

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The Korean research team has successfully developed a highly efficient microchannel reactor which reduces the required catalyst amount to 30 percent for electrofuel production, yet offers a capacity 30 times greater than current reactors.

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A study from the University of Adelaide has discovered molecular pathways regulated by a gene traditionally used to control wheat-flowering behaviour could be altered to achieve greater yields.

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The $20 million, five-year Future Technologies and Enabling Plasma Processes (FTPP) initiative led by The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), a part of the University of Alabama System, is cited in “The Washington Post” as a key contributor toward the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) top-10 ranking in the 2023 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) of the Best Places to Work in the Federal Government.