RSS Parrot

Good fences make good neighbors (with carnivores)

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250317164454.htm

Published: March 17, 2025 16:44

A new study has found that fortified enclosures also benefit nearby livestock keepers by preventing carnivore attacks.

Combination of cosmic processes shapes the size and location of sub-Neptunes

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250317163749.htm

Published: March 17, 2025 16:37

A combination of cosmic processes shapes the formation of one of the most common types of planets outside of our solar system, according to a new study.

Age of upcoming asteroid flyby target

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250317163629.htm

Published: March 17, 2025 16:36

New modeling indicates the main belt asteroid (52246) Donaldjohanson may have formed about 150 million years ago when a larger parent asteroid broke apart; its orbit and spin properties have undergone significant evolution since. When NASA's Lucy…

Maternal depression can lead to children's emotional overeating, study shows

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250317160340.htm

Published: March 17, 2025 16:03

Up to 25% of new mothers suffer from postpartum depression, which can significantly impact their parenting behavior and the wellbeing of their children. A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign looks at long-term effects of early…

Slow, silent 'scream' of epithelial cells detected for first time

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250317160337.htm

Published: March 17, 2025 16:03

It has long been thought that only nerve and heart cells use electric impulses to communicate, while epithelial cells -- which compose the linings of our skin, organs and body cavities -- are mute, serving mostly as protective barriers that can absorb and…

Iguanas floated one-fifth of the way around the world to colonize Fiji

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250317160331.htm

Published: March 17, 2025 16:03

The only iguanas outside the Americas, Fiji iguanas are an enigma. A new genetic analysis shows that they are most closely related to the North American desert iguana, having separated about 34 million years ago, around the same time that the islands…

New clue on what is leading to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and ALS

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250314170606.htm

Published: March 14, 2025 17:06

Researchers have revealed a new scientific clue that could unlock the key cellular pathway leading to devastating neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Immunotherapy may boost KRAS-targeted therapy in pancreatic cancer

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250314170603.htm

Published: March 14, 2025 17:06

Adding immunotherapy to new KRAS inhibitors boosted responses in preclinical models, setting the stage for future trials of the combination strategy.

Scientists discover how to reactivate cancer's molecular 'kill switch'

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250314170442.htm

Published: March 14, 2025 17:04

Researchers have discovered that cancer cells suppress 'poison exons' -- genetic elements that act as an off switch for protein production -- in a key gene called TRA2 , promoting tumor growth. By using antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) to restore poison…

Scientists use light to unlock secret of atoms

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250314170436.htm

Published: March 14, 2025 17:04

Researchers have developed innovative methods to control the ionization of atoms and molecules using specially structured light beams, challenging traditional limits. This breakthrough could lead to advancements in imaging, particle acceleration, and…

'Microlightning' in water droplets may have sparked life on Earth

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250314170431.htm

Published: March 14, 2025 17:04

A study shows that electrical charges in sprays of water can cause chemical reactions that form organic molecules from inorganic materials. The findings provide evidence that microlightning may have helped create the building blocks necessary for early…

TOI-1453: Sub-Neptune in system of two exoplanets

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250314113808.htm

Published: March 14, 2025 11:38

Astronomers have discovered two exoplanets around TOI-1453, a star about 250 light years away. These two exoplanets, a super-Earth and a sub-Neptune, are common in the galaxy, yet are absent from our system. This discovery paves the way for future…

As next hurricane season nears, study explores impacts of 2024's storms

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250313152109.htm

Published: March 13, 2025 15:21

When major storms hit Houston last spring and summer, losing power was a nightmare for residents, but for many, the financial fallout was just as devastating. A new report finds that more than half of Houston-area workers lost income due to these storms,…

Researchers develop method to identify dormant cells that carry HIV

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250313151958.htm

Published: March 13, 2025 15:19

Study findings provide a new gene pathway for potential treatment of the virus affecting millions.

Chocolate -- with potential health benefits

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250313151955.htm

Published: March 13, 2025 15:19

Many people will soon load up Easter baskets with chocolate candy for children and adults to enjoy. On its own, dark chocolate has health benefits, such as antioxidants that neutralize damaging free radicals. And a new report suggests that packing the…

US bird populations continue alarming decline

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250313130951.htm

Published: March 13, 2025 13:09

The 2025 U. S. State of the Birds Report, produced by a coalition of leading science and conservation organizations, reveals continued widespread declines in American bird populations across all mainland and marine habitats, with 229 species requiring…

Dozens of 3-toed dinosaurs leave their mark in Australia

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250313130943.htm

Published: March 13, 2025 13:09

A researcher has confirmed a boulder at a regional school contains one of the highest concentrations of dinosaur footprints per square meter ever documented in Australia.

New name for one of the world's rarest rhinoceroses

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250313130938.htm

Published: March 13, 2025 13:09

A recent study has reclassified the species commonly known as the Javan rhinoceros, proposing a more precise scientific name: Eurhinoceros sondaicus. The research highlights key differences in body structure and ecology that set this species apart from the…

Quantum-inspired cameras capture the start of life

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250313130811.htm

Published: March 13, 2025 13:08

Researchers have performed the first imaging of embryos using cameras designed for quantum measurements. The academics investigated how to best use ultrasensitive camera technology, including the latest generation of cameras that can count individual…

Most current AI struggles to read clocks and calendars

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250313130557.htm

Published: March 13, 2025 13:05

Some of the world's most advanced AI systems struggle to tell the time and work out dates on calendars, a study suggests.

Does exercise really extend life? Finnish twin study offers new insights

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250313130533.htm

Published: March 13, 2025 13:05

Physical activity is seen as a way to extend the human lifespan, but twin studies found the benefits of physical activity for longevity may not be as straightforward as has been previously thought.

Retiring abroad puts older adults at risk for loneliness

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250313130302.htm

Published: March 13, 2025 13:03

Many people dream of retiring to a warmer, less expensive country. But retirees who move abroad may be at greater risk of loneliness than those who stay in their home country, according to new research.

Signs of alien life may be hiding in these gases

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250312190827.htm

Published: March 12, 2025 19:08

Scientists identify a new way to detect life in outer space with currently existing telescopes. The method hinges on worlds that look nothing like Earth, and gases rarely considered in the search for extraterrestrials.

Dynamic acoustics of hand clapping, elucidated

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250312165601.htm

Published: March 12, 2025 16:56

Researchers elucidate the complex physical mechanisms and fluid dynamics involved in a handclap, with potential applications in bioacoustics and personal identification, whereby a handclap could be used to identify someone.

Robotics and spinal stimulation restore movement in paralysis

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250312145730.htm

Published: March 12, 2025 14:57

Scientists have developed an approach that combines rehabilitation robotics with spinal cord stimulation to restore movement in people with spinal cord injuries. The technology enhances rehabilitation and enables activities like cycling and walking…

Routine asthma test more reliable in the morning and has seasonal effects, say doctors

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250312134629.htm

Published: March 12, 2025 13:46

A lung function test used to help diagnose asthma works better in the morning, becoming less reliable throughout the day, researchers have found. Using real world data from 1,600 patients, available through a database created for speeding up research and…

Hepatic stellate cells control liver function and regeneration

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250312124015.htm

Published: March 12, 2025 12:40

Until now, doctors knew hepatic stellate cells mainly as drivers of liver fibrosis. The actual functions of this cell type have hardly been studied to date. Researchers have now determined that hepatic stellate cells control liver metabolism as well as…

First operating system for quantum networks

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250312123858.htm

Published: March 12, 2025 12:38

Researchers have announced the creation of the first operating system designed for quantum networks: QNodeOS. The research marks a major step forward in transforming quantum networking from a theoretical concept to a practical technology that could…

Want to preserve biodiversity? Go big

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250312123852.htm

Published: March 12, 2025 12:38

Large, undisturbed forests are better for harboring biodiversity than fragmented landscapes, according to recent research. Ecologists agree that habitat loss and the fragmentation of forests reduces biodiversity in the remaining fragments. But ecologists…

How climate change affects rain and floods

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250312123841.htm

Published: March 12, 2025 12:38

Climate change may lead to more precipitation and more intense floods. A new study shows that to understand the details of this relationship, it is important to distinguish between different types of rainfall and flood events -- namely, between short-term…

Nature-inspired 3D-printing method shoots up faster than bamboo

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250311190750.htm

Published: March 11, 2025 19:07

Researchers created 'growth printing,' which mimics tree trunks' outward expansion to print polymer parts quickly and efficiently without the molds and expensive equipment typically associated with 3D printing.

Scientists create a type of catalog, the 'colocatome,' of non-cancerous cells' influence on cancer

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250311190748.htm

Published: March 11, 2025 19:07

Scientists are using artificial intelligence to better capture how healthy cells surrounding tumors influence cancer cell behavior and how those interactions can inform treatments.

Medical infusion bags can release microplastics

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250311154128.htm

Published: March 11, 2025 15:41

Microplastics have been found almost everywhere that scientists have looked for them. Now these bits of plastic -- from 1 to 62 micrometers long -- have been found in the filtered solutions used for medical intravenous (IV) infusions. The researchers…

Drug building blocks pave path to new sepsis treatments

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250311154122.htm

Published: March 11, 2025 15:41

The immune system typically can ramp up the body's defenses to clear out an invading threat without issue. Glitches can happen, however, with sepsis occurring when the mustered army of cells also attacks the body's own tissues and organs as if they were…

Four tiny planets found orbiting one of our nearest stars

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250311154117.htm

Published: March 11, 2025 15:41

Astronomers have revealed new evidence that there are not just one but four tiny planets circling around Barnard's Star, the second-nearest star system to Earth.

More than marks: How wellbeing shapes academic success

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250311154056.htm

Published: March 11, 2025 15:40

A world first* study of more than 215,000 students, researchers found that while standardized tests measure academic skills, different dimensions of wellbeing -- emotional wellbeing, engagement, and learning readiness -- can play a crucial role in…

technique to manipulate water waves to precisely control floating objects

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250311122823.htm

Published: March 11, 2025 12:28

Where there's water, there are waves. But what if you could bend water waves to your will to move floating objects? Scientists have now developed a technique to merge waves in a water tank to produce complex patterns, such as twisting loops and swirling…

Earth's 'dirty mirror' effect is accelerating climate change

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250311122710.htm

Published: March 11, 2025 12:27

Cloudy areas over oceans are reflecting less sunlight to space than before.

Muscles from the printer: Silicone that moves

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250311122655.htm

Published: March 11, 2025 12:26

Researchers are working on artificial muscles that can keep up with the real thing. They have now developed a method of producing the soft and elastic, yet powerful structures using 3D printing. One day, these could be used in medicine or robotics -- and…

Beneficial genetic changes observed in regular blood donors

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250311121703.htm

Published: March 11, 2025 12:17

Researchers have identified genetic changes in blood stem cells from frequent blood donors that support the production of new, non-cancerous cells. Understanding the differences in the mutations that accumulate in our blood stem cells as we age is…

New research reveals psychological 'booster shots' can strengthen resistance to misinformation over time

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250311121700.htm

Published: March 11, 2025 12:17

A new study has found that targeted psychological interventions can significantly enhance long-term resistance to misinformation. Dubbed 'psychological booster shots,' these interventions improve memory retention and help individuals recognize and resist…

Arctic sea ice loss drives drier weather over California and wetter over Spain and Portugal

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250311121657.htm

Published: March 11, 2025 12:16

On decadal timescales, the loss of Arctic ice favors the climate of the south-west of the United States -- and California in particular -- becoming drier on average, especially in winter. This phenomenon would also affect the climate of Spain and Portugal,…

A 62-million-year-old skeleton sheds light on an enigmatic mammal

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250311121514.htm

Published: March 11, 2025 12:15

For more than 140 years, Mixodectes pungens, a species of small mammal that inhabited western North America in the early Paleocene, was a mystery. What little was known about them had been mostly gleaned from analyzing fossilized teeth and jawbone…

Microplastics could be fueling antibiotic resistance

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250311121511.htm

Published: March 11, 2025 12:15

Researchers were shocked to see that bacteria's antimicrobial resistance is strengthened when exposed to plastic particles and point to a potential outsized impact on refugees.

Super-Earths and mini-Neptunes: More Earth-like planets may exist

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250311121309.htm

Published: March 11, 2025 12:13

A new study presents a compelling new model for the formation of super-Earths and mini-Neptunes -- planets that are 1 to 4 times the size of Earth and among the most common in our galaxy. Using advanced simulations, the researchers propose that these…

Scientists discover new heavy-metal molecule 'berkelocene'

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250311121130.htm

Published: March 11, 2025 12:11

Scientists have discovered 'berkelocene,' the first organometallic molecule to be characterized containing the heavy element berkelium. The breakthrough disrupts long-held theories about the chemistry of the elements that follow uranium in the periodic…

Untangling quantum entanglement with new calculation formulas

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250311010756.htm

Published: March 11, 2025 01:07

Physicists developed simplified formulas to quantify quantum entanglement in strongly correlated electron systems. Their approach was applied to nanoscale materials, revealing unexpected quantum behaviors and identifying key quantities for the Kondo…

Foraging footballers suggest how we come together to act as one

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250311010752.htm

Published: March 11, 2025 01:07

Originally described in the context of particles drifting through liquid, Levy walk has been found to accurately describe a very wide range of phenomena, from cold atom dynamics to swarming bacteria. And now, a new study has found Levy walk in the…

Building bridges in physics

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250310224630.htm

Published: March 10, 2025 22:46

Researchers show that Cartan's First Structure Equation, which relates to edge and screw dislocations in crystal lattices, can be recast in the same form as a basic mathematical formula that governs the behavior of electric currents and magnetic fields.…

Prostate cancer is not a death knell, study shows

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250310201805.htm

Published: March 10, 2025 20:18

Prostate cancer statistics can look scary: 34,250 U.S. deaths in 2024. 1.4 million new cases worldwide in 2022.

Study pinpoints the impact of prenatal stress across 27 weeks of pregnancy

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250310201802.htm

Published: March 10, 2025 20:18

Researchers found new insights on the timing of prenatal stress and its effect on infant stress reactivity and temperament -- including differences between genders.

Clothes dryers and the bottom line: Switching to air drying can save hundreds

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250310201758.htm

Published: March 10, 2025 20:17

By replacing clothes dyers with line drying, households in the U.S. could save upwards of $2,100 and avoid 3 tons of carbon dioxide emissions over the lifetime of a dryer. The exact impacts, however, depend on what kind of dryer you have and where you…

Death by feral cat: DNA shows cats to be culprits in killing of native animals

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250310201752.htm

Published: March 10, 2025 20:17

Feral cats have long been suspects in killing native species reintroduced into Australian conservation areas. DNA testing of the carcasses puts felines firmly in the frame.

Genetic mutations linked to toxin exposure found in firefighters' brain tumors

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250310164014.htm

Published: March 10, 2025 16:40

In a study comparing the glioma tumors of firefighters and non-fighters, researchers found a mutational signature tied to exposure to haloalkanes, which are used in flame retardants, fire extinguishers, and pesticides.

Discovery: The great whale pee funnel moves vital nutrients

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250310134206.htm

Published: March 10, 2025 13:42

Scientists have discovered that whales move nutrients thousands of miles -- in their urine -- from as far as Alaska to Hawaii. These tons of nitrogen support the health of tropical ecosystems and fish, where nitrogen can be limited. They call this movement…

Are volcanoes behind the oxygen we breathe?

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250310134201.htm

Published: March 10, 2025 13:42

It is widely believed that Earth's atmosphere has been rich in oxygen for about 2.5 billion years due to a relatively rapid increase in microorganisms capable of performing photosynthesis. Researchers provide a mechanism to explain precursor oxygenation…

Evidence of a new phenomenon: Quantum tornadoes in momentum space

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250310134155.htm

Published: March 10, 2025 13:41

Researchers have experimentally demonstrated a quantum tornado. Electrons form vortices in the momentum space of the quantum semi-metal tantalum arsenide.

Limiting screen time protects children's mental health

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250310131816.htm

Published: March 10, 2025 13:18

A recent study suggests that limiting screen time and promoting physical activity from childhood may help safeguard mental health in adolescence. The findings are particularly significant given that mental health problems affect up to 30% of young people…

Is red wine a healthier choice than white wine? Uncorking the cancer risks

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250310131644.htm

Published: March 10, 2025 13:16

Researchers have conducted a study that scours 'the vast and often contradictory literature on the carcinogenicity of red and white wine' to assess whether this assumption holds up, and to compare the cancer risks associated with wine type.

Mysterious phenomenon at center of galaxy could reveal new kind of dark matter

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250310131327.htm

Published: March 10, 2025 13:13

A mysterious phenomenon at the center of our galaxy could be the result of a different type of dark matter.

A longer, sleeker super predator: Megalodon's true form

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250309203156.htm

Published: March 9, 2025 20:31

The megalodon has long been imagined as an enormous great white shark, but new research suggests that perception is all wrong. The study finds the prehistoric hunter had a much longer body -- closer in shape to a lemon shark or even a large whale.

Clinical trial tests novel stem-cell treatment for Parkinson's disease

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250309203153.htm

Published: March 9, 2025 20:31

A recently launched Phase 1 clinical trial is examining the safety and feasibility of a groundbreaking treatment approach for Parkinson's disease in which a patient's stem cells are reprogrammed to replace dopamine cells in the brain. The clinical trial,…

Levels of select vitamins and minerals in pregnancy may be linked to lower midlife BP risk

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250309203116.htm

Published: March 9, 2025 20:31

Higher levels of the minerals copper and manganese in pregnant women were associated with lower blood pressure and a reduced risk of developing high blood pressure decades later, according to a long-term study.