https://phys.org/ en-us Phys.org internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. While violence prevention education has increased in U.S. schools, only one in 10 schools today require violence prevention discussions in class, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition at the Orange County Convention Center. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-anti-bullying-sexual-resources-schools.html Education Fri, 27 Sep 2024 00:00:01 EDT news646555422 New models developed by University of Georgia researchers may help guide the fight against rust disease, according to a new study. The paper is published in the journal Forest Ecology and Management. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-hazard-rust-disease-loblolly-trees.html Ecology Thu, 26 Sep 2024 14:56:04 EDT news646581362 In a study published in the journal Nature, researchers from the Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG) and the Wellcome Sanger Institute have discovered that mutations affect protein stability following remarkably simple rules. The discovery has profound implications for accelerating the development of new treatments for diseases or the design of new proteins with industrial applications. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-mutations-affect-protein-stability-simple.html Biotechnology Molecular & Computational biology Wed, 25 Sep 2024 11:00:01 EDT news646474458 Physics-informed virtual reality could be key to reducing the exposure of pedestrians and cyclists to harmful, non-exhaust vehicle emissions, according to a study published 25 Sep in the Royal Society Open Science journal. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-virtual-reality-pedestrians-cyclists-pollutants.html Environment Wed, 25 Sep 2024 00:10:01 EDT news646386361 Researchers from the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) and Center for Systems Neuroscience in Hannover, Germany have discovered that fecal microbiota transplants (FMT) can reduce negative mental health symptoms in dogs with epilepsy—especially in dogs with a version of epilepsy that is resistant to drugs. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-fecal-transplants-adhd-anxiety-symptoms.html Plants & Animals Veterinary medicine Tue, 24 Sep 2024 16:24:49 EDT news646413881 In a recent study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, researchers tested whether modern high-yielding soybeans benefit from nitrogen fertilizer, with results suggesting additions are largely unnecessary. The findings are published in the journal Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Management. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-nitrogen-fertilizer-soybeans-limited-yield.html Agriculture Tue, 24 Sep 2024 14:21:42 EDT news646406497 In just two neutron experiments, scientists discovered remarkable details about the function of an enzyme that can aid drug design for aggressive cancers. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-neutron-year-debate-enzyme-drug.html Biochemistry Analytical Chemistry Tue, 24 Sep 2024 12:14:05 EDT news646398841 Workers in solid waste management and remediation face a variety of dangers—excessive noise, poor ergonomics, pollution and extreme weather, among others—in addition to regular exposure to a broad range of biohazards and chemicals. As a result, they experience higher rates of injuries and illnesses compared to workers across all private industries. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-solid-industry-focuses-traditional-occupational.html Social Sciences Economics & Business Mon, 23 Sep 2024 16:01:56 EDT news646326110 Experts have used a cutting-edge computational approach to discover the genetic factors that make the bacteria behind cholera so dangerous—which could be key to preventing this deadly disease. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-experts-deadly-genetics-cholera-key.html Cell & Microbiology Molecular & Computational biology Mon, 23 Sep 2024 05:00:01 EDT news646039992 In a study published July 29 in Advanced Materials, University of Texas at Dallas researchers found that X-rays of the kidneys using gold nanoparticles as a contrast agent might be more accurate in detecting kidney disease than standard laboratory blood tests. Based on their study in mice, they also found that caution may be warranted in employing renal-clearable nanomedicines to patients with compromised kidneys. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-blood-nanoparticle-potential-kidneys.html Bio & Medicine Sat, 21 Sep 2024 11:16:35 EDT news646136152 Antibiotics are a lifesaving tool. Yet, due to their chronic overuse, microbes are evolving and developing immunity against them. As a result, once-effective medications can no longer stave off infections, complicating treatment and increasing mortality. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-genome-sequence-analysis-driver-antimicrobial.html Cell & Microbiology Molecular & Computational biology Fri, 20 Sep 2024 12:40:10 EDT news646054801 A protein called STING, previously shown to control a pathway that contributes to antiviral signaling, also plays an important role in cellular stress clearance and cell survival, according to a new paper published in Molecular Cell. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-edged-pathway-involved-aging.html Cell & Microbiology Molecular & Computational biology Fri, 20 Sep 2024 12:18:48 EDT news646053523 When we need to recharge, we might take a vacation or relax at the spa. But what if we could recharge at the cellular level, fighting against aging and disease with the microscopic building blocks that make up the human body? https://phys.org/news/2024-09-recharging-mitochondria-nanoflowers-simulate-energy.html Bio & Medicine Fri, 20 Sep 2024 12:17:04 EDT news646053421 Penicillin was hailed as "the silver bullet" when it was discovered, as it had the unprecedented quality of being able to kill disease-causing bacteria without harming the human body. Since then, a multitude of other antibiotics have been developed that specifically target a wide range of bacteria; but the more often they are used, the greater the risk that antibiotic-resistant strains will arise. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-size-bioinformatics-accurately-short-fat.html Cell & Microbiology Molecular & Computational biology Fri, 20 Sep 2024 10:50:38 EDT news646048234 A new way of looking at tooth enamel could give scientists a path to deeper understanding of the health of human populations, from the ancient to the modern. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-proteins-tooth-enamel-window-ancient.html Archaeology Thu, 19 Sep 2024 15:07:04 EDT news645977221 The GENOXPHOS (Functional Genetics of the Oxidative Phosphorylation System) group at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC) has discovered a crucial role of sodium in the generation of cellular energy. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-scientists-unexpected-involvement-sodium-mitochondrial.html Cell & Microbiology Molecular & Computational biology Thu, 19 Sep 2024 11:00:01 EDT news645955022 Tomatoes, a staple crop worldwide, are increasingly threatened by biotic stressors such as viruses, fungi, and bacteria, with the effects worsening under climate change. These challenges lead to reduced yields and compromised nutritional quality, highlighting an urgent need for effective disease management strategies. To address these issues, scientists are intensifying efforts to understand the immune mechanisms of plants, with a focus on key regulatory proteins that influence disease resistance. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-pathogen-tomato-protein-dual-role.html Molecular & Computational biology Agriculture Thu, 19 Sep 2024 10:34:02 EDT news645960841 Antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections often occur in patients with chronic inflammatory intestinal conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease, and in patients who have taken antibiotics for a long time. Gram-negative bacteria such as Enterobacteriaceae are a common cause of these infections and have few treatment options. Fecal microbiota transplants have shown promise to curb some of these infections, but their composition varies between batches and they aren't always successful. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-scientists-bacterial-strains-antibiotic-resistant.html Cell & Microbiology Molecular & Computational biology Wed, 18 Sep 2024 12:51:15 EDT news645882670 A team of molecular ecologists at the University of Copenhagen, in Denmark, has found that polar bears developed unique features that allowed them to survive in a harsh, cold environment just 70,000 years ago. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-polar-diverged-brown-years.html Plants & Animals Evolution Wed, 18 Sep 2024 11:35:23 EDT news645878117 Any organism that lives, grows and reproduces must also age. People often think of aging in the physical sense—gray hair, slowed movements and wrinkles—but aging fundamentally occurs on a molecular level, inside of cells. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-bacteria-age.html Cell & Microbiology Molecular & Computational biology Tue, 17 Sep 2024 14:49:22 EDT news645803356 Antibacterial discovery has become a pressing global challenge. Rising antibiotic resistance and difficult-to-treat infections mean we urgently need new antibacterial drugs and infection prevention measures. Food production problems such as bacterial crop disease and food spoilage are driving demand for innovations too. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-antibacterial-discovery-scavengers-infection.html Ecology Molecular & Computational biology Mon, 16 Sep 2024 13:00:01 EDT news645709138 A research group from Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) developed a novel method for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) therapy by transplanting mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which improved the therapeutic efficacy and realized real-time treatment visualization. The study was published in Science Advances. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-trimetallic-based-nanocarriers-method-visualized.html Bio & Medicine Mon, 16 Sep 2024 09:47:03 EDT news645698821 Fusarium wilt poses a significant threat to global agriculture, particularly affecting the banana industry, where it is commonly known as banana Panama disease. As a result, enhancing soil-related resistance has emerged as a crucial, environmentally friendly disease management strategy, reducing the need for chemical interventions. But what factors influence soil disease suppressiveness? https://phys.org/news/2024-09-soil-nutrient-suppression-banana-fusarium.html Ecology Agriculture Thu, 12 Sep 2024 15:10:05 EDT news645372601 A pivotal study has decoded the genetic basis of olive oil production, revealing a key regulatory mechanism that shapes oil biosynthesis. By mapping the olive tree's genome and metabolic pathways, researchers have identified how MYC2, a critical transcription factor, orchestrates the balance between fatty acid and flavonoid synthesis. These insights open new avenues for breeding olives with superior oil profiles, catering to the growing demand for healthful dietary fats. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-olive-tree-blueprint-key-insights.html Molecular & Computational biology Agriculture Wed, 11 Sep 2024 17:20:03 EDT news645294001 Researchers have developed a new smartphone-based digital holographic microscope that enables precision 3D measurements. The highly portable and inexpensive microscope could help bring 3D measurement capabilities to a broader range of applications, including educational uses and point-of-care diagnostics in resource-limited settings. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-smartphone-based-microscope-rapidly-reconstructs.html Optics & Photonics Wed, 11 Sep 2024 17:19:03 EDT news645293941 Postharvest decay in fruits, primarily caused by pathogenic fungi, remains a major obstacle to agricultural sustainability and food security. Despite advances in fungicides and storage technologies, losses remain substantial, especially in developing countries. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-dna-demethylation-boosts-tomato-resistance.html Molecular & Computational biology Agriculture Wed, 11 Sep 2024 15:50:03 EDT news645288601 More than a million people each year die from infections by pathogens that are resistant to antimicrobials, and the problem is growing. Meanwhile, the discovery of new antimicrobials that can help stem the tide has not kept pace. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-newly-antimicrobial-cholera.html Cell & Microbiology Molecular & Computational biology Wed, 11 Sep 2024 14:38:04 EDT news645284282 Researchers at the Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, have developed a biosensor that improves sensitivity to 1-methylnicotinamide (1-MNA) in urine by orders of magnitude without the need for sample purification. The work is published in the journal Analytical Chemistry. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-high-throughput-biosensor-metabolite-disease.html Bio & Medicine Tue, 10 Sep 2024 15:11:50 EDT news645199908 Viruses are master parasites that have adapted to infect many host species. Some viruses even use multiple hosts to spread their infections—such as arboviruses that use insects to move their infections to mammalian hosts like humans. Understanding how they move through insects could lead to new ways to block their transmission. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-viruses-insects-transmission-diseases.html Cell & Microbiology Molecular & Computational biology Tue, 10 Sep 2024 15:04:04 EDT news645199442 An international team of scientists has developed a method to measure biological aging with unparalleled precision that has the potential to change the way we approach aging and age-related diseases. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-imaging-based-biomarker-quantify-aging.html Cell & Microbiology Biotechnology Tue, 10 Sep 2024 10:08:44 EDT news645181719