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Midlatitude atmosphere-ocean feedback reinforces the east Asian winter monsoon

Researchers at University of Tsukuba and the Meteorological Research Institute have identified how atmosphere–ocean interactions in the midlatitudes reinforce the East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM). During strong monsoon seasons, cold air outbreaks from the Eurasian continent cool the midlatitude western North Pacific (WNP). This oceanic cooling, in turn, alters atmospheric circulation in a manner that further intensifies the monsoon.

Geodesic approach links quantum physics and gravitation

It is something like the "Holy Grail" of physics: unifying particle physics and gravitation. The world of tiny particles is described extremely well by quantum theory, while the world of gravitation is captured by Einstein's general theory of relativity. But combining the two has not yet worked—the two leading theories of theoretical physics still do not quite fit together.

Discovery of new marine sponges supports hypothesis on animal evolution

A completely new order of marine sponges has been found by researchers at the Museum of Evolution, Uppsala University. The sponge order, named Vilesida, produces substances that could be used in drug development. The same substances support the hypothesis that sponges—and therefore animals—emerged 100 million years earlier than previously thought.

We built a database of 290,000 English medieval soldiers—here's what it reveals

When you picture medieval warfare, you might think of epic battles and famous monarchs. But what about the everyday soldiers who actually filled the ranks? Until recently, their stories were scattered across handwritten manuscripts in Latin or French and difficult to decipher. Now, our online database makes it possible for anyone to discover who they were and how they lived, fought and traveled.

All the world's buildings available as 3D models for urban and climate research

With the GlobalBuildingAtlas, a research team at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has created the first high-resolution 3D map of all buildings worldwide. The open data provides a crucial basis for climate research and the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. They enable more precise models for urbanization, infrastructure and disaster management—and help to make cities around the world more inclusive and resilient.

New research discovers dementia-linked protein's role in DNA mistakes

New Houston Methodist research has revealed that a protein associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) also plays a role in regulating DNA mismatch repair, a process essential for replicating genetic information and cell health. The finding could change how scientists understand both cancer and neurodegeneration.

Sugars, 'gum,' stardust found in NASA's asteroid Bennu samples

The asteroid Bennu continues to provide new clues to scientists' biggest questions about the formation of the early solar system and the origins of life. As part of the ongoing study of pristine samples delivered to Earth by NASA's OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security-Regolith Explorer) spacecraft, three new papers published Tuesday by the journals Nature Geosciences and Nature Astronomy present remarkable discoveries: sugars essential for biology, a gum-like substance not seen before in astromaterials, and an unexpectedly high abundance of dust produced by supernova explosions.

Seeing physics as a mountain landscape for classification of nonlinear systems

Imagine standing on top of a mountain. From this vantage point, we can see picturesque valleys and majestic ridges below, and streams wind their way downhill. If a drop of rain falls somewhere on this terrain, gravity guides it along a path until it settles in one of the valleys. The trajectory traced by this droplet is known as a flow line, a path that indicates the direction of movement determined by the landscape's gradient.

From earthquakes to wildfires, Canada is woefully ill-prepared for disasters

A fault line in Canada's Yukon territory has stirred after more than 12,000 years of geological sleep. Researchers studying the Tintina Fault, which stretches 1,000 kilometers from northeast British Columbia into the Yukon and towards Alaska, have found evidence that the fault has built up at least six meters of unrelieved strain.

Developmental Costs of Youth Social Media Require Policy Action

Recently, few questions in adolescent health have sparked more controversy than “is social media good or bad for youth?” This simple yet unresolved question is entrenched in a polarizing debate. For every study linking social media to harm, a counterclaim is made of no measurable impact. This controversy has arguably slowed progress toward policies that could provide clear guidance or protections for children and families. Yet, from a public health perspective, the most urgent question may not be whether social media is universally good or bad, but rather, what kind of evidence would be good enough to motivate policy action?

Painful Hand Swelling With Finger Contractures

A 56-year-old woman with no history of rheumatic disease or hand injury had swelling and tenderness of the bilateral wrists, metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints, nodular palmar tendon thickening, and flexion contractures of all fingers; results of serologic testing for autoimmune rheumatic diseases were negative. What is the diagnosis and what would you do next?

Blood Pressure–Centered Strategies and Perioperative Outcomes

Intraoperative hypotension is very common, affecting 30% to 80% of surgical patients. Results of observational studies suggest that even brief episodes of intraoperative hypotension are associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications, but the definition of hypotension varies across studies. Prior observational studies suggest that exposure to a mean arterial pressure (MAP) lower than 60 mm Hg to 65 mm Hg increases the risk of postoperative myocardial and kidney injury. Based on these data, current guidelines recommend maintaining MAP at 60 mm Hg or higher during surgery. However, several questions remain unsettled: Is intraoperative hypotension is a marker of underlying illness or a modifiable contributor to harm? Does the optimal MAP target vary across individuals, suggesting that a more personalized approach is warranted?

When 'hearing' means 'understanding': The case of the verb kikoyu in pre-modern Japanese

A new study draws on a rigorous analysis of the Corpus of Historical Japanese to trace the semantic evolution of the verb "kikoyu" from the 8th century to the 20th century. This verb, which initially referred to unintentional hearing, came to mean, over the centuries, first approximate understanding, then general understanding, and finally a form of conviction.

Crop pests can develop 'fighter-jet wings' after eating specific mix of corn

Eating a blend of non-toxic corn and genetically modified toxic corn can result in corn earworm pests (Helicoverpa zea) developing longer, more narrow and more tapered wings—shaped like the wings of a fighter jet—that can propel them long distances, increasing the chances the pests will spread resistance to the toxic corn. The findings add to knowledge about how crop diets can influence pest dispersal behavior.

Structural racism and cultural misunderstanding compound grief for Black British, Black Caribbean communities: Study

Inequities in how bereavement is experienced and supported among people of Black British and Black Caribbean heritage in England has been revealed in a new study led by the University of Bristol. The research, published in Death Studies, calls for widespread changes to improve bereavement experiences and access to support for Black British and Black Caribbean communities.