Featured News - Science & research news

Swabbing cesarean-born babies with vaginal fluids potentially unsafe and unnecessary

June 19, 2018 // 0 Comments

Microbiome differences in cesarean and vaginally born babies are most likely due to antibiotics given to mothers delivering by C-section rather than lack of exposure to vaginal microbes at birth: Frontiers in Medicine

Microbiome differences in cesarean and vaginally born babies are most likely due to antibiotics given to mothers delivering by C-section: Frontiers in Medicine [...]

Frequent football ‘headers’ do more harm than occasional head impact accidents

June 14, 2018 // 0 Comments

The first study to compare the cognitive effects of ball heading and unintentional head impacts suggests that football (soccer) players should consider reducing heading during practice and games: Frontiers in Neurology

The study is the first to compare the cognitive effects of ball heading and unintentional head impacts in soccer players: Frontiers in Neurology [...]

New agility tests can discriminate between football players at different performance levels

June 13, 2018 // 0 Comments

New agility tests for young football (soccer) players could more accurate than conventional measurements like sprinting and jumping ability: Frontiers in Physiology

The tests could be more accurate than conventional measurements like sprinting and jumping ability: Frontiers in Physiology [...]

Sports teams playing for survival in critical games are more likely to lose

June 12, 2018 // 1 Comment

Frontiers in Psychology: Teams playing for survival in critical games are more likely to lose

The first study using data from real games shows teams are more likely to lose when losing means elimination: Frontiers in Psychology [...]

‘Uniquely human’ muscles have been discovered in apes

June 11, 2018 // 4 Comments

Muscles thought unique to humans found in some ape species, questioning view that some muscles evolved to provide special adaptations for human traits: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

Impact of fishing gear entanglement deduced from whale hormone levels

June 8, 2018 // 0 Comments

Hormone analysis provides a new way to understand the effects of fishing gear entanglement on endangered whale species: Frontiers in Marine Science [...]

Dolphins deliberately killed for use as bait in global fisheries

June 7, 2018 // 1 Comment

New research exposes deliberate and widespread killing of marine animals, including dolphins, for use as bait in global fisheries - an issue which has received little attention so far: Frontiers in Marine Science [...]

Leg exercise is critical to brain and nervous system health

June 7, 2018 // 14 Comments

Frontiers in Neuroscience: Leg exercise is critical to neurological health

Groundbreaking research shows leg exercise is critical to brain and nervous system health, fundamentally altering current brain and nervous system medicine: Frontiers in Neuroscience [...]

Traditional knowledge sheds light on changing East Greenland climate and polar bear hunt

May 31, 2018 // 0 Comments

Frontiers in Marine Science: Traditional knowledge sheds light on climate change and polar bear ecology in East Greenland

The study is the first in nearly 20 years to document traditional knowledge on polar bear catches and ecology: Frontiers in Marine Science [...]

Mass vaccinations will not prevent Ebola virus outbreaks

May 30, 2018 // 1 Comment

Frontiers in Immunology: Ebola virus vaccine & vaccination programs

As the necessary vaccination rate for herd immunity is not yet possible, Ebola control depends on surveillance and isolation of cases: Frontiers in Immunology [...]

Changing students’ attitudes to mathematics improves test scores

May 29, 2018 // 1 Comment

Frontiers in Education: Changing children's attitudes to mathematics improves academic achievement

Stanford study shows that a free, online course can change students' mindsets about their math abilities and increase academic achievement: Frontiers in Education [...]

Virtual avatar-to-avatar interviews may improve eyewitness testimony

May 28, 2018 // 0 Comments

Interviews in virtual reality may increase the accuracy and amount of recalled information: Frontiers in Psychology [...]

Cocoa CRISPR: Gene editing shows promise for improving the ‘chocolate tree’

May 25, 2018 // 0 Comments

Frontiers in Plant Sciences: The powerful gene-editing tool CRISPR-Cas9 could help to breed cacao trees that exhibit desirable traits such as enhanced resistance to diseases

The powerful gene-editing tool CRISPR-Cas9 could help breed cacao trees with desirable traits such as enhanced resistance to diseases: Frontiers in Plant Sciences [...]

Revolutionizing the detection of cognitive impairment in patients with multiple sclerosis

May 24, 2018 // 0 Comments

Frontiers in Neurology: Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) - Revolutionizing the detection of cognitive impairment in patients with multiple sclerosis

An iPad-based system allows quick identification of cognitive impairment in MS patients in routine clinical practice, with minimal resource requirements or burden on staff time: Frontiers in Neurology [...]

Should ethics or human intuition drive the moral judgments of driverless cars?

May 23, 2018 // 3 Comments

Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience: Human intuition is sometimes at odds with ethically acceptable behavior and political guidelines for autonomous self-driving cars

People may not be happy with ethical decisions made by their self-driving cars: Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience [...]

Comments on social networks reinforce socialization during adolescence

May 17, 2018 // 0 Comments

A study looking at online behavior and evaluative comments made by teenageers concludes that while cybergossiping can lead to risky behavior such as cyberbullying, it also serves a valuable socializing function: Frontiers in Psychology

While cybergossiping can lead to risky behavior like cyberbullying, it also serves a valuable socializing function for teenagers: Frontiers in Psychology [...]

Risk factors involved in the early onset and severity of childhood obesity

May 16, 2018 // 0 Comments

Childhood obesity is linked to a family history of obesity, high blood pressure and lipid levels, type 2 diabetes and heart disease: Frontiers in Endocrinology

Childhood obesity is linked to a family history of obesity, cardiovascular and metabolic disease: Frontiers in Endocrinology [...]

The macabre world of mind-controlling parasites

May 15, 2018 // 1 Comment

Frontiers in Psychology: interactions between parasites and insects (neuro-parasitology) could provide insights into the neurological basis for behavior and decision-making

The gruesome new field of neuro-parasitology could provide insights into the neurological basis for behavior and decision-making: Frontiers in Psychology [...]

Maternal binge drinking linked to mood problems and alcohol abuse in offspring

May 9, 2018 // 0 Comments

Maternal binge drinking linked to mental health and alcohol abuse in offspring

Binge drinking during pregnancy and lactation may make offspring more vulnerable to mood disturbances and alcohol abuse as adolescents: Frontiers in Psychiatry [...]

Raw fruit and vegetables provide better mental health outcomes

May 7, 2018 // 0 Comments

Researchers find that raw fruit and vegetables are better than cooked, canned and processed - and names the top 10 raw foods: Frontiers in Psychology

Study finds raw fruit and vegetables are better than cooked, canned and processed - and names the top 10 raw foods: Frontiers in Psychology [...]

Researchers use ‘environmental DNA’ to identify killer whales

May 3, 2018 // 0 Comments

Frontiers in Marine Science: Groundbreaking non-invasive technique uses DNA to detect killer whales (orcas) in the ocean

A groundbreaking new non-invasive technique may help scientists locate rare whale species in the ocean: Frontiers in Marine Science [...]

Class clowns: Playful boys viewed more negatively than playful girls

May 2, 2018 // 0 Comments

Gender differences in how teachers perceive playful children can have damaging effects on playful boys: Frontiers in Psychology [...]

Asthma and hay fever linked to increased risk of psychiatric disorders

April 30, 2018 // 0 Comments

A new study is the first to find a significant link between common allergic diseases and a broad spectrum of psychiatric disorders: Frontiers in Psychiatry [...]

Artificial intelligence tricked by optical illusion, just like humans

April 26, 2018 // 0 Comments

Frontiers in Psychology: AI tricked by optical illusion, just like humans

A study using deep neural networks suggests that predictive coding theory is the basis of illusory motion: Frontiers in Psychology [...]

Children are as fit as endurance athletes

April 25, 2018 // 0 Comments

Study shows how young children can run around all day: their muscles resist fatigue and recover in the same way as elite endurance athletes: Frontiers in Physiology [...]

Making music from animal migrations

April 23, 2018 // 0 Comments

Frontiers in Marine Science: Making music from elephant seal migrations - Carlos Duarte, Daniel Costa, Paul Riker

What does elephant seal migration sound like? A study by prominent marine researchers is the first to find out: Frontiers in Marine Science [...]

Frontiers in Blockchain: first peer-reviewed journal dedicated to blockchain from a scientific publisher

April 19, 2018 // 1 Comment

The journal will be led by blockchain experts Prof. Olinga Ta'eed, Centre for Citizenship, Enterprise and Governance and Dr Christopher Clack, University College London. [...]

Music lessons improve children’s cognitive skills and academic performance

April 19, 2018 // 2 Comments

Structured music lessons significantly enhance children's cognitive abilities which lead to improved academic performance: Frontiers in Neuroscience [...]

High levels of hazardous chemicals found in plastics collected from Lake Geneva

April 18, 2018 // 1 Comment

The first analysis of plastic from the lake's beaches finds cadmium, mercury and lead, sometimes at levels exceeding those permitted under EU law: Frontiers in Environmental Science [...]

Frontiers in Big Data: A new open-access journal to lead the big data revolution

April 17, 2018 // 1 Comment

Frontiers in Big Data is a new peer-reviewed journal publishing cutting-edge research on big data and data-driven science.

The journal welcomes research on data mining, cybersecurity, machine learning, AI, big data networks, and data-driven climate science, health and medicine [...]

Analyzing past failures may boost future performance by reducing stress

April 16, 2018 // 0 Comments

Duke, Rutgers & University of Pennsylvania researchers show for first time how writing about past failures helps boost future performance: Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience [...]

New low-cost, sustainable material for reducing air and water pollution

April 13, 2018 // 0 Comments

A new 'green' material made from solid wastes and natural polymers promises better results than activated carbon in adsorbing pollution: Frontiers in Chemistry [...]

Long-term caffeine worsens symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease

April 12, 2018 // 6 Comments

Low caffeine doses worsened neophobia, anxiety-related behaviors and emotional and cognitive flexibility: Frontiers in Pharmacology [...]

Childhood aggression linked to deficits in executive function

April 4, 2018 // 0 Comments

Primary school kids with lower planning and self-restraint skills are more likely to show increased aggression in middle childhood, report University of Potsdam researchers in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience [...]

Chronic fatigue syndrome possibly explained by lower levels of key thyroid hormones

April 3, 2018 // 0 Comments

The discovery raises hopes for treating this common yet debilitating disease: Frontiers in Endocrinology [...]

Dogs with noise sensitivity should be routinely assessed for pain by vets

March 29, 2018 // 2 Comments

Animal behavioral scientists report that dogs with associated musculoskeletal pain formed a greater sensitivity to noise: Frontiers In Veterinary Science [...]

Early numeracy of young kids linked to specific math activities at home

March 28, 2018 // 0 Comments

Early numeracy of young kids linked to specific mathematics activities at home

The more parents engage in math activities with their children, the higher their early numeracy performance: Frontiers in Psychology [...]

Caloric restriction in combination with low-fat diet helps protect aging brains

March 27, 2018 // 1 Comment

Exercise was significantly less effective than caloric restriction in preventing aging-induced inflammatory activation of microglia in mice: Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience [...]

High numbers of elderly Japanese women will soon live in poverty

March 22, 2018 // 0 Comments

Behavior changes and an unfavorable pension system will disproportionately impoverish elderly Japanese women: Frontiers in Physics [...]

Moving toward a future free of drug-induced hearing loss

March 19, 2018 // 0 Comments

Research Topic compiles the latest research into hearing loss caused by drugs and solvents - how it occurs, how to treat it, and how to prevent it. [...]

Commercial pesticides: Not as safe as they seem

March 15, 2018 // 2 Comments

Lack of testing on adjuvants in commercial pesticide formulations ignores the potential risk of these on people and the environment: Frontiers in Public Health [...]

We’re not addicted to smartphones, we’re addicted to social interaction

March 14, 2018 // 2 Comments

smartphone technology addiction social interactions

New research suggests mobile-device habits stem from a healthy human need to socialize, rooted in evolution: Frontiers in Psychology [...]

A bacterium that attacks burn victims will soon be unarmed

March 13, 2018 // 0 Comments

A study from UNIGE reveals the strategies adopted by a bacterium that proliferates in the wounds of burn victims and threatens them with sepsis. It opens the way to new therapies: Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology [...]

Challenges of food allergies connected to personality traits for first time

March 12, 2018 // 0 Comments

Openness, but not neuroticism, associated with more issues in managing food allergy: Frontiers in Psychology [...]

Ancient cave art may be origin of modern language

March 7, 2018 // 0 Comments

Did humans speak through cave art? New paper links ancient drawings and language's origins: Frontiers in Psychology [...]

Modern man vs. giant animals

February 12, 2018 // 0 Comments

Megafauna extinction mammoth woolly rhinoceros giant sloth

Extinct herbivorous megafauna -- like woolly rhinos, giant sloths and mammoths -- were displaced by humans who partly took their place in the ecosystem: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution [...]

Research in olive varieties steps up the fight against anthracnose

February 9, 2018 // 0 Comments

Research explores largest olive anthracnose epidemic recorded in decades and prompt more intensive research into this pathogen: Frontiers in Plant Science [...]