Science

Frontiers Planet Prize, Fourth edition: Applications open

https://council.science/news/frontiers-planet-prize-fourth-edition-applications/?utm%5C_source=rss&utm%5C_medium=rss&utm%5C_campaign=frontiers-planet-prize-fourth-edition-applications

A groundbreaking University of Chicago study published in April 2023 revealed unexpected similarities between photosynthesis and quantum physics[^9]. The research team discovered that excitons - paired electrons and holes that carry energy in leaves during photosynthesis - can form patterns similar to those seen in Bose-Einstein condensates, a quantum state previously only observed at extremely cold temperatures[^9].

"As far as we know, these areas have never been connected before, so we found this very compelling and exciting," said study co-author Professor David Mazziotti[^9].

The study, published in PRX Energy, found that these exciton patterns can form "islands" of condensate-like behavior even at room temperature in disordered plant systems, potentially doubling energy transfer efficiency[^9]. This contrasts with traditional exciton condensates that require near-absolute zero temperatures and highly ordered materials[^9][^15].

The findings open new possibilities for developing synthetic materials that could harness this effect. As Mazziotti noted, "A perfect ideal exciton condensate is sensitive and requires a lot of special conditions, but for realistic applications, it's exciting to see something that boosts efficiency but can happen in ambient conditions"[^9].

[^9]: UChicago News - Scientists find link between photosynthesis and 'fifth state of matter' [^15]: CBS News - New University of Chicago study discovers similarities between photosynthesis, supercooling of atoms

A new study by Columbia University researchers found that soccer heading causes damage to the brain's orbitofrontal region where gray and white matter meet, leading to reduced verbal learning ability[^1].

The research examined 352 adult amateur soccer players in New York City, using advanced diffusion MRI techniques to analyze the gray-white matter interface. Players who performed frequent headers (over 1,000 per year) showed blurring of the normally sharp boundary between gray and white matter in the orbitofrontal region[^2].

Key findings:

• Greater heading exposure directly correlated with less distinct gray-white matter boundaries
• Changes in brain structure mediated poorer performance on verbal learning tests
• Damage concentrated in outer brain layers rather than deep white matter
• Effects most pronounced in players doing over 1,000 headers annually

"What's important about our studies is that they show, really for the first time, that exposure to repeated head impacts causes specific changes in the brain that, in turn, impair cognitive function," said study leader Michael Lipton[^3].

The research team plans to investigate potential links between these brain changes and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), while also studying whether cardiovascular exercise might help protect against heading-related brain damage[^3].

[^1]: JAMA Network - Orbitofrontal Gray-White Interface Injury and the Association of Soccer Heading With Verbal Learning

[^2]: Columbia University - Soccer Heading Does Most Damage to Brain Area Critical for Cognition

[^3]: Columbia Radiology - Soccer Heading Linked to Measurable Decline of Brain Structure and Function

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68THmzSxJqI

President Donald Trump made baffling remarks during a Monday press conference, claiming that pregnant women should avoid Tylenol, the brand name of acetaminophen, arguing that it was associated with a “very increased” risk of autism.

It was a new low for the Trump administration, leading to widespread outrage and incredulity among experts.

Then things got even sketchier when the New York Times revealed that the researcher behind the studies cited during Monday’s press conference had a financial interest in warning users against the use of Tylenol.

A new study published in Studies in Conflict & Terrorism provides evidence that antisemitic attitudes, rather than anti-Israel sentiment alone, are linked to support for political violence in the United States. The findings suggest that while criticism of Israel can motivate legal activism, it is antisemitic prejudice that tends to predict a willingness to support illegal or violent political actions and general aggression.

The research was led by Sophia Moskalenko of Georgia State University, along with co-authors Tomislav Pavlović and Mia Bloom. The team aimed to address a gap in the literature by empirically distinguishing between attitudes toward Jews and attitudes toward Israel, especially in how they relate to political radicalization and violence.

Emerging trends shaping scientific careers

https://council.science/podcasts/emerging-trends-shaping-scientific-careers/?utm%5C_source=rss&utm%5C_medium=rss&utm%5C_campaign=emerging-trends-shaping-scientific-careers

A people-first approach to building digital pathways

https://council.science/blog/jamaica-src-digital-pathways/?utm%5C_source=rss&utm%5C_medium=rss&utm%5C_campaign=jamaica-src-digital-pathways

Honouring science’s principles in a troubled world

https://council.science/blog/honouring-sciences-principles-in-a-troubled-world/?utm%5C_source=rss&utm%5C_medium=rss&utm%5C_campaign=honouring-sciences-principles-in-a-troubled-world

A tool to assess the “digital maturity” of science organizations

https://council.science/blog/digital-maturity-compass/?utm%5C_source=rss&utm%5C_medium=rss&utm%5C_campaign=digital-maturity-compass

One of the cruellest and most devastating diseases – Huntington's – has been successfully treated for the first time, say doctors.

The disease runs through families, relentlessly kills brain cells and resembles a combination of dementia, Parkinson's and motor neurone disease.

An emotional research team became tearful as they described how data shows the disease was slowed by 75% in patients.

It means the decline you would normally expect in one year would take four years after treatment, giving patients decades of "good quality life", Prof Sarah Tabrizi told BBC News.

The new treatment is a type of gene therapy given during 12 to 18 hours of delicate brain surgery.

The first symptoms of Huntington's disease tend to appear in your 30s or 40s and is normally fatal within two decades – opening the possibility that earlier treatment could prevent symptoms from ever emerging.

Prof Tabrizi, director of the University College London Huntington's Disease Centre, described the results as "spectacular".

"We never in our wildest dreams would have expected a 75% slowing of clinical progression," she said.

None of the patients who have been treated are being identified, but one was medically retired and has returned to work. Others in the trial are still walking despite being expected to need a wheelchair.

Treatment is likely to be very expensive. However, this is a moment of real hope in a disease that hits people in their prime and devastates families.

...

Trump spoke for several minutes out of his near-hour speech on climate change during his address to the United Nations General Assembly, criticizing the European Union for reducing its carbon footprint, which he claimed has taken a toll on its economy, and warning countries that have invested heavily in renewable energy that their economies will suffer.

"It's the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world, in my opinion," Trump told the General Assembly. "All of these predictions made by the United Nations and many others, often for bad reasons, were wrong."

He added: "They were made by stupid people that have cost their country's fortunes and given those same countries no chance for success."

UN Scientific Advisory Board adopts landmark statement on Open Science

https://council.science/news/un-scientific-advisory-board-adopts-landmark-statement-on-open-science/?utm%5C_source=rss&utm%5C_medium=rss&utm%5C_campaign=un-scientific-advisory-board-adopts-landmark-statement-on-open-science

Scientific fraud and the reform of science publishing

https://council.science/blog/scientific-fraud-and-the-reform-of-science-publishing/?utm%5C_source=rss&utm%5C_medium=rss&utm%5C_campaign=scientific-fraud-and-the-reform-of-science-publishing

Navigating science careers: Strategic pathways for the future

https://council.science/podcasts/navigating-science-careers/?utm%5C_source=rss&utm%5C_medium=rss&utm%5C_campaign=navigating-science-careers