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Dartmouth Study Offers New Insights into Genetic Mutations in Autism Disorders and Points to Possible Treatments

Findings from a new study published in Cell Reports, involving a collaborative effort between researchers at the Luikart Laboratory at Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine and the Weston Laboratory at the University of Vermont, are providing further insight into the neurobiological basis of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and pointing to possible treatments.

Climate Change Could Cause Mass Exodus of Tropical Plankton

The tropical oceans are home to the most diverse plankton populations on Earth, where they form the base of marine food chains.

Greenland’s Largest Ice Stream Thinning Rapidly

Ice loss could contribute six times more to sea-level rise than models project.

Hobby-Eberly Telescope Reveals Galaxy Gold Mine in First Large Survey

Astronomers have barely scratched the surface of mapping the nearly endless stars and galaxies of the heavens.

Urban Gardens Are Good for Ecosystems and Humans

Traditionally, it has been assumed that cultivating food leads to a loss of biodiversity and negative impacts on an ecosystem.

Loss of Reptiles Poses Threat for Small Islands Where Humans May Have Caused Extinctions

A new examination of ancient and current species of reptiles conducted by a University of Texas at Austin paleobiologist reveals the serious impact of the disappearance of even a few species of reptiles in some island areas.

Artificial Intelligence Improves Efficiency of Genome Editing

Researchers at the University of Zurich have developed a new tool that uses artificial intelligence to predict the efficacy of various genome editing repair options. Unintentional errors in the correction of DNA mutations of genetic diseases can thus be reduced.

Scientists Detect Molten Rock Layer Hidden Under Earth’s Tectonic Plates

Scientists have discovered a new layer of partly molten rock under the Earth’s crust that might help settle a long-standing debate about how tectonic plates move.

Men Are Leaving Feminizing Occupations

Many women and men still work in sex-typed occupations. One important reason for this is that men are selectively leaving occupations that are increasingly taken up by women, a recent study from the University of Zurich has shown. This could explain swings in the sex compositions of jobs and why some specializations within occupations become female or male-dominated.

Grassland Ecosystems Become More Resilient with Age

Reduced biodiversity affects the stability of the entire ecosystem. A long-term experiment now shows that grassland plant communities with multiple species need about 10 years to adjust to each other and produce an even amount of biomass again.

Flourishing Journals

There are now 186 journals in Switzerland providing Diamond Open Access, meaning scientific articles can be published and read free of charge. A new PLATO study has collected data about the open access journals and highlighted the sometimes difficult working and publishing conditions.

School Closures Led to More Sleep and Better Quality of Life for Adolescents

The school closures in spring 2020 had a negative effect on the health and well-being of many young people. But homeschooling also had a positive flipside: Thanks to sleeping longer in the morning, many teenagers reported improved health and health-related quality of life. The study authors from the University of Zurich therefore believe school days should begin later in the morning.

Three Simple Interventions for Cancer Prevention in Older People

A combination of high-dose vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids and a simple home strength exercise program (SHEP) can cumulatively reduce the risk of cancer in healthy adults over the age of 70 by 61 percent, the international DO-HEALTH study led by the University of Zurich has shown. It is the first study to test the combined benefit of three affordable public health interventions for the prevention of invasive cancers. The results could influence the future of cancer prevention in older adults.

Skateboarding Represents Both Pollution and Sustainability

Skateboarding is a “polluted” leisure activity which both harms the environment and boosts sustainability, a new study argues.

New Research Quantifies the ‘Wow’ Factor of Sunrise and Sunset for the First Time

A new study has identified the impact that fleeting natural events, such as sunrises and sunsets, can have on people, and sought to quantify their effects for the first time.

Reading Project Which Pairs Old and Young Boosts Wellbeing Among Children and the Elderly, Analysis Shows

A reading project which pairs the old and young helps to boost wellbeing among children and the elderly, analysis shows.

Academics Unite to Call for Action on Reducing Pollution from Pharmaceuticals

Academics from across the University of Exeter have joined forces with thought leaders from other universities, industry, government and non-profit organisations, to call for societal-wide action on reducing pharmaceutical pollution from human healthcare.

Penalties, Corruption and Legislation Are Failing to Deter Harmful Gas Flaring in Nigeria, Study Shows

Legislation is failing to end gas flaring in Nigeria which is harming the environment and people’s health, a new study warns.

Experts Have Discovered How Zebra Stripes Work

Researchers at the University of Bristol have found why zebra fur is thinly striped and sharply outlined.

Cracking Chimpanzee Culture

Chimpanzees don’t automatically know what to do when they come across nuts and stones. Researchers at the University of Zurich have now used field experiments to show that chimpanzees thus do not simply invent nut cracking with tools, but need to learn such complex cultural behaviors from others. Their culture is therefore more similar to human culture than often assumed.