A study finds that loosely structured water molecules at the ice surface contribute to its low friction by forming a liquid-like, disordered layer. Three diamond-like carbon coatings reduced friction more than bearing steel, with the largest reduction reaching 58.6%.
A study in northern Australia found that wetland plots disturbed by feral pigs released more methane and nitrous oxide than undisturbed reference plots. The highest emissions occurred at recently disturbed sites, suggesting feral pig management could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from wetlands.
A study of migrant services in an eastern German city during the arrival of Ukrainian migrants identifies five underlying logics of humanitarian aid provision. The researchers argue that these services can turn support systems into forms of governance tied to labor extraction and the accumulation of capital.
Researchers found that cohesin regulates several steps in gene transcription, including how RNA-producing machinery is recruited and how long it pauses before continuing. Although losing cohesin can leave steady gene activity only modestly changed, it reduces the strength and reliability of gene activation after outside signals.
A numerical study of the 1945 Nagasaki atomic bombing simulated how the mushroom cloud formed and carried two types of material. Ground-derived dust mainly followed the central updraft, while bomb-derived radioactive material was concentrated in a rotating ring around the cloud head.
This systematic review and meta-analysis examined mRNA-based vaccines targeting high-risk HPV types in animal models. Across 10 studies, the vaccines were associated with stronger HPV-specific immune responses, lower tumor volume, and major reductions in viral load in challenge models. These findings do not show that the vaccines work or are safe in people.
Researchers report a nickel-iron catalyst that sustained water electrolysis for more than 3,400 hours at an industrial current density. The reported hydrogen production cost was $2.28 per kilogram, below the European Commission’s 2030 target.
An analysis of GitHub Copilot use found that open-source projects produced more code and involved more developers. The gains came with longer coordination time, especially for developers on the edges of project communities.
A systematic review and meta-analysis examined tinea capitis, a fungal infection of the scalp and hair, among children under 18 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Across 27 studies, the estimated pooled prevalence was 34%, although the results varied considerably between studies and locations.
A systematic literature review catalogs unresolved technical challenges in developing artificial general intelligence, including limited common sense, unreliable responses and difficulty handling unfamiliar situations. It points to hybrid systems, embodied approaches and stronger reasoning as possible research directions, while emphasizing the need for better safety and verification.
A new historical analysis examines an 18th-century physician’s detailed account of illness among mercury miners and smelter workers in Idrija, present-day Slovenia. The study argues that his workplace-based approach linked toxic exposure, working conditions and prevention before modern industrial toxicology emerged.
A study combining existing research and benchmark results estimates that inference—the process of responding to users—accounts for about 90% of an AI model’s lifetime energy use. It also finds that more than 84% of models released since 2022 do not report their environmental impact, while some efficiency methods could reduce emissions without reducing accuracy.
In the tiny roundworm C. elegans, hairlike sensory structures called cilia form repeated contact patterns inside a sense organ. Experiments suggest these contacts can form through instructive mechanisms, rather than arising only from the structures’ positions.
Researchers studied stress ulcer prophylaxis—medicines intended to reduce the risk of stomach ulcers or bleeding—among 229 critically ill patients in three public hospital ICUs in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In this prospective observational study, inappropriate use was reported during admission, the ICU stay and at discharge. The findings describe prescribing patterns in these hospitals and do not prove that any patient outcome was caused by the medicines or by their inappropriate use.
Neuromorphic computing is moving toward larger, more programmable systems that process information in ways inspired by the nervous system. A review of recent work suggests these computers may be useful for low-power, real-time tasks at the edge, while major challenges remain in training, testing and manufacturing.
