Latest news with #CellReports
The Star
2 days ago
- Health
- The Star
Israeli researchers create AI tool to predict age from DNA with 1.36-yr accuracy
JERUSALEM, July 14 (Xinhua) -- Israeli researchers have created an AI-powered tool that determines a person's true age from tiny DNA samples with high precision, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem said Monday in a statement. The method, detailed in Cell Reports, analyzes age-related chemical changes in DNA called methylation, read the statement. Using just two DNA regions, the tool "MAgeNet" detects molecular aging signs. A deep learning model then predicts age with a median error of only 1.36 years for people under 50, unaffected by smoking, weight or gender, read the statement. The method could help doctors offer treatments that match a person's biological age rather than their birthdate, facilitate forensic study in determining the age of a suspect with a tiny trace of DNA, and enhance the understanding of the aging process, read the statement.
CairoScene
30-06-2025
- Health
- CairoScene
Abu Dhabi Researchers Find New Links for Mental Health Disorders
NYUAD researchers uncover how tiny molecular changes during brain development may be tied to conditions and disorders like autism and schizophrenia, offering new insights into early intervention. Jun 30, 2025 A research team at NYU Abu Dhabi has discovered a key mechanism in brain development that could help explain how mental health conditions and disorders like autism and schizophrenia arise. In a study published in Cell Reports, the university's RNA-MIND Lab - led by Professor Dan Ohtan Wang with Research Associate Belal Shohayeb - identified how a subtle molecular tag on messenger RNA, known as m6A methylation, controls protein production in developing neurons. This tag specifically regulates the production of Adenomatous Polyposis Coli (APC), a protein essential for shaping neurons and enabling the local creation of β-actin, a key element in forming axons, the nerve fibers that neurons use to communicate. Importantly, the researchers also found that genetic mutations associated with autism and schizophrenia may disrupt this molecular process, potentially impacting how the brain is wired during development. 'This research connects global protein synthesis with local changes in brain cells that steer how neurons grow and connect,' said Professor Wang. 'When this system fails, it may contribute to the development of neuropsychiatric disorders. Mapping these details brings us closer to understanding how and when interventions could make a difference.' The findings offer a closer look at how intricate cellular processes can shape cognitive function, revealing potential avenues for new therapies targeting early-stage brain development.
New York Times
26-06-2025
- Science
- New York Times
Here's Another Use for Ice: Creating Secret Codes
A new study by Chinese, Korean and Czech scientists points to a novel way of writing and storing messages: creating patterns of air bubbles in sheets of ice. While the researchers aren't expecting you to ditch your smartphone, their study speaks to the remarkable properties of frozen water. 'I could see it showing up in a James Bond movie,' said Robin E. Bell, an expert in ice sheet dynamics at Columbia and a former president of the American Geophysical Union. Dr. Bell, who was not involved in the new study, pictured a scene in which secret plans involving a submarine are encoded in an ice cube and are in danger of being discovered. 'So you turn it into a smoothie or something,' she said. But the idea is more than an exercise in frivolity, said Mengjie Song, an expert in thermodynamics at the Beijing Institute of Technology and one of the lead authors of the new study, published on June 18 in the scientific journal Cell Reports Physical Science. 'It is a totally new method for humans to record information,' Dr. Song said. In his view, there could be 'many, many applications around this work.' For instance, it could be used to help devise more accurate models for de-icing power lines, airplanes and high-speed trains. A clearer grasp of how ice bubbles form could also help scientists better understand the thermal and mechanical properties of bricks made from lunar soil, which could be used to build moon bases. (Scientists have been researching the possibility of fashioning bricks from Martian soil for almost a decade.) Trained to recognize patterns in ice bubbles, artificial intelligence could help study glaciers for clues about past climate patterns, or to identify potential deposits of natural gas. Researchers acknowledged, however, that much more work would have to be done to make such applications feasible. 'Ice is an ancient substance that permeates every aspect of our lives,' Dr. Song said. 'There are many unsolved mysteries waiting for us to explore.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Turns out the human mind sees what it wants to see, not what you actually see
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, BGR may receive an affiliate commission. The human brain continues to surprise scientists. From how it learns to the fact that our brains glow, there's a lot we have yet to learn about the inner workings of the human brain. One especially surprising thing, though, is that the brain doesn't appear to see exactly what you see. Instead, scientists say the brain sees what it expects to see. According to scientists, the way that the brain interprets the data our eyes send it is very intriguing. Instead of waiting to see exactly how a scene plays out, your brain actually predicts what will happen. So, for instance, if you see a friend reaching for a pot, your brain interprets that their hand will reach the pot and grab onto the handle. Today's Top Deals Best deals: Tech, laptops, TVs, and more sales Best Ring Video Doorbell deals Memorial Day security camera deals: Reolink's unbeatable sale has prices from $29.98 In most cases, it's correct. Though, of course there can always be split section changes, which can result in how the brain sees not quite adding up to what really happens. The basis of this phenomenon is driven by what researchers call the action observation network, or AON. This is a set of brain regions that become active whenever you watch someone else interact with something. This setup has been confirmed by scientists over the course of decades, using snippets of data captured from a multitude of different lab tests. But those snippets, usually one- to two-second videos, don't show the entire picture. That's why a more recent study published in Cell Reports is based on research that wanted to dig deeper. More specifically, with this new research, the scientists wanted to answer whether or not the pipeline of information changes when the viewer can already forecast the next step in the process. To test this, and to test how the brain actually sees, the researchers set up two different versions of everyday scenes. In the natural scene, the actions played out exactly as expected. However, in the second scene, they scrambled the clips and then had volunteers watch both while recording their brain activity. Some of the participants were already implanted with intracranial electrodes for medical monitoring, too, so they were also able to capture electrical signals found deep inside the cortex with extreme precision. The researchers found that the brain worked exactly as expected when the order of clips in the scene made sense. The data even showed that when the brain could forecast what would happen next, it actually used its visual areas less. However, when the more jumbled cut played out, the data showed how the brain sees changes is based on whether or not it can properly forecast what will happen next. Since the clips were more jumbled and out of order, the brain couldn't properly determine what the next step in the process was, leading to more activity in other areas of the brain. These results also hint that our motor memories could play a prime role in how our brain handles the data that our eyes feed to it. Essentially, our brains use memory to see. While the entire idea here might seem a bit silly and even risky, the fact that the brain doesn't need to use its full power to see how a scene will play out is a prime example of just how efficient the human brain is. There's a reason that scientists are looking for ways to use brain cells in computers, because the brain is extremely efficient and powerful. More Top Deals Amazon gift card deals, offers & coupons 2025: Get $2,000+ free See the
The Independent
25-06-2025
- Science
- The Independent
This new biodegradable film could save 20 per cent on energy bills
A new biodegradable film developed by scientists in China and Australia could slash building energy use by up to 20 per cent and keep surfaces up to 9.2C cooler without using any electricity, according to a new study. The material is made from polylactic acid – a bioplastic derived from plants – and passively reflects nearly all solar radiation while allowing heat from inside buildings to escape into the sky. Researchers from Zhengzhou University and the University of South Australia say the metafilm can be an alternative to air conditioning systems, which contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions in cities. 'Our metafilm offers an environmentally friendly alternative to air-conditioning,' Yangzhe Hou, lead author of the study and a PhD candidate at the University of South Australia and Zhengzhou University. 'The material reflects nearly all solar radiation but also allows internal building heat to escape directly into outer space. This enables the building to stay cooler than the surrounding air, even under direct sunlight.' In testing, the film passively reduced temperatures by as much as 9.2C during peak sunlight hours, according to the study published in Cell Reports Physical Science on Wednesday. On an average, it kept surfaces 4.9C cooler during daytime and 5.1C cooler at night. Unlike conventional cooling systems, the film requires no electricity or mechanical components. The metafilm also withstood harsh weather conditions, maintaining its cooling performance even after 120 hours of exposure to strong acid and the equivalent of eight months of ultraviolet exposure outdoors, according to the study. It continued to cool surfaces by up to 6.5C under those conditions. 'Most existing passive radiative cooling systems rely on petrochemical-based polymers or ceramics that raise environmental concerns,' Dr Xianhu Liu from Zhengzhou University said. 'By using biodegradable PLA, we are presenting a green alternative that offers high solar reflectance, strong thermal emission, sustainability and durability.' Computer simulations showed using the metafilm on buildings in hot cities such as Lhasa in China 's Tibet region could reduce annual energy consumption by over 20 per cent. 'This isn't just a lab-scale success,' Professor Jun Ma from the University of South Australia claimed. 'Our film is scalable, durable and completely degradable. This research aims to contribute to sustainable development by reducing reliance on fossil fuels and exploring feasible pathways to improve human comfort while minimising environmental impact.' The team is now looking into large-scale manufacturing and possible applications in transportation, agriculture, electronics and biomedical products, including cooling wound dressings. Passive cooling technologies have gained traction in recent years, with various teams experimenting with ceramic coatings, reflective paints, and polymer-based films. However, many such innovations have faced limitations around cost, fragility, or environmental impact. Other recent breakthroughs include an ultrawhite starch-based film that passively cools surfaces by reflecting 96 per cent of sunlight and a ceramic roof coating that withstands extreme temperatures while reducing cooling loads by 20 per cent.
