Latest News Releases 10 April

In this cohort study of children hospitalized with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in 2022 and 2023, severe RSV disease was more likely among those age 2 or older with pulmonary and neurologic, neuromuscular, or developmental conditions. For children younger than 2 years, age younger than 6 months and prematurity were the main risk factors. These findings support prevention strategies for all younger children, including premature infants, with potential benefit for children age 2 or older in specific high-risk groups.

In this large U.S. cohort study of children and adolescents, SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with a higher risk of adverse postacute kidney outcomes, particularly among those with preexisting chronic kidney disease or acute kidney injury, suggesting the need for vigilant long-term monitoring.

For the highly populated coastal country of Bangladesh, once-in-a-century storm tides could strike every 10 years — or more often — by the end of the century, scientists report.

It’s becoming increasingly commonplace for people to develop intimate, long-term relationships with artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. At their extreme, people have “married” their AI companions in non-legally binding ceremonies, and at least two people have killed themselves following AI chatbot advice. In an opinion paper publishing April 11 in the Cell Press journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences, psychologists explore ethical issues associated with human-AI relationships, including their potential to disrupt human-human relationships and give harmful advice. 

Are we alone in the universe? The answer to one of humanity’s biggest questions is complicated by a basic reality: If there is life on other worlds, it may not look familiar. In a paper published in Nature Communications, a WashU researcher proposes a new idea for how to search for life: scientists can look for tell-tale patterns of energy.

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London have developed an AI tool that creates synthetic yet medically accurate models of fibrotic heart tissue (heart scarring), aiding treatment planning for atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. The study, published in Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, could lead to more personalised care for patients affected by this common heart rhythm disorder. 

The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism. 

Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center have found that tapping into the body’s own immune system and activating a type of immune cell known as B cells, could be the key to boosting the effectiveness of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte, or TIL therapy. Results of their study were published in the Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer.