Latest News Releases 31 March

Researchers tracked 89 Northern Saw Whet Owls (Aegolius acadicus) along a migration corridor in Western Montana, underscoring the efficacy of telemetry studies for detailed investigations into the movements of birds. Their paper, “Migration and Roosting Behavior of Northern Saw-whet Owls (Aegolius acadicus) During Fall Migration in Western Montana,” was published in the Journal of Raptor Research. The research team was surprised to discover that owls demonstrated stopover behavior, meaning pauses along migration for resting and refueling, as well as notable individual variation in their direction and method of travel. These findings further unveil the migration story of North America’s smallest owl, which may accelerate research on movements of other owl species as well.

The SETI Institute announced today two recipients for the 2025 Drake Award: Dr. David Deamer (University of California, Santa Cruz) and Dr. John Baross (University of Washington, Seattle). Deamer and Baross are known for their pioneering work in astrobiology, focused on understanding the origins of life. However, each approaches the question from a different perspective. Deamer, a biomolecular engineer who focuses on membranes and RNA formation in shallow water environments, is recognized for advancing new theories on the origins and processes of life in the Universe. Baross, a microbiologist, focuses on hydrothermal vents and deep-sea chemistry as the cradle of life and has pioneered research on extremophiles to decipher life’s origins on Earth and beyond.

A research group led by Gian Gaetano Tartaglia, Principal Investigator at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), developed a machine-learning algorithm to study the behavior of proteins within cells and to predict their ability to trigger neurodegenerative diseases such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's. The algorithm, called catGRANULE 2.0 ROBOT, helps identify molecular targets for further researches and therapies; it is described in a recent article published in the journal Genome Biology.

A collaborative research effort in global childhood cancer has revealed the significant negative impact of living in regions of armed conflict on pediatric cancer outcomes.

Researchers have discovered that the underside of the North American continent is dripping away in blobs of rock — and that the remnants of a tectonic plate sinking in the Earth’s mantle may be the reason why.

Scientists make a significant breakthrough in understanding the genetic causes of spina bifida, a serious birth defect affecting thousands of newborns each year.

Public awareness of the link between drinking alcohol and an elevated risk of cancer has grown since last fall, with 55% of U.S. adults saying that regularly consuming alcohol increases your chances of later developing cancer, according to a survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center.

Medical imaging experts are adept at solving common optical illusions, according to UEA research.

The research is the first to show that people can be trained to do better at solving visual illusions, which was previously thought to be near-impossible.

The study shows that medical imaging experts are particularly accurate at judging the size of objects in common optical illusions. In other words, they also literally see better in everyday life!

OKLAHOMA CITY – Clinical trial results published March 29 in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicate a potential shift in managing bleeding complications after major open-heart surgery.