https://phys.org/ en-us Latest news from Queen Mary, University of London In a groundbreaking discovery, bumblebees have been shown to possess a previously unseen level of cognitive sophistication. A new study, published in Nature, reveals that these fuzzy pollinators can learn complex, multi-step tasks through social interaction, even if they cannot figure them out on their own. This challenges the long-held belief that such advanced social learning is unique to humans, and even hints at the presence of key elements of cumulative culture in these insects. https://phys.org/news/2024-03-bumblebees-scientists-advanced-social-skills.html Plants & Animals Ecology Wed, 06 Mar 2024 11:00:01 EST news628942848 New findings reveal that the body undergoes significant, systematic changes across multiple organs during prolonged periods of fasting. The results demonstrate evidence of health benefits beyond weight loss, but also show that any potentially health-altering changes appear to occur only after three days without food. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-02-multi-response-days-food.html Endocrinology & Metabolism Fri, 01 Mar 2024 05:00:01 EST news628447281 In a world where social media influences opinions and shapes narratives, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is both a boon and a challenge. https://techxplore.com/news/2024-02-secrets-social-bots-ai-role.html Internet Machine learning & AI Thu, 29 Feb 2024 15:04:34 EST news628441470 A new study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology finds that people in positions of power are three times less likely to use sensitive language in work-related emails than people junior to them. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-people-power-sensitive-language.html Social Sciences Political science Mon, 26 Feb 2024 16:13:03 EST news628186381 A collaboration between Queen Mary University of London, University College London (UCL), Rolls-Royce, and a team of international researchers has unlocked the secrets of pore evolution in directed energy deposition (DED) additive manufacturing. Their findings, published in Nature Communications, pave the way for safer and more efficient production of high-value components across diverse industries. https://techxplore.com/news/2024-02-pore-evolution-secrets-revealed-additive.html Engineering Mon, 26 Feb 2024 14:02:19 EST news628178535 A comprehensive review of evidence led by researchers at Queen Mary University of London, in collaboration with the University of Sussex, Environment Agency, National Trust, Rewilding Britain, and Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, has shed light on the potential of rewilding to enhance flood and drought resilience. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-highlights-rewilding-role-tackling-drought.html Earth Sciences Environment Mon, 26 Feb 2024 12:22:43 EST news628172560 Researchers have developed a revolutionary biosensor using terahertz (THz) waves that can detect skin cancer with exceptional sensitivity, potentially paving the way for earlier and easier diagnoses. Published in IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, the study presents a significant advancement in early cancer detection, thanks to the collaboration of multidisciplinary teams from Queen Mary University of London and the University of Glasgow. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-02-terahertz-biosensor-skin-cancer-remarkable.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Biomedical technology Tue, 20 Feb 2024 14:20:44 EST news627661241 With a record number of people seeking help for problem gambling through the National Gambling Helpline last year, and the Gambling Commission's new figures suggesting that as many as 1.3 million adults in Great Britain might experience gambling-related harm, new research from Queen Mary University of London reveals innovative and effective approaches by financial institutions to support affected individuals. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-uk-approaches-financial-crucial-difference.html Social Sciences Economics & Business Sat, 17 Feb 2024 13:50:01 EST news627309707 An innovative treatment significantly increases the survival of people with malignant mesothelioma, a rare but rapidly fatal type of cancer with few effective treatment options, according to results from a clinical trial led by Queen Mary University of London. The findings have been published in JAMA Oncology. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-02-treatment-rare-aggressive-cancer-survival.html Medical research Oncology & Cancer Thu, 15 Feb 2024 11:00:01 EST news627210185 Hidden beneath the heavily cratered surface of Mimas, one of Saturn's smallest moons lies a secret: a global ocean of liquid water. This astonishing discovery, led by Dr. Valéry Lainey of the Observatoire de Paris-PSL and published in the journal Nature, reveals a "young" ocean formed just 5 to 15 million years ago, making Mimas a prime target for studying the origins of life in our solar system. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-mimas-tiny-moon-young-ocean.html Astrobiology Planetary Sciences Wed, 07 Feb 2024 12:28:49 EST news626531327 A new study in Nature Communications unveils the hidden world of sensory evolution in fruit flies. By delving into the genes and cells behind their delicate noses and tongues, researchers have discovered surprising secrets about how these tiny insects adapt their senses to different environments. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-evolution-fruit-flies-reveal-chemical.html Evolution Molecular & Computational biology Mon, 05 Feb 2024 13:16:03 EST news626361361 Researchers from Queen Mary University of London have found that the molecule RvT4 enhances the body's natural defenses against atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-02-treatment-reverse-inflammation-arterial-blockages.html Arthritis & Rheumatism Immunology Mon, 05 Feb 2024 05:00:01 EST news626106548 Research led by Claudia Cooper, Professor of Psychological Medicine at Queen Mary University of London, shows that a new therapy, NIDUS-Family, helps people with dementia and their family caregivers attain their personal goals. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-02-rare-positive-result-trial-intervention.html Psychology & Psychiatry Alzheimer's disease & dementia Thu, 01 Feb 2024 18:30:01 EST news626015544 A new analysis of trial data on pregnant smokers, led by researchers at Queen Mary University of London, finds that the regular use of nicotine-replacement products during pregnancy is not associated with adverse pregnancy events or poor pregnancy outcomes. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-01-cigarettes-pregnant-smokers-pregnancy-trial.html Obstetrics & gynaecology Addiction Wed, 17 Jan 2024 03:00:01 EST news624619423 A research team that includes Dr. Angus Atkinson of the Plymouth Marine Laboratory and Dr. Axel Rossberg from Queen Mary University of London has discovered a hidden amplifying mechanism within the ocean's food web. Their findings, published in Nature Communications, reveal that when climate warming reduces phytoplankton levels by just 16%–26% (as projected by global models in regions like the North Atlantic), the carrying capacity for fish plummets by 38%–55%. https://phys.org/news/2024-01-climate-threatens-fish-tiny-phytoplankton.html Ecology Molecular & Computational biology Tue, 16 Jan 2024 11:15:04 EST news624626102 In the largest study of its kind, scientists report how combining health data with whole genome sequence (WGS) data in patients with cancer can help doctors provide more tailored care for their patients. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-01-large-genome-sequencing-standard-cancer.html Oncology & Cancer Genetics Wed, 10 Jan 2024 19:00:01 EST news624125113 Researchers from Queen Mary University of London have revealed how sociocultural factors, in addition to geography, play a significant role in shaping the genetic diversity of modern societies. The research published in eLife employed deep learning to unravel the intricate patterns of ancestry-related sex bias and assortative mating, revealing how societal structures have shaped the genetic diversity of the Americas region. https://phys.org/news/2024-01-reveals-genetic-legacy-racial-gender.html Molecular & Computational biology Tue, 09 Jan 2024 12:22:03 EST news624025321 A study in Advanced Science unlocks the secrets of how high blood pressure (hypertension) fuels the progression of arterial disease. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-01-pressure-driven-foam-cell-formation.html Medical research Cardiology Fri, 05 Jan 2024 12:06:03 EST news623678762 In a breakthrough discovery, published in Nature Communications, scientists from Queen Mary University of London in collaboration with researchers at Newcastle University and The Francis Crick Institute have unraveled the intricate mechanism behind how DnaA, the master initiator of DNA replication in bacteria, specifically opens replication origins, the gateways to DNA duplication. This fundamental understanding sheds light on the crucial process that underpins the growth and reproduction of nearly all bacterial cells. https://phys.org/news/2023-12-mystery-dnaa-protein-role-dna.html Cell & Microbiology Molecular & Computational biology Thu, 21 Dec 2023 11:10:06 EST news622379401 Research led by Queen Mary University of London's Wolfson Institute of Population Health has found that hormone levels, measured through blood tests, are an important indicator of whether women will benefit from recently licensed medication for the prevention of breast cancer. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-12-blood-hormone-post-menopausal-women-benefit.html Oncology & Cancer Endocrinology & Metabolism Wed, 06 Dec 2023 09:30:04 EST news621077401 Additive manufacturing (AM), or 3D printing, is a rapidly growing technology with the potential to revolutionize many industries. However, AM parts can be susceptible to defects, such as porosities and cracks, which can limit their performance and reliability. https://phys.org/news/2023-12-solute-solidification-mechanisms-additive.html Analytical Chemistry Materials Science Mon, 04 Dec 2023 10:55:06 EST news620909704 A major clinical trial led by Queen Mary University of London and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health has found that vitamin D supplements do not increase bone strength or prevent bone fractures in children with vitamin D deficiency. The findings challenge widely held perceptions relating to the effects of vitamin D on bone health. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-12-vitamin-d-supplements-bone-fractures.html Health Pediatrics Fri, 01 Dec 2023 18:30:01 EST news620633922 A new study, published in PLOS ONE, has uncovered a remarkable connection between individuals' musical preferences and their moral values, shedding new light on the profound influence that music can have on our moral compass. https://phys.org/news/2023-11-uncovers-link-musical-moral-compass.html Social Sciences Thu, 30 Nov 2023 11:23:03 EST news620565781 Three reports emerging from Queen Mary University of London have provided valuable insight into the management of severe acute malnutrition (SAM)—the most life-threatening form of malnutrition in children. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-11-home-environment-significant-factor-children.html Pediatrics Tue, 28 Nov 2023 16:34:13 EST news620411646 A collaborative study led by Dr. Christopher Gisriel at Yale University and Dr. Tanai Cardona at Queen Mary University of London, published in Frontiers in Plant Science, offers new insight on the origin and evolution of a unique type of photosynthesis that enables some bacteria, specifically cyanobacteria, to harness far-red light. https://phys.org/news/2023-11-molecular-diversity-evolution-far-red-photosynthesis.html Evolution Molecular & Computational biology Tue, 28 Nov 2023 16:02:02 EST news620409721 Queen Mary University of London researchers have discovered a new immune mechanism in osteocytes, the most common type of bone cell, that could lead to new drugs for breast and prostate cancer. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-11-immune-mechanism-osteocyte-cells-drug.html Oncology & Cancer Immunology Fri, 17 Nov 2023 09:22:03 EST news619435321 Research led by Queen Mary's Professor Nelya Koteyko has been published in a new report, "Autistic adults' experiences with social media: Creativity, Connectedness, and Control." The report reveals how autistic users navigate and interact with diverse social media features, unraveling the complex relationship between linguistic and digital practices, individuality, and connectedness. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-11-reveals-autistic-adults-social-media.html Autism spectrum disorders Fri, 10 Nov 2023 12:53:27 EST news618843205 Results from a clinical trial carried out by researchers at Barts Health NHS Trust and Queen Mary University of London show that a new combination of drugs doubles overall survival for patients with bladder cancer that has spread (metastatic bladder cancer). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-11-drug-combination-survival-people-bladder.html Medications Oncology & Cancer Wed, 08 Nov 2023 14:47:35 EST news618677252 A new study led by Queen Mary University of London finds that people who were referred to urgent suspected cancer pathways, but were found not to have cancer, have a higher than expected risk of cancer in subsequent years. These findings suggest that this cohort of patients would benefit from additional support to help them manage down these risks of cancer. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-11-higher-cancer-referral.html Oncology & Cancer Health informatics Wed, 01 Nov 2023 10:25:04 EDT news618053102 Researchers from Queen Mary University of London have gathered detailed insights from the British South Asian community that could lead to more successful implementation of genetic testing to help tailor the use of routine medications. Their findings are published in The Pharmacogenomics Journal and indicate key issues that could affect the take up of this new type of genetic testing among patients. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-10-important-factor-british-south-asians.html Medical research Medications Tue, 31 Oct 2023 20:00:01 EDT news617990113