Scientists

In three to six years, the first ice-free day in the Arctic could occur if a series of extreme weather events - such as an unusually warm autumn, winter and spring in the region - occur, according to a study comparing various models and scenarios in Nature Communications. An ice-free day refers to a day with Arctic Ocean ice coverage of less than 1 million square kilometres; the average coverage was 6.85 million square kilometres between 1979 and 1992.

According to a study published in Nature Medicine, deep brain stimulation of the lateral hypothalamus improves walking and promotes recovery in humans and rodents with spinal cord injuries. In humans, the authors tested this technique on two patients who relied on assistive devices and had difficulty walking; both showed improved performance in the ten-meter and six-minute walking tests. Combined with rehabilitation, the patients experienced recovery that persisted even after the deep brain stimulation was turned off.

The seventh Annual Report of the COSCE Transparency Agreement, prepared by the European Animal Research Association, which analyses transparency in the use of animals for scientific experimentation in Spain in 2023, was presented today. According to the document, transparency is consolidated among the signatory institutions -168 in 2024- and all of them publish a statement on their websites on the use of animals. Public mention of the number and species used stands at 47%, compared to 38% the previous year.

The fifth session of the United Nations Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution (INC-5) ended without a treaty in Busan, South Korea, in the early hours of the morning. The more than 100 countries participating in what was to be the final round of negotiations have agreed to continue negotiating, reports Reuters.

In the context of World AIDS Day, which is celebrated on 1 December, it is essential to reflect on one of the most urgent challenges in the fight against this disease: HIV in the paediatric population. A project led by the Complutense University of Madrid seeks to reduce paediatric mortality by training research leaders in sub-Saharan Africa and applying technology and innovation.

According to a study published in Science, social media content containing misinformation provokes more moral outrage than content containing accurate information, and this outrage facilitates the spread of misinformation. In addition, the results also showed that people are more likely to share this outrage-provoking misinformation without reading it first. 

At least two hominin species - Homoerectus and Paranthropus boisei- coexisted in Kenya's Turkana Basin around 1.5 million years ago, a study published in Science confirms. The authors describe the first physical evidence of this coexistence in the form of footprints, found at several sites in the area.

Ten of the 16 stadiums that will host the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup in Mexico, the United States and Canada are at ‘very high’ risk of extreme heat stress conditions, according to a study published in Scientific Reports. Using data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service, the analysis concludes that the risk will be highest at stadiums in Arlington, Houston (USA) and Monterrey (Mexico).

Benralizumab is a monoclonal antibody used in the maintenance treatment of severe asthma. Now, a phase 2 clinical trial has tested its use in asthma attacks or exacerbations of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) in 158 patients. The results, published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, indicate that it was more effective than standard corticosteroid-based treatment and that more patients responded to it. According to the authors, these data could be ‘a game changer’ in the treatment of this type of attack.

An analysis of the gut microbiota of children growing up on farms or with pets shows that early establishment of anaerobic commensal bacteria is associated with lower rates of allergy later in life. The study, which used data from 65 children aged between three days and 18 months, is published in the journal PLOS ONE.