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Scientists identify avian cholera as major cause of penguin deaths in Antarctica
Science News

Scientists identify avian cholera as major cause of penguin deaths in Antarctica

Thousands of AdΓ©lie penguins found dead in Antarctica in 2024 were primarily victims of avian cholera, not high pathogenicity avian influenza (H5N1) as researchers initially suspected, according to a study published today in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. The findings highlight an underrecognized threat to Antarctic wildlife and the importance of comprehensive disease investigations, particularly as H5N1 continues to raise concerns for seabird and marine mammal populations.

πŸ“… 2026-10-14 21:10:01    β€’    Phys.org
Engineered enzyme could improve detection of HIV and other viruses
Science News

Engineered enzyme could improve detection of HIV and other viruses

Scientists have long used a powerful gene-editing tool called CRISPR to make precise changes to DNA. But a different version of the technology, known as Cas13a, targets RNA, the genetic material found in viruses such as HIV. Now, researchers at Rice University have developed an improved version of Cas13a that could make it easier to detect HIV and other RNA viruses in blood and environmental samples. The study was published in Cell Chemical Biology.

πŸ“… 2026-10-14 21:00:11    β€’    Phys.org
Firms facing tariff shocks choose collaboration over conquest
Science News

Firms facing tariff shocks choose collaboration over conquest

New research has charted the way U.S. businesses adapted to market shocks caused by reductions in import tariffs and increased foreign competition, with greater innovation emerging as a longer-term benefit.

πŸ“… 2026-10-14 21:00:01    β€’    Phys.org
International business is influenced by local political climate, study finds
Science News

International business is influenced by local political climate, study finds

A new study co-authored by Tang Yinuo, a tenured associate professor at Peking University HSBC Business School (PHBS), reveals that conservative communities in the U.S. are more likely to resist mergers and acquisitions (M&As) by Chinese companies due to perceived threats and uncertainties.

πŸ“… 2026-10-14 20:40:11    β€’    Phys.org
Wide-scale cropland loss has consequences for wildfire resilience in the American West
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Wide-scale cropland loss has consequences for wildfire resilience in the American West

The western U.S. is facing parallel and escalating hazards in the form of ongoing drought and increasingly frequent wildfires. Although the region's ecosystems have evolved with wildfires, the intensity and frequency of blazes where people live and recreate remain a persistent challenge for communities.

πŸ“… 2026-10-14 20:40:02    β€’    Phys.org
Chronic back pain may activate an unexpected brain network, study finds
Science News

Chronic back pain may activate an unexpected brain network, study finds

For people with chronic back pain, everyday movements like bending down to tie their shoes or picking up a grocery bag can trigger painful flare-ups. Now, scientists have made a surprising discovery: These episodes may activate a brain network that's associated with our sense of self.In a new study, the researchers found that movement-induced chronic back pain was tied to increased activity in the brain's default mode network, a group of connected brain regions that lights up during self-reflection and mind wandering. This finding was unexpected because the network typically becomes less active during acute pain, such as transient pain triggered from touching a hot stove or banging your knee...

πŸ“… 2026-10-14 20:35:40    β€’    Live Science
Mollusk family trees play a key role in shaping microbiomes, researchers find
Science News

Mollusk family trees play a key role in shaping microbiomes, researchers find

A mollusk's microbial community has more to do with its family tree than its address. In other words, the composition of a mollusk's microbiome depends less on the environment in which it lives and more on what species it belongs to, say University of Michigan researchers.

πŸ“… 2026-10-14 20:30:14    β€’    Phys.org
Examining fraud prevention in federal relief programs
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Examining fraud prevention in federal relief programs

SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) assistant professor of accounting Dr. Katie Matt, in collaboration with Daniel Hebert of Syracuse University, recently published research examining the widespread fraud associated with the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their article, "Governance and Fraud Prevention in Federal Relief Programs: Insights from the Paycheck Protection Program," was published in the Journal of Accounting, Ethics & Public Policy in September 2026.

πŸ“… 2026-10-14 20:30:09    β€’    Phys.org