Science

Call for nominations: Stein Rokkan Prize for Comparative Social Science Research

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https://council.science/news/call-for-nominations-stein-rokkan-prize-for-comparative-social-science-research-2/?utm%5C_source=rss&utm%5C_medium=rss&utm%5C_campaign=call-for-nominations-stein-rokkan-prize-for-comparative-social-science-research-2

In a study published today in Alzheimer’s and Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions, Dr Underwood, together with Dr Ilianna Lourida from the University of Exeter, led a systematic review of existing scientific literature to look for evidence of prescription drugs that altered the risk of dementia. Systematic reviews allow researchers to pool several studies where evidence may be weak, or even contradictory, to arrive at more robust conclusions.

In total, the team examined 14 studies that used large clinical datasets and medical records, capturing data from more than 130 million individuals and 1 million dementia cases. Although they found a lack of consistency between studies in identifying individual drugs that affect the risk of dementia, they identified several drug classes associated with altered risk.

One unexpected finding was an association between antibiotics, antivirals and vaccines, and a reduced risk of dementia. This finding supports the hypothesis that common dementias may be triggered by viral or bacterial infections, and supports recent interest in vaccines, such as the BCG vaccine for tuberculosis, and decreased risk of dementia.

Science diplomat to lead International Science Council Regional Focal Point for Asia and the Pacific

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https://council.science/news/science-diplomat-to-lead-international-science-council-regional-focal-point-for-asia-and-the-pacific/?utm%5C_source=rss&utm%5C_medium=rss&utm%5C_campaign=science-diplomat-to-lead-international-science-council-regional-focal-point-for-asia-and-the-pacific

Human ancestors like Australopithecus – which lived around 3.5 million years ago in southern Africa – ate very little to no meat, according to new research published in the scientific journal Science. This conclusion comes from an analysis of nitrogen isotope isotopes in the fossilized tooth enamel of seven Australopithecus individuals. The data revealed that these early hominins primarily relied on plant-based diets, with little to no evidence of meat consumption.

ISC launches initiative to equip science organizations for the digital age

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https://council.science/news/digital-journeys-launch/?utm%5C_source=rss&utm%5C_medium=rss&utm%5C_campaign=digital-journeys-launch

As far as we've been able to tell, all matter in the universe comes in just of two distinct types: fermions (particles that make stuff)and bosons (particles that mediate a force).

However, physicists from Rice University have developed a mathematical framework for a third type, known as paraparticles, whose behavior could imply the existence of elementary particles nobody has ever considered. While they don't yet have a means for experimentally identifying such particles yet (or even predicting exactly what they'd do), this is the first time that such a model has been found that allows for a new particle family.

Who will shape the digital economy?: Stein Rokkan Prize winner discusses tech giants, power, and democracy

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https://council.science/blog/who-will-shape-the-digital-economy-tech-giants-power-and-the-future-of-democracy/?utm%5C_source=rss&utm%5C_medium=rss&utm%5C_campaign=who-will-shape-the-digital-economy-tech-giants-power-and-the-future-of-democracy