Are humans or machines better at recognizing speech? A new study shows that in noisy conditions, current automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems achieve remarkable accuracy and sometimes even surpass human performance. However, the systems need to be trained on an incredible amount of data, while humans acquire comparable skills in less time. Automatic speech recognition (ASR) has made incredible advances in the past few years, especially for widely spoken languages ​​such as English. Prior to 2020, it was typically assumed…

Low back pain is a leading cause of disability worldwide with many treatments, such as medication, often failing to provide lasting relief. Researchers from the University of Sydney’s Centre for Rural Health have uncovered a possible solution. Their study, published in JAMA Network Open, found integrating lifestyle support into back pain care could reduce disability and enhance quality of life. Study Evaluates Lifestyle-Based Outcomes The randomised controlled trial included 346 participants from across Australia, all of whom had chronic low back pain and…

Groundwater and multilevel cooperation in recovery efforts mitigated water crisis after flooding. Converting Disasters into Opportunities Society is often vulnerable to disasters, but how humans manage during and after can turn devastation into opportunities for improved resilience. An Alternative Water Source: Private Wells For instance, private wells are attracting attention as an alternative resource for securing water for daily use and consumption in the event the water supply is cut off after a disaster. However, there are few records on…

The closest relatives of humans adapt genetically to habitats and infections Survival of the Fittest: Genetic Adaptations Uncovered in Chimpanzees Görlitz, 10.01.2025. Chimpanzees have genetic adaptations that help them survive in different forest and savannah habitats. This is the result of a study published today in the renowned journal “Science”. An international research team led by University College London (UCL) shows that some of these adaptations could also protect the animals from malaria. The researchers emphasize that their results provide…

The Fiber Gap: A Growing Concern in American Diets Fiber is well known to be an important part of a healthy diet, yet less than 10% of Americans eat the minimum recommended amount. A new study from Stanford Medicine might finally convince us to fill our plates with beans, nuts, cruciferous veggies, avocados and other fiber-rich foods. The research, which will be published in Nature Metabolism on Jan. 9 identified the direct epigenetic effects of two common byproducts of fiber digestion and found that…

Scientists show how a mutated gene harms red and white blood cells. LA JOLLA, CA—Scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) have discovered how a mutated gene kicks off a dangerous chain of events during blood cell production. The study, published recently in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reveals how a mutated gene called ASXL1 is involved in a disease called clonal hematopoiesis, a precursor to malignant diseases such as myeloid malignancies and chronic monomyelocytic leukemia. “We know that…

Can strength and endurance training be beneficial for patients with a certain form of heart failure? A research team from Greifswald investigated this question together with seven other research centers in Germany. In the largest study of its kind to date, the effect of one year of training on the health of patients was examined. The research team was able to prove that those affected benefited from better performance and resilience in everyday life. The results have now been published…

Children and young people with high levels of mental health needs are struggling to receive the help they need, or to have their difficulties recognised, according to a new study. STADIA Decodes Young People’s Emotional Struggles The STADIA trial, which is published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, was led by experts from the School of Medicine at the University of Nottingham, and was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The large study, which spans different parts…

Results of a comprehensive analysis refute assumptions that a key immune checkpoint receptor functions the same in rodents and humans The Discovery of PD-1: A Milestone in Cancer Treatment Since its discovery in the 1990s, “programmed cell death protein 1,” or PD-1, has been regarded as a leading target in cancer treatments. A “checkpoint” receptor that often resides on the surface of immune system cells, the PD-1 molecule works as a type of off switch that keeps immune cells from…

To stay healthy, plants balance the energy they put into growing with the amount they use to defend against harmful bacteria. The mechanisms behind this equilibrium have largely remained mysterious. Soil Bacteria: The Unexpected Key to Plant Immunity Now, engineers at Princeton have found an answer in an unexpected place: the harmless, or sometimes beneficial, bacteria that cluster around plants’ roots. In an article published Dec. 24 in the journal Cell Reports, researchers showed that some types of soil bacteria can influence a…

Achilles tendon injuries are common but challenging to monitor during recovery due to the limitations of current imaging techniques. Researchers, led by Associate Professor Zeng Nan from the International Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, have applied Mueller matrix polarimetry, a non-invasive imaging method, to more accurately observe and evaluate the healing of Achilles tendon injuries. This technique offers unique insights by capturing the subtle changes in tendon tissue without needing labels or dyes, allowing for more natural tissue characterization….

Good news for the German research fleet, German shipbuilding, and international polar research alike: the new Polarstern will be constructed in Wismar by thyssenkrupp Marine Systems. The company received the official contract to construct a new research icebreaker from the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) today, marking the end of a two and a half-year-long Europe-wide call for tenders. The new flagship of German climate research will cost an estimated 1.185 billion euros. Following five years of construction, she is to…

A new radio telescope on the top of Germany’s Zugspitze mountain will help unravel the secrets of the universe. The project is led by the Chair for Astronomy at the University of Würzburg. Thorsten Glauber, State Minister in the Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection, spoke of a “new chapter in space research”. And of a further step “to consolidate Bavaria’s place in the premier league of research“. What made the minister so enthusiastic is a state-of-the-art…

Around a quarter of acute stroke patients experience swallowing disorders, medically known as dysphagia. The conditions include difficulty in moving food or liquid into the esophagus, which often leads to choking and other serious complications. In severe cases, food particles entering the trachea can result in pneumonia or even suffocation. While the physical dangers of dysphagia are well-known, its psychological impact on stroke survivors is increasingly recognized as an equally pressing concern. The Psychological Impact of Dysphagia Recent studies reveal…

New Possibilities through Individual Beam Shaping. The now firmly established “UKP Workshop” brings together leading experts in ultrashort pulse laser technology every two years. On April 8 and 9, 2025, the 8th UKP Workshop will take place in Aachen, where specialists will present the latest developments in the field of ultrashort pulse laser technology. Around 20 international speakers will give presentations on practical applications and processes with USP lasers. This time, the focus will be on innovative beam shaping solutions…

In the VALPEATS project, Fraunhofer researchers are working with project partners to develop a monitoring platform to collect information and evaluate the condition of peatlands. Peatlands are drying out due to conversion to agricultural land and climate change, releasing huge quantities of CO2 into the atmosphere in the process. The project involves an interdisciplinary team of specialists in the field along with a network of sensors, drones, and AI tools. VALPEATS is laying the groundwork for protecting peatlands and planning…