https://phys.org/ en-us Latest news from Florida Atlantic University Each winter, thousands of blacktip sharks (Carcharhinus limbatus) migrate to the clear, shallow waters off South Florida, where they are easily spotted from the air—a movement that coincides with seasonal beach nourishment projects. In northern Palm Beach County, beach nourishment—adding sand from nearby or offshore sources, such as Jupiter Inlet—is conducted nearly every year to widen beaches, protect shorelines and provide habitat and recreational space. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-triple-threat-emerges-sharks-beach.html Plants & Animals Wed, 08 Apr 2026 09:40:04 EDT news694859881 Early problems with language can have a lasting negative impact on social and emotional development. Building on this foundation, a new groundbreaking study from Florida Atlantic University and Aarhus University in Denmark tests the hypothesis that unsupervised, solitary screen time during early childhood increases the likelihood that language difficulties will lead to socioemotional difficulties. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-unsupervised-screen-vulnerable-preschoolers.html Mon, 06 Apr 2026 11:20:01 EDT news694692121 The dark web is sometimes seen as a shadowy part of the internet, but it also has legitimate uses, including accessing censored information and sharing files securely. Its anonymity and privacy features, however, can make it appealing to those drawn to riskier or illicit online activity. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-dark-web-users-traits-involved.html Social Sciences Wed, 01 Apr 2026 18:40:04 EDT news694258411 For decades, scientists have observed a clear pattern across the natural world: biodiversity tends to be higher near the equator and lower toward the poles. Known as the latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG), this trend holds across ecosystems—from forests to oceans—and across life forms, from bacteria and plants to animals. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-parasites-defy-biodiversity-equator.html Evolution Tue, 31 Mar 2026 12:20:01 EDT news694169774 For too long, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have been denied the same opportunities for love, romance, and sexual expression as their peers. Misconceptions about their desires and abilities have limited their privacy, autonomy, and access to essential education, leaving many without the tools or opportunities to explore romantic relationships safely and confidently. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-video-young-adults-disabilities-romance.html Social Sciences Thu, 26 Mar 2026 20:10:03 EDT news693738972 Huntington's disease is a devastating brain disorder that slowly robs people of movement, memory, and personality. It is caused by a toxic protein that builds in brain cells and ultimately kills them. For years, scientists have known that this harmful protein doesn't stay put—it spreads from one brain cell to another. However, exactly how that spread happens and how to stop it has remained a mystery. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-discovery-tiny-cell-tunnels-path.html Fri, 20 Mar 2026 14:00:08 EDT news693130501 During the winters of 2024 and 2025, widespread "spinning fish" events swept through the Florida Keys, impacting more than 80 marine fish species and likely killing hundreds of endangered large juvenile and adult smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata). This mysterious phenomenon caused fish to swim in tight circles, lose balance and sometimes die, likely due to environmental stressors or neurotoxins from algae. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-endangered-smalltooth-sawfish-comeback-historical.html Plants & Animals Tue, 17 Mar 2026 13:00:02 EDT news692967002 Nearly 1 in 5 teens in the United States is obese, putting their long-term health at serious risk. Obesity in adolescence leads to many deleterious medical conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and mental health struggles with low self-esteem and depression. Understanding patterns of obesity and weight-loss efforts in U.S. adolescents is critical for shaping effective clinical and public health interventions. Yet, data remain sparse on whether and how adolescents attempt to lose weight. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-teen-obesity-decade.html Mon, 16 Mar 2026 18:00:04 EDT news692873806 Every animal carries a microscopic community of bacteria, fungi, and other microbes that play a critical role in health. These gut microbes help regulate the immune system, support digestion, and even influence how animals respond to stress. In birds, stress triggers the hormone corticosterone, which helps individuals cope with challenges. But when stress is prolonged or repeated, it can disrupt the balance of microbes in the gut, potentially affecting health in ways that aren't immediately visible. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-microbial-clues-uncover-wild-songbirds.html Ecology Fri, 13 Mar 2026 06:00:06 EDT news692525342 Across the animal kingdom, sound is more than communication—it's a signal of survival and success. From birds and primates to insects, fish, and amphibians, animals broadcast acoustic "advertisements" to defend territory, attract mates, and reveal their physical condition. Because these calls can reflect traits such as body size, strength, or health, they play a powerful role in sexual selection and help shape how species compete and reproduce. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-croak-conundrum-parasites-complicate-frogs.html Plants & Animals Thu, 12 Mar 2026 12:20:04 EDT news692527775 Employment can be a powerful gateway to independence, dignity, and belonging. Yet for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), that gateway remains limited. Although work supports better health, social connection, and a sense of purpose, only about 15% of individuals with IDD are employed in competitive, integrated work settings. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-augmented-reality-job-boosts-people.html Economics & Business Wed, 11 Mar 2026 13:40:01 EDT news692444443 As children enter adolescence, peers become a dominant force in their lives. With adult supervision waning, teens look to agemates for guidance on how to act, think, and fit in. But who matters most—friends or the popular classmates? A groundbreaking longitudinal study from Florida Atlantic University reveals that peer influence is not a monolithic process. Instead, different types of peers exert influence over entirely different domains of a child's life. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-science-friends-popular-peers-teen.html Psychology & Psychiatry Mon, 02 Mar 2026 09:30:02 EST news691665902 More than 350,000 chemicals are used worldwide, and many find their way into the ocean through plastic pollution. As plastics accumulate in coastal waters, they continuously leach bioactive additives that can interfere with the chemical cues marine animals rely on to find food, avoid predators, choose habitats, and communicate. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-marine-plastic-pollution-octopus-predator.html Plants & Animals Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:00:01 EST news691155961 Pygmy sperm whales (Kogia breviceps) are among the ocean's most enigmatic inhabitants—rarely seen and largely unstudied. They live far offshore in small groups, diving in search of squid and fish. Their quiet behavior and elusive nature have made it difficult to study them in the wild. Pygmy sperm whales are rarely encountered free-swimming. Most scientific knowledge about them has come from stranded individuals—especially along the southeastern coast of the United States, where these whales strand more frequently than nearly any other large marine mammal species. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-bacteria-florida-stranded-pygmy-sperm.html Plants & Animals Thu, 19 Feb 2026 09:40:05 EST news690715463 Why do some systems collapse suddenly after what seems like a minor disturbance? A single transmission line failure can cascade into widespread blackouts. A delayed shipment can ripple through a global supply chain, emptying store shelves far from the original disruption. A rumor spreading in a small online network can spark nationwide panic. In nature, a slight environmental shift can throw an ecosystem into chaos, and a local disease outbreak can quickly escalate into an epidemic. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-power-grids-epidemics-small-patterns.html Mathematics Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:20:03 EST news690652374 A new national study finds a concerning surge in teen "sexting," which frequently exposes them to serious risks, including sextortion, coercion and privacy violations. Sexting involves sending or receiving sexually suggestive images or video, while sextortion is the threat to share explicit or intimate images without consent to pressure someone into providing more images, sexual favors, money or other demands. Sextortion is especially harmful for teens, who are still developing impulse control, risk assessment and emotional regulation. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-teen-sexting-surge-sextortion-privacy.html Social Sciences Thu, 12 Feb 2026 09:24:44 EST news690110581 Chemotherapy remains one of the most powerful tools in the fight against cancer, yet it often comes with significant long-term side effects that can dramatically affect patients' quality of life. Among the most debilitating is chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, which impacts both the central and peripheral nervous systems and affects up to 85% of cancer patients and survivors. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-tiny-worm-clues-combat-chemotherapy.html Immunology Wed, 11 Feb 2026 09:54:42 EST news690026041 Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are industrially modified products loaded with added fats, sugars, starches, salts and chemical additives like emulsifiers. From sodas to snacks and processed meats, these foods are stripped of natural nutrients. UPFs introduce many ingredients that our bodies have never encountered. In the United States today, UPFs make up nearly 60% of adults' and 70% of children's diets. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-high-ultra-food-diets-linked.html Health Thu, 05 Feb 2026 14:40:01 EST news689520111 Florida's Indian River Lagoon (IRL), one of the state's most ecologically productive estuaries, is facing a growing but invisible threat that could reshape its marine ecosystems. Over the past decade, the lagoon has suffered severe degradation caused by nutrient pollution, excessive freshwater runoff, harmful algal blooms (HABs), and declining water quality. These changes have led to the loss of tens of thousands of acres of seagrass and have negatively impacted shellfish, fish, dolphins, manatees and other key species. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-shellfish-uncovers-acidic-indian-river.html Plants & Animals Tue, 03 Feb 2026 09:59:39 EST news689335141 At the height of the "Great Resignation" in 2021, more than 50 million workers in the United States quit their jobs, driven by stress, burnout, and rising expectations for sustainable work. Nearly half cited inadequate benefits as a main reason for leaving. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-paid-workers.html Economics & Business Sat, 31 Jan 2026 11:30:04 EST news688908217 For decades, sharks have been the unintended victims of longline fisheries aimed at tuna and swordfish. Rising accidental catches have contributed to population declines and created serious challenges for both conservation and commercial fishing. And the impacts go beyond the sharks themselves—every time a shark takes the bait, hooks are lost to target species, gear gets damaged, costs climb, and crews face added risks when handling or releasing the animals. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-shark-repellent-method-reform-fisheries.html Ecology Mon, 26 Jan 2026 09:26:52 EST news688641961 In the icy waters of Alaska's Bristol Bay, a new study reveals how a small population of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) survive the long haul through a surprising strategy: they mate with multiple partners over several years. The combination of long-term genetics, observation and careful analysis is starting to reveal some of the most intimate insights into one of the Arctic's most elusive whales. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-strategic-sex-alaska-beluga-whales.html Plants & Animals Wed, 21 Jan 2026 00:00:01 EST news688051776 Investors show a stronger preference for positive environmental, social and governance (ESG) screening, especially in times of uncertainty in stock markets, according to a new study from researchers at Florida Atlantic University. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-investors-shifting-positive-environmental-social.html Economics & Business Mon, 12 Jan 2026 12:08:29 EST news687442082 Bullying in the United States remains a serious public health issue with consequences that extend far beyond the school grounds. For adolescents, being bullied—or engaging in bullying—can lead to lasting mental, physical and social challenges that follow them into adulthood. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-reveals-social-family-health-factors.html Psychology & Psychiatry Mon, 12 Jan 2026 09:25:52 EST news687432301 As Americans gear up for the holiday season, new research offers a timely reminder to reflect on the long-term health effects of raising a celebratory glass—or two. Alcohol is known to increase the risk of several cancers even at moderate levels. Yet drinking remains widespread, and important questions persist about how both the frequency and amount of alcohol people consume shape their cancer risk. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-evidence-linking-alcohol-cancer.html Oncology & Cancer Thu, 11 Dec 2025 09:27:40 EST news684667622 Dementia is a group of disorders that gradually impair memory, thinking and daily functioning. Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, affects about 7.2 million Americans aged 65 and older in 2025. Frontotemporal dementia (FTD), while rarer, is the second most common cause of early-onset dementia, often striking people in their 40s to 60s. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-decode-dementia-ai-eeg-brainwave.html Alzheimer's disease & dementia Wed, 10 Dec 2025 10:30:37 EST news684585002 The dark web—a hidden corner of the internet accessed through privacy-preserving tools like the Tor browser—operates beyond the reach of traditional search engines and public platforms. Unlike the surface web, its architecture is deliberately designed to shield identities and activities from view, prioritizing anonymity over transparency. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-poor-mental-health-linked-dark.html Social Sciences Wed, 03 Dec 2025 09:20:27 EST news683976002 Although the Atlantic hurricane season has officially ended, Floridians' woes over severe weather and soaring homeowners' insurance costs still linger. A new Florida Atlantic University survey finds hurricanes and other climate-related threats are causing many Floridians to consider moving. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-survey-hurricane-season-weather-woes.html Environment Mon, 01 Dec 2025 15:28:37 EST news683825282 Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating cause of memory loss and cognitive decline, for which no curative treatment is available. Among lifestyle factors, physical activity stands out as possibly one of the strongest defenders of brain health. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-11-muscle-protein-linked-alzheimer.html Alzheimer's disease & dementia Tue, 18 Nov 2025 13:07:05 EST news682693621 Across the United States, children spend more than 1,100 hours in school each year—time that shapes not only their academic success but also their emotional and social growth. Yet, for many students, the school environment can also be a source of anxiety and apprehension. School counselors play a pivotal role in addressing these challenges through evidence-based, comprehensive guidance programs. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-small-group-boosts-students-emotional.html Social Sciences Sat, 15 Nov 2025 10:00:01 EST news682335837