An interdisciplinary team of scientists has uncovered new evidence showing that the health impacts of the Industrial Revolution varied more widely across England than previously believed. The findings, published in the journal Science Advances, challenge the longstanding narrative that industrial cities were uniformly polluted while rural communities remained comparatively untouched during the rise of polluting industries. 

BUFFALO, NY — December 10, 2025 — A new case report was published in Volume 12 of Oncoscience on November 19, 2025, titled “Deciphering radiation effects in pap smears: A case report and review of challenges.”

Researchers at Brown University have developed a wearable sensor that uses polarized light to improve the accuracy of photoplethysmography (PPG) signals across different skin tones. Conventional pulse oximeters often underperform on darker skin due to light absorption and scattering by melanin. The new device combines two wavelengths with cross-polarized detection to reduce superficial scattering and enhance deeper vascular signals. In tests with volunteers of light, medium, and brown skin tones, cross-polarization significantly increased perfusion index—a measure of signal strength—compared to co-polarized detection. This approach could help make wearable health technologies more equitable and reliable.

 

New psychoactive substances, originally developed as potential analgesics but abandoned due to adverse side effects, may still have pharmaceutical value if researchers could nail down the causes of those side effects. A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign used deep learning and large-scale computer simulations to identify structural differences in synthetic cannabinoid molecules that cause them to bind to human brain receptors differently from classical cannabinoids.