A new study shows that traffic-related pollution in a major urban area in central Israel produces immediate, measurable changes in the atmospheric electric field, while particulate matter creates slower, delayed effects. The research also identifies a strong weekend signal, with reduced emissions leading to a marked weakening of the electric field. These findings are important because they point to atmospheric electricity as a highly sensitive, real-time indicator of urban air quality, capable of detecting rapid changes in emissions that conventional monitoring may miss. The results suggest a new way to track the immediate impact of traffic patterns and emission-reduction policies on city air, with potential implications for urban planning, environmental monitoring, and public health.

A pioneering study has found that an individualized approach to breast cancer screening that assesses patients’ risk, rather than annual mammograms, can lower the chance of more advanced cancers, while still safely match people to the amount of screening they need. 

For the first time, an international analysis has shown that when people with prediabetes bring their blood glucose back into the normal range through lifestyle changes, their risk of heart attack, heart failure, and premature death is cut in half. These findings could revolutionize prevention and establish a new, measurable target for clinical guidelines. Among others, researchers from University Hospital Tübingen, Helmholtz Munich, and the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) took part in the study.