1,071 news posts

Frontiers news
29 Sep 2023
Thank you to all the women in science
Author: Leticia Nani Silva How do you say goodbye to your biggest achievement? For three years, Frontiers’ Women in Science blog has been my pride and joy, my biggest accomplishment, my success story. It’s now time to pass it to the next coordinators, who have been here since day one, Carolina Capelo Garcia and Thimedi Hetti. Photo credit: Frontiers The Women in Science blog was born from a spontaneous idea back in 2019, when life was very different, and Zoom was still practically unheard of within our company. As a young, recent graduate woman figuring out my place in the company and in the world of science, I was determined to make a mark and work collaboratively with other like-minded scientists to drive more women into STEM. The idea turned into a long-term project, and in 2021, we produced 18 articles showcasing the work and experiences of these brilliant women and sponsored the HBA Women of the Year Conference. Harnessing the success of the year before, we built on our expertise. In 2022, we grew the team of writers to 16 and set out to encourage more women to join our blog and share their story. We curated our interviews […]

Featured news
29 Sep 2023
Mouthwash for dogs: water additive with pomegranate helps to keep canine teeth healthy
By Mischa Dijkstra, Frontiers science writer Veterinarian researchers performed a blinded randomized controlled trial to show that a commercially available water additive with pomegranate extract is effective in limiting the reformation of plaque and tartar on the teeth of dogs after a professional dental cleaning. This could help to prevent periodontal disease in the long term. Periodontal disease is one of the most common canine diseases, affecting at least 80% of dogs aged three and over. Periodontal disease begins as gingivitis, where gums become red and inflamed, and may bleed. Untreated, the disease can progress to periodontitis, where the alveolar bone is progressively damaged so that teeth may loosen or fall out. In turn, periodontitis is a risk factor for other diseases like cardiovascular and lung disease. A major cause of periodontal disease is poor oral hygiene, which can lead to the build-up of plaque and tartar. For this reason, veterinarians counsel owners to brush their dogs’ teeth regularly. Unfortunately, compliance with this advice is low, because it’s onerous or because some dogs won’t cooperate. “Here we show that an additive to drinking water, based on pomegranate extract, can reduce the accumulation of plaque and tartar in dogs,” said Dr […]

Frontiers news
28 Sep 2023
Frontiers community engagement update – fall 2023
Photo credit: Frontiers We take a moment to reflect on the information, resources, and actions taken over the past several months towards promoting longer, more prosperous lives on a healthier planet. Photo credit: Frontiers Women in Science Our Women in Science blog continues to showcase the diverse stories and achievements of women researchers from various fields. The team behind the blog has had engaging discussions with each of the women, discovering how their work contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). Each blog post also reveals the personal journeys of the women, including their key learnings, major challenges, and useful tips for future generations. Over the past several months, readers have learned about artificial intelligence and large-scale resource management (SDG 11), women in academia and equality (SDG 10), and innovation and process optimization (SDG 9). Photo credit: Emily Darley, Elisabeth Horde Frontiers’ Volunteers The volunteering platform Alaya has continued to connect Frontons with meaningful opportunities – near and far. Most recently, our colleagues have shared their experiences tutoring students and mentoring student-athletes in different countries, highlighting the wide range of organizations available for Frontons to get involved with. Copyediting specialist Emily Darley spends her volunteer time tutoring […]

Frontiers news
27 Sep 2023
Frontiers awarded top-tier customer experience accreditation from NPSx℠ by Bain & Company
Frontiers has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first scholarly publisher to receive a top-tier accreditation in customer experience from NPSx℠ by Bain & Company, co-creators of the Net Promoter Score. The accreditation is largely considered the gold standard for measuring customer loyalty and is used by two thirds of Fortune 1000 companies. The accreditation is the result of Frontiers’ commitment to delivering exceptional customer experience for researchers – and the publisher has been officially recognized and accredited by NPSx℠ as ‘very good’. Photo credit: Frontiers and NPSx by Bain & Co Bain & Company have a proven history of expertise in the field of customer experience. The accreditation system serves as a valuable tool for organizations seeking to improve their performance by adopting best practices that focus on enhancing and excelling in customer experience. “Publishing open science is a matter of trust and reputation. At Frontiers, a community driven publisher, we acknowledge this fact and build our strategy around the needs of the researchers. Understanding and improving customer experience through robust business processes is an integral part of our commitment to provide the world’s scientists with the best, fastest, and most efficient publishing experience,” comments Thomas Leber, Frontiers’ […]

Featured news
27 Sep 2023
Swimming lessons often discourage kids from just having fun in the pool
By Mischa Dijkstra, Frontiers science writer Researchers rated the teaching style of swimming teachers in the Netherlands, focusing on the degree to which the need for autonomy, competence, and relatedness of children were thwarted or supported on the whole. They concluded that there is an opportunity to improve swimming teaching styles, especially by focusing more on the need for autonomy in children. It is expected that this will improve the enjoyment of children and their willingness to continue once they have become competent swimmers. Learning to swim is not just potentially life-saving: it also provides a full-body workout that promotes cardiovascular and lung health. While in high-income countries most children learn to swim, few join a swimming club afterwards. Here, authors from the Netherlands showed that the way that swimming lessons are taught in the Netherlands can be improved. This could stimulate more children to keep up the activity. The results are published in Frontiers in Sports and Active Living. Lead author Carola Minkels, a doctoral student at the Department of Human Movement Sciences of the Free University Amsterdam, said: “Here we show that swimming lessons in the Netherlands poorly support the intrinsic motivation of children: their need for autonomy […]

Frontiers news
26 Sep 2023
Celebrating 20 years of the Berlin Declaration: Frontiers supports Open Access Days 2023
Open access publisher Frontiers is supporting the Open Access Days 2023 conference taking place in Berlin 27-29 September 2023. The focus of this year’s event, entitled “Shaping Visions,” is on open and free access to research results, scientific literature, and other materials on the internet. Photo credit: Open-Access-Büro Berlin Organized by the Open-Access-Büro Berlin and hosted by the Freie Universität Berlin, Open Access Days 2023 is an annual central conference on open access (OA) in German-speaking countries. It is made up of a diverse program with lectures, workshops, a panel discussion, poster sessions, and a tool marketplace. Together, these will serve as a background for further discussions on topics such as monitoring costs and assessing the ways for an equitable transformation to open access and open science. This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge in the Sciences and Humanities, an international statement on open access and access to knowledge. First published in 2003, the Berlin Declaration has become an integral part of scientific practice, defining open access and outlining actions needed to foster the open access paradigm. During the event, three keynote speakers will shed light on the transformation to open […]

Environment
26 Sep 2023
Why ecological restoration without Indigenous leadership won’t last
by Dr Jennifer Grenz, University of British Columbia Dr Jennifer Grenz. Image: UBC Dr Jennifer Grenz is the principal investigator at The Indigenous Ecology Lab at the University of British Columbia. There, researchers apply an Indigenous, relational worldview to ecological restoration. Grenz has nearly two decades of experience providing consulting services and on-the-ground management of invasive species for all levels of government as well as working with Indigenous communities on creating food security plans and land healing initiatives consistent with community values and needs. Her current research focuses on applying an Indigenous worldview to invasive plant species on landscapes in British Columbia, challenging us to think differently about our role in ecosystems management as we face a rapidly changing climate. Together with Dr Chelsey Armstrong of the Historical Ecological Research Lab at Simon Fraser University, Grenz is co-author of a recently published Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems article. In it, they introduce the concept of ‘pop-up restoration’, meaning fragmented, disconnected, privileged restoration that perpetuates colonial notions of naturalness. In this latest Frontiers guest editorial, she wrote about their latest work. Imagine you’re sitting in your living room on a quiet evening with your family reading a book, when suddenly, complete […]

Frontiers news
25 Sep 2023
Frontiers’ Volunteers: Growing together oceans apart
Frontiers’ volunteers have always been at the forefront of community and societal responses. Elisabeth Hordé shares her experience mentoring and growing together with student-athletes a continent away. Photo credit: Elisabeth Hordé What is your background and role at Frontiers? “I joined Frontiers in January 2022 as a project manager for our product operations team, which sits under the technology department. Since April 2023, I have also been chair of our Disability and Neurodiversity Employee Resource Group (ERG). “Most of my career has been focused on project management when not deep diving into product or supporting change. I have worked in international organizations, startups, and multinationals. First, I evolved in publishing, then shifted towards fintech, and now I am positioned between publishing and tech thanks to Frontiers!” What does the organization you volunteered for do? “The athLEDA Foundation is a US-based organization that helps young student-athletes from underserved communities by connecting them with selected mentors. The idea is to help them see themselves as more than just athletes. athLEDA arise empowers student-athletes with a program that elevates their professional skills. “The foundation fosters leadership and emotional intelligence while focusing on a STEM approach. Mentees can also find opportunities in all types […]

Featured news
25 Sep 2023
Holidays back to the home country could help bilingual children hold on to their family’s original language
by Angharad Brewer Gillham, Frontiers science writer Image/Shutterstock.com Holding on to a heritage language which isn’t widely spoken in the country of residence is difficult. Scientists find that using the heritage language at home, in daily life, is important to retaining it, but that some of the language skills which are most vulnerable — like vocabulary — are improved by visits to the country of origin. It’s hard to keep a language in the family. Many people who migrate to different countries find that their language of origin has become a heritage language, passed on to future generations with varying degrees of success. These languages come under pressure from the dominant language in a country as well as the lack of opportunities to practice and fluent speakers to practice with. So how do kids use or retain heritage languages? And can visits to their parents’ countries of origin help them increase their fluency? “The role of parental language use in the country of residence is well-established,” said Prof Vicky Chondrogianni of the University of Edinburgh and Dr Evangelia Daskalaki of the University of Alberta, authors of the study in Frontiers in Language Science. “Here we show how the opportunities to […]

Featured news
20 Sep 2023
Nobel Prize winners inspire young minds in new scientific articles for kids
Frontiers for Young Minds launches third volume of Nobel Collection articles for young readers Photo credit: Frontiers Frontiers for Young Minds, an award-winning, non-profit, open-access scientific journal for kids, has released the third volume of its Nobel Collection today. The new volume features five articles on topics from using a glowing protein found in jellyfish to understand cell function to studying the smallest units of matter. Prior to publication, the distinguished scientists worked with young reviewers aged 8-15 to ensure their articles were interesting and understandable for young readers. Launched in 2013, Frontiers for Young Minds inspires the next generation of scientists by making science accessible and engaging for young people. It provides reliable and up-to-date information on various topics in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM). Through a unique review process, kids engage in dialogue with leading researchers worldwide, empowering the young reviewers with a better understanding not only of the science of the article, but of the scientific process and the importance of validating information. While learning about the world around them, young reviewers develop confidence, critical thinking, and communication skills. The Nobel Collection is a special series of articles by Nobel Laureates. This third volume of […]

Featured news
20 Sep 2023
Shading the Great Barrier Reef from the sun might slow bleaching-induced coral decline
By Deborah Pirchner, Frontiers science writer Image: Shutterstock As ocean temperatures rise, corals can lose their color due to heat stress. Bleaching does not kill corals immediately, but they become more vulnerable to disease and starvation. Shading reefs by covering them with cloth or fog, can protect them from excessive heat. Now, researchers have tested the shading response of two coral species and found that four hours of shade during the hottest time of the day can significantly slow bleaching. This knowledge can help with solar radiation management in marine ecosystems, including the Great Barrier Reef. Over the past two decades, coral reefs have declined at unprecedented rates. This is in part because of extreme weather events, which cause wide-spread coral bleaching, a process during which corals lose their color because of stressors, including changes in water temperature, light, or nutrient availability. One of the worst mass bleaching events occurred in 2016 and 2017 on the Great Barrier Reef, causing bleaching on 91% of the system’s reefs. As frequency and severity of mass bleaching events are expected to increase in the future, researchers are looking for ways to protect corals from excessive radiation and temperatures. As part of the Cooling […]

Environment
18 Sep 2023
Captive pandas could be ‘jet lagged’ if their body clocks don’t match their environment
by Angharad Brewer Gillham, Frontiers science writer Image/Shutterstock Animals’ circadian clocks normally get cues from their environments: light cycles, seasonal food availability, and temperature. If these cues are very different to the ones from the latitudes which they have adapted to, it could disrupt their bodies and behavior, like jet lag in humans. Scientists studying the effect of this possible ‘jet lag’ on giant pandas, which are a vulnerable species and live in zoos worldwide, have shown that pandas housed in different latitudes to their normal range in China are less active, with potentially negative consequences for their welfare. All animals have an internal clock called a circadian clock, which is regulated by cues from their environment — but animals in zoos can be exposed to very different cues from animals in the wild. Since all animals’ circadian clocks are linked to their behavior and physiology, this could be significant to their welfare, which is crucial to maintaining captive populations of animals at high risk of extinction in the wild, like giant pandas. Scientists set out to understand how the ‘jet lag’ of living in latitudes they did not evolve in, and therefore getting cues for their circadian clocks which […]

Frontiers news
14 Sep 2023
Frontiers launches new section in partnership with the Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics
Gold open access publisher Frontiers and the Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics (SBMT), a renowned biomedical and educational non-profit organization, have signed a new agreement aimed at advancing brain mapping and therapeutics research. Credit: Frontiers Building on a shared commitment to fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and driving scientific discovery, Frontiers and SBMT are joining forces to create a forum to showcase the work of researchers, clinicians, engineers, policy makers and experts from diverse backgrounds. The collaboration will result in the launch of a new ‘Brain Mapping and Therapeutics’ section within Frontiers in Neurology and Frontiers in Psychiatry. The section will make a significant contribution to the understanding and treatment of brain disorders and, coupled with SBMT’s expertise in translational research and global neurotech policy, has great potential to bring direct benefit to patient care. The Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics fosters interdisciplinary innovation and collaboration through the Neuroscience20 initiative of the G20 summit including the African union. It connects a global network of over two hundred and fifty thousand researchers and clinicians in the promotion of scientific discovery, education, and translational medicine. Its members’ work impacts patient care for Multiple Sclerosis, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease, several types of brain […]

Research Topics
14 Sep 2023
10 article collections to get into the back-to-school mindset
With the summer coming to an end, the back-to-school season always brings a distinct energy as teachers and students look forward to the next academic year. As we settle back into the classrooms and lecture theatres, take a look at the top 10 Research Topics that discuss the future of education and those shaping it. Collecting over 964,000 views, scientists investigated educational subjects, including: Neuroscience and educational psychology 15 articles | 252,000 views Exploring how neuroscience can contribute to personalized learning and education Motivational development in education 20 articles | 130,000 views Enhancing academic performance in any educational context by exploring motivational development Deep learning in education 55 articles | 124,000 views Investigating the use of AI-related techniques in educational behaviors and settings Education in a post-pandemic world 13 articles | 95,000 views Examining assessment practices in virtual and hybrid teaching environments Reading and writing skills 40 articles | 88,000 views Exploring reading and writing in the post-pandemic world, including cognitive, emotional, social, creative, and digital aspects New approaches for student well-being 17 articles | 67,000 views Focusing on positive education as a driving force for inclusion and well-being in educational settings Gender equality in higher education 10 articles | […]

eBooks
14 Sep 2023
Frontiers ebook releases: September 2023
Download the top ebook releases from this month, including: work on planning for agriculture and sustainable food systems insights into the consequences of sleep deprivation findings on neurological disorders post COVID-19 research on longevity and healthy aging All ebooks are free to download, share and distribute. Shape the future of your field — and publish your own ebook — by editing a special collection around your research area. Learn more about Research Topics or submit your suggestion. Treatment Over the Lifespan in Bipolar Disorder Edited by Andreas Reif; Dina Popovic; Janusz K RybakowskiPDFContemporary Challenges in Immunologic Testing in Clinical and Research Laboratories Edited by Luis Eduardo Coelho Andrade; Edward K.L. Chan; Pablo Engel; Michael Kirschfink; Stefan ViethsPDFConsequences of Sleep Deprivation Edited by Ritchie Edward Brown; Andrea RomigiPDFPatterns, Functions, and Processes of Alpine Grassland Ecosystems under Global Change Edited by Jian Sun; Gao-Lin Wu; Junran Jimmy Li; Shiliang Liu; Nigussie Haregeweyn; Huakun ZhouPDFPublic Perspectives on Health and Wellbeing Edited by Prof. Anat Gesser-Edelsburg; Abhishek Ghosh; Michal Grivna; Bijaya Kumar PadhiPDFLongevity and Healthy Aging Edited by Tzvi Dwolatzky; Gil AtzmonPDFOpioids in the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic: From Cellular Mechanisms to Public Health Policy Edited by Wendy Margaret Walwyn; Tim Hales; Kathryn Anne […]