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Scientists have long theorized that will-o’-the-wisps — whimsically portrayed as dancers in this painting by Hermann Hendrich — are caused by burning methane gas, but what ignites the gas has evaded explanation. (ARTGEN via Alamy)
Microlightning causes eerie lights of lore
Spontaneous flashes of ‘microlightning’ between bubbles of gas could explain will-o’-the-wisps — flickering lights that can appear on marshlands. Researchers blew tiny bubbles of methane and air into water, where smaller bubbles took on a negative charge and larger ones, a positive charge. As the charges equalized, they produced a small zap of electricity and a flash of light. This could explain why the ghostly-looking lights appear over methane-rich bogs.
Reference: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences paper
Pasteurized milk is safe from bird flu
There is more evidence that milk from cows infected with H5N1 avian influenza is safe to drink if it is pasteurized (not ‘raw’). In the United States, where bird flu is sweeping through dairy farms, regulations require that milk from infected cows be discarded, but it’s not yet clear whether virus could enter milk before the infection is detected in the cows. A new study finds that pasteurization fully inactivates H5N1 in milk. And, in tests in mice, the residual genetic material left behind didn’t seem to harm the animals or prompt any immune response.
Reference: Science Advances paper
Missed mammograms could raise red flags
Missing your first breast-cancer screening could be a warning signal for health-care providers, finds a study of hundreds of thousands of people in Sweden. Over the 25 years following their first screening invite, those who didn’t go were roughly equally likely to get breast cancer, but had a 40% higher risk of dying from the disease than those who did go. “That first appointment is far more than a short term health check — it is a long term investment in breast health,” writes epidemiologist Zhen-qiang Ma in a linked editorial. He urges clinicians to focus on these long-term benefits when helping women to overcome the personal circumstances and structural barriers that might be preventing them from taking up screening.
Reference: BMJ paper & editorial
NIH races to spend 2025 grant budget
The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) is on track to dole out its entire US$48-billion budget by the end of the fiscal year on 30 September, despite the administration of President Donald Trump laying off thousands of the agency’s workers and delaying meetings to review research grants. The agency’s staff banded together to “clean up the mess”, an NIH programme officer told Nature, and ensure that the funds were invested in science. Although the agency’s budget will be spent, many fewer new projects will be funded because of a government directive to award large sums to research projects upfront.
Features & opinion
How to get the best night’s sleep
If you’re reading this e-mail at bedtime, put the phone down now. The latest research teaches us that illumination at night confuses the circadian system. For better sleep, the science suggests:
• Bright days and dark nights — greater daytime light exposure is linked to higher sleep quality, and even a longer life.
• Eat like ‘a king in the morning, a prince at noon and a peasant at dinner’ — and that includes moderating alcohol and caffeine in the hours before bed.
• Set a stable day-to-day sleep schedule — reliance on an alarm clock suggests that you’re out of step with your natural needs.
Why the food system needs a revolution
The modern food system — once designed to prevent famine with cheap, calorie-dense foods — fuels obesity, disease, environmental harm and inequality, argues nutrition-and-policy scholar Stuart Gillespie in his new book, Food Fight. Fixing such a system requires nothing short of a revolution, Gillespie writes. The book “tackles a crucial issue at an important moment,” says sustainable-markets expert Laura Kelly, in her review. But his arguments are at times weakened by anti-business rhetoric and assertions made without evidence, she says.
How to find the papers you need
A PhD student, a mid-career investigator and a senior group leader share their tips for navigating the tsunami of papers being published everyday. They recommend that researchers:
• Subscribe to the table of contents e-mail alerts sent out by your favourite journals and set up custom alerts on platforms such as PubMed, Google Scholar and preprint servers.
• Follow individual researchers on professional networks such as ResearchGate and LinkedIn — but don’t squander too much time on social media.
• Try AI-driven platforms such as Semantic Scholar, ResearchRabbit and Connected Papers — but stay vigilant for inaccuracies and biases.
Infographic of the week
Nature’s global survey of nearly 4,000 doctoral students shows satisfaction has recovered from pandemic lows, but many worry about financial pressures and the need to get published. “I wish we got paid a living wage. It’s hard to focus on research when I’m worried about my next meal,” said a female second-year PhD candidate in the United States. (Nature | 11 min read)
