Science

Science reading list from the International Science Council

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https://council.science/current/blog/readers-choice-our-most-shared-science-blogs-this-year/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=readers-choice-our-most-shared-science-blogs-this-year

Timing and quantity of sleep depend on a circadian (∼24-h) rhythm and a specific sleep requirement. Sleep curtailment results in a homeostatic rebound of more and deeper sleep, the latter reflected in increased electroencephalographic (EEG) slow-wave activity (SWA) during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. Circadian rhythms are synchronized by the light-dark cycle but persist under constant conditions. Strikingly, arctic reindeer behavior is arrhythmic during the solstices. Moreover, the Arctic's extreme seasonal environmental changes cause large variations in overall activity and food intake. We hypothesized that the maintenance of optimal functioning under these extremely fluctuating conditions would require adaptations not only in daily activity patterns but also in the homeostatic regulation of sleep. We studied sleep using non-invasive EEG in four Eurasian tundra reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in Tromsø, Norway (69°N) during the fall equinox and both solstices. As expected, sleep-wake rhythms paralleled daily activity distribution, and sleep deprivation resulted in a homeostatic rebound in all seasons. Yet, these sleep rebounds were smaller in summer and fall than in winter. Surprisingly, SWA decreased not only during NREM sleep but also during rumination. Quantitative modeling revealed that sleep pressure decayed at similar rates during the two behavioral states. Finally, reindeer spent less time in NREM sleep the more they ruminated. These results suggest that they can sleep during rumination. The ability to reduce sleep need during rumination—undisturbed phases for both sleep recovery and digestion—might allow for near-constant feeding in the arctic summer.

Readers’ choice: our most shared science blogs this year

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https://council.science/current/blog/readers-choice-our-most-shared-science-blogs-this-year-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=readers-choice-our-most-shared-science-blogs-this-year-2

Seizing the momentum: a year of climate science advocacy

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https://council.science/current/blog/seizing-the-momentum-a-year-of-climate-science-advocacy/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=seizing-the-momentum-a-year-of-climate-science-advocacy

“Large Ocean States” and climate change: a plea for adaptation

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https://council.science/current/blog/large-ocean-states-and-climate-change/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=large-ocean-states-and-climate-change

The International Science Council appoints 100 new Fellows to help advance its vision of science as a global public good

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https://council.science/current/blog/isc-appoints-100-new-fellows/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=isc-appoints-100-new-fellows

The International Science Council appoints 100 new Fellows to help advance its vision of science as a global public good

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https://council.science/current/blog/the-international-science-council-appoints-100-new-fellows-to-help-advance-its-vision-of-science-as-a-global-public-good/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-international-science-council-appoints-100-new-fellows-to-help-advance-its-vision-of-science-as-a-global-public-good

Next-level collaboration to advance African science in a global context

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https://council.science/current/blog/collaboration-african-science-global-context/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=collaboration-african-science-global-context

Working together for and with early-career researchers

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https://council.science/current/blog/working-together-for-and-with-early-career-researchers/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=working-together-for-and-with-early-career-researchers

COP28 agreement: embracing the urgency of the scientific consensus?

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https://council.science/current/blog/cop28-urgency-of-scientific-consensus/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=cop28-urgency-of-scientific-consensus

Global Science Leaders ISC and IAP Issue Joint Statement on Protecting the Autonomy of National Academies of Science

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https://council.science/current/news/joint-isc-iap-statement-academies/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=joint-isc-iap-statement-academies

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is harmful and prevalent, but leaving abusive partners is often challenging due to investments (e.g., children, shared memories). Identifying warning signs of abuse early on is one prevention strategy to help people avoid abusive long-term relationships. Using university and online samples, the present studies identified warning signs and protective factors that predicted overall, physical, psychological, and sexual abuse cross-sectionally (Study 1) and prospectively over 6 months (Study 2). These studies demonstrated that the number of warning signs a person experienced and the frequency with which they experienced those warning signs predicted overall abuse. Seven warning signs emerged as predictors in both studies (e.g., “My partner acted arrogant or entitled”), suggesting that they are particularly important for identifying potentially abusive relationships. This is the first research to identify warning signs that prospectively predict abuse; findings have implications for IPV prevention efforts in academic and public contexts.