Scientists document rise in temperature-related deaths in the US

Mass General Brigham–led study’s findings signal a need to protect vulnerable groups in the face of extreme climate effects

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Mass General Brigham

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Researchers led by investigators at Mass General Brigham have discovered that over the last 25 years, heat and cold-related deaths have caused more than 69,000 deaths in the U.S., disproportionately affecting certain populations. The findings are published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

“Prior research, many of which was ecological, modeling or forecasting in nature, has examined heat- and cold-related deaths separately, but this study provides a real, observed nationwide and contemporary assessment of deaths related to non-optimal temperatures at both ends of the spectrum and across key demographic subgroups,” said senior author Shady Abohashem, MD, MPH, investigator at the Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center of Massachusetts General Hospital and Mass General Brigham Heart and Vascular Institute. Abohashem is also an instructor at Harvard Medical School.

For their study, Abohashem and his colleagues analyzed data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s WONDER (Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research) platform, specifically looking for death certificates that recorded temperature as a contributing or underlying cause of death based on codes from medical records.

Between 1999 and 2024, there were 69,713,971 U.S. deaths, of which 69,256 (1 out of every 1,000) had extreme temperature exposure recorded as an underlying or contributing cause (35% heat-related and 65% cold-related). Crude estimates indicated that temperature-related mortality rates were higher in more recent years. 

“Our findings show that both heat and cold exposure continue to claim thousands of lives every year in the United States, deaths that are largely preventable,” said Abohashem. “While most temperature-related deaths are still driven by cold exposure, heat-related deaths are expected to rise as climate change accelerates.”

Older adults (≥65 years) and males had higher temperature-related mortality compared with their counterparts. Regarding race/ethnicity, Black individuals had the highest heat-related adjusted mortality rates, which were more than twice those of white individuals. Cold-related adjusted mortality rates were likewise greatest for Blacks, followed by Whites and Hispanics.

“Climate change increases risks of severe weather events, and our findings underscore the need for targeted adaptation strategies, like improving housing quality, access to cooling and heating, and early-warning systems, to protect vulnerable groups as climate extremes intensify,” said Abohashem. “The results help us understand which populations may be disproportionately affected so public health strategies can shift accordingly.”

Authorship: In addition to Abohashem, authors include Ibrahim Hassan, Ibrahim Alghzlawi, Lauren Ferguson and Joseph Allen.

Disclosures: None.

Funding: Abohashem is supported in part by the American Heart Association Second Century Early91 Faculty Independence Award (10.58275/AHA.24SCEFIA1256969.pc.gr.193937). The funders had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

Paper cited: Hassan I et al. “Temperature-related deaths in the US, 1999 – 2024” Annals of Internal Medicine DOI:10.7326/ANNALS-25-01006

https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/ANNALS-25-01006  

 

 

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About Mass General Brigham

Mass General Brigham is an integrated academic health care system, uniting great minds to solve the hardest problems in medicine for our communities and the world. Mass General Brigham connects a full continuum of care across a system of academic medical centers, community and specialty hospitals, a health insurance plan, physician networks, community health centers, home care, and long-term care services. Mass General Brigham is a nonprofit organization committed to patient care, research, teaching, and service to the community. In addition, Mass General Brigham is one of the nation’s leading biomedical research organizations with several Harvard Medical School teaching hospitals. For more information, please visit massgeneralbrigham.org.

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Journal

Annals of Internal Medicine

DOI

10.7326/ANNALS-25-01006 

Article Title

Hassan I et al. “Temperature-related deaths in the US, 1999 – 2024” Annals of Internal Medicine DOI:10.7326/ANNALS-25-01006

Article Publication Date

17-Nov-2025

 

Breakthrough material advances uranium extraction from seawater, paving the way for sustainable nuclear energy

Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University

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Extra-high extraction of uranium from seawater by covalent organic frameworks through structure geometry and functional active site modification

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Credit: Xishi Tai, Zhenli Sun

A team of scientists has developed a groundbreaking material that dramatically boosts the ability to extract uranium from seawater, addressing one of the key challenges in the sustainable development of nuclear energy. The study introduces a special type of covalent organic framework (COF) that shows record-high efficiency and selectivity in isolating uranium from the vast reservoirs hidden in the world's oceans.

Uranium-235, a primary fuel for nuclear power, is essential to the global effort to curb carbon emissions and move toward carbon neutrality. However, terrestrial uranium reserves are limited and estimated to last only about 70 more years at current rates of use. In contrast, seawater is believed to contain approximately 4.5 billion tons of uranium, enough to meet global energy demands for centuries. Yet the low concentration of uranium in seawater, along with the presence of competing ions and microorganisms, has posed a significant challenge to efficient extraction.

In a study published in Sustainable Carbon Materials, researchers Dr. Xishi Tai of Weifang University and Dr. Zhenli Sun of North China Electric Power University reveal a cutting-edge strategy using sulfonic covalent organic frameworks (S-COFs). These materials feature a precise stacking architecture that creates a highly specialized binding pocket for uranium extraction.

“Our study introduces a new design concept called stacking mode engineering,” said Dr. Tai, lead author of the study. “By carefully controlling the geometric arrangement of the COF layers, we have created a confined space that perfectly matches the shape and coordination preferences of uranium ions.”

The research focused on manipulating how the COF layers stack together. In what the authors describe as an AB stacking mode, sulfonic groups within the framework form a pocket that selectively binds uranium ions through a four-point coordination. This molecular-level precision delivers a major leap in performance.

The results are groundbreaking. The AB-stacked S-COFs showed a binding affinity approximately 1,000 times stronger than the traditional AA stacking mode. In tests with natural seawater, the material was able to extract 31.5 milligrams of uranium per gram of sorbent in just one day, a record-setting achievement. The material also demonstrated unprecedented selectivity, removing uranium while ignoring other ions like vanadium that often interfere in ocean-based extraction.

“This is the highest performance ever reported for uranium extraction from natural seawater,” said Dr. Sun. “We believe our work opens new doors not only for uranium recovery but for designing materials suited to target specific ions in complex environments.”

Beyond laboratory results, the authors highlight the importance of developing materials that are not only efficient but also durable, cost-effective, and scalable. Real-world applications will require materials that can withstand marine environments, be regenerated for reuse, and be produced in economic quantities.

Although there is still a long way to go before ocean-based uranium extraction becomes industrially viable, the authors believe the future is promising. “As technology advances, we expect to see broader use of smart materials like these in sustainable energy systems,” Dr. Tai added.

The study reflects a continuing effort in the scientific community to harness seawater as a renewable resource for nuclear fuel, contributing to a stable and carbon-neutral energy future.

 

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Journal reference: Tai X, Sun Z. 2025. Extra-high extraction of uranium from seawater by covalent organic frameworks through structure geometry and functional active site modification. Sustainable Carbon Materials 1: e006  

https://www.maxapress.com/article/doi/10.48130/scm-0025-0007  

 

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About Sustainable Carbon Materials:

Sustainable Carbon Materials is a multidisciplinary platform for communicating advances in fundamental and applied research on carbon-based materials. It is dedicated to serving as an innovative, efficient and professional platform for researchers in the field of carbon materials around the world to deliver findings from this rapidly expanding field of science. It is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal that publishes review, original research, invited review, rapid report, perspective, commentary and correspondence papers.

Follow us on Facebook, X, and Bluesky.   

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DOI

10.48130/scm-0025-0007 

Method of Research

News article

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Extra-high extraction of uranium from seawater by covalent organic frameworks through structure geometry and functional active site modification

Article Publication Date

16-Nov-2025

 

Emerging pollutants threaten efficiency of wastewater treatment: New review highlights urgent research needs

Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University

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A review of the effect and metabolic mechanism of emerging pollutants on enhanced biological phosphorus removal processes

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Credit: Zhenqiang Yang, Qidong Yin, Zenghui Wu, Yanxu Han, Yan Zhang, Kai He & Hui Lu

A new scientific review has shed light on how emerging pollutants commonly found in wastewater are disrupting biological phosphorus removal processes, posing risks to water quality and ecological health. The study, published in the journal New Contaminants, examines how pharmaceuticals, microplastics, and industrial chemicals interfere with the key microorganisms responsible for phosphorus removal in wastewater treatment plants.

Phosphorus is a nutrient that, in excess, can trigger harmful algal blooms and degrade water quality. Many wastewater treatment facilities rely on an energy-efficient method called Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal (EBPR), which uses specialized bacteria known as polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs) to remove phosphorus from sewage. However, the growing presence of emerging pollutants is making this harder.

The review highlights several categories of pollutants that are increasingly detected in wastewater. Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) such as antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs, microplastics, perfluorinated chemicals like perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and metal oxide nanoparticles are frequently observed in treatment plant influents. Even at low concentrations, these substances can persist in the environment, accumulate in organisms, and disrupt essential microbial processes.

“Many emerging pollutants are present at trace levels, but their long-term impacts are not negligible,” said Dr. Yan Zhang, a corresponding author of the paper. “They can interfere with enzyme activity, disrupt microbial communities, and reduce the efficiency of phosphorus removal. This is a growing concern for wastewater treatment operations worldwide.”

The review outlines several mechanisms by which pollutants affect PAOs. Antibiotics, for example, can inhibit enzymes crucial for phosphorus uptake and storage, such as polyphosphate kinase. They also hinder the conversion of carbon sources into energy, affecting the microbes' survival and function. Some chemicals reshape the microbial ecosystem, favoring less efficient organisms that compete with PAOs, further reducing removal performance.

Microplastics add another layer of complexity. Their physical presence can interfere with the structure of biofilms, while providing a surface for harmful pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes to thrive. When microplastics degrade into nanoplastics, their smaller size allows them to penetrate biological membranes and directly interfere with cellular processes.

“Emerging pollutants often co-exist, and their combined effects can be harder to predict than those of individual compounds,” explained Dr. Hui Lu, another corresponding author. “For instance, when certain antibiotics are present alongside nanomaterials, their impact on phosphorus removal becomes more severe. This synergy requires further investigation.”

The authors call for more realistic experimental designs that mimic actual wastewater conditions, including low-level and mixed pollutant exposures over longer periods. They also emphasize the need for updated strategies in wastewater treatment that consider these new contaminants.

“Our review provides a roadmap for future research, pointing out where knowledge gaps exist,” said Dr. Zhang. “Understanding the molecular mechanisms at play will be key to developing solutions that safeguard both environmental and public health.”

This study serves as a wake-up call to researchers, policymakers, and engineers alike. With pollutants now infiltrating the very systems meant to remove them, the pressure is on to evolve wastewater treatment technologies and regulations that can keep pace with today’s complex environmental challenges.

 

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Journal reference: Yang Z, Yin Q, Wu Z, Han Y, Zhang Y, et al. 2025. A review of the effect and metabolic mechanism of emerging pollutants on enhanced biological phosphorus removal processes. New Contaminants 1: e010  

https://www.maxapress.com/article/doi/10.48130/newcontam-0025-0009  

 

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About the Journal:

New Contaminants is an open-access journal focusing on research related to emerging pollutants and their remediation.

Follow us on Facebook, X, and Bluesky. 

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DOI

10.48130/newcontam-0025-0009 

Method of Research

Literature review

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

A review of the effect and metabolic mechanism of emerging pollutants on enhanced biological phosphorus removal processes

“Shika Sonic” device installed near a school in Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture no bear sightings for two and a half months — mayor calls it “a major success”

Okayama University of Science

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Specially Appointed Professor Masachika Tsuji of Okayama University of Science conducts an on-site inspection of the Shika Sonic high-frequency wildlife deterrent device installed near Toga Gakusha in Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture. The unit is designed to prevent bear intrusions in the surrounding area.

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Credit: Okayama University of Science

Specially appointed Professor Masachika Tsuji from the Organization for Research and Community Collaboration, Okayama University of Science (OUS), conducted an on-site inspection of the Shika Sonic device.
 
Developed by T.M.WORKS, an automotive parts manufacturer based in Yamanashi Prefecture, and scientifically tested by Tsuji, Shika Sonic is a high-frequency sound device designed to deter wild animals such as deer and bears.
 
In June this year, OUS and Nanto City jointly installed one of these devices near Toga Gakusha, a combined elementary and junior high school in a mountainous region in the eastern part of the city where bear sightings have been frequent, as part of a bear-prevention initiative. Since its installation, there have been zero bear sightings in the surrounding area.
 
At the city’s request, OUS and Nanto City jointly installed a new version of Shika Sonic on June 16, tuned to frequencies effective against bears. The unit was placed approximately 100 meters south of the school building, along a nearby road.
 
The device emits high-frequency sounds from four speakers mounted on top, covering a range of about 100–150 meters in radius with vertical and horizontal angles of 50 degrees. To prevent the noise from bothering students, it operates automatically from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
 
Mayor Mikio Tanaka commented on the results:
 
“Before the installation, bears were sighted almost every day near the school.
Since then, not a single one has been spotted.
This is a major success, and I’m truly grateful for the improved safety of our children and the local community.
Given these promising results, we’re now considering expanding the use of the device to tourist areas as the next step.”
 
According to the city’s Environmental Department, an AI-equipped camera installed in front of the school to detect bears has not been triggered once since the Shika Sonic was put in place.
 
On September 1, Tsuji visited the site to inspect the device’s operation, including sound, its sound emission patterns, and battery performance. He remarked:
 
“Since only one unit has been installed, it’s still too early to determine the full effectiveness.
We also need to study where the bears have gone.
But the fact that no bears have been seen for two and a half months means we’ve cleared the first hurdle for now.”
 
According to Nanto City, 64 bear sightings were reported between January and August this year, though without incident.