Since the dawn of the 24-hour news cycle, 2025 at times felt like a series of sprints in a never-ending news marathon. Amid the deluge of stories coming out of the second Trump administration, the growing presence of AI in nearly every facet of daily life, extreme weather events, global conflicts - to name just a few - it can feel challenging to keep up.
Good news: Northwestern researchers have been hard at work bringing new information and discoveries to the fore. Here are a few research highlights over this past year that deserve a second look.
Knowing your heart
While heart disease remains the leading cause of death globally, Northwestern researchers and clinicians are discovering new and better ways to find it and treat its causes.
As part of a 2025 study, Northwestern cardiologist and epidemiologist Dr. Sadiya Khan created a free online tool that calculates a person's "heart age" based on their risk for cardiovascular disease, using routine health data such as blood pressure, cholesterol levels and whether a person smokes or has diabetes.
Another large-scale study by Northwestern's Dr. Philip Greenland and partners at Yonsei University in South Korea, found more than 99% of people who went on to suffer a heart attack, stroke or heart failure already had at least one risk factor above optimal level beforehand.
For those with food allergies, tis the season to eat, drink and be wary
Northwestern researchers are fighting food allergies on multiple fronts.
One 2025 study found a drug already FDA-approved for asthma nearly eliminated life-threatening allergic reactions to food allergens in mice - a breakthrough that could lead to new protection for millions of people living with food allergies. Study author Dr. Stephanie Eisenbarth, the director of the Center for Human Immunobiology and chief of the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, was shocked by how well Zileuton worked.
A second 2025 study found a few easy-to-implement tools - a training video, electronic health record prompts and handouts for families - greatly increased how often pediatricians recommended early peanut introduction to infants. Since 2017, national guidelines have encouraged pediatricians to recommend introducing peanut-containing foods around 4 to 6 months of age to reduce peanut allergies. Yet, surveys show that few pediatricians strictly follow these guidelines.
Skincare as a stocking stuffer?
If skincare products are on your child's Santa list, Northwestern researchers recommend thinking twice - except in the case of sunscreen, especially if a beach vacation is part of your holiday plan.
In the first peer-reviewed study to examine the potential risks and benefits of teen skin-care routines posted on social media, scientists at Northwestern Medicine found girls ages 7 to 18 are using an average of six different products on their faces, with some girls using more than a dozen products. These products tend to be marketed heavily to younger consumers and carry a high risk of skin irritation and allergy, the study found.
With myriad options and a deluge of marketing, how do you know what sunscreen really works? A 2025 Northwestern Medicine study offers clarity, identifying the ingredients that dermatologists agree are most effective for seven common skin complaints. One of the most recommended ingredients was mineral sunscreen for protecting against wrinkles, redness and dry skin. Retinoids, a vitamin A derivative, also were highly recommended for improving wrinkles, acne, dark spots, large pores and oily skin.
Responding to the widening political divide
Whether you are hoping to navigate political difference with friends and family over the holidays or find yourself in an existential dilemma every time you look at your social feed, Northwestern faculty have science-backed suggestions to improve communication and connection in polarizing times.
Psychology professor Steve Franconeri has created Point Taken, a game to help people disagree better and reduce political animosity. The writing-based conversation game enlists two players holding opposite views on a topic to band together on a common mission. The goal is not to persuade the other person of their position, but to understand each other's reasoning well enough that players can visualize "why" they disagree. The game can be downloaded or played online at https://pointtaken.social.
A study by political science professor Martin Naunov found citizen-to-citizen persuasion efforts can successfully shift the political opinions of others and has advantages over attempts to do so by politicians and other elites. Who and what makes a good argument? The results showed the most successful persuaders bridged identity divides, were able to view another person's perspective, and utilized personal narratives and the highlighting of common ground.
