Dr. Ron Siebeling is researching ways to eliminate salmonella among pet turtle populations, which could lead to their revival in the US market. His work may also help scientists develop new methods for dealing with other bacterial infections that harm poultry and livestock.
A $1.5 million seismic network around Kilauea Volcano will help scientists make more accurate predictions about when volcanoes will erupt and determine potential hazards in nearby areas. The network, which contains 116 stations, is designed to understand the physical characteristics of earthquakes associated with eruptions.
A graduate student's daily satellite inspection spotted the eruption, providing an early warning system. The discovery also triggered a computerized ash-plume tracking model to forecast the ash cloud's movement and issue alerts to airlines.
The Variegated Glacier surged hundreds of yards by the end of summer, surprising scientists with an early start. Researchers believe the glacier will follow similar surge-and-rest patterns in the future.
The study results provided conclusive evidence that antiretroviral therapy can reduce the risk of death in people with intermediate-stage HIV disease. Combination therapies showed promise in slowing disease progression and reducing mortality rates, particularly in patients without prior antiretroviral treatment.
Researchers suggest comets consist of same material that formed stars, potentially delivering organic matter to Earth. The detection of hydrogen isocyanide in Comet Hyakutake supports the idea that interstellar gases were incorporated into comet nuclei.
A Johns Hopkins study found that high-risk gastrointestinal surgery patients are less likely to die if treated at hospitals performing more complex procedures, without increased costs. The study's lead author notes that Maryland's unique data collection system contributed to the findings.
According to new population forecasts, there is a 66% chance the world's population will not reach 11.5 billion by 2100, with four regions expected to experience declines before 2050. The global population is projected to increase from 5.8 billion in 2020 to 10.4 billion by 2100, but at a slower rate.
The new report provides revised tables with height percentiles, helping physicians diagnose high blood pressure in children accurately. Accurate assessment is crucial as hypertension can be a symptom of underlying disease or correlate with early adulthood hypertension, allowing for prevention.
Researchers found that a drug called MK-801 can reduce brain cell death during cardiac surgery by blocking glutamate receptors. The study used dogs and showed promising results, suggesting a potential new approach to preventing brain damage during heart surgery.
Scientists from Brookhaven National Laboratory find that iron supplements can boost phytoplankton productivity, which absorbs 40% of the world's carbon annually. However, adding iron may not have a significant impact on global climate change due to other limiting factors.
Researchers will explore innovations in mine detection using microelectronic chemical-sniffing 'nose', ultrasound, and unique mathematical aids. The projects aim to detect buried military booby traps that kill or maim innocent noncombatants.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have developed new chemical compounds that show promise in fighting malaria. The new compounds use the same mechanism to kill the parasite that causes malaria as another more expensive and difficult-to-produce drug, but are much less expensive and easier to produce.
Researchers have developed a powerful tool to study gene expression by harnessing the glow of green fluorescent protein (GFP) from a Pacific Northwest jellyfish. By altering the protein's structure, scientists can now track two proteins simultaneously and determine if genes are activated at the same time.
A delegation from the Hobby-Eberly Telescope Project is meeting with South African astronomers to discuss collaboration on constructing a large astronomical telescope. The proposed telescope would be similar in design to the existing Hobby-Eberly Telescope, featuring an 11m primary mirror and 91 hexagonal segments.
The National Science Foundation's (NSF) Teacher Experience in Antarctica (TEA) program pairs K-12 teachers with scientists for three- to four-week stints, promoting science education and research integration. The six selected teachers will work on research projects at Antarctic stations or vessels.
The NHLBI is launching a 5-year, $30 million study to investigate the safety and effectiveness of cord blood transplantation as an alternative to bone marrow transplantation for various cancers, blood diseases, and genetic disorders. The study aims to provide answers to scientific and ethical questions surrounding this procedure.
Researchers at ORNL developed microscopic sensors using microcantilevers, detecting relative humidity, temperature, and pressure. They can also detect DNA, proteins, and natural gas, with potential as biosensors.
Congress approved a 4.1% increase in R&D funding for FY 1997, but the boost was insufficient to overcome three years of level funding and inflation. Only NIH and NSF kept their budgets ahead of inflation during the period.
A recent National Science Foundation-funded research expedition discovered two new hot springs on the seafloor, reactivating an ancient hydrothermal system. The site provides an unprecedented opportunity for scientists to study the life cycle of a seafloor hot spring and its associated biological community.
The MSX satellite has obtained two unique images of the Small Magellanic Cloud, a small companion galaxy to the Milky Way. The images reveal new details about the galaxy's structure and evolution, including hot stars, cool giant stars, and nebulae.
Scientists have discovered a unique organelle-like structure, dubbed the dumposome, which breaks down 15-20% of an organism's DNA during reproduction. This process is thought to be essential for streamlining genetic material and may be more common in other organisms than previously thought.
The MSX satellite has released the highest resolution mid-infrared maps of the Galactic Center, providing insights into the thermal radiation from cool dust and HII regions. The images reveal hot objects like stars as blue and cool objects as red, offering a new understanding of the galaxy's structure and composition.
A recent study by researchers at Oregon Health Sciences University found that beta-carotene supplements did not increase immune cell counts in HIV-infected patients. The study, led by Dr. Gregg O. Coodley, concluded that high doses of beta-carotene are not recommended for HIV-infected patients.
Researchers found that liquids behave like soft solids when squeezed into thin films, with implications for fields like tribology, geology, and biology. This understanding could lead to the development of more effective lubricants and insights into natural phenomena like earthquakes.
Researchers developed a new technique to measure electrical impulses in the trigeminal nerve, a major nerve in the jaw. The technique accurately measured the nerve's electrical impulses, helping researchers determine normal levels for electrical activity in these branches.
Research finds that boys who experience conflict in friendships exhibit higher levels of loneliness and adjustment difficulties, unlike girls. Children who perceive support from friends tend to enjoy school more and perform better academically.
Breast-cancer researchers at the University of Illinois have identified four critical amino acids in the binding of estrogen and anti-estrogen hormones to receptor proteins. This discovery may lead to the development of more tissue-selective therapies for breast cancer treatment, addressing resistance to current treatments like tamoxifen.
Researchers identified specific receptors for interleukin-1 on somatotrope cells in the pituitary gland, suggesting a direct link between the immune and endocrine systems. This discovery may help understand how the immune system regulates animal growth and disease.
A genetically-engineered mouse exhibits both behavioral characteristics of Alzheimer's dementia and protein-derived plaques. The oldest mice had significantly higher levels of A-Beta peptides associated with amyloid plaques, raising questions about the relationship between plaques and behavior.
A study of postmenopausal women found that soy protein increased bone-mineral density, suggesting a potential role for isoflavones in maintaining bone health. The researchers also observed significant improvements in blood cholesterol profiles, with LDL cholesterol dropping by about 8% and HDL increasing by 4.5%.
A new study by the University of Illinois found that children's withdrawal from family life between 5th and 12th grades is not a reflection of family turmoil. Despite this, parents can expect to spend less quality time with their kids as they enter adolescence.
A Johns Hopkins study found that motor nerve grafts were more effective in regrowing nerve fibers than sensory nerve grafts. This breakthrough may lead to improved treatments for individuals with facial nerve injuries and other nerve damage, allowing for the restoration of movement while minimizing numbness or paralysis.
A team of University of Illinois researchers has developed a new, cost-effective way to filter pollutants from the environment using activated glass fibers. The fibers offer improved contact efficiency, self-containment, and ease of reactivation compared to traditional activated carbon granules.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine discovered a peptide that closes an NMDA glutamate receptor, potentially aiding the development of stroke treatment drugs. The peptide, known as Mag-1.5, can help regulate communication between nerve cells and may provide insights for potential new therapies.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed an implantable artificial lung that preserves lung function for 24 hours in animal models. The device is intended as a 'bridge to transplant' for patients awaiting lung transplants and as treatment for acute lung failure.
Researchers have successfully used GPS satellites to collect accurate weather data, including temperature, pressure, and humidity, every hour of the day, for any location on Earth. This new technique fills a void in atmospheric data collection over oceans, providing valuable insights into climate change research.
Researchers studying small amphibians have discovered a hormone that can cause brain degeneration, similar to cortisol in humans. The study aims to develop a drug that can block this destructive effect, potentially leading to new treatments for Alzheimer's patients.
Researchers discovered that the millipede Polyxenus fasciculatus uses its rear to confront ants and other attackers, employing a complex defense mechanism involving detachable bristles with barbed hooks. The bristle tufts can entangle predators, making it difficult for them to escape.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins have found that spending more time and money on strict drug regimens saves money in the long run. The cost-effective strategy, called directly observed therapy (DOT), cures more people sooner and decreases the risk of developing TB germs resistant to treatment.
A new model developed by University of California geophysicists predicts the size and shape of tectonic plates by assuming a 30-fold increase in mantle viscosity with depth. This assumption creates a cyclic flow or convection cell with dimensions close to the plate sizes, explaining why continents are broken into large plates.
A comprehensive analysis of California hospital records reveals a historic transformation in the role of hospitals. Hospital inpatient care has declined significantly, with outpatient surgeries more than doubling during the same period.
A new study reveals that the BRCA2 gene mutation is found in one out of every 100 Ashkenazi Jews, increasing their breast cancer risk. The risk is more than three times higher for those who inherit the BRCA1 mutation compared to BRCA2.
Researchers have developed a gene therapy technique that can produce and secrete proteins into the bloodstream indefinitely, without the need for viral delivery systems. This could drastically decrease the cost of treatments for certain types of anemia, which affect over 140,000 people in the US annually.
Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University discovered a natural brain chemical called orphanin FQ (OFQ) that counteracts the effects of opioids. This finding provides hope for developing new therapies to alleviate opioid-related side effects and treat addiction.
A new system called PET traps heavy metals in stormwater runoff, using a bed of oxide-coated sand and porous pavement concrete block. The system can virtually eliminate nickel, cadmium, lead and zinc from stormwater runoff for up to ten years.
Kristen Kroll's innovative technique enables the mass production of genetically modified frogs, allowing researchers to study embryonic development in unprecedented detail. By disabling specific signaling pathways, scientists can pinpoint precise stages of tissue and organ formation.
A Johns Hopkins study found that over 1 in 5 neurologists and obstetricians had patients with epilepsy who developed unwanted pregnancies due to anti-epilepsy drugs interfering with birth control pills. Increasing birth control medication levels or switching to non-interfering medications can reduce the risk of unplanned pregnancy.
Scientists have developed a new vaccine that uses an anti-idiotype antibody to stimulate the immune system and prevent Chlamydia trachomatis infections, which affect 700 million people worldwide. The vaccine was effective in animal experiments and may be available for humans with further development.
Kanza is a cold-tolerant pecan variety that can be harvested as early as Sept. 10 in southern Texas and late September in Kansas. It has natural resistance to diseases such as scab and leaf phylloxera, reducing the need for chemical treatments.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have developed a new form of welding using highly reactive metallic films, which can bond objects at their surfaces without damaging the rest. This process is self-propagating and exothermic, requiring no oxygen to operate, making it suitable for use under water or in airless outer space.
The Compton Observatory detected the brightest gamma-ray burst in its five and a half year mission, releasing as much energy in tens of seconds as the Sun will produce in ten-billion-year lifetime. The burst is rare and may contain information about sources that cannot be extracted from weaker events.
The study reveals that higher brain structures directly control the abstract information in a bird's song, while lower brain centers manage individual notes. Researchers hope to gain insight into how learning influences brain activity patterns.
Sandia scientists have improved portable computer display screens using phosphor luminescence, which can reduce power consumption and improve performance. The new technology can operate at low voltage and is expected to outperform liquid crystal displays in various applications.
The US has signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, which will be verified through a global seismic monitoring system. The treaty bans nuclear testing in all environments except underground, and the global network is being installed by IRIS and the National Science Foundation to detect seismic events of magnitude 4.25 or larger.
The University of Wyoming's Institute for Energy Research has developed technology to evaluate deep natural gas resources, which is gaining interest from Asian nations. This technology helps understand fluid-flow relationships and pressure, unlocking hydrocarbon resources in deeper parts of sedimentary basins.
UC Berkeley's Center for Extreme Ultraviolet Astrophysics will take over day-to-day operations of the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE) observatory, fostering space science and technology innovation. The transfer aims to reduce costs and increase educational outreach through project-based learning experiences.
A team of astronomers observed extremely rapid bursts of high-energy gamma rays from a distant galaxy, challenging current theoretical models. The bursts were extremely rapid, occurring in under half an hour, while previous flares occurred over days or minutes.
Researchers at Penn State's Milton S. Hershey Medical Center are developing an electromechanical artificial heart to save thousands of lives. The device is expected to be widely available by 2005 and could implant over 50,000 patients per year.
A three-year project is underway to sequence the entire Arabidopsis thaliana genome at a rate of 200 genes per month. The goal is to develop the first complete gene sequence map of a higher plant, which will lead to improved plants and plant-based products.