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.