Astronomers have discovered eta Carinae, a bright stellar object in the Milky Way, to be the most massive binary star system ever known. The two stars, each weighing about 70 times that of the sun, orbit each other every 5.5 years, causing predictable spectral changes.
A study found that older women, especially minorities, get the fewest mammograms due to fears of finding a lump and erroneous beliefs about breast cancer. Tailoring messages to address these concerns can encourage more women to undergo screening.
Carnegie Mellon researcher Sheldon Cohen suggests that stress reduction may alter immune function, which could lead to better defenses against cancer. However, the evidence for this link is still incomplete, and more research is needed to confirm its validity.
A new study reports that ancient dinosaurs were killed by sudden avalanches of water-soaked sand flowing down the sides of dunes, burying their bodies swiftly. The research also uncovered the first dinosaur footprints ever found in the Gobi Desert.
Researchers at UMass Amherst have developed a chlamydia vaccine that could prevent the leading cause of female infertility in the US. The vaccine targets a specific molecule present in all types of chlamydia, overcoming previous challenges in creating a vaccine for this bacterium.
Hot, ionized gas streams toward the galactic center, bending sharply around it and slingshoting out the other side due to its high velocity. The findings may provide clues to the nature of the mysterious black hole candidate.
The Mechanics of Granular Materials (MGM) experiment aims to expand investigations into soil mechanics started on STS-79 in 1996. The new flight will run twice as many tests under various experimental conditions, providing insights into the behavior of soils under low-confining pressures.
New York-based medical schools are developing a statewide approach to address inadequate attention to emotional and ethical issues surrounding end-of-life care. A committee will be appointed to design recommendations for all schools, building on existing efforts by individual institutions.
The Vegetarian Diet Pyramid offers a well-balanced ovo-lacto vegetarian diet plan emphasizing fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. The pyramid recommends daily exercise and water intake, while optional foods include eggs and sweets.
A study found that genetic variations in apolipoprotein E, specifically the e4 allele, are associated with an increased risk of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in African Americans. ICH occurs at a younger age among African Americans compared to Caucasians, suggesting a possible genetic link.
Astronomers use Hubble Space Telescope images and a computer model to study the behavior of stars in their infancy, shedding light on how cosmic dust influences the environment. The findings provide new insights into the formation of solar systems and the role of powerful jets of dust and gas in shaping star formation.
Researchers use exploratory analysis of CCEP database to identify smaller groups with common health conditions based on shared exposure to risk factors. The study found no large group affected by a syndrome, but identified specific characteristics that may be related to Gulf War Syndrome.
Researchers from UD and Denmark confirmed Subramanyan Chandresekhar's theory on the structure of compact stars, including pulsars, black holes, and white dwarf stars. By analyzing distances to a dozen white dwarf stars using HIPPARCOS data, they verified the theory, which predicts the size of white dwarf stars based on their mass.
Harvard and UF researchers identified a component of the human immune system that appears to prevent type 1 diabetes in a group of people at high risk. The protein interleukin-4 (IL-4) is produced in large amounts in these individuals and may suppress the arm of the immune system involved in the destruction of insulin-producing cells.
A team of astronomers led by Eric Neilsen discovered that a large galaxy is stripping star clusters from neighboring galaxies. The study used data from the Hubble Space Telescope to confirm that globular clusters were stripped away by M87, a giant elliptical galaxy.