Researchers from Johns Hopkins Medicine discovered that it took a volunteer patient about 250-300 milliseconds to begin understanding a pictured object, and another 250-450 milliseconds to fully comprehend its meaning. The study suggests that information accumulates gradually in the brain, rather than in a strictly all-or-none fashion.
The USGS is developing simulation models to evaluate the effects of proposed remedial actions on stream chemistry in abandoned mine lands. These models are applied to St. Kevin Gulch, a small stream near Leadville, Colorado, providing estimates of water quality that reflect the impact of proposed actions.
Researchers at UNC Health Care have discovered two proteins, CRY1 and CRY2, which help regulate circadian rhythms. These proteins were found in layers of the retina not involved in forming visual images, and their presence may help set the daily clock from sites in skin cells.
Recent research by the USGS aims to characterize and mitigate earthquake hazards in the region. The study highlights that nearly every state east of the Mississippi River has experienced damaging earthquakes, with some causing widespread damage.
A study by Johns Hopkins researchers suggests that classroom disorder can influence aggression levels in first-graders, with high-disorder classrooms linked to increased aggression in later years. Meanwhile, girls and boys from poor communities are also at risk of becoming highly aggressive by middle school.
A study by Penn State economists suggests that climate change could lead to an increase in waterborne diseases like Cryptosporidiosis, which can be fatal among immunocompromised individuals. The researchers estimate that doubling the frequency of 100-year floods could add up to $70 per person in costs.
A University of Colorado at Boulder study reveals a significant decrease in glacier area and volume worldwide, especially at mid- and low-latitudes. Glaciers such as those in Africa's Mount Kenya have lost up to 92% of their mass and many glaciers in Europe and New Zealand have shrunk significantly.
A new University of Washington cable television channel, Traffic TV, will broadcast real-time rush-hour traffic updates starting June 1. The service provides live video footage of traffic choke points and estimated travel speeds along area highways.