Scientists can estimate ancient atmosphere mass and composition using mayfly fossils due to their consistent flight mechanism, which records air density. The study suggests the atmosphere's mass remained relatively constant over the last quarter-billion years.
A recent study published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research found that moderate alcohol consumption can decrease production and circulating levels of fibrinogen by up to 20 percent, thereby decreasing harmful clotting. This reduction may lower the risk of heart attack and coronary artery disease.
A Penn State meteorologist suggests that tilt is the key to understanding both the Faint Young Sun problem and the Snowball Earth problem, proposing a solution where the Earth's axis is tilted at 70 degrees. This theory could potentially explain why the Earth was warmer in the early Precambrian despite a weaker sun.
UB scientists discovered that soft spots on volcanoes can collapse and trigger devastating mudflows that can travel up to 80 miles. The research highlights the danger of older volcanoes with hydrothermal fluids, which change rock structure and make them more vulnerable to collapse.
Recent findings suggest that neurosteroids play a major role in alcohol's effects on the brain by increasing GABA function. Neurosteroids interact with neurotransmitter receptors to alter neurotransmission, producing their effects in a millisecond time frame.
A recent study found that younger people are both drinking and developing alcohol problems at an earlier age. Those who develop alcoholism early in life have greater social and legal problems. The study also showed a strong association between early use of substances and later-in-life alcohol-use disorders, depression, and multiple hea...
A study found that modifiable health risks such as physical inactivity, obesity, and smoking are significantly related to higher health care charges. Researchers report substantial excess medical care charges related to these behaviors.
A new method for crafting medical implants from an antibacterial polymer could prevent thousands of patients from dying of hospital-acquired infections. The technology slowly releases an antibiotic to keep bacteria from establishing a foothold, making it ideal for catheters and permanent implants.
Researchers developed a model that relates seismic velocity differences to properties of the mantle, shedding light on mantle evolution and its impact on plate movement, volcanism, and earthquakes. The study suggests temperatures high enough to cause melting in some regions, potentially explaining volcanic activity.
Scientists used NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory to capture a rare glimpse of X-radiation from the early phases of a supernova. The observations revealed that the supernova shed a relatively small amount of matter before it exploded, compared to other supernovae.
Elderly caregiving spouses who report experiencing strain are at a 63% higher risk of death than noncaregivers. Caregivers with prevalent disease are particularly vulnerable to mortality, with a 33% risk of dying within four years.
Two studies published in December 1999 found that green tea consumption can trigger biochemical mechanisms affecting human health. The studies suggest that increasing green tea intake can increase energy utilization, thermogenesis, and fat oxidation, while also protecting cells from oxidative damage.
Lawrence Krauss, a prominent astrophysicist, has won the AAAS Public Understanding of Science and Technology Award for his efforts to improve communication between scientists and the public. His work aims to promote scientific literacy and critical thinking, particularly in addressing creationism in public schools.
Researchers in Taiwan discovered a rare individual with two copies of the genetic mutation that protects against alcoholism. This finding challenges the long-held assumption that individuals with this mutation are immune to developing alcohol disorders.